An elite scorer and underrated playmaker, Jason Terry spent the majority of the 2000s playing the role of starting guard for the Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks, and the last bit dominating off the bench for the latter franchise. Some players on this list, like Mehmet Okur and Doug Christie, are, sadly, likely unknown to the young NBA fans of today. Agent 0 going into L.A. and dropping 60 on the Lakers. After taking 2 years to play overseas in Greece, Peja made his NBA debut in the 1998-99 season. Forget the role in the fight. Mitch Richmond, Detlef Schrempf, and Vin Baker are among the underrated players from the 90s. Injuries took away superstar potential from Michael Redd, but he was an offensive machine when he was healthy. 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. The 2000s-era NBA was one of the more bizarre representations of basketball one could imagine. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. Richmond scored the 4th-most total points for the entire decade of the 90s , mainly with the Warriors and Kings. 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. Gilbert Arenas. The play at power forward saw him have a couple of All-Star seasons. The players listed here may be relatively unknown, underappreciated, or underrated in terms of not making the elite lists of other football raters. In every season in which he started over 60 games for one of his 9 NBA teams, he earned at least 6.0 APG. Richardson was a solid scorer throughout his career and was a very capable defender. Few players have taken the NBA by storm or altered the way teams play the game the way Curry has . In a season sandwiched between two non-playoff years, Elton Brand and the Clippers lost in seven games to the Phoenix Suns. Potential only counts for so much. 8 Most Expensive Kevin Garnett Basketball Cards, Title 15 Most Expensive Diamonds in the World. 1) Kareem Abdul Jabbar. 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. You have the heartbreaking series between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2002 Western Conference Finals series. Center from Newark, New Jersey, United States of America. 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 . As the all-time and single-season leader in technical fouls, how could he not? Here is a look at the most underrated soccer players of all time. Im Still Ballin. 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. 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. When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. He was a menace on the defensive side of the ball as well, never shying away from a tough matchup or assignments. O'Neal also won the Most Improved Player of the Year Award that same year. 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. Billups finished his career a 5x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team selection, and a 3x All-Defensive Team selection. Mike Bibby is one of the most popular and respected point guards in NBA history. Career Achievements: 1x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection. Tracy McGrady. 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. 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. At his peak, he had an argument for the best big man in basketball at a time when Tim Duncan and Shaq were still in the league. By his fourth season with the Bucks, Allen was gone and Redd was a starter. All the most overrated players in the NBA will be featured here to choose from. 10. He won the Rookie of the Year award with the least games played in history to win the award. 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. Obviously, we have to mention the Malice at the Palace incident that saw him miss the entirety of the 2004-05 season with Indiana. Cleveland's superstar is regarded as one of the greatest offensive players in NBA history. Would the Clippers have been able to dispatch the Mavericks in the next round? 1969-1971 . 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. 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. Other Underrated NBA Players for 2021-22. 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. With his accurate 3-point shot and ability to pass the ball effectively, Stojakovidc would be a nightmare for defenses in todays game. 10 James Lofton. Forgive and forget and put Jermaine ONeal in the Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame. COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. He is an NBA History buff that details the game from the 1960s all the way up to today. 19. The Rise of Paul George Can he bring a championship to LA. Answer (1 of 3): Dirk Nowitzki. By the time his 4th season in 2004 came around, Redd was an All-Star and a consistent and efficient 20.0 PPG scorer. Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics. Davis can be credited with sparking the We Believe Warriors to an upset win over the No. In his next season, he averaged 22 points per game to go with 7 rebounds. 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. In nine of his last ten NBA seasons, James has scored at least 2,000 points. 5. 7 min read. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. 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 also a big reason the Cavaliers were able to make the 2007 NBA Finals, being LeBron James favorite option on offense. Schrempf is often overlooked and considered one of the most underrated players in NBA history. 12. 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).. He averaged 16.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 4.0 APG on 45.6% shooting in just 57 games. Forget the role in the fight. Get the latest sports news from SportsSite about soccer, football and tennis. Miller was as good as it gets running an NBA offense and he was one heck of a playmaker. The little brother. But for now, Lillard looks like the young PG with the most potential to grow into the best point guard of his era. 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. 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. Not a chance. 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. During his time with the New Orleans Hornets for 3 seasons, he averaged 20.2 PPG, 8.1 APG, and 2.0 SPG. 4 pick in the 1998 draft, Jamison made the All-Rookie Team with the Warriors averaging 9.6 PPG and 6.4 RPG. 11. 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. Mike Bibby is one of the most underrated basketball players of all time. When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. Personally, I believe it is a crime that Wallace is still not a basketball Hall Of Famer. Was he good enough that its a travesty that his name isnt among the great scorers in the history of the NBA? 6. 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 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. You have Kevin Garnetts MVP and Western Conference Finals season with the Wolves. 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. He was never the same. After being traded to the Sacramento Kings at the end of the 2000 season, he formed a potent shooting perimeter alongside Peja Stojakovi. The man consistently dropped games in which he earned anywhere from 30-50 points in 2021 and 2022. O'Neal would average a double-double over the next 2 seasons in Indiana, and make 5 straight All-Star Teams. Seth Curry - Brooklyn Nets. A team dwarfed by the sheer size, glamor, and continued excellence in the shared city. 1. 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. George Hill . He found the end zone in three different decades. Teams: Nets . Redd blossomed as a scorer in his 4th season, averaging 21.7 PPG on 35.0% shooting from three. He would lead the league in steals once more in 2007 with the Warriors with 2.1 SPG. 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. 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 Career Stats: 14.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG. 10. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed O'Neal into an MVP candidate. As a two-way player and one of the best athletes to ever play the game, Richardson was a gem in his prime. He's got some recognition since then, but he still isn't as respected as he should. Right off the bat, you can tell Rashard Lewis is highly underrated simply by his lack of accolades to his name. 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. How many other players in NBA history have an argument for being both the best paint scorer and overall defender at the same time? 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. Redd was consistently criticized for his lack of a complete game but his scoring was by far the best part of his game. Teams: Charlotte Hornets (1998-2000), Miami Heat (2000-01), Cleveland Cavaliers (2001-03), Boston Celtics (2003-06), Minnesota Timberwolves (2006-07), Miami Heat . 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 . We'll focus primarily on his most impactful seasons, from 2001-2004. Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports. 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. I will say it here and now. Ron Artest, Metta World Peace, or his now legal name Metta Sandiford-Artest may surprise some on this list. Sure. 1. In an era littered with talented point guards, Baron Davis was among the most exciting to watch play. Just 3 seasons later, he would become a 20.0 PPG scorer and an automatic 40.0% shooter from deep. 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. While you probably wouldnt be able to get away with that nickname in the NBA today, it still earns him an easy placement on this list.
Sacramento picked Pedrag Stojakovi at the 1996 NBA rookie draft while still playing in Greece. He was one of the top players in the league until Gerald Wallace injured him. Press Esc to cancel. In his best season in 2005/06 with Sacramento, Bibby helped the team make the playoffs, which is . 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.