most underrated nba players of the 2000s
As only the No.13 pick, Maggette is one of the most underrated players during his era due to his impact on the Clippers. He would be forced to retire from the game at 27 years old. Big Shot. 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. Your email address will not be published. Doug Christie. Required fields are marked *. After taking 2 years to play overseas in Greece, Peja made his NBA debut in the 1998-99 season. You have the heartbreaking series between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2002 Western Conference Finals series. By 2003, Ilgauskas was an All-Star and averaged 17.2 PPG and 7.5 RPG while adding 1.9 BPG. 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. Wallaces presence propelled Detroit to an NBA championship where Wallace averaged 13.0 PPG and 7.8 RPG on the playoff run. Here are the teams, odds and spread for Super Bowl 57 matchup, Super Bowl 2023 predictions and picks for each round of the NFL playoffs. Expectations are high for every player in the league, and the overrated label . Milwaukee took Redd with the 43rd overall pick and the former Buckeye would go on to play 11 years with the franchise. Davis was an explosive point guard who was a blur on the floor in open space. During the 2000s, at various times, he was up against the likes of 15 time all-star Tim Duncan, 15 time all-star Kevin Garnett, 14 time all-star Dirk Nowitzki, 10 time all-star Carmelo Anthony, 6 time all-star Pau Gasol, 6 time all-star Amar'e Stoudemire (yes, he got the nod as a forward), 5 time all-star Chris Webber. Andrei Kirilenko was a prototype of what the modern-day NBA landscape now values above all else; versatility. Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics. Mitch Richmond is one of the most electric yet underrated players of the 90s. I will say it here and now. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed O'Neal into an MVP candidate. He had three All-NBA team selections, two thirds, and a second cap off his individual awards. #4 of 165. 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. And when you peak to the point, you can be compared to the greatest power forward of all time. Bibby had a handle and jump shot that was among the best in his time, and he had tremendous success with Chris Webber in Sacramento. Career Stats: 13.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.6 BPG. The 2000s-era NBA was one of the more bizarre representations of basketball one could imagine. At his peak, he had an argument for the best big man in basketball at a time when Tim Duncan and Shaq were still in the league. He averaged 16.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 4.0 APG on 45.6% shooting in just 57 games. Averaging 16.0 PPG, he is one of the most recognizable offensive players for the Clippers over the last 20 years. As the all-time and single-season leader in technical fouls, how could he not? 1) Kareem Abdul Jabbar. He was a menace on the defensive side of the ball as well, never shying away from a tough matchup or assignments. Out of all the players on this list, O'Neal was the most talented big man and also one of the most underrated players during his time. In the 2000 NBA draft, the Milwaukee Bucks got lucky when Ohio State's Michael Redd fell all the way into the second round. Forget the role in the fight. Roy was impossible to keep up with in isolation. Thats right; were talking top player in the league status. 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. Type above and press Enter to search. Including averaging 10 attempts at the line per game when he averaged 22 points per game in his 2004-05 season. The little brother. With his ability to both score and pass the ball, Miller was must-watch television whenever he was in town. Schrempf is often overlooked and considered one of the most underrated players in NBA history. In nine of his last ten NBA seasons, James has scored at least 2,000 points. We started the decade with Lakers championships and ended with Lakers championships, and yet you can rightfully argue that Tim Duncan was the most important player of the ten years. Nick Mac is an NBA Writer with over 5 years of experience in journalism. George Hill . Getting to the free throw line. He was a tough forward who played hard-nosed defense and never backed down from any challenge. By looking at individual statistics, team impact, and skills during their era; we have compiled a ranked list of the best stars who went underappreciated during their time. 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. Defensive teamsala the Championship Detroit Pistonsthat dominated to the point the NBA had to change the rules to speed up the game, which helped a dopey-haired small, white Canadian point guard pick up back-to-back MVPs. He could force his way into the paint like a running back hitting the hole in the NFL and either finish at the rim easily or find the open man for an easier opportunity. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) Yet, not all players who saw action at the NBA, the biggest basketball league in the world, are well-known. Redd shot a career 38.0% from three and his 6 straight years of scoring prowess rank him 3rd on this list. 18 pick in the 2020 draft, there were high hopes for Richardson's career. Lewis was one of the NBAs top shooters for years with 8 seasons ranked in the Top 20 for 3-pointers made. He tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee after playing just 33 games. I have never seen a Finals MVP and a more impactful point guard be overlooked in NBA history more than Chauncey Billups. He finished with 11,972 points and 2,411 rebounds (3.8 per game). 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 . LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers. 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. 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. Were discussing the most underrated NBA players of the 2000s. Career Stats: 16.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 7.2 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG, Career Achievements: 2x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection. Still, with his peak year coinciding with his healthiesthe appeared in 78 gameshe led the Utah Jazz in total points, points per game, total rebounds, rebounds per game, blocks, blocks per game, steals, steals per game, free throws made, free throws attempted, three pointers made, and three-pointers attempted. Thread Tools. He would average 20.0 PPG or more for the next 3 seasons and shot near or better than 40.0% from three during that time. Sacramento picked Pedrag Stojakovi at the 1996 NBA rookie draft while still playing in Greece. Drafted with the No. He had a sweet jumper and smooth release that he could knock down from anywhere in front of half-court. Unfortunately for Christie, what should have been a fruitful career as a spot-up shooter quickly ended due to a litany of injuries. But the sheer fact that Clipper Contenderswas uttered during the 2005-06 playoffs firmly earns Elton a spot on this list. McCollum voted most underrated player since 2000. Finley played on two of the premier Western Conference powerhouses over the decade, starting with Dallas and moving to San Antonio after being waived. An . . Career best stat line: 19.6 points, 9.1 assists, 41% 3PT (1989-90) The Cavs always had their hearts broken when running into Jordan, in the late '80s and early '90s, but Price was also one of . He made 3 straight All-Star games from 2002 through 2004 and averaged 21.7 PPG on 48.1% shooting over that time. By his fourth season with the Bucks, Allen was gone and Redd was a starter. For years now, Jrue Holiday has been widely regarded as the most underrated player in NBA. Basketball is one of the most loved sports worldwide. Still, you dont hear much talk about the years the Clippers might have been the championship favorite. 1. In the 2000 NBA draft, the Milwaukee Bucks got lucky when Ohio States Michael Redd fell all the way into the second round. Career Achievements: 1x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection. Zum ndern Ihrer Datenschutzeinstellung, z.B. 4. Lofton was the first player in NFL history to accumulate 14,000 receiving yards. There are dozens of underrated players most folks forget. 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. Injury replacements, lifetime achievement awards, and many players that might not entirely deserve it. Trevor Ariza. In an era littered with talented point guards, Baron Davis was among the most exciting to watch play. Corey Maggette was one of the most consistent scorers during the 2000s. Maggette had his best seasons during the 2004, 2005, and 2008 seasons. The most underrated scene in 'The Last Dance' was ___. He was also a big reason the Cavaliers were able to make the 2007 NBA Finals, being LeBron James favorite option on offense. He played one final season in Phoenix in 2011-12 before retiring. Gilbert Arenas. Milwaukee took Redd with the 43 rd overall pick and the former Buckeye would go on to play 11 years with the franchise. He averaged 16.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 4.0 APG on 45.6% shooting in just 57 games. Think about Dennis Johnson of the 1980sthe dude was a five-time All-Star and a Finals MVP. 32 in Touchdown Wire list, Big Ten 2023 Football Power Rankings Too Soon, ASU Footballs Kenny Dillingham hopes QB room structure will push players, Oregon Football Recruitment: Nyckoles Harbor and Ducks Update, Big 12 Conference Tees 2023 Schedule Release, Know the Foe: Virginia Tech Footballs 2023 Away Opponents, Denver Broncos meet again with Michigan Footballs Jim Harbaugh. He won the Rookie of the Year award with the least games played in history to win the award. He picked up three Second Team All-Defenses and one First Team All-Defense. As one of the original stretch forwards in the game, Lewis used both his size and shooting ability to become a scoring machine. In 2002, ONeal won the NBAs Most Improved Player award by averaging 17.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 1.6 BPG. Tracy McGrady. Redd was also a member of the 2008 U.S. mens Olympic basketball team that won a gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Beijing. During his time with the New Orleans Hornets for 3 seasons, he averaged 20.2 PPG, 8.1 APG, and 2.0 SPG. Six seasons into his career in 2005, Lewis earned his first All-Star selection and first 20.0 PPG season. When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. 10 James Lofton. 7 min read. Aaron Mansfield, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Merrimack College. Of course, we couldnt account for everyone who deserves to be on this list, but below are the most underrated NBA players of the early 2000s. Was it worth it? As the No. 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. Oh, and Google his insane back tattoo. 10. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed ONeal into an MVP candidate. DeRozan may be cementing his status as the best player in franchise history in front of our eyes, but say he belongs in the MVP conversation and most NBA fans will laugh at you. He was named an NBA All-Star in 2004 after averaging 21.7 points and a career-best 5.0 rebounds a game. He is an NBA History buff that details the game from the 1960s all the way up to today. His stint with the Kings started in 2002 where he averaged 17.6 PPG and 5.4 APG over 7 seasons with the franchise. 1 of 25. 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. Height: 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Playing position: Striker. Playing for a middling Milwaukee Bucks squad throughout the 2000s, he led the team and was a fantastic all-around scorer. His presence on the early 2000s Kings teams was a perfect fit that put them over the top as a contender at the time. After two more seasons, he would win 6th Man of the Year with the Dallas Mavericks in 2004. 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. 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. He was one of the top players in the league until Gerald Wallace injured him. O'Neal had a very slow start to his career, before blossoming into an All-Star in his 6th season. Wallaces impact was truly measured when he was acquired by the Detroit Pistons midway through the 2004 season. Can you name any other player who only made the all-star game once in his career? Erteilung oder Widerruf von Einwilligungen, klicken Sie hier: Westbrook vs. KD beef Are They Cool Now? His best statistical season came in 2006-07, with a career-high 26.7 points per game. Career Stats: 13.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.6 BPG. His three hasn't been falling . 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. One last point on Cassell that bumps him higher on this list. Shareef solidified his role as a scoring power forward and was selected as an All-Star in the 2002 season, the lone career selection. In his best season in 2005/06 with Sacramento, Bibby helped the team make the playoffs, which is . With his ability to both score and pass the ball, Miller was must-watch television whenever he was in town. Personally, I believe it is a crime that Wallace is still not a basketball Hall Of Famer. His best season came in 2002 after being traded to Atlanta. But how many of those players make their first all-star team at 34 years old? 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. View Profile View Forum Posts In fact, I dont think I would have him on here if not for having the greatest NBA nickname of all time, Bad Porn.. During his early days in Seattle, Lewis took a bit to develop into the shooter and scorer he went down as. all of who are . 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. This honestly swayed an NBA championship, costing the Minnesota Timberwolves in their series against the Lakers, in which they were the better team. Again, ONeal might be remembered more for his last season with Golden State, just before the team ascended into the perennial dynasty. The following season in 2002-03, he was one of the best seasons of the decade for ANY player.