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. That should be considered common sense considering NBA players peak from 25-30 years old. He tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee after playing just 33 games. 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. His scoring jumped from 12.9 PPG to 19.0 PPG, and he made his first All-Star Team in 2002 for the Pacers. Roy was destined to be a star from his first season in the NBA. As one of the original stretch forwards in the game, Lewis used both his size and shooting ability to become a scoring machine. 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. When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. Seth Curry - Brooklyn Nets. 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. From 2001-2007 ONeal made six straight All-Star games while averaging a stellar 20-10 with 2 blocks per game. 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. Your email address will not be published. 2008-09 Upper Deck MVP #206 Danilo Gallinari RC ($2.50) Gallinari has had multiple seasons with All-Star caliber production, with his best numbers coming during the 2018-19 season when he averaged . Teams: Nets . Agent 0 going into L.A. and dropping 60 on the Lakers. 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. In nine of his last ten NBA seasons, James has scored at least 2,000 points. On offense, he was a great spot-up shooter and that's why he is mainly known for being a shooter during the Steve Nash era in Phoenix. Miller also had an All-Star season with the Pacers in 2003 where he averaged 13.1 PPG and 8.3 RPG. 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 had a sweet jumper and smooth release that he could knock down from anywhere in front of half-court. Show Printable Version; Today, 04:33 PM #1. He would improve his scoring over the next few seasons, boosting his scoring to a career-high 23.2 PPG during the 2006 season. After taking 2 years to play overseas in Greece, Peja made his NBA debut in the 1998-99 season. By 2003, Ilgauskas was an All-Star and averaged 17.2 PPG and 7.5 RPG while adding 1.9 BPG. Iverson took the fourth most shots per game in NBA history and is the worst-shooting volume chucker in the modern NBA. 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. 8. We'll focus primarily on his most impactful seasons, from 2001-2004. Wallaces impact was truly measured when he was acquired by the Detroit Pistons midway through the 2004 season. He was the first NBA player to bring in the big balls dance celebration, injuring his groin. Enter Sam Cassell. 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 . These are the most overrated players in NBA history. Despite his demise over the latter course of his career, Redd still averaged 19.0 points per game for his career. Landers mens soccer closes out the season with a penalty-kick loss to Florida Tech. Roy attempted a comeback in 2013 but lasted just 5 games before calling it quits for good. Shareef solidified his role as a scoring power forward and was selected as an All-Star in the 2002 season, the lone career selection. His presence on the early 2000s Kings teams was a perfect fit that put them over the top as a contender at the time. For the first few seasons of his career, Jermaine ONeal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. 1. Basketball Time Machine Getting to the free throw line. 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. During his time in the NBA, Rasheed Wallace received a bad reputation as its resident bad boy. Not a chance. As the all-time and single-season leader in technical fouls, how could he not? Jermaine does that by propelling himself to All-Star status with Indiana. He is an actor and writer, known for Like Mike (2002), Arli$$ (1996) and Adidas Originals: Superstar - Change Is a Team Sport (2020). By the time his 4th season in 2004 came around, Redd was an All-Star and a consistent and efficient 20.0 PPG scorer. 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. You had a fashion that today would be laughed at, baggy jeans, shirts, shorts, and fabrics flying down the court. 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. 10. 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. Mookie Blaylock. 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 signing up, you agree to the our terms and our Privacy Policy agreement. Forgive and forget and put Jermaine ONeal in the Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame. The Most Underrated NBA Player of the Early 2000s. Dating back to his time with the Pelicans, he was an All-Star level . When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. 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. Giannis and LeBron? He was so fast with his first step off of the dribble and even faster once he got headed toward the basket. 1. An . Ilgauskas deserves so much more respect than modern-day fans give him. Wallaces impact was truly measured when he was acquired by the Detroit Pistons midway through the 2004 season. Designed by profootballspace. Here's a ranking of the NBA's top teammate duos throughout league history. 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. In fact, Kirilenko was born in Izhevsk, where the weapon was first manufactured. 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. Big Shot. #513 of 1,316. He made his mark from deep and, with an increase in playing time, averaged 11.4 points per game while shooting 44% from beyond the arc. Height: 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Playing position: Striker. He was a two-way mastermind who had a knack for coming through in a games biggest moments that earned him the nickname Mr. One last point on Cassell that bumps him higher on this list. With over a decade of writing articles for sports sites, Eddie Bitar has a unique writing voice that shines through in the latest collection of NBA-related content that captures trade rumors, power rankings, and team news. Underrated? He found the end zone in three different decades. 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. During his time with the New Orleans Hornets for 3 seasons, he averaged 20.2 PPG, 8.1 APG, and 2.0 SPG. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His best season came in 2002 after being traded to Atlanta. Most Overrated NBA Players of All Time. When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. Elton Brand led the way with 24-10 as the best player on a championship contender, the 2005-06 Clippers. Jamison would then form part of a consistent team with the Wizards, making 2 All-Star Teams during his tenure there and solidifying himself as one of the best power forwards in the NBA during his time. I will say it here and now. He would be forced to retire from the game at 27 years old. 5 pick in the 2001 draft, Richardson was expected to be one of the most impactful shooting guards in the NBA and he was certainly underappreciated in his time. George Hill . 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 was a 6'6" shooting guard who could also play the small forward position and had solid defensive skills. 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. For the first few seasons of his NBA career, Billups bounced around until he found a home with the Detroit Pistons in 2003. 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. Here is our list of 12 of the most underrated players in the NBA today. 1 seed Mavericks in 2007 but his career was so much more than one season. He was a nightmare for defenders to stop and an even bigger one to try and score on in the paint. Career Stats: 13.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.6 BPG. 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. 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. In his first season in Los Angeles, he made his first All-Star Team. Im Still Ballin. Roy was a special talent on offense confirmed by some of the greats such as Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant. And while many fans will remember the Clippers for continuously being one of the dumpster fires of NBA teams, alongside Sacramento, Minnesota, and others, those other teams have had moments in the spotlight that are remembered fondly. Brand lasted two more seasons at an elite level with the Clippers before age and attrition took a toll on his body. Who are the 25 Most Charitable Athletes in the World? Ilgauskas struggled with injury the first few seasons of his career, missing his rookie season and 4th season with foot issues. With his ability to both score and pass the ball, Miller was must-watch television whenever he was in town. Last time I did this series, 2 years ago, I had him as the most underrated SF in the league. In an era littered with talented point guards, Baron Davis was among the most exciting to watch play. . He was an entertaining player, scorer, and consistent all-star-level talent in the 90s. 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.