In a season sandwiched between two non-playoff years, Elton Brand and the Clippers lost in seven games to the Phoenix Suns. Davis can be credited with sparking the We Believe Warriors to an upset win over the No. Arguably the coolest aspect of Kirinlenkoss career is his nickname, AK-47, referencing his Russian heritage and jersey number. 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. My point is that after further analysis, it becomes apparent that the top five point guards, right now . Forgive and forget and put Jermaine ONeal in the Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame. 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. We'll focus primarily on his most impactful seasons, from 2001-2004. Miller would go on to play 5 more seasons with Sacramento. 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. 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 made 3 straight All-Star games from 2002 through 2004 and averaged 21.7 PPG on 48.1% shooting over that time. Not a chance. He was never the same. As one of the original stretch forwards in the game, Lewis used both his size and shooting ability to become a scoring machine. 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. 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. We need to focus on exactly one year of Eltons career that solidifies his place on this list without a thought. I will say it here and now. Redd was consistently criticized for his lack of a complete game but his scoring was by far the best part of his game. In his first season in Los Angeles, he made his first All-Star Team. Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics. Basketball Time Machine Richardson was a solid scorer throughout his career and was a very capable defender. 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. Bibby's best season came in 2006 where he averaged 21.1 PPG and 5.4 APG for the Kings squad that finished with a 44-38 record. 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. Lewis retired with the Miami Heat in 2014, one year after adding an NBA championship to his already impressive resume. A team dwarfed by the sheer size, glamor, and continued excellence in the shared city. O'Neal had a strong inside scoring game, was very active on the offensive boards, and was a capable shot-blocker. That needs to begin to change after you read this piece. Was he better than he is remembered? Big Shot. Roy was a special talent on offense confirmed by some of the greats such as Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant. Theres not much else to say about Maggatte. 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. Erteilung oder Widerruf von Einwilligungen, klicken Sie hier: Westbrook vs. KD beef Are They Cool Now? He was also a big reason the Cavaliers were able to make the 2007 NBA Finals, being LeBron James favorite option on offense. Latrell Sprewell was a great player. Roy attempted a comeback in 2013 but lasted just 5 games before calling it quits for good. Brad Miller was a rare center in the 2000s because he had a consistent mid-range jump shot. Three others that could be argued at a higher level (they do get plenty of respect, but perhaps not enough) are Vuc, Brogdon, and Jrue. Davis was an explosive point guard who was a blur on the floor in open space. Type above and press Enter to search. Redd was consistently criticized for his lack of a complete game but his scoring was by far the best part of his game. He averaged a career-high of 26.7 points a game during the 2006-07 season. 15.9 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.7 BPG. 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. 4 pick in the 1998 draft, Jamison made the All-Rookie Team with the Warriors averaging 9.6 PPG and 6.4 RPG. From there, he developed his offensive game and defensively got more aggressive. He played in just 18 games and then 10 more in 2010-11. Redd had led Ohio State to a Final Four as a . But if the languid laziness of a typical baseball game was overrated by the purists who want to keep the three-and-a-half-hour games, it was underrated by the people who forgot just how much the . With his ability to both score and pass the ball, Miller was must-watch television whenever he was in town. 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. Image via Complex Original. Lewis was one of the NBAs top shooters for years with 8 seasons ranked in the Top 20 for 3-pointers made. He blew past defenders and glided through the air and threw down rim-rocking dunks with brutal authority. . Zum ndern Ihrer Datenschutzeinstellung, z.B. 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. 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. He found the end zone in three different decades. He has been married to Clarenda Harris since September 12, 2006. 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. He was so fast with his first step off of the dribble and even faster once he got headed toward the basket. I have never seen a Finals MVP and a more impactful point guard be overlooked in NBA history more than Chauncey Billups. Getting to the free throw line. We have seen a host of very talented yet underappreciated stars during the past 20 years. Elton Brand led the way with 24-10 as the best player on a championship contender, the 2005-06 Clippers. He was named an NBA All-Star in 2004 after averaging 21.7 points and a career-best 5.0 rebounds a game. 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).. James Harden is the only player in NBA history with 21-game . The play at power forward saw him have a couple of All-Star seasons. If the season ended today, he'd be second in the NBA in fantasy points per game, but few think of him . One of the best dunkers in NBA history, Richardson's athleticism often took eyes away from his all-around game. He averaged 20.1 PPG and 10.0 RPG in his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls, making the All-Rookie Team. 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. Doug Christie. 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. He averaged 20.7 PPG, 22.2 PPG, and 22.1 PPG during those years while missing out on All-Star Teams despite his scoring. By the time his 4th season in 2004 came around, Redd was an All-Star and a consistent and efficient 20.0 PPG scorer. 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. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. Wallaces presence propelled Detroit to an NBA championship where Wallace averaged 13.0 PPG and 7.8 RPG on the playoff run. 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. He ended his career with a well-deserved championship with the 2011 Dallas Mavericks. 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 averaged 22.8 PPG and led the league with 17.5 RPG, and 3.0 BPG. He was so good that Pacers fans couldrealistically argue that he was the best big man in the league. He was a two-way mastermind who had a knack for coming through in a games biggest moments that earned him the nickname Mr. Thread Tools. Was he good enough that its a travesty that his name isnt among the great scorers in the history of the NBA? Ilgauskas struggled with injury the first few seasons of his career, missing his rookie season and 4th season with foot issues. 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. 6,418 votes. Miller was as good as it gets running an NBA offense and he was one heck of a playmaker. Playing for a middling Milwaukee Bucks squad throughout the 2000s, he led the team and was a fantastic all-around scorer. But for now, Lillard looks like the young PG with the most potential to grow into the best point guard of his era. He would have 5 more dominant scoring seasons for Milwaukee by averaging 23.0 PPG, 25.4 PPG, 26.7 PPG, 22.7 PPG, and 21.2 PPG. 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. Career highlights and awards * NBA champion (2011) * NBA Finals MVP (2011) * NBA Most Valuable Player (2007) * 14 NBA All-Star (2002-2012, 2014, 2015, 2019) * 4 All-NBA First Team (2005-2007, 2009) * 5 All-NBA Second Team (2002, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2011) . Brand lasted two more seasons at an elite level with the Clippers before age and attrition took a toll on his body. 10. Davis began his career as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. #6 of 290. 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. As a member of the Indiana Pacers, O'Neal was a very gifted two-way big man. O'Neal had a very slow start to his career, before blossoming into an All-Star in his 6th season. The Most Underrated NBA Player of the Early 2000s. 20. 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. 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. Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive. Richardson's ability to help teams defend the perimeter and also score when needed makes him an underrated player during the 2000s. Roy was destined to be a star from his first season in the NBA. Im Still Ballin. He finished 3rd in MVP voting and was arguably the best two-way player in basketball. Here were some of . ONeal is an excellent example of the circumstances most players on these lists go through during their careers. Cleveland's superstar is regarded as one of the greatest offensive players in NBA history. 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. Potential only counts for so much. Career Stats: 18.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.3 BPG. Injury replacements, lifetime achievement awards, and many players that might not entirely deserve it. 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 career, Jermaine ONeal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. Magic Johnson. Cassell would then lead the way to another franchise turnaround, bringing the Clippersthat featured two players on this listto their then-most successful season in franchise history. 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. The most underrated scene in 'The Last Dance' was ___. 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. 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. 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. Despite having the aura of a rugged workhorse, Kirilenko struggled with durability, usually finishing NBA seasons between 60-70 games played. He is an NBA History buff that details the game from the 1960s all the way up to today. Andrei Kirilenko was a prototype of what the modern-day NBA landscape now values above all else; versatility. Redd became an even more prolific scorer in the seasons that followed. Cameron Smith will be the first Players Championship winner since Tiger Woods in 2014 to not defend his title at the Players . In 2002, O'Neal won the NBA's Most Improved Player award by averaging 17.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 1.6 BPG. His best statistical season came in 2006-07, with a career-high 26.7 points per game. 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. Beginning with a Toronto Raptor, and ending with one, Gary Trent Jr. is easily one of the most exciting and most underrated players in the NBA today. The 2000s-era NBA was one of the more bizarre representations of basketball one could imagine. 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. That season he averaged 16.2 PPG and it was clear that the Pistons had their championship point guard. Redd shot a career 38.0% from three and his 6 straight years of scoring prowess rank him 3rd on this list. This reputation caused many to forget just how imp[actful Wallace was on the basketball court. Jackson would have his best seasons with the Golden State Warriors averaging over 20 PPG for 3 straight seasons. 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Jackson is mainly known for his stints with the Indiana Pacers and the Golden State Warriors. For the first few seasons of his NBA career, Billups bounced around until he found a home with the Detroit Pistons in 2003. 1. Elton is perfect for this list. From2004 through 2009, Redd battled injuries and bumps but still averaged at least 21.0 PPG every season. He was a nightmare for defenders to stop and an even bigger one to try and score on in the paint. As a two-way player and one of the best athletes to ever play the game, Richardson was a gem in his prime. Your email address will not be published. Six seasons into his career in 2005, Lewis earned his first All-Star selection and first 20.0 PPG season. Here is our list of 12 of the most underrated players in the NBA today.