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. 18 pick in the 2020 draft, there were high hopes for Richardson's career. As the No. The following season in 2002-03, he was one of the best seasons of the decade for ANY player. 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. Glen Rice was a three-time All-Star and won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000. . Forget the role in the fight. 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. Out of all the players on this list, O'Neal was the most talented big man and also one of the most underrated players during his time. 12. Top underrated NBA players of the late 1990s-early 2000s Richardson was drafted by the Clippers and had his best season in 2004 with the team averaging 17.2 PPG. 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. Doug Christie. 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. Here are the 10 most underrated stars during the 2000s. 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. NBA underrated performers are one of the more challenging lists to rank. Forgive and forget and put Jermaine ONeal in the Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame. 11. In fact, Kirilenko was born in Izhevsk, where the weapon was first manufactured. Career Stats: 12.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG. #4 of 165. The 14 Most Underrated NBA Players - ONE37pm 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. When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. 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. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. He led the league in minutes played for three seasons of his career. The 11 Most Underrated NBA Players of the 2000s | Ventured During his time with the New Orleans Hornets for 3 seasons, he averaged 20.2 PPG, 8.1 APG, and 2.0 SPG. Unfortunately for Christie, what should have been a fruitful career as a spot-up shooter quickly ended due to a litany of injuries. Trevor Ariza. He helped lead the Magic to a Finals berth in 2009 by being a versatile scorer next to the dominant Howard. 25. The players listed here may be relatively unknown, underappreciated, or underrated in terms of not making the elite lists of other football raters. 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. 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. With the NBA season approaching fast, there are a few players who haven't gotten the credit they deserve. He had a sweet jumper and smooth release that he could knock down from anywhere in front of half-court. My point is that after further analysis, it becomes apparent that the top five point guards, right now . A team dwarfed by the sheer size, glamor, and continued excellence in the shared city. Elton deserves this spot. In 2002, O'Neal won the NBA's Most Improved Player award by averaging 17.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 1.6 BPG. Career Stats: 18.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.3 BPG. By his fourth season with the Bucks, Allen was gone and Redd was a starter. As one of the best big men in Clippers history, Brand had a superstar season in 2006 averaging 24.7 PPG, 10.0 RPG, and 2.5 BPG. He is incredibly well known; hes played beside Kobe on the Championship Lakers, delivered us with one of the best post-championship press conferences ever, and been a member of the infamous Malice and the Palace. In nine of his last ten NBA seasons, James has scored at least 2,000 points.
His three hasn't been falling . 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. He made the All-Star game and was selected to the All NBA-Third Team. 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. But for now, Lillard looks like the young PG with the most potential to grow into the best point guard of his era. He became the first Russian player selected in the first round and made the all-rookie team in his first year. Lofton was the first player in NFL history to accumulate 14,000 receiving yards. Elton is perfect for this list. 6,418 votes. Injury replacements, lifetime achievement awards, and many players that might not entirely deserve it. He was the baby Bryant from across the LA freeway. Top 10 NBA Players of the 1970s - The Grueling Truth 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. 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. 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. 1) Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks. Injuries were a concern throughout Pejas career, especially in the second half of his NBA lifespan. Who is fantasy basketball's most underrated player? O'Neal also won the Most Improved Player of the Year Award that same year. Career Stats: 14.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG. We need to focus on exactly one year of Eltons career that solidifies his place on this list without a thought. He could put the ball on the floor and get by defenders relatively easily and it made him a true three-level threat. 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. All the most overrated players in the NBA will be featured here to choose from. When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. That needs to begin to change after you read this piece. Career Stats: 14.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG. 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. Wallaces impact was truly measured when he was acquired by the Detroit Pistons midway through the 2004 season. After being traded to the Sacramento Kings at the end of the 2000 season, he formed a potent shooting perimeter alongside Peja Stojakovi. , Owner: (Registered business address: Germany), processes personal data only to the extent strictly necessary for the operation of this website. Ilgauskas deserves so much more respect than modern-day fans give him. Wallaces impact was truly measured when he was acquired by the Detroit Pistons midway through the 2004 season. Peja Stojakovi. James Harden is the only player in NBA history with 21-game . This season encapsulates why Redd isnt any higher on this list. The 2000s-era NBA was one of the more bizarre representations of basketball one could imagine. One of the best dunkers in NBA history, Richardson's athleticism often took eyes away from his all-around game. 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. The top 25 NBA duos of all time | Yardbarker That season he averaged 16.2 PPG and it was clear that the Pistons had their championship point guard. 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. Davis began his career as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. 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. 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. Mike Bibby is one of the most popular and respected point guards in NBA history. Mitch Richmond, Detlef Schrempf, and Vin Baker are among the underrated players from the '90s. Still, ONeal was a franchise centerpiece to a team that consistently made the postseason, so he deserves his spot on this list. From2004 through 2009, Redd battled injuries and bumps but still averaged at least 21.0 PPG every season. Redd returned the following season but re-injured the same knee tearing the ACL again. During his time in the NBA, Rasheed Wallace received a bad reputation as its resident bad boy. Ilgauskas deserves so much more respect than modern-day fans give him. Usually millions of dollars. This reputation caused many to forget just how imp[actful Wallace was on the basketball court. 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 . 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).. However, when we look at this year, we can see that it was Rons best statistical start to an NBA season. As the all-time and single-season leader in technical fouls, how could he not? 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. Brand's best year came in 2006 as an MVP candidate averaging 24.7 points and 10 rebounds while leading the Los Angeles Clippers back into the playoffs. 5. For the first few seasons of his career, Jermaine ONeal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. You have the heartbreaking series between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2002 Western Conference Finals series. He peaked in 2007 when he averaged 26.7 PPG on 46.5% shooting. Wallaces presence propelled Detroit to an NBA championship where Wallace averaged 13.0 PPG and 7.8 RPG on the playoff run. He had a ton of athleticism and scoring prowess in his 6'6" frame, and played the majority of his career with the Los Angeles Clippers. 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. Redd shot a career 38.0% from three and his 6 straight years of scoring prowess rank him 3rd on this list. He had a smooth lefty jumper that was as good as anyones in the game when he was on point. Im Still Ballin. That season he averaged 16.2 PPG and it was clear that the Pistons had their championship point guard. By 2003, Ilgauskas was an All-Star and averaged 17.2 PPG and 7.5 RPG while adding 1.9 BPG. 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. For the first few seasons of his career, Jermaine O'Neal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. He would become an All-Star once more in 2005 averaging 16.9 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and 2.1 BPG. He was selected only behind guards Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd, which is the greatest single accomplishment in his career. In every season in which he started over 60 games for one of his 9 NBA teams, he earned at least 6.0 APG. Sure. Not a chance. You must be a great player to fit into a team named The Greatest Show on Court. He helped the Kings lead the league in wins in 2001-02, and while he didnt average too many pointsending his career with averages of 11-4-3he made his mark on defense. Roy attempted a comeback in 2013 but lasted just 5 games before calling it quits for good. The Most Overrated NBA Players Today - Ranker Top 5 Best NBA Point Guards Since 2000 - The Sports Drop 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. But if the languid laziness of a typical baseball game was overrated by the purists who want to keep the three-and-a-half-hour games, it was underrated by the people who forgot just how much the .