He was the first NBA player to bring in the big balls dance celebration, injuring his groin. Miller also had an All-Star season with the Pacers in 2003 where he averaged 13.1 PPG and 8.3 RPG. Read that sentence again. He averaged 16.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 4.0 APG on 45.6% shooting in just 57 games. Shaq and Chuck don't have the defense, although O'Neal did finish 3rd in the 2000 DPOY. Lofton was the first player in NFL history to accumulate 14,000 receiving yards. He made the All-Star game and was selected to the All NBA-Third Team. As the all-time and single-season leader in technical fouls, how could he not? The players listed here may be relatively unknown, underappreciated, or underrated in terms of not making the elite lists of other football raters. Honestly, call him the Russian Lebron James. When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. 11. Aaron Mansfield, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Merrimack College. He was a scorer, plain and simple. 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. By 2003, Ilgauskas was an All-Star and averaged 17.2 PPG and 7.5 RPG while adding 1.9 BPG. Personally, I believe it is a crime that Wallace is still not a basketball Hall Of Famer. The assessment was based on how players performed during this decade and this decade ONLY (2000-2009). The following season in 2002-03, he was one of the best seasons of the decade for ANY player. But for now, Lillard looks like the young PG with the most potential to grow into the best point guard of his era. O'Neal would average a double-double over the next 2 seasons in Indiana, and make 5 straight All-Star Teams. 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. 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 was a nightmare for defenders to stop and an even bigger one to try and score on in the paint. Bottom Line: Otis Thorpe. He was so fast with his first step off of the dribble and even faster once he got headed toward the basket. For the first few seasons of his NBA career, Billups bounced around until he found a home with the Detroit Pistons in 2003. This season encapsulates why Redd isnt any higher on this list. 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 didnt have the chance to display his scoring prowess during his first season in Milwaukee since he was playing behind the great Ray Allen. He was the first NBA player to bring in the big balls dance celebration, injuring his groin, The 12 Most Underrated NBA Players of the 2010s, This Millennial Transformed One Rental Property Into A Multi-Million Dollar Empire, 10 Entrepreneurs Share Their Best Beauty Business Tips And Secrets. Richardson was drafted by the Clippers and had his best season in 2004 with the team averaging 17.2 PPG. Career Stats: 14.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG. The Most Underrated NBA Player of the Early 2000s. He has been married to Clarenda Harris since September 12, 2006. 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. With his ability to both score and pass the ball, Miller was must-watch television whenever he was in town. He had a sweet jumper and smooth release that he could knock down from anywhere in front of half-court. His most valuable skill? My point is that after further analysis, it becomes apparent that the top five point guards, right now . The Clippers have always been the runt of LA. 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. Oh, and Google his insane back tattoo. Finley played on two of the premier Western Conference powerhouses over the decade, starting with Dallas and moving to San Antonio after being waived. Due to the emergence of other superstars like Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, LeBron James, and Tracy McGrady, many other solid players who had massive success in the decade have flown under the radar as time has gone on. Roy attempted a comeback in 2013 but lasted just 5 games before calling it quits for good. Alex Novick, NBA.com Global Editions (): Quick, name the only player other than David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon to average at least two . When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. Defensively he was excellent, making an NBA All-Defensive Team three times. Theres been a lot of former all-stars. He drove, he shot, and he played a little selfishly. 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. ONeal is an excellent example of the circumstances most players on these lists go through during their careers. For the first few seasons of his career, Jermaine ONeal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. Redd blossomed as a scorer in his 4th season, averaging 21.7 PPG on 35.0% shooting from three. 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. With his ability to both score and pass the ball, Miller was must-watch television whenever he was in town. 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. Again, ONeal might be remembered more for his last season with Golden State, just before the team ascended into the perennial dynasty. Roy would begin to experience his downfall by 2011, just his 5th season in the league. 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. Would the Clippers have been able to dispatch the Mavericks in the next round? The most underrated player in fantasy basketball this season has to be Gilgeous-Alexander. He was the spiritual successor to Dennis Rodman, released music featured in NBA 2K, and is infamous for his antics on-and-off court. He epitomized, you dont know what youve got till its gone.. 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. Injury replacements, lifetime achievement awards, and many players that might not entirely deserve it. Forget the role in the fight. Jackson is mainly known for his stints with the Indiana Pacers and the Golden State Warriors. Here are the 10 most underrated stars during the 2000s. Elton deserves this spot. George Hill . Thread Tools. Andrei Kirilenko was a prototype of what the modern-day NBA landscape now values above all else; versatility. He spent 3 seasons with the team and helped them transition to the City of New Orleans. He also made the All-Star Team and the All-NBA Third Team after a strong season with the Milwaukee Bucks. He is an actor and writer, known for Like Mike (2002), Arli$$ (1996) and Adidas Originals: Superstar - Change Is a Team Sport (2020). Your email address will not be published. The Most UNDERRATED NBA Players Of The 2000s..Welcome back to Sports Savvy. He peaked in 2007 when he averaged 26.7 PPG on 46.5% shooting. As one of the original stretch forwards in the game, Lewis used both his size and shooting ability to become a scoring machine. #4 of 165. Wilt Chamberlain. 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. NBA underrated performers are one of the more challenging lists to rank. From2004 through 2009, Redd battled injuries and bumps but still averaged at least 21.0 PPG every season. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); My name is Hayden, and I'm a digital marketing consultant. In nine of his last ten NBA seasons, James has scored at least 2,000 points. He would be forced to retire from the game at 27 years old. COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. 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. 10. During his time with the New Orleans Hornets for 3 seasons, he averaged 20.2 PPG, 8.1 APG, and 2.0 SPG. 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. 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. That's why he's the first name on this list. He would lead the league in steals once more in 2007 with the Warriors with 2.1 SPG. Vancouver Grizzlies (1997-98), Washington Wizards (1998-99), Miami Heat (1990-2000), Charlotte Hornets (2000-01) All-Star Games: 2001. In a season sandwiched between two non-playoff years, Elton Brand and the Clippers lost in seven games to the Phoenix Suns. Ilgauskas struggled with injury the first few seasons of his career, missing his rookie season and 4th season with foot issues. He won the Rookie of the Year award with the least games played in history to win the award. During his early days in Seattle, Lewis took a bit to develop into the shooter and scorer he went down as. He played in just 18 games and then 10 more in 2010-11. Drafted with the No. Roy was destined to be a star from his first season in the NBA. This honestly swayed an NBA championship, costing the Minnesota Timberwolves in their series against the Lakers, in which they were the better team. 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. Maybe. 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. He finished 3rd in MVP voting and was arguably the best two-way player in basketball. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed O'Neal into an MVP candidate. Anyways. One year later, he joined the Phoenix Suns where he averaged 14.9 PPG on 35.8% shooting from three. I have never seen a Finals MVP and a more impactful point guard be overlooked in NBA history more than Chauncey Billups. He could put the ball on the floor and get by defenders relatively easily and it made him a true three-level threat. 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. Davis began his career as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. 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 . 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. 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. Michael Jordan and Karl Malone greet each other before Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 1, 1997, at the United Center. 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. As of early May, James and . You have Kevin Garnetts MVP and Western Conference Finals season with the Wolves. Brand lasted two more seasons at an elite level with the Clippers before age and attrition took a toll on his body. 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. Well, that counts for something, right? 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. 2023 profootballspace. Ronald Koeman - Barcelona. The draw of Finley was his consistency and availability. James Lofton is one of many cases of players being in the Hall of Fame and nevertheless being vastly underrated when compared with others who played the position. Six seasons into his career in 2005, Lewis earned his first All-Star selection and first 20.0 PPG season. Ilgauskas deserves so much more respect than modern-day fans give him. 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. The 2000s-era NBA was one of the more bizarre representations of basketball one could imagine. 8 Most Expensive Kevin Garnett Basketball Cards, Title 15 Most Expensive Diamonds in the World. Roy was impossible to keep up with in isolation. 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. 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. They say the best ability is availability, and Finley did just that. Sacramento picked Pedrag Stojakovi at the 1996 NBA rookie draft while still playing in Greece. 1 seed Mavericks in 2007 but his career was so much more than one season. 32786 posts. Over time, Kidd improved as a shooter and scorer, so by the year 2000, he was arguably the most well-rounded point guard in the NBA. Miller played 14 seasons in the NBA, mainly for the Kings and Bulls. 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. Get the latest sports news from SportsSite about soccer, football and tennis. 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 . 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. In every season in which he started over 60 games for one of his 9 NBA teams, he earned at least 6.0 APG. Complex Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Miller was as good as it gets running an NBA offense and he was one heck of a playmaker. 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. By the time his 4th season in 2004 came around, Redd was an All-Star and a consistent and efficient 20.0 PPG scorer. 3. His three hasn't been falling . 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. Thats not that tough. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. Basketball is one of the most loved sports worldwide. Big Shot. He would lead the league in steals once more in 2007 with the Warriors with 2.1 SPG. His best statistical season came in 2006-07, with a career-high 26.7 points per game. Expectations are high for every player in the league, and the overrated label . In fact, he was voted 4th overall in the 2003-04 MVP race, beating out the aforementioned shooting guard on the Lakers. Zum ndern Ihrer Datenschutzeinstellung, z.B. He was never the same. 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. Lewis retired with the Miami Heat in 2014, one year after adding an NBA championship to his already impressive resume. He was so good that Pacers fans couldrealistically argue that he was the best big man in the league. Nick Mac is an NBA Writer with over 5 years of experience in journalism. That season he averaged 16.2 PPG and it was clear that the Pistons had their championship point guard. Required fields are marked *. In fact, I dont think I would have him on here if not for having the greatest NBA nickname of all time, Bad Porn.. 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. By the time his 4th season in 2004 came around, Redd was an All-Star and a consistent and efficient 20.0 PPG scorer. 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. 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. By his fourth season with the Bucks, Allen was gone and Redd was a starter. 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. During his time in the NBA, Rasheed Wallace received a bad reputation as its resident bad boy. All the most overrated players in the NBA will be featured here to choose from. 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. 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. Injuries were a concern throughout Pejas career, especially in the second half of his NBA lifespan. Peja Stojakovic is one of the better perimeter scorers of the 2000s decade. Show Printable Version; Today, 04:33 PM #1. Here is our list of 12 of the most underrated players in the NBA today. 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. Get ready to relive some of the best moments from the decade of the 2010s with the players who brought them to you. The Best Athletes Of All Time. The following season in 2002-03, he was one of the best seasons of the decade for ANY player. 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. Date of birth: February 1, 1969. Redd fell behind Ray Allen on the depth chart and barely appeared during his rookie season but came on strong in his sophomore campaign. Another is that many of these players are often misremembered for their time and play late in their careers when theyre past their prime, bouncing around to teams and being fitted for jerseys that will probably struggle to sell ten total copies. O'Neal had a very slow start to his career, before blossoming into an All-Star in his 6th season. 4. McCollum voted most underrated player since 2000.
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