Basketball Time Machine 1 seed Mavericks in 2007 but his career was so much more than one season. And Pascal Siakam continues to have one of the league's more underrated individual campaigns (perhaps because Toronto had . Top 5 most underrated NBA players so far this season: PG - Malcolm Brogdon, Indiana Pacers. The draw of Finley was his consistency and availability. 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 . This season encapsulates why Redd isnt any higher on this list. View Profile View Forum Posts Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. 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 . 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. 7 min read. This reputation caused many to forget just how imp[actful Wallace was on the basketball court. Thats not that tough. Drafted with the No. 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. There are dozens of underrated players most folks forget. With his accurate 3-point shot and ability to pass the ball effectively, Stojakovidc would be a nightmare for defenses in todays game. He could put the ball on the floor and get by defenders relatively easily and it made him a true three-level threat. Getting to the free throw line. 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. And make it not as a lifetime achievement award or an injury replacement, but during what would be a 2nd Team All-NBA season? He was a two-way mastermind who had a knack for coming through in a games biggest moments that earned him the nickname Mr. Obviously, we have to mention the Malice at the Palace incident that saw him miss the entirety of the 2004-05 season with Indiana. He drove, he shot, and he played a little selfishly. That season he averaged 16.2 PPG and it was clear that the Pistons had their championship point guard. . Photo: Paul Popper. Championships: 0. You can reach him via email:aaroncmansfield@gmail.com. Usually millions of dollars. 10 James Lofton. Here is a look at the most underrated soccer players of all time. 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. A team dwarfed by the sheer size, glamor, and continued excellence in the shared city. He became the first Russian player selected in the first round and made the all-rookie team in his first year. 6. 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. 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. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed ONeal 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. 1. 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. Career Stats: 19.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG. Billups finished his career a 5x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team selection, and a 3x All-Defensive Team selection. Thats why hes the first name on this list. 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. Lewis was one of the NBAs top shooters for years with 8 seasons ranked in the Top 20 for 3-pointers made. He was a menace on the defensive side of the ball as well, never shying away from a tough matchup or assignments. In an era littered with talented point guards, Baron Davis was among the most exciting to watch play. Iverson was an MVP, an 11-time All-Star, and a four-time scoring champion . 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. 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. Cleveland's superstar is regarded as one of the greatest offensive players in NBA history. He was also a big reason the Cavaliers were able to make the 2007 NBA Finals, being LeBron James favorite option on offense. As we entered the 2000s, NBA fans were left with the question of who was going to. 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. A small core of teams dominated the league in that era. 2023 profootballspace. 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. 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. George Hill . He averaged 20.1 PPG and 10.0 RPG in his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls, making the All-Rookie Team. Richardson was a solid scorer throughout his career and was a very capable defender. Since the Trail Blazers drafted him in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft . The most underrated player in fantasy basketball this season has to be Gilgeous-Alexander. In every season in which he started over 60 games for one of his 9 NBA teams, he earned at least 6.0 APG. Expectations are high for every player in the league, and the overrated label . He was a nightmare for defenders to stop and an even bigger one to try and score on in the paint. Yes, but just barely scratching this list. Lewis retired with the Miami Heat in 2014, one year after adding an NBA championship to his already impressive resume. Due to a knee condition that basically deteriorated his knee cartilage as time went on, we were only able to experience 3 real years of his peak. Mitch Richmond, Detlef Schrempf, and Vin Baker are among the underrated players from the 90s. BYL's Most Underrated NBA Players of the 2000's Follow BYL and comment who we missed out on Who's the Most Underrated?? To narrow down the list to 10 underrated players in the whole decade is about as tough as it gets. He could put the ball on the floor and get by defenders relatively easily and it made him a true three-level threat. In an era littered with talented point guards, Baron Davis was among the most exciting to watch play. 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 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. Roy would begin to experience his downfall by 2011, just his 5th season in the league. He was so fast with his first step off of the dribble and even faster once he got headed toward the basket. I have never seen a Finals MVP and a more impactful point guard be overlooked in NBA history more than Chauncey Billups. 11. 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. Looking at the 2000s specifically, many All-Star caliber players did not get the recognition they deserved. Big Shot. Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports. 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) . He had a smooth lefty jumper that was as good as anyones in the game when he was on point. With only one more high-scoring season under his belt, 22.7 points per game, Redd would suffer a torn ACL and MCL injury that would significantly impact the rest of his career. With his ability to both score and pass the ball, Miller was must-watch television whenever he was in town. We need to focus on exactly one year of Eltons career that solidifies his place on this list without a thought. One of the most outspoken NBA analysts in the media, Stephen Jackson was a player that his teammates absolutely loved. Last time I did this series, 2 years ago, I had him as the most underrated SF in the league. He was so good that Pacers fans couldrealistically argue that he was the best big man in the league. Dave McNally went 20-7, 24-9 and 21-5 from '60 to '71. His three hasn't been falling . Andrei Kirilenko was a prototype of what the modern-day NBA landscape now values above all else; versatility. Press Esc to cancel. Roy was a special talent on offense confirmed by some of the greats such as Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant. 32786 posts. 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. The following season it came to fruition as Billups not only led the Pistons to a title but won Finals MVP in the process. Doug Christie. He was a tough forward who played hard-nosed defense and never backed down from any challenge. You have the heartbreaking series between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2002 Western Conference Finals series. As one of the original stretch forwards in the game, Lewis used both his size and shooting ability to become a scoring machine. Roy attempted a comeback in 2013 but lasted just 5 games before calling it quits for good. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) 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. Bibby made the All-Rookie Team in 1999, averaging 13.2 PPG and 6.5 APG for the Vancouver Grizzlies. By the time his 4th season in 2004 came around, Redd was an All-Star and a consistent and efficient 20.0 PPG scorer. He has been married to Clarenda Harris since September 12, 2006. But looking at his career as a whole, Jamison was an All-Star caliber talent. 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 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. But despite this, you should know that Jermaine ONeal was a beast. In 2002, O'Neal won the NBA's Most Improved Player award by averaging 17.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 1.6 BPG. Image via Complex Original. . We dont even have to look at career averages or anything. Wallaces impact was truly measured when he was acquired by the Detroit Pistons midway through the 2004 season. 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. He was selected only behind guards Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd, which is the greatest single accomplishment in his career. He had three All-NBA team selections, two thirds, and a second cap off his individual awards. Finley played on two of the premier Western Conference powerhouses over the decade, starting with Dallas and moving to San Antonio after being waived. 1 of 25. Besides the obvious suspension from the Malice incident, Jermaine didnt reach a higher level because of a lack of real playoff success and a subpar field goal percentage for a big man. Peja Stojakovic is one of the better perimeter scorers of the 2000s decade. 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. He was also a big reason the Cavaliers were able to make the 2007 NBA Finals, being LeBron James favorite option on offense. But how many of those players make their first all-star team at 34 years old? Tracy McGrady was born on May 24, 1979 in Bartow, Florida, USA. 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. Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive. He was the baby Bryant from across the LA freeway. #NBA #NBATwitter #BYL #NBAPicks #Goats #Underrated. For the first few seasons of his career, Jermaine ONeal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. Scotty Bags. Career Stats: 12.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG. Mitch Richmond is one of the most electric yet underrated players of the 90s. He was never the same. 20. O'Neal's strongest season came in 2005 by averaging 24.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 2.0 BPG. Cameron Smith will be the first Players Championship winner since Tiger Woods in 2014 to not defend his title at the Players . Unfortunately, his fantastic rookie campaign was lost in history behind a similar scoring guard in Allen Iverson, but it was easy to see the skill and talent Shareef possessed. His 2000s were spent with the Utah Jazz, playing alongside Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer. Arguably the coolest aspect of Kirinlenkoss career is his nickname, AK-47, referencing his Russian heritage and jersey number. He won the Rookie of the Year award with the least games played in history to win the award. Vancouver Grizzlies (1997-98), Washington Wizards (1998-99), Miami Heat (1990-2000), Charlotte Hornets (2000-01) All-Star Games: 2001. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed O'Neal into an MVP candidate. By signing up, you agree to the our terms and our Privacy Policy agreement. His three years stretch from 2001-04 saw him average 22-6-2, make the All-Star team every year, and even get him a spot on the 2nd Team All-NBA squad. 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. www.basketball-timemachine.com. Michael Jordan and Karl Malone greet each other before Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 1, 1997, at the United Center. He's got some recognition since then, but he still isn't as respected as he should. I have never seen a Finals MVP and a more impactful point guard be overlooked in NBA history more than Chauncey Billups. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Get the latest sports news from SportsSite about soccer, football and tennis. He began a stretch of six straight seasons in which he averaged at least 21 points a game. 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. Vancouver selected Abdur-Rahim third overall, and he immediately became the teams leading scorer. James demonstrated this when he surpassed Patrick Ewing for 20th place on the NBA's all-time scoring 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. 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. Including averaging 10 attempts at the line per game when he averaged 22 points per game in his 2004-05 season. Forgive and forget and put Jermaine ONeal in the Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame. The problem with most underrated NBA lists is too many of the players are, well, overrated. 1 seed Mavericks in 2007 but his career was so much more than one season. Redd returned the following season but re-injured the same knee tearing the ACL again. He also made the All-Star Team and the All-NBA Third Team after a strong season with the Milwaukee Bucks. Ilgauskas deserves so much more respect than modern-day fans give him. Just 3 seasons later, he would become a 20.0 PPG scorer and an automatic 40.0% shooter from deep. Sports Mania Asia lists five underrated NBA players between the late 1990s and early 2000s. re: Most Underrated NBA Players (Historically) Posted on 1/14/23 at 11:11 am to Gaggle. Some players on this list, like Mehmet Okur and Doug Christie, are, sadly, likely unknown to the young NBA fans of today. Ron Artest, Metta World Peace, or his now legal name Metta Sandiford-Artest may surprise some on this list. 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. 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 . 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. Iverson took the fourth most shots per game in NBA history and is the worst-shooting volume chucker in the modern NBA. By 2003, Ilgauskas was an All-Star and averaged 17.2 PPG and 7.5 RPG while adding 1.9 BPG. And . Fat Lever (#14) was Russell Westbrook before Westbrook. 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. Elton is perfect for this list. Roy was impossible to keep up with in isolation. Height: 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Playing position: Striker. Me and other NBA analysts and NBA content creators have said it before and we will keep on saying it, Robert Covington is the DEFINITION of the NBA 3&D player. 1969-1971 . 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. In his next season, he averaged 22 points per game to go with 7 rebounds. He would lead the league in steals once more in 2007 with the Warriors with 2.1 SPG. 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. We present our all-time underrated teams, those great teams which don't receive their proper respect in the historical archive. Giannis and LeBron? Was he good enough that its a travesty that his name isnt among the great scorers in the history of the NBA?
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