He also set the record for most three-pointers made in a single quarter, with eight, before being overtaken when Klay Thompson made nine. 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 also made the All-Star Team and the All-NBA Third Team after a strong season with the Milwaukee Bucks. Jason Terry: 1066.71 TPA. 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. All the most overrated players in the NBA will be featured here to choose from. Alex Novick, NBA.com Global Editions (): Quick, name the only player other than David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon to average at least two blocks . 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. Basketball is one of the most loved sports worldwide. Davis began his career as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. 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 . DeRozan may be cementing his status as the best player in franchise history in front of our eyes, but say he belongs in the MVP conversation and most NBA fans will laugh at you. This reputation caused many to forget just how imp[actful Wallace was on the basketball court. As of early May, James and . Peja is one player that would have been awesome to watch in the current NBA era. In the Finals against the Lakers, Billups averaged 21.0 PPG, 5.2 APG, and 3.2 RPG in the 5-game series to win the championship. He was a nightmare for defenders to stop and an even bigger one to try and score on in the paint. The top 10 players in the NBA according to ISH posters in August of 2000; Results 1 to 1 of 1 Thread: The top 10 players in the NBA according to ISH posters in August of 2000. Malcolm Brogdon might have the quietest 20/6/6 stat line in the NBA. His best statistical season came in 2006-07, with a career-high 26.7 points per game. 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. Despite having the aura of a rugged workhorse, Kirilenko struggled with durability, usually finishing NBA seasons between 60-70 games played. O'Neal had a very slow start to his career, before blossoming into an All-Star in his 6th season. He led the league in steals in 2004 with 2.4 SPG. 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. In an era littered with talented point guards, Baron Davis was among the most exciting to watch play. But looking at his career as a whole, Jamison was an All-Star caliber talent. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. He was also a big reason the Cavaliers were able to make the 2007 NBA Finals, being LeBron James favorite option on offense. But for now, Lillard looks like the young PG with the most potential to grow into the best point guard of his era. 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. 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. In fact, he was voted 4th overall in the 2003-04 MVP race, beating out the aforementioned shooting guard on the Lakers. Career Stats: 15.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG, Career Achievements: 1x Finals MVP, 5x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team Selection, 3x All-Defensive Team Selection. 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. He played one final season in Phoenix in 2011-12 before retiring. Nine seasons into his career, the former USC Trojan has finally found his stride and established himself as one of the NBAs top guards. The following season in 2002-03, he was one of the best seasons of the decade for ANY player. Getting to the free throw line. Shareef solidified his role as a scoring power forward and was selected as an All-Star in the 2002 season, the lone career selection. If the season ended today, he'd be second in the NBA in fantasy points per game, but few think of him . Oh, and Google his insane back tattoo. Lewis was one of the NBAs top shooters for years with 8 seasons ranked in the Top 20 for 3-pointers made. Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina. 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. He spent 3 seasons with the team and helped them transition to the City of New Orleans. Still, you dont hear much talk about the years the Clippers might have been the championship favorite. Like many on this list, the 2003-04 season was the best of Rons career. He would lead the league in steals once more in 2007 with the Warriors with 2.1 SPG. Your email address will not be published. Forget the role in the fight. He had a smooth lefty jumper that was as good as anyones in the game when he was on point. 12. We have seen a host of very talented yet underappreciated stars during the past 20 years. Required fields are marked *. That's why he's the first name on this list. He won the Rookie of the Year award with the least games played in history to win the award. And while many fans will remember the Clippers for continuously being one of the dumpster fires of NBA teams, alongside Sacramento, Minnesota, and others, those other teams have had moments in the spotlight that are remembered fondly. www.basketball-timemachine.com. Wallaces impact was truly measured when he was acquired by the Detroit Pistons midway through the 2004 season. 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. He averaged 21.2 points a game that season and would never be the same. Miller was as good as it gets running an NBA offense and he was one heck of a playmaker. McCollum voted most underrated player since 2000. Even some players who did make it onto that stage, like Rashard Lewis and Richard Hamilton, arent remembered as reverently as they should be. How many other players in NBA history have an argument for being both the best paint scorer and overall defender at the same time? But despite this, you should know that Jermaine ONeal was a beast. NFL NBA Megan Anderson Atlanta Hawks Los Angeles Lakers Boston Celtics Arsenal F.C. Vancouver selected Abdur-Rahim third overall, and he immediately became the teams leading scorer. As a member of the Indiana Pacers, O'Neal was a very gifted two-way big man. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed ONeal into an MVP candidate. Was it worth it? Cameron Smith will be the first Players Championship winner since Tiger Woods in 2014 to not defend his title at the Players . He was an empty-calories kind of player who put up stats on losing teams and couldnt carry a team to any relevancy. For the first few seasons of his career, Jermaine O'Neal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. Michael Jordan and Karl Malone greet each other before Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 1, 1997, at the United Center. 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. I will say it here and now. 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. 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. 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. Six seasons into his career in 2005, Lewis earned his first All-Star selection and first 20.0 PPG season. Richardson's ability to help teams defend the perimeter and also score when needed makes him an underrated player during the 2000s. He averaged 20.1 PPG and 10.0 RPG in his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls, making the All-Rookie Team. That was the year Richardson became a solid 3-point shooter, as he nailed 38.4% of his threes. Well focus primarily on his most impactful seasons, from 2001-2004. 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. The Best Athletes Of All Time. During his time in the NBA, Rasheed Wallace received a bad reputation as its resident bad boy. 1 seed Mavericks in 2007 but his career was so much more than one season. Thats why hes the first name on this list. That should be considered common sense considering NBA players peak from 25-30 years old. Show Printable Version; Today, 04:33 PM #1. He would become an All-Star once more in 2005 averaging 16.9 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and 2.1 BPG. Throughout the NBA 's history, there have been many overlooked and underrated players. This is the plight of DeMar DeRozanhes criminally underrated, and probably will be for his entire career. George Hill . Agent 0 going into L.A. and dropping 60 on the Lakers. His only other individual awards were a 2004 All-Star selection after averaging 16-8-3 with 2 steals and 3 blocks. He finished 3rd in MVP voting and was arguably the best two-way player in basketball. 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. He was one of many roleplayers that was able to fit seamlessly into talented teams throughout his career. 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. Get the latest sports news from SportsSite about soccer, football and tennis. 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. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed O'Neal into an MVP candidate. The man consistently dropped games in which he earned anywhere from 30-50 points in 2021 and 2022. 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. 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. I will say it here and now. Unfortunately, but very reasonably, he will also be remembered for one incident above any other when he choked his coach P.J Carlesimo.Sprewell was suspended from the NBA for an entire season after playing for the Golden State Warriors for 14 games. Struggling with bone spurs, and ankle surgery, he left the NBA after the 2006-07 season. He helped lead the Magic to a Finals berth in 2009 by being a versatile scorer next to the dominant Howard. And Pascal Siakam continues to have one of the league's more underrated individual campaigns (perhaps because Toronto had . Designed by profootballspace. 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. He averaged 24-6-3 on a Pacers team that was seen as among the top teams in the NBA and potentially a future NBA champion. He tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee after playing just 33 games. . 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. You can reach him via email:aaroncmansfield@gmail.com. We need to focus on exactly one year of Eltons career that solidifies his place on this list without a thought. He consistently made a significant impact early on with the Vancouver Grizzlies and was the leading point guard on some really good Sacramento Kings lineups in the early 2000s. Forgive and forget and put Jermaine ONeal in the Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame. 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. Davis can be credited with sparking the We Believe Warriors to an upset win over the No. Davis began his career as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. To narrow down the list to 10 underrated players in the whole decade is about as tough as it gets. By the time his 4th season in 2004 came around, Redd was an All-Star and a consistent and efficient 20.0 PPG scorer. Think about Dennis Johnson of the 1980sthe dude was a five-time All-Star and a Finals MVP. Bottom Line: Otis Thorpe. Last time I did this series, 2 years ago, I had him as the most underrated SF in the league. 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. The 5 most overrated players in Madden NFL 23, including the Eagles' Darius Slay Jr. View 5 items Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. 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. 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. Image via Complex Original. 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. Richardson was drafted by the Clippers and had his best season in 2004 with the team averaging 17.2 PPG. . 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. He made 3 straight All-Star games from 2002 through 2004 and averaged 21.7 PPG on 48.1% shooting over that time. Wallaces impact was truly measured when he was acquired by the Detroit Pistons midway through the 2004 season. James Harden is the only player in NBA history with 21-game . 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. Richmond scored the 4th-most total points for the entire decade of the 90s , mainly with the Warriors and Kings. Jackson would have his best seasons with the Golden State Warriors averaging over 20 PPG for 3 straight seasons. 19. Injuries took away superstar potential from Michael Redd, but he was an offensive machine when he was healthy.
most underrated nba players of the 2000s
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