The problem with most underrated NBA lists is too many of the players are, well, overrated. That should be considered common sense considering NBA players peak from 25-30 years old. Richardson made the All-Rookie Team in 2001 by averaging 14.4 PPG and 4.3 RPG for the Golden State Warriors. O'Neal's strongest season came in 2005 by averaging 24.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 2.0 BPG. Malcolm Brogdon might have the quietest 20/6/6 stat line in the NBA. With the NBA season approaching fast, there are a few players who haven't gotten the credit they deserve. 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. Michael Redd is another interesting 2000s player. 1969-1971 . 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. 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. Career Stats: 18.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.3 BPG. We have seen a host of very talented yet underappreciated stars during the past 20 years. In 2002, ONeal won the NBAs Most Improved Player award by averaging 17.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 1.6 BPG. That was the year Richardson became a solid 3-point shooter, as he nailed 38.4% of his threes. 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 To narrow down the list to 10 underrated players in the whole decade is about as tough as it gets. 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. He picked up three Second Team All-Defenses and one First Team All-Defense. Doug Christie. . When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. 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 . 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. He led the league in steals in 2004 with 2.4 SPG. Championships: 0. For his career, Redd shot 38.0% from three and 44.7% overall. Jamison would then form part of a consistent team with the Wizards, making 2 All-Star Teams during his tenure there and solidifying himself as one of the best power forwards in the NBA during his time. He would be forced to retire from the game at 27 years old. Scottie Pippen is #15 on this list and would have been much higher a decade ago, but recent lists have been very kind to Pippen and have listed the versatile defensive small forward in the top twenty of all-time (which we believe is way too high for a player with his numbers).. When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. George Hill . 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. Injuries were a concern throughout Pejas career, especially in the second half of his NBA lifespan. 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. The following season in 2002-03, he was one of the best seasons of the decade for ANY player. Bibby made the All-Rookie Team in 1999, averaging 13.2 PPG and 6.5 APG for the Vancouver Grizzlies. 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. For the first few seasons of his NBA career, Billups bounced around until he found a home with the Detroit Pistons in 2003. 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 . He made 3 straight All-Star games from 2002 through 2004 and averaged 21.7 PPG on 48.1% shooting over that time. 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. The following season in 2002-03, he was one of the best seasons of the decade for ANY player. Last time I did this series, 2 years ago, I had him as the most underrated SF in the league. Designed by profootballspace. 5 pick in the 2001 draft, Richardson was expected to be one of the most impactful shooting guards in the NBA and he was certainly underappreciated in his time. Career Stats: 19.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG, Career Achievements: 1x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection. 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. Even some players who did make it onto that stage, like Rashard Lewis and Richard Hamilton, arent remembered as reverently as they should be. Davis can be credited with sparking the We Believe Warriors to an upset win over the No. He made the All-Star game and was selected to the All NBA-Third Team. Anyways. 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. He would have a few more All-Star seasons with Indiana but after the 2004 brawl in Detroit, the damage had been done to his stance within the league. This is the plight of DeMar DeRozanhes criminally underrated, and probably will be for his entire career. Redd blossomed as a scorer in his 4th season, averaging 21.7 PPG on 35.0% shooting from three. #6 of 290. Nine seasons into his career, the former USC Trojan has finally found his stride and established himself as one of the NBAs top guards. Ron Artest, Metta World Peace, or his now legal name Metta Sandiford-Artest may surprise some on this list. For the first few seasons of his career, Jermaine O'Neal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. Glen Rice was a three-time All-Star and won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000. . During his early days in Seattle, Lewis took a bit to develop into the shooter and scorer he went down as. That needs to begin to change after you read this piece. 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. Trevor Ariza. In his first season in Los Angeles, he made his first All-Star Team. Teams: Nets . Photo: Paul Popper. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) . In fact, he was voted 4th overall in the 2003-04 MVP race, beating out the aforementioned shooting guard on the Lakers. Elton deserves this spot. 4 pick in the 1998 draft, Jamison made the All-Rookie Team with the Warriors averaging 9.6 PPG and 6.4 RPG. Corey Maggette was the player version of the Los Angeles Lakers/Los Angeles Clippers relationship in that he was the Walmart version of Kobe Bryant. Well focus primarily on his most impactful seasons, from 2001-2004. With talk of which NBA players are the most underrated right making the rounds on social media this week, we thought it would be a good time to come up with our own All-Underrated Team for the . 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. Iverson took the fourth most shots per game in NBA history and is the worst-shooting volume chucker in the modern NBA. I have never seen a Finals MVP and a more impactful point guard be overlooked in NBA history more than Chauncey Billups. As the all-time and single-season leader in technical fouls, how could he not? He was never the same. 15.9 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.7 BPG. Jackson's role in the Warriors upset over the #1 seed Dallas Mavericks will forever be remembered. One last point on Cassell that bumps him higher on this list. 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. The 2000s-era NBA was one of the more bizarre representations of basketball one could imagine. With his ability to both score and pass the ball, Miller was must-watch television whenever he was in town. Injury replacements, lifetime achievement awards, and many players that might not entirely deserve it. 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. He was so fast with his first step off of the dribble and even faster once he got headed toward the basket. As we entered the 2000s, NBA fans were left with the question of who was going to. 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. 1 of 25. You can reach him via email:aaroncmansfield@gmail.com. The little brother. The Clippers have always been the runt of LA. Sure. He's got some recognition since then, but he still isn't as respected as he should. Thats why hes the first name on this list. 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. Shaq and Chuck don't have the defense, although O'Neal did finish 3rd in the 2000 DPOY. 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. Milwaukee took Redd with the 43 rd overall pick and the former Buckeye would go on to play 11 years with the franchise. That needs to begin to change after you read this piece. Read that sentence again. Richardson was drafted by the Clippers and had his best season in 2004 with the team averaging 17.2 PPG. You would have expected Peja to become a lethal off-the-bench shooter, but from 2008 until he retired, he never seemed to get more than 60 games played. Like many on this list, the 2003-04 season was the best of Rons career. Career Stats: 19.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG. His presence on the early 2000s Kings teams was a perfect fit that put them over the top as a contender at the time. He was a two-way mastermind who had a knack for coming through in a games biggest moments that earned him the nickname Mr. Playing for a middling Milwaukee Bucks squad throughout the 2000s, he led the team and was a fantastic all-around scorer. 4. Wilt Chamberlain. By the time his 4th season in 2004 came around, Redd was an All-Star and a consistent and efficient 20.0 PPG scorer. O'Neal would average a double-double over the next 2 seasons in Indiana, and make 5 straight All-Star Teams. Maybe. Career Stats: 18.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.3 BPG. Career highlights and awards * NBA champion (2011) * NBA Finals MVP (2011) * NBA Most Valuable Player (2007) * 14 NBA All-Star (2002-2012, 2014, 2015, 2019) * 4 All-NBA First Team (2005-2007, 2009) * 5 All-NBA Second Team (2002, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2011) . Here were some of . 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. By 2003, Ilgauskas was an All-Star and averaged 17.2 PPG and 7.5 RPG while adding 1.9 BPG. Peja Stojakovic is one of the better perimeter scorers of the 2000s decade. A team dwarfed by the sheer size, glamor, and continued excellence in the shared city. Redd had led Ohio State to a Final Four as a . Gilbert Arenas. 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. 3. He was an entertaining player, scorer, and consistent all-star-level talent in the 90s. Complex Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. We need to focus on exactly one year of Eltons career that solidifies his place on this list without a thought. 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. Was he good enough that its a travesty that his name isnt among the great scorers in the history of the NBA? NFL NBA Megan Anderson Atlanta Hawks Los Angeles Lakers Boston Celtics Arsenal F.C. 1 seed Mavericks in 2007 but his career was so much more than one season. I say yes. He could put the ball on the floor and get by defenders relatively easily and it made him a true three-level threat. Career Achievements: 1x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection. Even in his later years when his scoring dropped, there was little drop-off in Kidd's assist or steal numbers. Mike Bibby is one of the most underrated basketball players of all time. Before this career year, Cassell bounced around as a competent floor general, never finding a true home with a team and playing for eight franchises over a nineteen-year career. He led the league in steals in 2004 with 2.4 SPG. For some reason, ONeal was vilified relentlessly for his role in the brawl and his reputation has taken years to recover. That could not be further from the truth as Ilgauskas was a solid two-way big man who helped LeBron James adapt to the NBA. Jackson is mainly known for his stints with the Indiana Pacers and the Golden State Warriors. The 2000s were a period in the NBA that featured the rise of some of the greatest players to ever play the game, including LeBron James , Kobe Bryant , Dwyane Wade , Kevin Garnett , Tim Duncan and . 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. You had a fashion that today would be laughed at, baggy jeans, shirts, shorts, and fabrics flying down the court. Career Stats: 13.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.6 BPG. Date of birth: February 1, 1969. Basketball Time Machine For years now, Jrue Holiday has been widely regarded as the most underrated player in NBA. Giannis and LeBron? 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. From2004 through 2009, Redd battled injuries and bumps but still averaged at least 21.0 PPG every season. A look at those who were ranked too high and too low in the preseason Coaches Poll released Tuesday For the first few seasons of his NBA career, Billups bounced around until he found a home with the Detroit Pistons in 2003. Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics. He won the Rookie of the Year award with the least games played in history to win the award. Im Still Ballin. With his accurate 3-point shot and ability to pass the ball effectively, Stojakovidc would be a nightmare for defenses in todays game. Vancouver selected Abdur-Rahim third overall, and he immediately became the teams leading scorer. The assessment was based on how players performed during this decade and this decade ONLY (2000-2009). Lofton was the first player in NFL history to accumulate 14,000 receiving yards. He peaked in 2007 when he averaged 26.7 PPG on 46.5% shooting. Looking at the 2000s specifically, many All-Star caliber players did not get the recognition they deserved. Redd became an even more prolific scorer in the seasons that followed. Unfortunately for Christie, what should have been a fruitful career as a spot-up shooter quickly ended due to a litany of injuries. Thats not that tough. He could dominate the game on both sides from the low block, he possessed a turnaround jumper that was as unblockable as DIrks fadeaway, and he was a defensive nightmare for opponents nightly. Iverson was an MVP, an 11-time All-Star, and a four-time scoring champion . Peja Stojakovi. Roy attempted a comeback in 2013 but lasted just 5 games before calling it quits for good. Peja Stojakovic is one of the better perimeter scorers of the 2000s decade. One of the most valuable roleplayers in the early part of the decade, Doug Christie, was a deadeye shooter that brought it at an all-defensive level on the other end. Aaron Mansfield, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Merrimack College. 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. Here is our list of 12 of the most underrated players in the NBA today. His best seasons come while playing for teams that arent popular or mainstream. He epitomized, you dont know what youve got till its gone.. Other Underrated NBA Players for 2021-22. Top 5 most underrated NBA players so far this season: PG - Malcolm Brogdon, Indiana Pacers. In his next season, he averaged 22 points per game to go with 7 rebounds. For some reason, ONeal was vilified relentlessly for his role in the brawl and his reputation has taken years to recover. Can you name any other player who only made the all-star game once in his career? 1. Still, you dont hear much talk about the years the Clippers might have been the championship favorite.
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