Arguably the coolest aspect of Kirinlenkoss career is his nickname, AK-47, referencing his Russian heritage and jersey number. 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. Ilgauskas struggled with injury the first few seasons of his career, missing his rookie season and 4th season with foot issues. We need to focus on exactly one year of Eltons career that solidifies his place on this list without a thought. For the first few seasons of his career, Jermaine O'Neal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. Davis was an explosive point guard who was a blur on the floor in open space. Richmond scored the 4th-most total points for the entire decade of the 90s , mainly with the Warriors and Kings. He was a menace on the defensive side of the ball as well, never shying away from a tough matchup or assignments. Seth Curry . Here were some of . 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. Your email address will not be published. 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. Latrell Sprewell was a great player. BYL's Most Underrated NBA Players of the 2000's Follow BYL and comment who we missed out on Who's the Most Underrated?? Agent 0 going into L.A. and dropping 60 on the Lakers. Three others that could be argued at a higher level (they do get plenty of respect, but perhaps not enough) are Vuc, Brogdon, and Jrue. As one of the original stretch forwards in the game, Lewis used both his size and shooting ability to become a scoring machine. Six seasons into his career in 2005, Lewis earned his first All-Star selection and first 20.0 PPG season. 20. Most Overrated NBA Players of All Time. #4 of 165. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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. Just 3 seasons later, he would become a 20.0 PPG scorer and an automatic 40.0% shooter from deep. 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. Dave McNally went 20-7, 24-9 and 21-5 from '60 to '71. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) He could rebound the ball well at 610 tall and his passing and court vision were a perfect recipe for success with how much those Kings teams liked to run. Mitch Richmond, Detlef Schrempf, and Vin Baker are among the underrated players from the 90s. 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. In fact, I dont think I would have him on here if not for having the greatest NBA nickname of all time, Bad Porn.. He finished 3rd in MVP voting and was arguably the best two-way player in basketball. One last point on Cassell that bumps him higher on this list. Required fields are marked *. There are dozens of underrated players most folks forget. One year later with the Kings, Miller would have a career year averaging 14.1 PPG and 10.3 RPG while making his second straight All-Star Team. 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. Basketball is one of the most loved sports worldwide. He averaged 16.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 4.0 APG on 45.6% shooting in just 57 games. We present our all-time underrated teams, those great teams which don't receive their proper respect in the historical archive. This reputation caused many to forget just how imp[actful Wallace was on the basketball court. He led the league in steals in 2004 with 2.4 SPG. Miller also had an All-Star season with the Pacers in 2003 where he averaged 13.1 PPG and 8.3 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. O'Neal's strongest season came in 2005 by averaging 24.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 2.0 BPG. Big Shot. Luckily for this list, his two all-star appearances occurred within the decade when he made the cut in both the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 seasons. Throughout the NBA 's history, there have been many overlooked and underrated players. He would have 5 more dominant scoring seasons for Milwaukee by averaging 23.0 PPG, 25.4 PPG, 26.7 PPG, 22.7 PPG, and 21.2 PPG. Alex Novick, NBA.com Global Editions (): Quick, name the only player other than David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon to average at least two . Forgive and forget and put Jermaine ONeal in the Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame. Forget the role in the fight. Mehmet Okur - Career Stats : 13.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.7 apg - Best season (2005-06) : 18.0 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.4 apg - Achievements : NBA Champion (2004), NBA All-Star (2007) - Best years were with the Jazz 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 . 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. Anyways. The Most Underrated NBA Player of the Early 2000s, Your email address will not be published. Pac-12 Mens Football Player of the Week 14 November 2022, Meet the Oregon High School Boys Soccer Stars This Week (November 7-13), College Roundup Monday: SMCC loses Womens Soccer Championship game, Indiana mens soccer wins national seed for ninth straight year The Bloomingtonian, The 3 Big 12 Freshmen in the Recent NBA Mock Draft, Reporter names surprising contender for NBA expansion franchise, MikeCheck: Jackson Jr. thrilled to be back as Grizzlies All-NBA defender looks to debut this season, NBA Players Association could file complaint against Nets Kyrie Irving, Jon Jones predicts hell say and again, Ciryl Gane aims to be the baddest man on the planet after UFC 285 final stare, Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane face off in the final showdown, Caesars Super Bowl 57 promo code gets you up to $1,250 in betting credits, Who is in Super Bowl 2023? . Brad Miller was a rare center in the 2000s because he had a consistent mid-range jump shot. 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. 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. Read that sentence again. As only the No.13 pick, Maggette is one of the most underrated players during his era due to his impact on the Clippers. In an era littered with talented point guards, Baron Davis was among the most exciting to watch play. Ron Artest, Metta World Peace, or his now legal name Metta Sandiford-Artest may surprise some on this list. In fact, Kirilenko was born in Izhevsk, where the weapon was first manufactured. With the NBA season approaching fast, there are a few players who haven't gotten the credit they deserve. 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. Even some players who did make it onto that stage, like Rashard Lewis and Richard Hamilton, arent remembered as reverently as they should be. 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. 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. Personally, I believe it is a crime that Wallace is still not a basketball Hall Of Famer. How many other players in NBA history have an argument for being both the best paint scorer and overall defender at the same time? 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. Wallaces presence propelled Detroit to an NBA championship where Wallace averaged 13.0 PPG and 7.8 RPG on the playoff run. 1) Kareem Abdul Jabbar. After being traded to the Sacramento Kings at the end of the 2000 season, he formed a potent shooting perimeter alongside Peja Stojakovi. His best statistical season came in 2006-07, with a career-high 26.7 points per game. By signing up, you agree to the our terms and our Privacy Policy agreement. While Redd played amazingly, the team finished the season with a horrible record28-54. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Was it worth it? The most underrated player in fantasy basketball this season has to be Gilgeous-Alexander. He averaged 16.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 4.0 APG on 45.6% shooting in just 57 games. 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. 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. Career Stats: 14.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG. re: Most Underrated NBA Players (Historically) Posted on 1/14/23 at 11:11 am to Gaggle. Think about Dennis Johnson of the 1980sthe dude was a five-time All-Star and a Finals MVP. By 2003, Ilgauskas was an All-Star and averaged 17.2 PPG and 7.5 RPG while adding 1.9 BPG. He would be forced to retire from the game at 27 years old. 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. His three hasn't been falling . His stint with the Kings started in 2002 where he averaged 17.6 PPG and 5.4 APG over 7 seasons with the franchise. Bottom Line: Otis Thorpe. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed ONeal into an MVP candidate. 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 . 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. all of who are . 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. He averaged a career-high of 26.7 points a game during the 2006-07 season. 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. 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 Landers mens soccer closes out the season with a penalty-kick loss to Florida Tech. Was he better than he is remembered? With his accurate 3-point shot and ability to pass the ball effectively, Stojakovidc would be a nightmare for defenses in todays game. Shaq and Chuck don't have the defense, although O'Neal did finish 3rd in the 2000 DPOY. 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. A small core of teams dominated the league in that era. Milwaukee took Redd with the 43 rd overall pick and the former Buckeye would go on to play 11 years with the franchise. He spent 3 seasons with the team and helped them transition to the City of New Orleans. Last time I did this series, 2 years ago, I had him as the most underrated SF in the league. 1 of 25. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. For the first few seasons of his NBA career, Billups bounced around until he found a home with the Detroit Pistons in 2003. He would improve his scoring over the next few seasons, boosting his scoring to a career-high 23.2 PPG during the 2006 season. Unfortunately for Christie, what should have been a fruitful career as a spot-up shooter quickly ended due to a litany of injuries. 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).. 15.9 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.7 BPG. In 2002, ONeal won the NBAs Most Improved Player award by averaging 17.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 1.6 BPG. Dating back to his time with the Pelicans, he was an All-Star level . Schrempf is often overlooked and considered one of the most underrated players in NBA history. Finley played on two of the premier Western Conference powerhouses over the decade, starting with Dallas and moving to San Antonio after being waived. Roy was impossible to keep up with in isolation. He finished 3rd in MVP voting and was arguably the best two-way player in basketball. Ilgauskas deserves so much more respect than modern-day fans give him. Center from Newark, New Jersey, United States of America. Billups name never comes up in Top 20 conversations as far as point guards go, let alone Top 10 lists. All the most overrated players in the NBA will be featured here to choose from. 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. The Clippers have always been the runt of LA. 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. Redd was consistently criticized for his lack of a complete game but his scoring was by far the best part of his game. Sure. Despite having the aura of a rugged workhorse, Kirilenko struggled with durability, usually finishing NBA seasons between 60-70 games played. He was a two-way mastermind who had a knack for coming through in a games biggest moments that earned him the nickname Mr. Mike Bibby is one of the most underrated basketball players of all time. Getting to the free throw line. These players tend to make their presence felt different than your average superstar, whether . Since the Trail Blazers drafted him in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft . For those of us that remember ONeal at his peak, we remember an undersized two-way beast for the Indiana Pacers who helped them nearly capture a championship in his heyday. Career Stats: 13.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.6 BPG. He would be forced to retire from the game at 27 years old. 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. Drafted with the No. . Roy attempted a comeback in 2013 but lasted just 5 games before calling it quits for good. 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. Richardson was drafted by the Clippers and had his best season in 2004 with the team averaging 17.2 PPG. Usually millions of dollars. He had a smooth lefty jumper that was as good as anyones in the game when he was on point. One of the best dunkers in NBA history, Richardson's athleticism often took eyes away from his all-around game. Redd had led Ohio State to a Final Four as a sophomore and was known as a proven scorer averaging 21.9, 19.5, and 17.5 points per game in his three seasons in Columbus. Championships: 0. Photo: Paul Popper. NBA underrated performers are one of the more challenging lists to rank. 1 seed Mavericks in 2007 but his career was so much more than one season. Cleveland's superstar is regarded as one of the greatest offensive players in NBA history. Scotty Bags. With the NBA season approaching fast, there are a few players who haven't gotten the credit they deserve. 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. 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. Sports Mania Asia lists five underrated NBA players between the late 1990s and early 2000s. An . Neither made an impact, with Lionel Chalmers never playing another NBA game. The assessment was based on how players performed during this decade and this decade ONLY (2000-2009). Well focus primarily on his most impactful seasons, from 2001-2004. Show Printable Version; Today, 04:33 PM #1. As a two-way player and one of the best athletes to ever play the game, Richardson was a gem in his prime. 50 Most Underrated NBA Players of All Time. Playing for a middling Milwaukee Bucks squad throughout the 2000s, he led the team and was a fantastic all-around scorer. 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. The Best Athletes Of All Time. Maggette had his best seasons during the 2004, 2005, and 2008 seasons. And when it comes to the 2000s, well, there are plenty of guys who deserved more love. George Hill . This reputation caused many to forget just how imp[actful Wallace was on the basketball court. Few players have taken the NBA by storm or altered the way teams play the game the way Curry has . Again, ONeal might be remembered more for his last season with Golden State, just before the team ascended into the perennial dynasty. 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. Yes, but just barely scratching this list. You can reach him via email:aaroncmansfield@gmail.com. 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. 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. That needs to begin to change after you read this piece. These are the most overrated players in NBA history.