most underrated nba players of the 2000s

Nine seasons into his career, the former USC Trojan has finally found his stride and established himself as one of the NBAs top guards. From 2001-2007 ONeal made six straight All-Star games while averaging a stellar 20-10 with 2 blocks per game. 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. 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. He helped lead the Magic to a Finals berth in 2009 by being a versatile scorer next to the dominant Howard. 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. 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 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 . Neither made an impact, with Lionel Chalmers never playing another NBA game. 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. 19. He finished with 11,972 points and 2,411 rebounds (3.8 per game). Billups name never comes up in Top 20 conversations as far as point guards go, let alone Top 10 lists. Roy was destined to be a star from his first season in the NBA. 1969-1971 . He would lead the league in steals once more in 2007 with the Warriors with 2.1 SPG. DeMar DeRozan is having an incredible season. He helped lead the Magic to a Finals berth in 2009 by being a versatile scorer next to the dominant Howard. During his time with the New Orleans Hornets for 3 seasons, he averaged 20.2 PPG, 8.1 APG, and 2.0 SPG. 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. During the 2000s, at various times, he was up against the likes of 15 time all-star Tim Duncan, 15 time all-star Kevin Garnett, 14 time all-star Dirk Nowitzki, 10 time all-star Carmelo Anthony, 6 time all-star Pau Gasol, 6 time all-star Amar'e Stoudemire (yes, he got the nod as a forward), 5 time all-star Chris Webber. Looking at the 2000s specifically, many All-Star caliber players did not get the recognition they deserved. Richardson was a solid scorer throughout his career and was a very capable defender. 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. He blew past defenders and glided through the air and threw down rim-rocking dunks with brutal authority. He averaged 20.1 PPG and 10.0 RPG in his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls, making the All-Rookie Team. 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. Roy was impossible to keep up with in isolation. Oh, and Google his insane back tattoo. As one of the original stretch forwards in the game, Lewis used both his size and shooting ability to become a scoring machine. As a result, a number of quality players had their careers pass without ever getting exposure on the highest level. He was a 6'6" shooting guard who could also play the small forward position and had solid defensive skills. 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. Mitch Richmond is one of the most electric yet underrated players of the 90s. 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 3 straight All-Star games from 2002 through 2004 and averaged 21.7 PPG on 48.1% shooting over that time. He averaged 16.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 4.0 APG on 45.6% shooting in just 57 games. He would lead the league in steals once more in 2007 with the Warriors with 2.1 SPG. Required fields are marked *. Again, ONeal might be remembered more for his last season with Golden State, just before the team ascended into the perennial dynasty. #513 of 1,316. 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. Peja Stojakovic is one of the better perimeter scorers of the 2000s decade. 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. 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. Forget the role in the fight. In 2002, ONeal won the NBAs Most Improved Player award by averaging 17.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 1.6 BPG. www.basketball-timemachine.com. Players like Russell Westbrook, John Wall, and Kyle Kuzma each get the overrated label due to playoff failures, huge contracts, or just being talked up more than their games can back up. And when you peak to the point, you can be compared to the greatest power forward of all time. Wallaces presence propelled Detroit to an NBA championship where Wallace averaged 13.0 PPG and 7.8 RPG on the playoff run. Scotty Bags. But despite this, you should know that Jermaine ONeal was a beast. Redd had led Ohio State to a Final Four as a . 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. Gary Trent Jr. is easily one of the most exciting and underrated players in the NBA today, starting with a Toronto Raptor and ending with one. 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. 7 min read. Nick Mac is an NBA Writer with over 5 years of experience in journalism. Not a chance. Career Stats: 14.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG. Forgive and forget and put Jermaine ONeal in the Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame. He picked up three Second Team All-Defenses and one First Team All-Defense. The Rise of Paul George Can he bring a championship to LA. 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. In every season in which he started over 60 games for one of his 9 NBA teams, he earned at least 6.0 APG. Few players have taken the NBA by storm or altered the way teams play the game the way Curry has . He averaged a career-high of 26.7 points a game during the 2006-07 season. 32786 posts. Was he good enough that its a travesty that his name isnt among the great scorers in the history of the NBA? Top 5 most underrated NBA players so far this season: PG - Malcolm Brogdon, Indiana Pacers. Maggette had his best seasons during the 2004, 2005, and 2008 seasons. Landers mens soccer closes out the season with a penalty-kick loss to Florida Tech. As only the No.13 pick, Maggette is one of the most underrated players during his era due to his impact on the Clippers. 15.9 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.7 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. 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. 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. Well, that counts for something, right? . Redd returned the following season but re-injured the same knee tearing the ACL again. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. O'Neal also won the Most Improved Player of the Year Award that same year. The Most UNDERRATED NBA Players Of The 2000s..Welcome back to Sports Savvy. 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. Davis was an explosive point guard who was a blur on the floor in open space. From2004 through 2009, Redd battled injuries and bumps but still averaged at least 21.0 PPG every season. 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 . 1 / 32 OrlandoMagic.com ranks the best NBA point guards from the 2000s. Gilbert Arenas. 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. This honestly swayed an NBA championship, costing the Minnesota Timberwolves in their series against the Lakers, in which they were the better team. He averaged 22.8 PPG and led the league with 17.5 RPG, and 3.0 BPG. Peja is one player that would have been awesome to watch in the current NBA era. He peaked in 2007 when he averaged 26.7 PPG on 46.5% shooting. Roy was impossible to keep up with in isolation. Elton is perfect for this list. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 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. 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. Lofton was the first player in NFL history to accumulate 14,000 receiving yards. Ilgauskas deserves so much more respect than modern-day fans give him. 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. The sample size doesn't include the '87 playoffs because McHale was playing on a broken foot. Underrated? 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. 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. As one of the original stretch forwards in the game, Lewis used both his size and shooting ability to become a scoring machine. Were discussing the most underrated NBA players of the 2000s. After two more seasons, he would win 6th Man of the Year with the Dallas Mavericks in 2004. He was also a big reason the Cavaliers were able to make the 2007 NBA Finals, being LeBron James favorite option on offense. 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. 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. 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. Tracy McGrady. 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. His best season came in 2002 after being traded to Atlanta. Dating back to his time with the Pelicans, he was an All-Star level . He was a menace on the defensive side of the ball as well, never shying away from a tough matchup or assignments. Career Stats: 14.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG. Theres been a lot of former all-stars. 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. 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. In nine of his last ten NBA seasons, James has scored at least 2,000 points. 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. To narrow down the list to 10 underrated players in the whole decade is about as tough as it gets. 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. Elton deserves this spot. 5y. 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. 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. The assessment was based on how players performed during this decade and this decade ONLY (2000-2009).

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