This reputation caused many to forget just how imp[actful Wallace was on the basketball court. You can't go wrong by picking Ariza here, mainly because actual NBA players back it up.Trevor Ariza possessed such a valuable skillset that even as late as the 2021-22 season with the Lakers, fans were claiming he was the missing piece that would allow them to ascend to playoff contention. He would have a few more All-Star seasons with Indiana but after the 2004 brawl in Detroit, the damage had been done to his stance within the league. Elton deserves this spot. Neither made an impact, with Lionel Chalmers never playing another NBA game. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); My name is Hayden, and I'm a digital marketing consultant. He drove, he shot, and he played a little selfishly. A small core of teams dominated the league in that era. Davis began his career as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. In an era littered with talented point guards, Baron Davis was among the most exciting to watch play. The Clippers have always been the runt of LA. Peja Stojakovi. 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. 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. Andre Miller was never an MVP candidate or even an All-Star but he was quietly one of the better point guards during the 2000s. 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. In his next season, he averaged 22 points per game to go with 7 rebounds. His scoring jumped from 12.9 PPG to 19.0 PPG, and he made his first All-Star Team in 2002 for the Pacers. He was a two-way mastermind who had a knack for coming through in a games biggest moments that earned him the nickname Mr. Arguably the coolest aspect of Kirinlenkoss career is his nickname, AK-47, referencing his Russian heritage and jersey number. He was the first NBA player to bring in the big balls dance celebration, injuring his groin, The 12 Most Underrated NBA Players of the 2010s, This Millennial Transformed One Rental Property Into A Multi-Million Dollar Empire, 10 Entrepreneurs Share Their Best Beauty Business Tips And Secrets. Cameron Smith will be the first Players Championship winner since Tiger Woods in 2014 to not defend his title at the Players . Mookie Blaylock. Even in his later years when his scoring dropped, there was little drop-off in Kidd's assist or steal numbers. Jackson's role in the Warriors upset over the #1 seed Dallas Mavericks will forever be remembered. The Most-Underrated NBA Players of All-Time. His best statistical season came in 2006-07, with a career-high 26.7 points per game. 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. Wallaces presence propelled Detroit to an NBA championship where Wallace averaged 13.0 PPG and 7.8 RPG on the playoff run. Even Basketball-Reference.com doesnt give the man a prayer. Billups name never comes up in Top 20 conversations as far as point guards go, let alone Top 10 lists. In the 2000 NBA draft, the Milwaukee Bucks got lucky when Ohio States Michael Redd fell all the way into the second round. And when you peak to the point, you can be compared to the greatest power forward of all time. You would have expected Peja to become a lethal off-the-bench shooter, but from 2008 until he retired, he never seemed to get more than 60 games played. I will say it here and now. 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. Mike Bibby is one of the most underrated basketball players of all time. Here is a look at the most underrated soccer players of all time. Sacramento picked Pedrag Stojakovi at the 1996 NBA rookie draft while still playing in Greece. O'Neal would average a double-double over the next 2 seasons in Indiana, and make 5 straight All-Star Teams. 10. Expectations are high for every player in the league, and the overrated label . 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. 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 The most underrated scene in 'The Last Dance' was ___. 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. All the most overrated players in the NBA will be featured here to choose from. 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. 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. Latrell Sprewell was a great player. He had three All-NBA team selections, two thirds, and a second cap off his individual awards. Was he better than he is remembered? 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. 1 seed Mavericks in 2007 but his career was so much more than one season. He was named an NBA All-Star in 2004 after averaging 21.7 points and a career-best 5.0 rebounds a game. 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. In fact, I dont think I would have him on here if not for having the greatest NBA nickname of all time, Bad Porn.. CJ McCollum voted most underrated player since 2000. 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. Jermaine does that by propelling himself to All-Star status with Indiana. When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. 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. Elton Brand led the way with 24-10 as the best player on a championship contender, the 2005-06 Clippers. His stint with the Kings started in 2002 where he averaged 17.6 PPG and 5.4 APG over 7 seasons with the franchise. He averaged 20.1 PPG and 10.0 RPG in his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls, making the All-Rookie Team. Roy was destined to be a star from his first season in the NBA. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. 4 pick in the 1998 draft, Jamison made the All-Rookie Team with the Warriors averaging 9.6 PPG and 6.4 RPG. Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics. The 2005-06 campaign. He finished 3rd in MVP voting and was arguably the best two-way player in basketball. 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. Unfortunately for Rahim, he will be remembered for being the centerpiece of this lopsided trade that sent Pau Gasol to Memphis, where he would quickly *not*become one of the most underrated players of the 2000s. Sure. BYL's Most Underrated NBA Players of the 2000's Follow BYL and comment who we missed out on Who's the Most Underrated?? He spent 3 seasons with the team and helped them transition to the City of New Orleans. 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. Peja Stojakovic is one of the better perimeter scorers of the 2000s decade. Career Stats: 12.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG. 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. Peja Stojakovic is one of the better perimeter scorers of the 2000s decade. We need to focus on exactly one year of Eltons career that solidifies his place on this list without a thought. 3. 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. 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. LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers. Your email address will not be published. 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. The following season in 2002-03, he was one of the best seasons of the decade for ANY player. The problem with most underrated NBA lists is too many of the players are, well, overrated. Again, ONeal might be remembered more for his last season with Golden State, just before the team ascended into the perennial dynasty. Type above and press Enter to search. He scored 57 that same season, breaking the Bucks single-game scoring record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. As one of the original stretch forwards in the game, Lewis used both his size and shooting ability to become a scoring machine. Giannis and LeBron? Injury replacements, lifetime achievement awards, and many players that might not entirely deserve it. Davis can be credited with sparking the We Believe Warriors to an upset win over the No. He could put the ball on the floor and get by defenders relatively easily and it made him a true three-level threat. He picked up three Second Team All-Defenses and one First Team All-Defense. Mitch Richmond is one of the most electric yet underrated players of the 90s. Well focus primarily on his most impactful seasons, from 2001-2004. Honestly, call him the Russian Lebron James. 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. 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. 6,418 votes. Michael Redd is another interesting 2000s player. Brand lasted two more seasons at an elite level with the Clippers before age and attrition took a toll on his body. Ilgauskas struggled with injury the first few seasons of his career, missing his rookie season and 4th season with foot issues. In the 2000 NBA draft, the Milwaukee Bucks got lucky when Ohio State's Michael Redd fell all the way into the second round. 2023 profootballspace. One of the most outspoken NBA analysts in the media, Stephen Jackson was a player that his teammates absolutely loved. He was never the same. That season he averaged 16.2 PPG and it was clear that the Pistons had their championship point guard. 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. From 2001-2007 ONeal made six straight All-Star games while averaging a stellar 20-10 with 2 blocks per game. 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. Bibby made the All-Rookie Team in 1999, averaging 13.2 PPG and 6.5 APG for the Vancouver Grizzlies. Maggette had his best seasons during the 2004, 2005, and 2008 seasons. As the all-time and single-season leader in technical fouls, how could he not? 18 pick in the 2020 draft, there were high hopes for Richardson's career. My point is that after further analysis, it becomes apparent that the top five point guards, right now . Andrei Kirilenko was a prototype of what the modern-day NBA landscape now values above all else; versatility. He is an NBA History buff that details the game from the 1960s all the way up to today. Career Stats: 13.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.6 BPG. 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. Mitch Richmond, Detlef Schrempf, and Vin Baker are among the underrated players from the 90s. When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. In his best season in 2005/06 with Sacramento, Bibby helped the team make the playoffs, which is . He has been married to Clarenda Harris since September 12, 2006. He was so fast with his first step off of the dribble and even faster once he got headed toward the basket. You have Kevin Garnetts MVP and Western Conference Finals season with the Wolves. Was it worth it? Ilgauskas deserves so much more respect than modern-day fans give him. 1 / 32 OrlandoMagic.com ranks the best NBA point guards from the 2000s. Miller played 14 seasons in the NBA, mainly for the Kings and Bulls. 19. 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. He led the league in steals in 2004 with 2.4 SPG. Just 3 seasons later, he would become a 20.0 PPG scorer and an automatic 40.0% shooter from deep. By signing up, you agree to the our terms and our Privacy Policy agreement. Mainly known for his part with the Washington Wizards Big Three including Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler, Jamison was a consistent scoring star in the NBA. Shareef solidified his role as a scoring power forward and was selected as an All-Star in the 2002 season, the lone career selection. 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. O'Neal's strongest season came in 2005 by averaging 24.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 2.0 BPG. 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. Injuries were a concern throughout Pejas career, especially in the second half of his NBA lifespan. That should be considered common sense considering NBA players peak from 25-30 years old. He led the league in steals in 2004 with 2.4 SPG. 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. He was also a big reason the Cavaliers were able to make the 2007 NBA Finals, being LeBron James favorite option on offense. Davis was an explosive point guard who was a blur on the floor in open space. He was also a big reason the Cavaliers were able to make the 2007 NBA Finals, being LeBron James favorite option on offense. 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. Gilbert Arenas. Defensively he was excellent, making an NBA All-Defensive Team three times. For the first few seasons of his career, Jermaine ONeal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. 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. Miller also had an All-Star season with the Pacers in 2003 where he averaged 13.1 PPG and 8.3 RPG. 50 Most Underrated NBA Players of All Time. 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. The following season it came to fruition as Billups not only led the Pistons to a title but won Finals MVP in the process. 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He was a 6'6" shooting guard who could also play the small forward position and had solid defensive skills. He doubled as the leagues premier perimeter defenderwinning the Defensive Player of the Year Awardhaving a rare combination of strength, size, and speed that allowed him to keep up with quicker, smaller guards; and be a physical presence to stop bigger small-forward bruiser type scorers. He would be forced to retire from the game at 27 years old. He made the All-Star game and was selected to the All NBA-Third Team. And when it comes to the 2000s, well, there are plenty of guys who deserved more love. 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.