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Tracy McGrady was born on May 24, 1979 in Bartow, Florida, USA. He helped lead the Magic to a Finals berth in 2009 by being a versatile scorer next to the dominant Howard. Potential only counts for so much. Alex Novick, NBA.com Global Editions (): Quick, name the only player other than David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon to average at least two blocks . He was one of the top players in the league until Gerald Wallace injured him. He also set the record for most three-pointers made in a single quarter, with eight, before being overtaken when Klay Thompson made nine. That season he averaged 16.2 PPG and it was clear that the Pistons had their championship point guard. 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. Height: 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Playing position: Striker. Lofton was the first player in NFL history to accumulate 14,000 receiving yards. Elton averaged 30-10-4 with 3 blocks per game that series. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed ONeal into an MVP candidate. 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. Thats why hes the first name on this list. The 2000s were filled with incredible defenders, lights-out shooters, amazing ball handlers, solid secondary stars, and bench players who were elite at their jobs. 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. Elton deserves this spot. He ended his career with a well-deserved championship with the 2011 Dallas Mavericks. With his accurate 3-point shot and ability to pass the ball effectively, Stojakovidc would be a nightmare for defenses in todays game. 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. 1. And Pascal Siakam continues to have one of the league's more underrated individual campaigns (perhaps because Toronto had . From there, he developed his offensive game and defensively got more aggressive. Iverson was an MVP, an 11-time All-Star, and a four-time scoring champion . 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. Think about Dennis Johnson of the 1980sthe dude was a five-time All-Star and a Finals MVP. He blew past defenders and glided through the air and threw down rim-rocking dunks with brutal authority. Peja is one player that would have been awesome to watch in the current NBA era. We have seen a host of very talented yet underappreciated stars during the past 20 years. 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. Latrell Sprewell was a great player. 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. Aaron Mansfield, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Merrimack College. Mookie Blaylock. 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. One year later, he joined the Phoenix Suns where he averaged 14.9 PPG on 35.8% shooting from three. Redd blossomed as a scorer in his 4th season, averaging 21.7 PPG on 35.0% shooting from three. Roy was destined to be a star from his first season in the NBA. The most underrated scene in 'The Last Dance' was ___. Elton Brand led the way with 24-10 as the best player on a championship contender, the 2005-06 Clippers. 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. By his fourth season with the Bucks, Allen was gone and Redd was a starter. O'Neal had a very slow start to his career, before blossoming into an All-Star in his 6th season. 10 James Lofton. Miller played 14 seasons in the NBA, mainly for the Kings and Bulls. 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. Roy attempted a comeback in 2013 but lasted just 5 games before calling it quits for good. Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics. Required fields are marked *. In an era littered with talented point guards, Baron Davis was among the most exciting to watch play. Getting to the free throw line. In his first season in Los Angeles, he made his first All-Star Team. Brad Miller was a rare center in the 2000s because he had a consistent mid-range jump shot. Can you name any other player who only made the all-star game once in his career? He had a smooth lefty jumper that was as good as anyones in the game when he was on point. He finished 3rd in MVP voting and was arguably the best two-way player in basketball. Other Underrated NBA Players for 2021-22. Designed by profootballspace. These players tend to make their presence felt different than your average superstar, whether . . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 1. I will say it here and now. 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. And make it not as a lifetime achievement award or an injury replacement, but during what would be a 2nd Team All-NBA season? Just 3 seasons later, he would become a 20.0 PPG scorer and an automatic 40.0% shooter from deep. Cameron Smith will be the first Players Championship winner since Tiger Woods in 2014 to not defend his title at the Players . 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. Forget the role in the fight. 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. James demonstrated this when he surpassed Patrick Ewing for 20th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list. He peaked in 2007 when he averaged 26.7 PPG on 46.5% shooting. 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. 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 had a sweet jumper and smooth release that he could knock down from anywhere in front of half-court. He found the end zone in three different decades. 10. As a two-way player and one of the best athletes to ever play the game, Richardson was a gem in his prime. O'Neal also won the Most Improved Player of the Year Award that same year. 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. Lewis was one of the NBAs top shooters for years with 8 seasons ranked in the Top 20 for 3-pointers made. The Top 10 Most Underrated NBA Players Of The 2000s, Valentina Shevchenko doesnt lose a step just because she fought for a split decision: I really dont care what people say, UFC 285 start time, TV schedule for Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane, Texans divorce from QB Deshaun Watson could affect CJ Strouds court, Texans finish 32nd in Touchdown Wire NFL power rankings, Houston finishes No. His scoring jumped from 12.9 PPG to 19.0 PPG, and he made his first All-Star Team in 2002 for the Pacers. Defensively he was excellent, making an NBA All-Defensive Team three times. Roy was a special talent on offense confirmed by some of the greats such as Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. To narrow down the list to 10 underrated players in the whole decade is about as tough as it gets. Thats not that tough. Oh, and Google his insane back tattoo. 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. An . His mid-range game and three-ball were impeccable as well. 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. How many other players in NBA history have an argument for being both the best paint scorer and overall defender at the same time? Six seasons into his career in 2005, Lewis earned his first All-Star selection and first 20.0 PPG season. Corey Maggette was one of the most consistent scorers during the 2000s. His presence on the early 2000s Kings teams was a perfect fit that put them over the top as a contender at the time. One year later with the Kings, Miller would have a career year averaging 14.1 PPG and 10.3 RPG while making his second straight All-Star Team. 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. Required fields are marked *. Career Stats: 18.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.3 BPG. 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. 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. Forgive and forget and put Jermaine ONeal in the Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame. Not related to Shaquille O'Neal, Jermaine O'Neal was one of the best big men in the NBA during his time. There are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the 2010s. 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. Sacramento picked Pedrag Stojakovi at the 1996 NBA rookie draft while still playing in Greece. And when it comes to the 2000s, well, there are plenty of guys who deserved more love. Davis can be credited with sparking the We Believe Warriors to an upset win over the No. For the first few seasons of his NBA career, Billups bounced around until he found a home with the Detroit Pistons in 2003. 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. That should be considered common sense considering NBA players peak from 25-30 years old. 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. The 2000s were a period in the NBA that featured the rise of some of the greatest players to ever play the game, including LeBron James , Kobe Bryant , Dwyane Wade , Kevin Garnett , Tim Duncan and . 3. Neither made an impact, with Lionel Chalmers never playing another NBA game. Career Stats: 19.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG. Type above and press Enter to search. #6 of 290. But looking at his career as a whole, Jamison was an All-Star caliber talent. Lewis was one of the NBAs top shooters for years with 8 seasons ranked in the Top 20 for 3-pointers made. 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. And when you peak to the point, you can be compared to the greatest power forward of all time. All the most overrated players in the NBA will be featured here to choose from. Championships: 0. He made 3 straight All-Star games from 2002 through 2004 and averaged 21.7 PPG on 48.1% shooting over that time. Anyways. By signing up, you agree to the our terms and our Privacy Policy agreement. Dave McNally went 20-7, 24-9 and 21-5 from '60 to '71. 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. Career Achievements: 1x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection. Scotty Bags. ONeal is an excellent example of the circumstances most players on these lists go through during their careers. 32 in Touchdown Wire list, Big Ten 2023 Football Power Rankings Too Soon, ASU Footballs Kenny Dillingham hopes QB room structure will push players, Oregon Football Recruitment: Nyckoles Harbor and Ducks Update, Big 12 Conference Tees 2023 Schedule Release, Know the Foe: Virginia Tech Footballs 2023 Away Opponents, Denver Broncos meet again with Michigan Footballs Jim Harbaugh. The following season it came to fruition as Billups not only led the Pistons to a title but won Finals MVP in the process. Jackson would have his best seasons with the Golden State Warriors averaging over 20 PPG for 3 straight seasons. But despite this, you should know that Jermaine ONeal was a beast. 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). Underrated? From2004 through 2009, Redd battled injuries and bumps but still averaged at least 21.0 PPG every season. But the sheer fact that Clipper Contenderswas uttered during the 2005-06 playoffs firmly earns Elton a spot on this list. Get ready to relive some of the best moments from the decade of the 2010s with the players who brought them to you. With the trade of superstar Ray Allen, the Bucks fell off as one of the NBAs top teams, but the leading role was filled by Redd, who went on to average 21.7 points en route to his only All-Star appearance. 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. 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. For the first few seasons of his career, Jermaine ONeal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. Glen Rice was a three-time All-Star and won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000. . He played one final season in Phoenix in 2011-12 before retiring. 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. Here is a look at the most underrated soccer players of all time. 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 become an All-Star once more in 2005 averaging 16.9 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and 2.1 BPG. 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 . Right off the bat, you can tell Rashard Lewis is highly underrated simply by his lack of accolades to his name. 4 pick in the 1998 draft, Jamison made the All-Rookie Team with the Warriors averaging 9.6 PPG and 6.4 RPG. He averaged 20.1 PPG and 10.0 RPG in his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls, making the All-Rookie Team. He made the All-Star game and was selected to the All NBA-Third Team. He was a tough forward who played hard-nosed defense and never backed down from any challenge. 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. Playing for a middling Milwaukee Bucks squad throughout the 2000s, he led the team and was a fantastic all-around scorer. Philadelphia 76ers Premier League UFC Television The Real Housewives of Atlanta The Bachelor Sister Wives 90 Day Fiance Wife Swap The Amazing Race Australia Married at First Sight The Real Housewives of Dallas My 600-lb Life Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Richardson made the All-Rookie Team in 2001 by averaging 14.4 PPG and 4.3 RPG for the Golden State Warriors. The Bucks were dealt a huge blow during the 2008-09 season when Redd went down with a knee injury. 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. Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports. His 2000s were spent with the Utah Jazz, playing alongside Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer. Others, like Vince Carter and Joe Johnson, are still kicking around the league, but young fans are probably unaware of just how dominant they used to be. By the time his 4th season in 2004 came around, Redd was an All-Star and a consistent and efficient 20.0 PPG scorer. Jackson is mainly known for his stints with the Indiana Pacers and the Golden State Warriors. With Indiana, Jackson was part of a tough crew featuring Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal that was also involved in the Malice at the Palace. The 2000s were filled with incredible defenders, lights-out shooters, amazing ball handlers, solid secondary stars, and bench players who were elite at their jobs. 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. 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. 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. . Ilgauskas deserves so much more respect than modern-day fans give him. Lewis retired with the Miami Heat in 2014, one year after adding an NBA championship to his already impressive resume. 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 is an NBA History buff that details the game from the 1960s all the way up to today. With the NBA season approaching fast, there are a few players who haven't gotten the credit they deserve. But when we focus on his game, we can see that he was overlooked for his talent, with many casual fans not understanding that at points in the 2000s, Ron Artest was seen as one of the top NBA players in the league. 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. 10. He was never the same. From 2001-2007 ONeal made six straight All-Star games while averaging a stellar 20-10 with 2 blocks per game. My point is that after further analysis, it becomes apparent that the top five point guards, right now . Now, I could go up to as many as 25 maybe 30 players that are forgotten stars from the 2000's but i'm only going to focus on 12, enjoy. He picked up three Second Team All-Defenses and one First Team All-Defense. With his ability to both score and pass the ball, Miller was must-watch television whenever he was in town. In nine of his last ten NBA seasons, James has scored at least 2,000 points. 20. He averaged 16.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 4.0 APG on 45.6% shooting in just 57 games. Even in his later years when his scoring dropped, there was little drop-off in Kidd's assist or steal numbers. He led the league in minutes played for three seasons of his career. Here is our list of 12 of the most underrated players in the NBA today. From there, he developed his offensive game and defensively got more aggressive. A team dwarfed by the sheer size, glamor, and continued excellence in the shared city. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. If the season ended today, he'd be second in the NBA in fantasy points per game, but few think of him . 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. 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. Mitch Richmond, Detlef Schrempf, and Vin Baker are among the underrated players from the 90s. Agent 0 going into L.A. and dropping 60 on the Lakers. 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. Elton is perfect for this list. He was so good that Pacers fans couldrealistically argue that he was the best big man in the league. He led the league in steals in 2004 with 2.4 SPG. This honestly swayed an NBA championship, costing the Minnesota Timberwolves in their series against the Lakers, in which they were the better team. 1) Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks. Thats right; were talking top player in the league status. He would improve his scoring over the next few seasons, boosting his scoring to a career-high 23.2 PPG during the 2006 season. Richmond scored the 4th-most total points for the entire decade of the 90s , mainly with the Warriors and Kings. Billups finished his career a 5x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team selection, and a 3x All-Defensive Team selection. Doug Christie. He was a menace on the defensive side of the ball as well, never shying away from a tough matchup or assignments. 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. 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. Giannis and LeBron? 1 of 25. A look at those who were ranked too high and too low in the preseason Coaches Poll released Tuesday A small core of teams dominated the league in that era. 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. George Hill . Beginning with a Toronto Raptor, and ending with one, Gary Trent Jr. is easily one of the most exciting and most underrated players in the NBA today. His stint with the Kings started in 2002 where he averaged 17.6 PPG and 5.4 APG over 7 seasons with the franchise. His best seasons come while playing for teams that arent popular or mainstream. Michael Jordan and Karl Malone greet each other before Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 1, 1997, at the United Center. We dont even have to look at career averages or anything. While Redd played amazingly, the team finished the season with a horrible record28-54. They say the best ability is availability, and Finley did just that. Roy was impossible to keep up with in isolation. 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. Throughout the NBA 's history, there have been many overlooked and underrated players. Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina. Even Basketball-Reference.com doesnt give the man a prayer. He was a nightmare for defenders to stop and an even bigger one to try and score on in the paint. 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 . www.basketball-timemachine.com. The Most Underrated NBA Player of the Early 2000s, Your email address will not be published. In every season in which he started over 60 games for one of his 9 NBA teams, he earned at least 6.0 APG. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); My name is Hayden, and I'm a digital marketing consultant. 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. 32786 posts. 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. As a result, a number of quality players had their careers pass without ever getting exposure on the highest level. Basketball Time Machine He could dominate the game on both sides from the low block, he possessed a turnaround jumper that was as unblockable as DIrks fadeaway, and he was a defensive nightmare for opponents nightly. Drafted with the No. Im Still Ballin. 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. He led the league in steals in 2004 with 2.4 SPG.