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. 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. For the first few seasons of his career, Jermaine ONeal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. He also made the All-Star Team and the All-NBA Third Team after a strong season with the Milwaukee Bucks. With his ability to both score and pass the ball, Miller was must-watch television whenever he was in town. The Top 17 Most-Underrated NBA Players of All-Time 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. He had a sweet jumper and smooth release that he could knock down from anywhere in front of half-court. 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. #4 of 165. Roy was impossible to keep up with in isolation. He would average a double-double over the next 4 seasons, and by his third season, he was a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. Height: 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Playing position: Striker. 15.9 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.7 BPG. www.basketball-timemachine.com. 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. Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive. His true moment in the spotlight happened near the tail end of his career. Was it worth it? He averaged 22.8 PPG and led the league with 17.5 RPG, and 3.0 BPG. The 25 Most Overrated NBA Players of All Time - Medium Right off the bat, you can tell Rashard Lewis is highly underrated simply by his lack of accolades to his name. 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. O'Neal had a strong inside scoring game, was very active on the offensive boards, and was a capable shot-blocker. 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. 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. One of the most outspoken NBA analysts in the media, Stephen Jackson was a player that his teammates absolutely loved. The Most Underrated NBA Players Of The Early 2000s For the first few seasons of his career, Jermaine O'Neal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. Roy attempted a comeback in 2013 but lasted just 5 games before calling it quits for good. Giannis and LeBron? Ilgauskas deserves so much more respect than modern-day fans give him. 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. 5y. 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. Cameron Smith will be the first Players Championship winner since Tiger Woods in 2014 to not defend his title at the Players . Expectations are high for every player in the league, and the overrated label . Andrei Kirilenko was a prototype of what the modern-day NBA landscape now values above all else; versatility. O'Neal's strongest season came in 2005 by averaging 24.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 2.0 BPG. Career Stats: 14.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG. 25. Most Underrated NBA Players Going into the 2021-22 Season - Gambling Sites Wallaces presence propelled Detroit to an NBA championship where Wallace averaged 13.0 PPG and 7.8 RPG on the playoff run. 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. He made the All-Star game and was selected to the All NBA-Third Team. 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. 1) Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks. 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. 2023 profootballspace. He blew past defenders and glided through the air and threw down rim-rocking dunks with brutal authority. 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. 10. Roy was destined to be a star from his first season in the NBA. Required fields are marked *. 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. 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. 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. 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. Legends of the NBA: 25 Best Players of the 2000s I have never seen a Finals MVP and a more impactful point guard be overlooked in NBA history more than Chauncey Billups. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. He peaked in 2007 when he averaged 26.7 PPG on 46.5% shooting. Despite having the aura of a rugged workhorse, Kirilenko struggled with durability, usually finishing NBA seasons between 60-70 games played. I will say it here and now. Of course, this was never true with the likes of Shaquille ONeal and Tim Duncan hanging around, but the conversation wasnt an insane one to have. The Most-Underrated NBA Players of All-Time. Miller would go on to play 5 more seasons with Sacramento. 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. 3. Not a chance. During his early days in Seattle, Lewis took a bit to develop into the shooter and scorer he went down as. Bibby made the All-Rookie Team in 1999, averaging 13.2 PPG and 6.5 APG for the Vancouver Grizzlies. . NFL NBA Megan Anderson Atlanta Hawks Los Angeles Lakers Boston Celtics Arsenal F.C. 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. Peja Stojakovi. His best season came in 2002 after being traded to Atlanta. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) 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. Wallaces impact was truly measured when he was acquired by the Detroit Pistons midway through the 2004 season. Playing for a middling Milwaukee Bucks squad throughout the 2000s, he led the team and was a fantastic all-around scorer. You can reach him via email:aaroncmansfield@gmail.com. Richardson was drafted by the Clippers and had his best season in 2004 with the team averaging 17.2 PPG. 19. Theres been a lot of former all-stars. Get the latest sports news from SportsSite about soccer, football and tennis. The Most Underrated NBA Players of the Late 90's Early 00's The 2005-06 campaign. With his ability to both score and pass the ball, Miller was must-watch television whenever he was in town. The Top 10 Most Underrated NBA Players Of The 2000s Brad Miller was a rare center in the 2000s because he had a consistent mid-range jump shot. He was so good that Pacers fans couldrealistically argue that he was the best big man in the league. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed ONeal into an MVP candidate. 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. Rank these players right now (Nuggets Edition) : r/nba Nets vs. Knicks: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest Career Stats: 12.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG. That season he averaged 16.2 PPG and it was clear that the Pistons had their championship point guard. From2004 through 2009, Redd battled injuries and bumps but still averaged at least 21.0 PPG every season. Roy attempted a comeback in 2013 but lasted just 5 games before calling it quits for good. He would lead the league in steals once more in 2007 with the Warriors with 2.1 SPG. For his career, Redd shot 38.0% from three and 44.7% overall. Fans have a tendency to overlook certain players, and that effect is amplified as years and decades pass. 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. That was the year Richardson became a solid 3-point shooter, as he nailed 38.4% of his threes. In the 2000 NBA draft, the Milwaukee Bucks got lucky when Ohio State's Michael Redd fell all the way into the second round. 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. We need to focus on exactly one year of Eltons career that solidifies his place on this list without a thought. With his accurate 3-point shot and ability to pass the ball effectively, Stojakovidc would be a nightmare for defenses in todays game. As a member of the Indiana Pacers, O'Neal was a very gifted two-way big man. This reputation caused many to forget just how imp[actful Wallace was on the basketball court. But the sheer fact that Clipper Contenderswas uttered during the 2005-06 playoffs firmly earns Elton a spot on this list. 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. Getting to the free throw line. 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).. As one of the original stretch forwards in the game, Lewis used both his size and shooting ability to become a scoring machine. 50 Most Underrated NBA Players in History - Bleacher Report Get ready to relive some of the best moments from the decade of the 2010s with the players who brought them to you. Lofton was the first player in NFL history to accumulate 14,000 receiving yards. 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. 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. Career Stats: 19.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG. 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 . His scoring jumped from 12.9 PPG to 19.0 PPG, and he made his first All-Star Team in 2002 for the Pacers. All the most overrated players in the NBA will be featured here to choose from. Would the Clippers have been able to dispatch the Mavericks in the next round? Even in his later years when his scoring dropped, there was little drop-off in Kidd's assist or steal numbers. 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. Richmond scored the 4th-most total points for the entire decade of the 90s , mainly with the Warriors and Kings. Thread Tools. 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. Top 10 most underrated players in NBA in 2022-23 featuring Kyle Kuzma Here are the teams, odds and spread for Super Bowl 57 matchup, Super Bowl 2023 predictions and picks for each round of the NFL playoffs. He would improve his scoring over the next few seasons, boosting his scoring to a career-high 23.2 PPG during the 2006 season. Theres not much else to say about Maggatte. 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. He has been married to Clarenda Harris since September 12, 2006. Here is a look at the most underrated soccer players of all time. Forgive and forget and put Jermaine ONeal in the Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame. O'Neal would average a double-double over the next 2 seasons in Indiana, and make 5 straight All-Star Teams. As of early May, James and . 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. The Most UNDERRATED NBA Players Of The 2000s..Welcome back to Sports Savvy. He won the Rookie of the Year award with the least games played in history to win the award. Here is our list of 12 of the most underrated players in the NBA today. The Most Underrated NBA Player of the Early 2000s In the 2000 NBA draft, the Milwaukee Bucks got lucky when Ohio States Michael Redd fell all the way into the second round. The Most UNDERRATED NBA Players Of The 2000s.. - YouTube 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. Arguably the coolest aspect of Kirinlenkoss career is his nickname, AK-47, referencing his Russian heritage and jersey number. 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. Jackson would have his best seasons with the Golden State Warriors averaging over 20 PPG for 3 straight seasons. Few players have taken the NBA by storm or altered the way teams play the game the way Curry has . Teams: Charlotte Hornets (1998-2000), Miami Heat (2000-01), Cleveland Cavaliers (2001-03), Boston Celtics (2003-06), Minnesota Timberwolves (2006-07), Miami Heat . 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. Mike Bibby is one of the most underrated basketball players of all time. Im Still Ballin. 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 in 2002-03, he was one of the best seasons of the decade for ANY player. In fact, I dont think I would have him on here if not for having the greatest NBA nickname of all time, Bad Porn.. We have seen a host of very talented yet underappreciated stars during the past 20 years. The Top 10 Most Underrated NBA Players Of The 2000s Top 10 NBA Players of the 1970s - The Grueling Truth His presence on the early 2000s Kings teams was a perfect fit that put them over the top as a contender at the time. As a result, a number of quality players had their careers pass without ever getting exposure on the highest level. Wallaces impact was truly measured when he was acquired by the Detroit Pistons midway through the 2004 season. 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. Elton Brand led the way with 24-10 as the best player on a championship contender, the 2005-06 Clippers. COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. 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. Career Stats: 18.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.3 BPG. Fat Lever (#14) was Russell Westbrook before Westbrook. James demonstrated this when he surpassed Patrick Ewing for 20th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list. In every season in which he started over 60 games for one of his 9 NBA teams, he earned at least 6.0 APG. He was named an NBA All-Star in 2004 after averaging 21.7 points and a career-best 5.0 rebounds a game. We present our all-time underrated teams, those great teams which don't receive their proper respect in the historical archive. Top 20 Most Underrated NFL Players of All Time | TheRichest He finished with 11,972 points and 2,411 rebounds (3.8 per game). Photo: Paul Popper. 10. Vancouver Grizzlies (1997-98), Washington Wizards (1998-99), Miami Heat (1990-2000), Charlotte Hornets (2000-01) All-Star Games: 2001. We'll focus primarily on his most impactful seasons, from 2001-2004. The 11 Most Underrated NBA Players of the 2010s | Ventured He was a two-way mastermind who had a knack for coming through in a games biggest moments that earned him the nickname Mr. 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 led the league in steals in 2004 with 2.4 SPG. Roy was a special talent on offense confirmed by some of the greats such as Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant. 20. Iverson was an MVP, an 11-time All-Star, and a four-time scoring champion . 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. 18 pick in the 2020 draft, there were high hopes for Richardson's career. Landers mens soccer closes out the season with a penalty-kick loss to Florida Tech. 50 Most Underrated NBA Players of All Time | Stadium Talk 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. From 2001-2007 ONeal made six straight All-Star games while averaging a stellar 20-10 with 2 blocks per game. Even Basketball-Reference.com doesnt give the man a prayer. One year later, he joined the Phoenix Suns where he averaged 14.9 PPG on 35.8% shooting from three. He averaged 22.8 PPG and led the league with 17.5 RPG, and 3.0 BPG. Redd returned the following season but re-injured the same knee tearing the ACL again. He was a 6'6" shooting guard who could also play the small forward position and had solid defensive skills. Magic Johnson. Redd was also awarded a 3rd-Team All-NBA spot, giving Milwaukee hope that the young guard could take on the role open with Ray Allens departure. He's got some recognition since then, but he still isn't as respected as he should. Was he better than he is remembered? He ended his career with a well-deserved championship with the 2011 Dallas Mavericks. For the first few seasons of his career, Jermaine ONeal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. Enter Sam Cassell. That season he averaged 16.2 PPG and it was clear that the Pistons had their championship point guard. Davis can be credited with sparking the We Believe Warriors to an upset win over the No. 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. He also set the record for most three-pointers made in a single quarter, with eight, before being overtaken when Klay Thompson made nine. 1 seed Mavericks in 2007 but his career was so much more than one season. He averaged 20.1 PPG and 10.0 RPG in his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls, making the All-Rookie Team. Poll of the Day: Who is the NBA's most underrated player since 2000