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. 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. Career Stats: 13.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.6 BPG. re: Most Underrated NBA Players (Historically) Posted on 1/14/23 at 11:11 am to Gaggle. 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 . He was a tough forward who played hard-nosed defense and never backed down from any challenge. 3. Height: 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Playing position: Striker. We'll focus primarily on his most impactful seasons, from 2001-2004. With the impressive season he just had with the Raptors, people are bound to take notice soon. 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. He made 3 straight All-Star games from 2002 through 2004 and averaged 21.7 PPG on 48.1% shooting over that time. 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. Here were some of . He was also a big reason the Cavaliers were able to make the 2007 NBA Finals, being LeBron James favorite option on offense. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed O'Neal into an MVP candidate. He epitomized, you dont know what youve got till its gone.. His scoring jumped from 12.9 PPG to 19.0 PPG, and he made his first All-Star Team in 2002 for the Pacers. 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. Teams: Charlotte Hornets (1998-2000), Miami Heat (2000-01), Cleveland Cavaliers (2001-03), Boston Celtics (2003-06), Minnesota Timberwolves (2006-07), Miami Heat . But today, we arent talking about Tim, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille ONeal, or Dwyane Wade. Last time I did this series, 2 years ago, I had him as the most underrated SF in the league. Oh, and Google his insane back tattoo. Creighton's the favorite, Jay Wright's no longer at Nova, and three more huge coaching changes set up a competitive chase in the Big East We need to focus on exactly one year of Eltons career that solidifies his place on this list without a thought. For the first few seasons of his career, Jermaine O'Neal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. Some players on this list, like Mehmet Okur and Doug Christie, are, sadly, likely unknown to the young NBA fans of today. 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. NBA underrated performers are one of the more challenging lists to rank. Since the Trail Blazers drafted him in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft . And when you peak to the point, you can be compared to the greatest power forward of all time. But despite this, you should know that Jermaine ONeal was a beast. 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. His best season, 2003-04, when he averaged 20-10 and 2.6 blocks, earned him 3rd place in the MVP race. Giannis and LeBron? Brad Miller was a rare center in the 2000s because he had a consistent mid-range jump shot. Richardson made the All-Rookie Team in 2001 by averaging 14.4 PPG and 4.3 RPG for the Golden State Warriors. 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. For the first few seasons of his NBA career, Billups bounced around until he found a home with the Detroit Pistons in 2003. 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. Date of birth: February 1, 1969. Usually millions of dollars. With his ability to both score and pass the ball, Miller was must-watch television whenever he was in town. Including averaging 10 attempts at the line per game when he averaged 22 points per game in his 2004-05 season. 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. Seth Curry - Brooklyn Nets. 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. Big Shot. 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. The Top NBA Players Of All Time. all of who are . Think about Dennis Johnson of the 1980sthe dude was a five-time All-Star and a Finals MVP. Bibby made the All-Rookie Team in 1999, averaging 13.2 PPG and 6.5 APG for the Vancouver Grizzlies. Right off the bat, you can tell Rashard Lewis is highly underrated simply by his lack of accolades to his name. Nine seasons into his career, the former USC Trojan has finally found his stride and established himself as one of the NBAs top guards. 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. Center from Newark, New Jersey, United States of America. By 2003, Ilgauskas was an All-Star and averaged 17.2 PPG and 7.5 RPG while adding 1.9 BPG. As the all-time and single-season leader in technical fouls, how could he not? Thats not that tough. He ended his career with a well-deserved championship with the 2011 Dallas Mavericks. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) There are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the 2010s. Yes, but just barely scratching this list. Redd was consistently criticized for his lack of a complete game but his scoring was by far the best part of his game. Tracy McGrady. In 2002, ONeal won the NBAs Most Improved Player award by averaging 17.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 1.6 BPG. A team dwarfed by the sheer size, glamor, and continued excellence in the shared city. After taking 2 years to play overseas in Greece, Peja made his NBA debut in the 1998-99 season. Obviously, we have to mention the Malice at the Palace incident that saw him miss the entirety of the 2004-05 season with Indiana. Redd shot a career 38.0% from three and his 6 straight years of scoring prowess rank him 3rd on this list. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. He averaged 16.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 4.0 APG on 45.6% shooting in just 57 games. Get ready to relive some of the best moments from the decade of the 2010s with the players who brought them to you. As a result, a number of quality players had their careers pass without ever getting exposure on the highest level. Michael Jordan and Karl Malone greet each other before Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 1, 1997, at the United Center. A lethal gunner from range, Stokakoi was one of the first NBA players to bomb away from range who hit a high percentage of their shots. Im Still Ballin. 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. In his first season in Los Angeles, he made his first All-Star Team. Elton Brand is the most underrated star of the 2000s because he managed to have 2 All-Star Seasons after being drafted No.1 in the 1999 Draft. Davis began his career as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. Elton averaged 30-10-4 with 3 blocks per game that series. 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. By signing up, you agree to the our terms and our Privacy Policy agreement. Complex Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Roy would begin to experience his downfall by 2011, just his 5th season in the league. He had three All-NBA team selections, two thirds, and a second cap off his individual awards. In fact, he was voted 4th overall in the 2003-04 MVP race, beating out the aforementioned shooting guard on the Lakers. 20. 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. Sure. The man consistently dropped games in which he earned anywhere from 30-50 points in 2021 and 2022. Lewis retired with the Miami Heat in 2014, one year after adding an NBA championship to his already impressive resume. Averaging 16.0 PPG, he is one of the most recognizable offensive players for the Clippers over the last 20 years. Expectations are high for every player in the league, and the overrated label . Answer (1 of 3): Dirk Nowitzki. Career Stats: 12.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG. 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. For the first few seasons of his career, Jermaine ONeal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. He played one final season in Phoenix in 2011-12 before retiring. He is an actor and writer, known for Like Mike (2002), Arli$$ (1996) and Adidas Originals: Superstar - Change Is a Team Sport (2020). He picked up three Second Team All-Defenses and one First Team All-Defense. Roy was impossible to keep up with in isolation. Seth Curry . 18 pick in the 2020 draft, there were high hopes for Richardson's career. Again, ONeal might be remembered more for his last season with Golden State, just before the team ascended into the perennial dynasty. That season he averaged 16.2 PPG and it was clear that the Pistons had their championship point guard. In the 2000 NBA draft, the Milwaukee Bucks got lucky when Ohio State's Michael Redd fell all the way into the second round. Agent 0 going into L.A. and dropping 60 on the Lakers. Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics. Billups finished his career a 5x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team selection, and a 3x All-Defensive Team selection. Mitch Richmond, Detlef Schrempf, and Vin Baker are among the underrated players from the 90s. The Most Underrated NBA Player of the Early 2000s. I have never seen a Finals MVP and a more impactful point guard be overlooked in NBA history more than Chauncey Billups. O'Neal's strongest season came in 2005 by averaging 24.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 2.0 BPG. His most valuable skill? This reputation caused many to forget just how imp[actful Wallace was on the basketball court. Yet, not all players who saw action at the NBA, the biggest basketball league in the world, are well-known. 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. The little brother. Fans have a tendency to overlook certain players, and that effect is amplified as years and decades pass.
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