most underrated nba players of the 2000s

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. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed ONeal into an MVP candidate. Peja Stojakovic is one of the better perimeter scorers of the 2000s decade. At his peak, he became one of the most prolific scorers in the league and ignited the spirit of the game back in the City Of Milwaukee. He peaked in 2007 when he averaged 26.7 PPG on 46.5% shooting. Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics. 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. Players like Russell Westbrook, John Wall, and Kyle Kuzma each get the overrated label due to playoff failures, huge contracts, or just being talked up more than their games can back up. He had a sweet jumper and smooth release that he could knock down from anywhere in front of half-court. And . When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. His jump shooting was his strongest attribute but unfortunately, his career took a dip after suffering injuries that never made him the same player after the 2009 season. Redd was also awarded a 3rd-Team All-NBA spot, giving Milwaukee hope that the young guard could take on the role open with Ray Allens departure. And when it comes to the 2000s, well, there are plenty of guys who deserved more love. Basketball is one of the most loved sports worldwide. He was also a big reason the Cavaliers were able to make the 2007 NBA Finals, being LeBron James favorite option on offense. The following season it came to fruition as Billups not only led the Pistons to a title but won Finals MVP in the process. 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. With his accurate 3-point shot and ability to pass the ball effectively, Stojakovidc would be a nightmare for defenses in todays game. Dave McNally went 20-7, 24-9 and 21-5 from '60 to '71. During his time with the New Orleans Hornets for 3 seasons, he averaged 20.2 PPG, 8.1 APG, and 2.0 SPG. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed O'Neal into an MVP candidate. 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. 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. He was selected only behind guards Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd, which is the greatest single accomplishment in his career. 50 Most Underrated NBA Players of All Time. Press Esc to cancel. Bottom Line: Otis Thorpe. As of early May, James and . 1. 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. If the season ended today, he'd be second in the NBA in fantasy points per game, but few think of him . Elton deserves this spot. 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. He had three All-NBA team selections, two thirds, and a second cap off his individual awards. Just 3 seasons later, he would become a 20.0 PPG scorer and an automatic 40.0% shooter from deep. Wallaces presence propelled Detroit to an NBA championship where Wallace averaged 13.0 PPG and 7.8 RPG on the playoff run. He led the league in steals in 2004 with 2.4 SPG. He was a nightmare for defenders to stop and an even bigger one to try and score on in the paint. In 2002, ONeal won the NBAs Most Improved Player award by averaging 17.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 1.6 BPG. We need to focus on exactly one year of Eltons career that solidifies his place on this list without a thought. In 2002, O'Neal won the NBA's Most Improved Player award by averaging 17.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 1.6 BPG. 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. He also made the All-Star Team and the All-NBA Third Team after a strong season with the Milwaukee Bucks. 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. Now, I could go up to as many as 25 maybe 30 players that are forgotten stars from the 2000's but i'm only going to focus on 12, enjoy. Latrell Sprewell was a great player. #6 of 290. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 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. 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 became the first Russian player selected in the first round and made the all-rookie team in his first year. The problem with most underrated NBA lists is too many of the players are, well, overrated. 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. With the trade of superstar Ray Allen, the Bucks fell off as one of the NBAs top teams, but the leading role was filled by Redd, who went on to average 21.7 points en route to his only All-Star appearance. The following season in 2002-03, he was one of the best seasons of the decade for ANY player. Elton Brand is the most underrated star of the 2000s because he managed to have 2 All-Star Seasons after being drafted No.1 in the 1999 Draft. 1 seed Mavericks in 2007 but his career was so much more than one season. Get ready to relive some of the best moments from the decade of the 2010s with the players who brought them to you. 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Ilgauskas wasnt the strongest in the post but he made up for it with a beautiful 6to 8-foot jumper that he had a beautiful touch on and was nearly automatic. That was the year Richardson became a solid 3-point shooter, as he nailed 38.4% of his threes. Getting to the free throw line. He would be forced to retire from the game at 27 years old. During his time in the NBA, Rasheed Wallace received a bad reputation as its resident bad boy. Big Shot. Creighton's the favorite, Jay Wright's no longer at Nova, and three more huge coaching changes set up a competitive chase in the Big East In fact, Kirilenko was born in Izhevsk, where the weapon was first manufactured. 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. The 2005-06 campaign. He made 3 straight All-Star games from 2002 through 2004 and averaged 21.7 PPG on 48.1% shooting over that time. 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. That needs to begin to change after you read this piece. Davis can be credited with sparking the We Believe Warriors to an upset win over the No. He began a stretch of six straight seasons in which he averaged at least 21 points a game. Redd shot a career 38.0% from three and his 6 straight years of scoring prowess rank him 3rd on this list. At 34 years of age, Cassell had his best year averaging 19-3-7, helping the downtrodden Minnesota franchise propel itself to #1 in the Western Conference Standings. 1. Mike Bibby is one of the most popular and respected point guards in NBA history. One of the best dunkers in NBA history, Richardson's athleticism often took eyes away from his all-around game. He made 3 straight All-Star games from 2002 through 2004 and averaged 21.7 PPG on 48.1% shooting over that time. He was a menace on the defensive side of the ball as well, never shying away from a tough matchup or assignments. During his 3rd season in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miller led the NBA in assists with 10.9 APG to go with 16.5 PPG and 1.6 SPG. He had a sweet jumper and smooth release that he could knock down from anywhere in front of half-court. For the first few seasons of his career, Jermaine ONeal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. He had a smooth lefty jumper that was as good as anyones in the game when he was on point. Averaging 16.0 PPG, he is one of the most recognizable offensive players for the Clippers over the last 20 years. Shareef could never take that next step up to consistent superstardom, and despite forming a talented trio alongside Glenn Robinson and Jason Terry, the Hawks never sniffed the playoffs. He was a tough forward who played hard-nosed defense and never backed down from any challenge. His three hasn't been falling . 1 seed Mavericks in 2007 but his career was so much more than one season. Forget the role in the fight. 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. 8. 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: 1989-2002. Thats why hes the first name on this list. The most underrated scene in 'The Last Dance' was ___. But looking at his career as a whole, Jamison was an All-Star caliber talent. And when you peak to the point, you can be compared to the greatest power forward of all time. 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. From2004 through 2009, Redd battled injuries and bumps but still averaged at least 21.0 PPG every season. Malcolm Brogdon might have the quietest 20/6/6 stat line in the NBA. He doubled as the leagues premier perimeter defenderwinning the Defensive Player of the Year Awardhaving a rare combination of strength, size, and speed that allowed him to keep up with quicker, smaller guards; and be a physical presence to stop bigger small-forward bruiser type scorers. He averaged 21.2 points a game that season and would never be the same. Required fields are marked *. In an era littered with talented point guards, Baron Davis was among the most exciting to watch play. He averaged a career-high of 26.7 points a game during the 2006-07 season. Miller had solid shooting numbers for a big man at that time, finishing with career averages of 80.4% from the line and 48.0% from the field. The play at power forward saw him have a couple of All-Star seasons. 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. . The Top NBA Players Of All Time. Height: 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Playing position: Striker. Peja is one player that would have been awesome to watch in the current NBA era. Redd was consistently criticized for his lack of a complete game but his scoring was by far the best part of his game. Still, ONeal was a franchise centerpiece to a team that consistently made the postseason, so he deserves his spot on this list. I will say it here and now. 1. Redd blossomed as a scorer in his 4th season, averaging 21.7 PPG on 35.0% shooting from three. As the all-time and single-season leader in technical fouls, how could he not? But how many of those players make their first all-star team at 34 years old? Miller would go on to play 5 more seasons with Sacramento. Theres been a lot of former all-stars. Redd fell behind Ray Allen on the depth chart and barely appeared during his rookie season but came on strong in his sophomore campaign. 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. The top 10 players in the NBA according to ISH posters in August of 2000; Results 1 to 1 of 1 Thread: The top 10 players in the NBA according to ISH posters in August of 2000. Davis began his career as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. Magic Johnson. 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. 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 would lead the league in steals once more in 2007 with the Warriors with 2.1 SPG. 10 James Lofton. 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. He tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee after playing just 33 games. View Profile View Forum Posts 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. 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. 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. Photo: Paul Popper. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Cleveland's superstar is regarded as one of the greatest offensive players in NBA history. Landers mens soccer closes out the season with a penalty-kick loss to Florida Tech. Right off the bat, you can tell Rashard Lewis is highly underrated simply by his lack of accolades to his name. It is borderline insanity that Miller was never even honored with an All-Star selection and for that, he is the 3rd most underrated player of the 200s decade. Of course, this was never true with the likes of Shaquille ONeal and Tim Duncan hanging around, but the conversation wasnt an insane one to have. 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. In the Finals against the Lakers, Billups averaged 21.0 PPG, 5.2 APG, and 3.2 RPG in the 5-game series to win the championship.

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