Miller was as good as it gets running an NBA offense and he was one heck of a playmaker. The sample size doesn't include the '87 playoffs because McHale was playing on a broken foot. In fact, I dont think I would have him on here if not for having the greatest NBA nickname of all time, Bad Porn.. Career Stats: 17.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG, Career Achievements: 3x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection. He was the first NBA player to bring in the big balls dance celebration, injuring his groin. #513 of 1,316. Landers mens soccer closes out the season with a penalty-kick loss to Florida Tech. He has been married to Clarenda Harris since September 12, 2006. Top 5 most underrated NBA players so far this season: PG - Malcolm Brogdon, Indiana Pacers. 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. The most underrated scene in 'The Last Dance' was ___. Throughout the NBA 's history, there have been many overlooked and underrated players. 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. A team dwarfed by the sheer size, glamor, and continued excellence in the shared city. Dave McNally went 20-7, 24-9 and 21-5 from '60 to '71. Jackson would have his best seasons with the Golden State Warriors averaging over 20 PPG for 3 straight seasons. Personally, I believe it is a crime that Wallace is still not a basketball Hall Of Famer. To narrow down the list to 10 underrated players in the whole decade is about as tough as it gets. I will say it here and now. Enter Sam Cassell. This reputation caused many to forget just how imp[actful Wallace was on the basketball court. Lewis was one of the NBAs top shooters for years with 8 seasons ranked in the Top 20 for 3-pointers made. The play at power forward saw him have a couple of All-Star seasons. 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. He finished 3rd in MVP voting and was arguably the best two-way player in basketball. Roy was destined to be a star from his first season in the NBA. 6,418 votes. Oh, and Google his insane back tattoo. Mitch Richmond is one of the most electric yet underrated players of the 90s. 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. Redd was consistently criticized for his lack of a complete game but his scoring was by far the best part of his game. 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. 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. The following season in 2002-03, he was one of the best seasons of the decade for ANY player. Wallaces impact was truly measured when he was acquired by the Detroit Pistons midway through the 2004 season. Unfortunately for Christie, what should have been a fruitful career as a spot-up shooter quickly ended due to a litany of injuries. 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. He was never the same. All details in the privacy policy. We present our all-time underrated teams, those great teams which don't receive their proper respect in the historical archive. Shaq and Chuck don't have the defense, although O'Neal did finish 3rd in the 2000 DPOY. Thats right; were talking top player in the league status. Last time I did this series, 2 years ago, I had him as the most underrated SF in the league. Not a chance. Vancouver selected Abdur-Rahim third overall, and he immediately became the teams leading scorer. Who are the 25 Most Charitable Athletes in the World? Miller would go on to play 5 more seasons with Sacramento. Elton deserves this spot. He helped lead the Magic to a Finals berth in 2009 by being a versatile scorer next to the dominant Howard. Struggling with bone spurs, and ankle surgery, he left the NBA after the 2006-07 season. Bibby's best season came in 2006 where he averaged 21.1 PPG and 5.4 APG for the Kings squad that finished with a 44-38 record. But today, we arent talking about Tim, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille ONeal, or Dwyane Wade. By the time his 4th season in 2004 came around, Redd was an All-Star and a consistent and efficient 20.0 PPG scorer. 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. 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. Bottom Line: Otis Thorpe. Yes, but just barely scratching this list. Ron Artest, Metta World Peace, or his now legal name Metta Sandiford-Artest may surprise some on this list. The Most Underrated NBA Player of the Early 2000s. By 2003, Ilgauskas was an All-Star and averaged 17.2 PPG and 7.5 RPG while adding 1.9 BPG. He was selected only behind guards Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd, which is the greatest single accomplishment in his career. Here are the 10 most underrated stars during the 2000s. In the 2000 NBA draft, the Milwaukee Bucks got lucky when Ohio State's Michael Redd fell all the way into the second round. 1. Ilgauskas struggled with injury the first few seasons of his career, missing his rookie season and 4th season with foot issues. Finally, as with fellow Pacer Ron Artest, ONeal was heavily involved in the Malice at the Palace punishments and suspensions, so the NBA isnt jumping at the opportunity to push Jermaine into the mainstream hivemind. For some reason, as time has gone on, fans refer to Zydrunas Ilgauskas as one of those garbage players that LeBron James dragged to the NBA Finals early in his career. He blew past defenders and glided through the air and threw down rim-rocking dunks with brutal authority. Redd fell behind Ray Allen on the depth chart and barely appeared during his rookie season but came on strong in his sophomore campaign. Roy attempted a comeback in 2013 but lasted just 5 games before calling it quits for good. He finished his career averaging 5.5 three-point attempts per game in an era that was just startingto see the actual value of the deep ball. We need to focus on exactly one year of Eltons career that solidifies his place on this list without a thought. 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. Davis was an explosive point guard who was a blur on the floor in open space. His best statistical season came in 2006-07, with a career-high 26.7 points per game. Billups finished his career a 5x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team selection, and a 3x All-Defensive Team selection. 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. 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. From 2001-2007 ONeal made six straight All-Star games while averaging a stellar 20-10 with 2 blocks per game. After taking 2 years to play overseas in Greece, Peja made his NBA debut in the 1998-99 season. Career Stats: 18.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.3 BPG. 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. However, when we look at this year, we can see that it was Rons best statistical start to an NBA season. Bibby made the All-Rookie Team in 1999, averaging 13.2 PPG and 6.5 APG for the Vancouver Grizzlies. Honestly, call him the Russian Lebron James. Lewis is considered one of the best second options ever for his time with both the Seattle SuperSonics next to Ray Allen and in Orlando with Dwight Howard. Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina. 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. Big Shot. 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. That needs to begin to change after you read this piece. Some players on this list, like Mehmet Okur and Doug Christie, are, sadly, likely unknown to the young NBA fans of today. When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. Miller also had an All-Star season with the Pacers in 2003 where he averaged 13.1 PPG and 8.3 RPG. Roy would begin to experience his downfall by 2011, just his 5th season in the league. 18 pick in the 2020 draft, there were high hopes for Richardson's career. With his ability to both score and pass the ball, Miller was must-watch television whenever he was in town. 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. He ended his career with a well-deserved championship with the 2011 Dallas Mavericks. He spent 3 seasons with the team and helped them transition to the City of New Orleans. 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. He was so fast with his first step off of the dribble and even faster once he got headed toward the basket. Again, ONeal might be remembered more for his last season with Golden State, just before the team ascended into the perennial dynasty. This reputation caused many to forget just how imp[actful Wallace was on the basketball court. Get the latest sports news from SportsSite about soccer, football and tennis. Finley played on two of the premier Western Conference powerhouses over the decade, starting with Dallas and moving to San Antonio after being waived. 10. Redd became an even more prolific scorer in the seasons that followed. 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. How many other players in NBA history have an argument for being both the best paint scorer and overall defender at the same time? Thread Tools. 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. In an era littered with talented point guards, Baron Davis was among the most exciting to watch play. Agent 0 going into L.A. and dropping 60 on the Lakers. Thats not that tough. He averaged a career-high of 26.7 points a game during the 2006-07 season. For some reason, ONeal was vilified relentlessly for his role in the brawl and his reputation has taken years to recover. As one of the original stretch forwards in the game, Lewis used both his size and shooting ability to become a scoring machine. As a member of the Indiana Pacers, O'Neal was a very gifted two-way big man. His best season came in 2002 after being traded to Atlanta. Roy would begin to experience his downfall by 2011, just his 5th season in the league. Jackson's role in the Warriors upset over the #1 seed Dallas Mavericks will forever be remembered. 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. Scotty Bags. Tracy McGrady. 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. 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. 1969-1971 . Complex Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. As we entered the 2000s, NBA fans were left with the question of who was going to. His stint with the Kings started in 2002 where he averaged 17.6 PPG and 5.4 APG over 7 seasons with the franchise. Teams: Charlotte Hornets (1998-2000), Miami Heat (2000-01), Cleveland Cavaliers (2001-03), Boston Celtics (2003-06), Minnesota Timberwolves (2006-07), Miami Heat . In 2002, ONeal won the NBAs Most Improved Player award by averaging 17.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 1.6 BPG. He would lead the league in steals once more in 2007 with the Warriors with 2.1 SPG. Redd shot a career 38.0% from three and his 6 straight years of scoring prowess rank him 3rd on this 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. 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. During his time with the New Orleans Hornets for 3 seasons, he averaged 20.2 PPG, 8.1 APG, and 2.0 SPG. O'Neal also won the Most Improved Player of the Year Award that same year. 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. Richmond scored the 4th-most total points for the entire decade of the 90s , mainly with the Warriors and Kings. Ronald Koeman - Barcelona. 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. 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. Elton Brand was a special big man on offense and on the boards, and he was one of the most underappreciated players during his time. Malcolm Brogdon might have the quietest 20/6/6 stat line in the NBA. 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. For the first few seasons of his career, Jermaine ONeal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. 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. 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. With his accurate 3-point shot and ability to pass the ball effectively, Stojakovidc would be a nightmare for defenses in todays game. 50 Most Underrated NBA Players of All Time. Career Achievements: 1x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection. The little brother. Wilt Chamberlain. That's why he's the first name on this list. Here is our list of 12 of the most underrated players in the NBA today. He also has a rare 83-game season under his belt after being traded from Phoenix to Dallas early in his career. 10. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. With the NBA season approaching fast, there are a few players who haven't gotten the credit they deserve. Mike Bibby is one of the most popular and respected point guards in NBA history. When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft.