most underrated nba players of the 2000s

Aaron Mansfield, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Merrimack College. 20. And make it not as a lifetime achievement award or an injury replacement, but during what would be a 2nd Team All-NBA season? 1) Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks. Today, we honor the stars whose legacies have become underappreciated as time has gone on and we get further and further away from their playing days. The little brother. For the first 12 seasons of his career, Miller was a consistent 15.0 to 17.0 PPG scorer but he really made his impact as a passer. He was a two-way mastermind who had a knack for coming through in a games biggest moments that earned him the nickname Mr. The following season it came to fruition as Billups not only led the Pistons to a title but won Finals MVP in the process. Mainly known for his part with the Washington Wizards Big Three including Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler, Jamison was a consistent scoring star in the NBA. Richardson's ability to help teams defend the perimeter and also score when needed makes him an underrated player during the 2000s. Yet, not all players who saw action at the NBA, the biggest basketball league in the world, are well-known Not all basketball players are well known, Sports Mania Asia lists the top five most underrated NBA players from the late 1990s to 2000s. Bibby's best season came in 2006 where he averaged 21.1 PPG and 5.4 APG for the Kings squad that finished with a 44-38 record. He was also a big reason the Cavaliers were able to make the 2007 NBA Finals, being LeBron James favorite option on offense. Agent 0 going into L.A. and dropping 60 on the Lakers. As one of the original stretch forwards in the game, Lewis used both his size and shooting ability to become a scoring machine. But today, we arent talking about Tim, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille ONeal, or Dwyane Wade. O'Neal's strongest season came in 2005 by averaging 24.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 2.0 BPG. NFL NBA Megan Anderson Atlanta Hawks Los Angeles Lakers Boston Celtics Arsenal F.C. 10. He made his mark from deep and, with an increase in playing time, averaged 11.4 points per game while shooting 44% from beyond the arc. His only season above 50% from the floor was with the 2009-10 Miami Heat, which isnt anything to write home about for a 611 power forward. Career Stats: 17.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG, Career Achievements: 3x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection. To narrow down the list to 10 underrated players in the whole decade is about as tough as it gets. Answer (1 of 3): Dirk Nowitzki. Andrei Kirilenko was a prototype of what the modern-day NBA landscape now values above all else; versatility. . Wallaces impact was truly measured when he was acquired by the Detroit Pistons midway through the 2004 season. He is an NBA History buff that details the game from the 1960s all the way up to today. Finley played on two of the premier Western Conference powerhouses over the decade, starting with Dallas and moving to San Antonio after being waived. As a two-way player and one of the best athletes to ever play the game, Richardson was a gem in his prime. Davis was an explosive point guard who was a blur on the floor in open space. Personally, I believe it is a crime that Wallace is still not a basketball Hall Of Famer. Injuries were a concern throughout Pejas career, especially in the second half of his NBA lifespan. He helped lead the Magic to a Finals berth in 2009 by being a versatile scorer next to the dominant Howard. Career Stats: 14.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG. Elton deserves this spot. He was one of many roleplayers that was able to fit seamlessly into talented teams throughout his career. An . Was it worth it? Of course, there was Tim Duncan and the Spurs who captured 3 championships of their own in the 2000s after winning one in 1999 the year after MJ left the NBA. He led the league in steals in 2004 with 2.4 SPG. Thread Tools. From there, he developed his offensive game and defensively got more aggressive. Today, we honor the stars whose legacies have become underappreciated as time has gone on and we get further and further away from their playing days. By his fourth season with the Bucks, Allen was gone and Redd was a starter. Who are the 25 Most Charitable Athletes in the World? Roy attempted a comeback in 2013 but lasted just 5 games before calling it quits for good. He didnt have the chance to display his scoring prowess during his first season in Milwaukee since he was playing behind the great Ray Allen. With over a decade of writing articles for sports sites, Eddie Bitar has a unique writing voice that shines through in the latest collection of NBA-related content that captures trade rumors, power rankings, and team news. Unfortunately, but very reasonably, he will also be remembered for one incident above any other when he choked his coach P.J Carlesimo.Sprewell was suspended from the NBA for an entire season after playing for the Golden State Warriors for 14 games. And while many fans will remember the Clippers for continuously being one of the dumpster fires of NBA teams, alongside Sacramento, Minnesota, and others, those other teams have had moments in the spotlight that are remembered fondly. By 2003, Ilgauskas was an All-Star and averaged 17.2 PPG and 7.5 RPG while adding 1.9 BPG. A lethal gunner from range, Stokakoi was one of the first NBA players to bomb away from range who hit a high percentage of their shots. He blew past defenders and glided through the air and threw down rim-rocking dunks with brutal authority. Teams: Nets . www.basketball-timemachine.com. He was named an NBA All-Star in 2004 after averaging 21.7 points and a career-best 5.0 rebounds a game. Averaging 16.0 PPG, he is one of the most recognizable offensive players for the Clippers over the last 20 years. It's tough to argue with a top five like that, but Acho brought up several great points while making a case for the former San . Career Stats: 13.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.4 SPG, 1.7 BPG, Career Achievements: 1x Most Improved Player, 6x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team Selection. He has been married to Clarenda Harris since September 12, 2006. Last time I did this series, 2 years ago, I had him as the most underrated SF in the league. Here is our list of 12 of the most underrated players in the NBA today. The 5 most overrated players in Madden NFL 23, including the Eagles' Darius Slay Jr. View 5 items Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. 15.9 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.7 BPG. I will say it here and now. Richmond scored the 4th-most total points for the entire decade of the 90s , mainly with the Warriors and Kings. By 2003, Ilgauskas was an All-Star and averaged 17.2 PPG and 7.5 RPG while adding 1.9 BPG. In nine of his last ten NBA seasons, James has scored at least 2,000 points. Brandon Roy is one of the biggest what-ifs in NBA history and the little we did get to see of his career left us as NBA fans wanting so much more. During his early days in Seattle, Lewis took a bit to develop into the shooter and scorer he went down as. Playing for a middling Milwaukee Bucks squad throughout the 2000s, he led the team and was a fantastic all-around scorer. Corey Maggette was one of the most consistent scorers during the 2000s. Career Stats: 13.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.4 SPG, 1.7 BPG, Career Achievements: 1x Most Improved Player, 6x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team Selection. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed ONeal into an MVP candidate. From there, he developed his offensive game and defensively got more aggressive. Redd became an even more prolific scorer in the seasons that followed. These are the most overrated players in NBA history. He would average a double-double over the next 4 seasons, and by his third season, he was a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. Looking at the 2000s specifically, many All-Star caliber players did not get the recognition they deserved. The most underrated player in fantasy basketball this season has to be Gilgeous-Alexander. As one of the best big men in Clippers history, Brand had a superstar season in 2006 averaging 24.7 PPG, 10.0 RPG, and 2.5 BPG. He would lead the league in steals once more in 2007 with the Warriors with 2.1 SPG. Elton averaged 30-10-4 with 3 blocks per game that series. Unfortunately for Rahim, he will be remembered for being the centerpiece of this lopsided trade that sent Pau Gasol to Memphis, where he would quickly *not*become one of the most underrated players of the 2000s. He had a smooth lefty jumper that was as good as anyones in the game when he was on point. Your email address will not be published. Davis began his career as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. Roy was impossible to keep up with in isolation. But for now, Lillard looks like the young PG with the most potential to grow into the best point guard of his era. As the No. Richardson was drafted by the Clippers and had his best season in 2004 with the team averaging 17.2 PPG. His best season came in 2003-04, Peja averaged a career-high 24.2 PPG on 48.0% shooting overall and 43.3% from three. 3. The Most Underrated NBA Player of the Early 2000s. But the sheer fact that Clipper Contenderswas uttered during the 2005-06 playoffs firmly earns Elton a spot on this list. He had a ton of athleticism and scoring prowess in his 6'6" frame, and played the majority of his career with the Los Angeles Clippers. Nick Mac is an NBA Writer with over 5 years of experience in journalism. The Rise of Paul George Can he bring a championship to LA. He began a stretch of six straight seasons in which he averaged at least 21 points a game. Brand's best year came in 2006 as an MVP candidate averaging 24.7 points and 10 rebounds while leading the Los Angeles Clippers back into the playoffs. Lewis retired with the Miami Heat in 2014, one year after adding an NBA championship to his already impressive resume. Jason Terry: 1066.71 TPA. Peja Stojakovic is one of the better perimeter scorers of the 2000s decade. Oh, and Google his insane back tattoo. O'Neal would average a double-double over the next 2 seasons in Indiana, and make 5 straight All-Star Teams. Even though he never made an All-Star Team, Bibby certainly played like one and he was a major reason the Kings were a problem in the West. Davis recorded 3 different seasons with at least 20.0 PPG and 2.0 SPG as one of the more dynamic point guards in basketball. He was a nightmare for defenders to stop and an even bigger one to try and score on in the paint. In 2009, he earned the 2nd All-Star selection of his career when he averaged 17.7 PPG and helped lead Orlando to the NBA Finals. Underrated? Even with Minnesota, Cassell also owns a space in a potential worst trade of all time discussion, being moved, along with a first-round pick, from Minnesota in 2005 to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Marko Jaric and Lionel Chalmers. He was a two-way mastermind who had a knack for coming through in a games biggest moments that earned him the nickname Mr. The 2000s were filled with incredible defenders, lights-out shooters, amazing ball handlers, solid secondary stars, and bench players who were elite at their jobs. His best season came in 2002 after being traded to Atlanta. In 2002, O'Neal won the NBA's Most Improved Player award by averaging 17.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 1.6 BPG. Still, ONeal was a franchise centerpiece to a team that consistently made the postseason, so he deserves his spot on this list. Due to the emergence of other superstars like Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, LeBron James, and Tracy McGrady, many other solid players who had massive success in the decade have flown under the radar as time has gone on. Drafted with the No. Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive. Finley was a no-nonsense small forward that was the perfect complement beside Dirk Nowitzki, had multiple seasons averaging above 20-5-5 per game, and capped his career off with a championship on the 2007 San Antonio Spurs. Andre Miller was never an MVP candidate or even an All-Star but he was quietly one of the better point guards during the 2000s. You must be a great player to fit into a team named The Greatest Show on Court. He helped the Kings lead the league in wins in 2001-02, and while he didnt average too many pointsending his career with averages of 11-4-3he made his mark on defense. He tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee after playing just 33 games. As we entered the 2000s, NBA fans were left with the question of who was going to. Well focus primarily on his most impactful seasons, from 2001-2004. With Indiana, Jackson was part of a tough crew featuring Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal that was also involved in the Malice at the Palace. In 2002, ONeal won the NBAs Most Improved Player award by averaging 17.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 1.6 BPG. After two more seasons, he would win 6th Man of the Year with the Dallas Mavericks in 2004. He was a scorer, plain and simple. Not only did he start playing precisely at the starting point of the decade after being selected 1st overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 1999 draft, but he proceeded to be one of the most under-the-radar players during his career. Roy would be named an All-Star the following 3 seasons and averaged 21.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 5.2 APG, and 1.1 SPG over that time. Career: 1989-2002. He is incredibly well known; hes played beside Kobe on the Championship Lakers, delivered us with one of the best post-championship press conferences ever, and been a member of the infamous Malice and the Palace. During his time with the New Orleans Hornets for 3 seasons, he averaged 20.2 PPG, 8.1 APG, and 2.0 SPG. The 2000s was an awe-inspiring time to grow up as an NBA fan and witness these real-life superheroes hit the court every single night. He had a smooth lefty jumper that was as good as anyones in the game when he was on point. As the all-time and single-season leader in technical fouls, how could he not? He drove, he shot, and he played a little selfishly. At his peak, Billups was a serious threat as a scorer, passer, and defender who was the perfect point guard to lead the Detroit Pistons to the 2004 NBA championship. Glen Rice was a three-time All-Star and won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000. . Schrempf is often overlooked and considered one of the most underrated players in NBA history. That season he averaged 16.2 PPG and it was clear that the Pistons had their championship point guard. Billups name never comes up in Top 20 conversations as far as point guards go, let alone Top 10 lists. 4. He was one of the top players in the league until Gerald Wallace injured him. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He was also one of the better offensive rebounders in basketball and led the league in that stat in the 2004-05 season with 299 offensive rebounds. Still, you dont hear much talk about the years the Clippers might have been the championship favorite. Trevor Ariza. With his accurate 3-point shot and ability to pass the ball effectively, Stojakovidc would be a nightmare for defenses in todays game. Redd was consistently criticized for his lack of a complete game but his scoring was by far the best part of his game. The assessment was based on how players performed during this decade and this decade ONLY (2000-2009). Career Stats: 18.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.3 BPG. He was also one of the better offensive rebounders in basketball and led the league in that stat in the 2004-05 season with 299 offensive rebounds. Miller was as good as it gets running an NBA offense and he was one heck of a playmaker. Roy was a special talent on offense confirmed by some of the greats such as Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant. 10. The Top 10 Most Underrated NBA Players Of The 1960s, The Top 10 Most Underrated NBA Players Of The 1970s, The Top 10 Most Underrated NBA Players Of The 1980s, The Top 10 Most Underrated NBA Players Of The 1990s, The Best NBA Player From Every Team In The 2010s. He also set the record for most three-pointers made in a single quarter, with eight, before being overtaken when Klay Thompson made nine. Portland athletes have been underrated for a long time, sometimes due to geography, but also because of the early 2000s, which saw casual fans turned away from the NBA team after the ill-fated "Jail Blazers" era that was marred by a string of player arrests, untimely technical fouls, and disastrous playoff meltdowns. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. In his best season in 2005/06 with Sacramento, Bibby helped the team make the playoffs, which is . Seth Curry . He was the first NBA player to bring in the big balls dance celebration, injuring his groin, The 12 Most Underrated NBA Players of the 2010s, This Millennial Transformed One Rental Property Into A Multi-Million Dollar Empire, 10 Entrepreneurs Share Their Best Beauty Business Tips And Secrets. Many superstars surfaced at this time but perhaps none bigger than Shaquille ONeal and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers who led them to 3 straight titles at the beginning of the decade. His mid-range game and three-ball were impeccable as well. During his time in the NBA, Rasheed Wallace received a bad reputation as its resident bad boy. Of course, there was Tim Duncan and the Spurs who captured 3 championships of their own in the 2000s after winning one in 1999 the year after MJ left the NBA. The Best Athletes Of All Time. While you probably wouldnt be able to get away with that nickname in the NBA today, it still earns him an easy placement on this list. As we entered the 2000s, NBA fans were left with the question of who was going to take over the league after Michael Jordan left Chicago. He was a menace on the defensive side of the ball as well, never shying away from a tough matchup or assignments. Davis can be credited with sparking the We Believe Warriors to an upset win over the No. Bottom Line: Otis Thorpe. Others, like Vince Carter and Joe Johnson, are still kicking around the league, but young fans are probably unaware of just how dominant they used to be. Unfortunately for Christie, what should have been a fruitful career as a spot-up shooter quickly ended due to a litany of injuries. Scotty Bags. That season he averaged 16.2 PPG and it was clear that the Pistons had their championship point guard. Jackson would have his best seasons with the Golden State Warriors averaging over 20 PPG for 3 straight seasons. By signing up, you agree to the our terms and our Privacy Policy agreement. Wallaces presence propelled Detroit to an NBA championship where Wallace averaged 13.0 PPG and 7.8 RPG on the playoff run. Ilgauskas struggled with injury the first few seasons of his career, missing his rookie season and 4th season with foot issues. Roy was destined to be a star from his first season in the NBA. Jabbar was from the very beginning of his career being named the 1969-1970 rookie year, Abdul-Jabbar was a 5x MVP, 9x All-Star, 9x All-NBA, and 8x All-Defensive selection in the 1970s with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers; moreover, he averaged 28+ points, 14+ rebounds, and 5+ assists per game and led the Bucks to their first NBA title, winning Finals MVP in . Only one year later, Jamison jumped his stats tremendously averaging 19.6 PPG and 8.3 RPG followed by a career-high in scoring at 24.9 PPG. Career Stats: 15.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG, Career Achievements: 1x Finals MVP, 5x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team Selection, 3x All-Defensive Team Selection. Roy was destined to be a star from his first season in the NBA. 8. 50 Most Underrated NBA Players of All Time. Show Printable Version; Today, 04:33 PM #1. He found the end zone in three different decades. Philadelphia 76ers Premier League UFC Television The Real Housewives of Atlanta The Bachelor Sister Wives 90 Day Fiance Wife Swap The Amazing Race Australia Married at First Sight The Real Housewives of Dallas My 600-lb Life Last Week Tonight with John Oliver He is an actor and writer, known for Like Mike (2002), Arli$$ (1996) and Adidas Originals: Superstar - Change Is a Team Sport (2020). He scored 57 that same season, breaking the Bucks single-game scoring record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Im Still Ballin. Despite sharing the court with Ray Allen early on, Redd carved his own path and should be revered for his unbelievable scoring at his peak. Career Stats: 19.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG. On offense, he was a great spot-up shooter and that's why he is mainly known for being a shooter during the Steve Nash era in Phoenix. In 2002, ONeal won the NBAs Most Improved Player award by averaging 17.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 1.6 BPG. Gary Trent Jr. is easily one of the most exciting and underrated players in the NBA today, starting with a Toronto Raptor and ending with one. He helped lead the Magic to a Finals berth in 2009 by being a versatile scorer next to the dominant Howard. 32786 posts. Beginning with a Toronto Raptor, and ending with one, Gary Trent Jr. is easily one of the most exciting and most underrated players in the NBA today. Ron Artest, Metta World Peace, or his now legal name Metta Sandiford-Artest may surprise some on this list. One last point on Cassell that bumps him higher on this list. That needs to begin to change after you read this piece. He made 3 straight All-Star games from 2002 through 2004 and averaged 21.7 PPG on 48.1% shooting over that time. From2004 through 2009, Redd battled injuries and bumps but still averaged at least 21.0 PPG every season. Over NY's past three games, Mitchell Robinson is 16-for-16 from the floor & averaging 11.3 points and 12.0 rebounds Per @bball_ref, he is the first player in NBA history to record a double . He averaged 20.7 PPG, 22.2 PPG, and 22.1 PPG during those years while missing out on All-Star Teams despite his scoring. Arteta to make 1 change, 'underrated' ace to be benched: Arsenal predicted line-up vs Bournemouth,After Arsenal made things look easy in their 4-0 thrashing of Everton, we have tried to call their predicted lineup against Bournemouth. But looking at his career as a whole, Jamison was an All-Star caliber talent. Career Stats: 12.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG. 6. You have the heartbreaking series between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2002 Western Conference Finals series. When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. He finished 3rd in MVP voting and was arguably the best two-way player in basketball. During his All-Star seasons with Portland, Wallace was a double-digit scorer and rebounder while being a force to be reckoned with on defense. Drafted with the No. Forgive and forget and put Jermaine ONeal in the Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame. Miller would go on to play 5 more seasons with Sacramento. He peaked in 2007 when he averaged 26.7 PPG on 46.5% shooting. Honestly, call him the Russian Lebron James. Redd blossomed as a scorer in his 4th season, averaging 21.7 PPG on 35.0% shooting from three. A look at those who were ranked too high and too low in the preseason Coaches Poll released Tuesday In a season sandwiched between two non-playoff years, Elton Brand and the Clippers lost in seven games to the Phoenix Suns. In fact, I dont think I would have him on here if not for having the greatest NBA nickname of all time, Bad Porn.. Thats right; were talking top player in the league status. For some reason, as time has gone on, fans refer to Zydrunas Ilgauskas as one of those garbage players that LeBron James dragged to the NBA Finals early in his career. Richardson made the All-Rookie Team in 2001 by averaging 14.4 PPG and 4.3 RPG for the Golden State Warriors. Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina. After taking 2 years to play overseas in Greece, Peja made his NBA debut in the 1998-99 season. His scoring jumped from 12.9 PPG to 19.0 PPG, and he made his first All-Star Team in 2002 for the Pacers. 1. Six seasons into his career in 2005, Lewis earned his first All-Star selection and first 20.0 PPG season. Ronald Koeman of the Netherlands lines up before the UEFA Euro 88 Group 2 match between England and the Netherlands at the Rheinstadion on June 15, 1988 in Dsseldorf, West Germany. This happened because other great players such as Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Tim Duncan, and Shaquille O'Neal were the faces of the NBA and grabbed all the headlines all the time. The NBA has done an unfortunately great job of sweeping Jermaine ONeals career under the rug after his role in the infamous Malice At The Palace. Seth Curry - Brooklyn Nets. Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports, Career Stats: 18.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG, Career Achievements: 1x Rookie of the Year, 3x All-Star, 2x All-NBA Team Selection. As we entered the 2000s, NBA fans were left with the question of who was going to take over the league after Michael Jordan left Chicago. He averaged 24-6-3 on a Pacers team that was seen as among the top teams in the NBA and potentially a future NBA champion. Theres not much else to say about Maggatte. Wallace helped to revolutionize the power forward position forever with his ability to spread the floor and shoot the ball He could play any role that a team needed him to. The following season in 2002-03, he was one of the best seasons of the decade for ANY player. . DeMar DeRozan is having an incredible season. Date of birth: February 1, 1969. The sample size doesn't include the '87 playoffs because McHale was playing on a broken foot. Maybe. Brand lasted two more seasons at an elite level with the Clippers before age and attrition took a toll on his body. Malcolm Brogdon might have the quietest 20/6/6 stat line in the NBA. Finally, as with fellow Pacer Ron Artest, ONeal was heavily involved in the Malice at the Palace punishments and suspensions, so the NBA isnt jumping at the opportunity to push Jermaine into the mainstream hivemind. Center from Newark, New Jersey, United States of America. He had a sweet jumper and smooth release that he could knock down from anywhere in front of half-court. You can reach him via email:aaroncmansfield@gmail.com. For some reason, ONeal was vilified relentlessly for his role in the brawl and his reputation has taken years to recover.

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