Finley played on two of the premier Western Conference powerhouses over the decade, starting with Dallas and moving to San Antonio after being waived. His scoring jumped from 12.9 PPG to 19.0 PPG, and he made his first All-Star Team in 2002 for the Pacers. Still, with his peak year coinciding with his healthiesthe appeared in 78 gameshe led the Utah Jazz in total points, points per game, total rebounds, rebounds per game, blocks, blocks per game, steals, steals per game, free throws made, free throws attempted, three pointers made, and three-pointers attempted. His stint with the Kings started in 2002 where he averaged 17.6 PPG and 5.4 APG over 7 seasons with the franchise. In fact, I dont think I would have him on here if not for having the greatest NBA nickname of all time, Bad Porn.. 1. During his time in the NBA, Rasheed Wallace received a bad reputation as its resident bad boy. Championships: 0. A 2000 trade to the Pacers changed everything and almost immediately transformed ONeal into an MVP candidate. He also made the All-Star Team and the All-NBA Third Team after a strong season with the Milwaukee Bucks. Magic Johnson. 1. NFL NBA Megan Anderson Atlanta Hawks Los Angeles Lakers Boston Celtics Arsenal F.C. Since the Trail Blazers drafted him in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft . 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. The 5 most overrated players in Madden NFL 23, including the Eagles' Darius Slay Jr. View 5 items Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. 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. Here were some of . #6 of 290. The problem with most underrated NBA lists is too many of the players are, well, overrated. 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. 6,418 votes. Even with Minnesota, Cassell also owns a space in a potential worst trade of all time discussion, being moved, along with a first-round pick, from Minnesota in 2005 to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Marko Jaric and Lionel Chalmers. Here are the teams, odds and spread for Super Bowl 57 matchup, Super Bowl 2023 predictions and picks for each round of the NFL playoffs. Nick Mac is an NBA Writer with over 5 years of experience in journalism. This happened because other great players such as Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Tim Duncan, and Shaquille O'Neal were the faces of the NBA and grabbed all the headlines all the time. Davis can be credited with sparking the We Believe Warriors to an upset win over the No. Nine seasons into his career, the former USC Trojan has finally found his stride and established himself as one of the NBAs top guards. He was a nightmare for defenders to stop and an even bigger one to try and score on in the paint. 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 the 2000 NBA draft, the Milwaukee Bucks got lucky when Ohio States Michael Redd fell all the way into the second round. He was so fast with his first step off of the dribble and even faster once he got headed toward the basket. In 2002, O'Neal won the NBA's 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. 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. 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. 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. 5y. However, when we look at this year, we can see that it was Rons best statistical start to an NBA season. Giannis and LeBron? Shaquille O'Neal. He was a scorer, plain and simple. Thats right; were talking top player in the league status. 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 would improve his scoring over the next few seasons, boosting his scoring to a career-high 23.2 PPG during the 2006 season. 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 Jason Terry: 1066.71 TPA. For the first few seasons of his career, Jermaine ONeal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. Sports Mania Asia lists five underrated NBA players between the late 1990s and early 2000s. As a member of the Indiana Pacers, O'Neal was a very gifted two-way big man. Other Underrated NBA Players for 2021-22. Elton Brand was a special big man on offense and on the boards, and he was one of the most underappreciated players during his time. 6. Theres not much else to say about Maggatte. He made the All-Star game and was selected to the All NBA-Third Team. Basketball is one of the most loved sports worldwide. He was selected only behind guards Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd, which is the greatest single accomplishment in his career. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. He also set the record for most three-pointers made in a single quarter, with eight, before being overtaken when Klay Thompson made nine. 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. Like many on this list, the 2003-04 season was the best of Rons career. 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. Elton deserves this spot. Was he good enough that its a travesty that his name isnt among the great scorers in the history of the NBA? While Redd played amazingly, the team finished the season with a horrible record28-54. Required fields are marked *. The sample size doesn't include the '87 playoffs because McHale was playing on a broken foot. Elton averaged 30-10-4 with 3 blocks per game that series. He was a 6'6" shooting guard who could also play the small forward position and had solid defensive skills. 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. Miller was as good as it gets running an NBA offense and he was one heck of a playmaker. He picked up three Second Team All-Defenses and one First Team All-Defense. 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. Billups finished his career a 5x All-Star, 3x All-NBA Team selection, and a 3x All-Defensive Team selection. At 34 years of age, Cassell had his best year averaging 19-3-7, helping the downtrodden Minnesota franchise propel itself to #1 in the Western Conference Standings. A small core of teams dominated the league in that era. Unfortunately for Christie, what should have been a fruitful career as a spot-up shooter quickly ended due to a litany of injuries. Richardson made the All-Rookie Team in 2001 by averaging 14.4 PPG and 4.3 RPG for the Golden State Warriors. League championships: 0. , Owner: (Registered business address: Germany), processes personal data only to the extent strictly necessary for the operation of this website. 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. 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. He ended his career with a well-deserved championship with the 2011 Dallas Mavericks. He finished his career averaging 5.5 three-point attempts per game in an era that was just startingto see the actual value of the deep ball. When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. Peja Stojakovic is one of the better perimeter scorers of the 2000s decade. My point is that after further analysis, it becomes apparent that the top five point guards, right now . 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 consistently made a significant impact early on with the Vancouver Grizzlies and was the leading point guard on some really good Sacramento Kings lineups in the early 2000s. Was it worth it? 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. Jermaine does that by propelling himself to All-Star status with Indiana. With his accurate 3-point shot and ability to pass the ball effectively, Stojakovidc would be a nightmare for defenses in todays game. DeMar DeRozan is having an incredible season. Mike Bibby is one of the most underrated basketball players of all time. Getting to the free throw line. Last time I did this series, 2 years ago, I had him as the most underrated SF in the league. He averaged 20.1 PPG and 10.0 RPG in his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls, making the All-Rookie Team. To narrow down the list to 10 underrated players in the whole decade is about as tough as it gets. . He spent 3 seasons with the team and helped them transition to the City of New Orleans. 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. Playing for a middling Milwaukee Bucks squad throughout the 2000s, he led the team and was a fantastic all-around scorer. 1969-1971 . He was also a big reason the Cavaliers were able to make the 2007 NBA Finals, being LeBron James favorite option on offense. Schrempf is often overlooked and considered one of the most underrated players in NBA history. For some reason, ONeal was vilified relentlessly for his role in the brawl and his reputation has taken years to recover. There are dozens of underrated players most folks forget. By the time his 4th season in 2004 came around, Redd was an All-Star and a consistent and efficient 20.0 PPG scorer. The 2005-06 campaign. Anyways. That was the year Richardson became a solid 3-point shooter, as he nailed 38.4% of his threes. Tracy McGrady was born on May 24, 1979 in Bartow, Florida, USA. 2023 profootballspace. Elton Brand was one of the most underrated players of the 2000s. Fans have a tendency to overlook certain players, and that effect is amplified as years and decades pass. Landers mens soccer closes out the season with a penalty-kick loss to Florida Tech. 4. 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. But the sheer fact that Clipper Contenderswas uttered during the 2005-06 playoffs firmly earns Elton a spot on this list. View Profile View Forum Posts 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. Peja Stojakovi. Malcolm Brogdon might have the quietest 20/6/6 stat line in the NBA. We dont even have to look at career averages or anything. Top 5 most underrated NBA players so far this season: PG - Malcolm Brogdon, Indiana Pacers. As a result, a number of quality players had their careers pass without ever getting exposure on the highest level. Can you name any other player who only made the all-star game once in his career? all of who are . He became the first Russian player selected in the first round and made the all-rookie team in his first year. Career: 1989-2002. His 2000s were spent with the Utah Jazz, playing alongside Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer. 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. Right off the bat, you can tell Rashard Lewis is highly underrated simply by his lack of accolades to his name. Press Esc to cancel. Wallace helped to revolutionize the power forward position forever with his ability to spread the floor and shoot the ball He could play any role that a team needed him to. Trevor Ariza. #NBA #NBATwitter #BYL #NBAPicks #Goats #Underrated. We need to focus on exactly one year of Eltons career that solidifies his place on this list without a thought. Davis began his career as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. After two more seasons, he would win 6th Man of the Year with the Dallas Mavericks in 2004. Unfortunately, his fantastic rookie campaign was lost in history behind a similar scoring guard in Allen Iverson, but it was easy to see the skill and talent Shareef possessed. Dating back to his time with the Pelicans, he was an All-Star level . The following season it came to fruition as Billups not only led the Pistons to a title but won Finals MVP in the process. Career Stats: 13.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.6 BPG. He finished with 11,972 points and 2,411 rebounds (3.8 per game). Injuries were a concern throughout Pejas career, especially in the second half of his NBA lifespan. Injuries took away superstar potential from Michael Redd, but he was an offensive machine when he was healthy. But today, we arent talking about Tim, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille ONeal, or Dwyane Wade. Just 3 seasons later, he would become a 20.0 PPG scorer and an automatic 40.0% shooter from deep. Davis began his career as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. Arguably the coolest aspect of Kirinlenkoss career is his nickname, AK-47, referencing his Russian heritage and jersey number. Glen Rice was a three-time All-Star and won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000. . His mid-range game and three-ball were impeccable as well. re: Most Underrated NBA Players (Historically) Posted on 1/14/23 at 11:11 am to Gaggle. Redd shot a career 38.0% from three and his 6 straight years of scoring prowess rank him 3rd on this list. 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. Six seasons into his career in 2005, Lewis earned his first All-Star selection and first 20.0 PPG season. He was a menace on the defensive side of the ball as well, never shying away from a tough matchup or assignments. With the NBA season approaching fast, there are a few players who haven't gotten the credit they deserve. Forget the role in the fight. For the first few seasons of his career, Jermaine O'Neal struggled to find a role with the Portland Trail Blazers. That's why he's the first name 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. . He led the league in minutes played for three seasons of his career. In his best season in 2005/06 with Sacramento, Bibby helped the team make the playoffs, which is . 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. Answer (1 of 3): Dirk Nowitzki. Wallaces impact was truly measured when he was acquired by the Detroit Pistons midway through the 2004 season. Seth Curry - Brooklyn Nets. 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. That needs to begin to change after you read this piece. 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. 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. James demonstrated this when he surpassed Patrick Ewing for 20th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list. 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. Now, I could go up to as many as 25 maybe 30 players that are forgotten stars from the 2000's but i'm only going to focus on 12, enjoy. Dave McNally went 20-7, 24-9 and 21-5 from '60 to '71. 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. Jackson would have his best seasons with the Golden State Warriors averaging over 20 PPG for 3 straight seasons. 50 Most Underrated NBA Players of All Time. 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. I will say it here and now. Billups name never comes up in Top 20 conversations as far as point guards go, let alone Top 10 lists. Forgive and forget and put Jermaine ONeal in the Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame. As a two-way player and one of the best athletes to ever play the game, Richardson was a gem in his prime. 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. All details in the privacy policy. This reputation caused many to forget just how imp[actful Wallace was on the basketball court. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); My name is Hayden, and I'm a digital marketing consultant. #513 of 1,316. Thread Tools. His presence on the early 2000s Kings teams was a perfect fit that put them over the top as a contender at the time. His best season came in 2002 after being traded to Atlanta. 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. Here are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the entire 2000s. Miller also had an All-Star season with the Pacers in 2003 where he averaged 13.1 PPG and 8.3 RPG. Redd blossomed as a scorer in his 4th season, averaging 21.7 PPG on 35.0% shooting from three. 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. Doug Christie. Your email address will not be published. He was the first NBA player to bring in the big balls dance celebration, injuring his groin. I have never seen a Finals MVP and a more impactful point guard be overlooked in NBA history more than Chauncey Billups. His only postseason trip was as a role player averaging 12-5 on the 2005-06 Sacramento Kings, who would lose in the first round to San Antonio. www.basketball-timemachine.com. The little brother. Ilgauskas deserves so much more respect than modern-day fans give him. And when it comes to the 2000s, well, there are plenty of guys who deserved more love. 4 pick in the 1998 draft, Jamison made the All-Rookie Team with the Warriors averaging 9.6 PPG and 6.4 RPG. One of the most outspoken NBA analysts in the media, Stephen Jackson was a player that his teammates absolutely loved. Lewis was one of the NBAs top shooters for years with 8 seasons ranked in the Top 20 for 3-pointers made. O'Neal had a strong inside scoring game, was very active on the offensive boards, and was a capable shot-blocker. How many other players in NBA history have an argument for being both the best paint scorer and overall defender at the same time? Drafted with the No. Roy was a special talent on offense confirmed by some of the greats such as Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant. Mookie Blaylock. Get the latest sports news from SportsSite about soccer, football and tennis. Required fields are marked *. He is an actor and writer, known for Like Mike (2002), Arli$$ (1996) and Adidas Originals: Superstar - Change Is a Team Sport (2020). But looking at his career as a whole, Jamison was an All-Star caliber talent. 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. 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. Mitch Richmond, Detlef Schrempf, and Vin Baker are among the underrated players from the '90s. But despite this, you should know that Jermaine ONeal was a beast. Career Stats: 18.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.3 BPG. And make it not as a lifetime achievement award or an injury replacement, but during what would be a 2nd Team All-NBA season? 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 a nightmare for defenders to stop and an even bigger one to try and score on in the paint. He would become an All-Star once more in 2005 averaging 16.9 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and 2.1 BPG. Forget the role in the fight. 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. Ronald Koeman of the Netherlands lines up before the UEFA Euro 88 Group 2 match between England and the Netherlands at the Rheinstadion on June 15, 1988 in Dsseldorf, West Germany. All the most overrated players in the NBA will be featured here to choose from. The Top NBA Players Of All Time. Read that sentence again. For some reason, ONeal was vilified relentlessly for his role in the brawl and his reputation has taken years to recover. The play at power forward saw him have a couple of All-Star seasons. Oh, and Google his insane back tattoo. Michael Jordan and Karl Malone greet each other before Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 1, 1997, at the United Center. Ron Artest, Metta World Peace, or his now legal name Metta Sandiford-Artest may surprise some on this list. His best statistical season came in 2006-07, with a career-high 26.7 points per game. 1) Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks. Potential only counts for so much. 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. An elite scorer and underrated playmaker, Jason Terry spent the majority of the 2000s playing the role of starting guard for the Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks, and the last bit dominating off the bench for the latter franchise. 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. I have never seen a Finals MVP and a more impactful point guard be overlooked in NBA history more than Chauncey Billups. Mehmet Okur - Career Stats : 13.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.7 apg - Best season (2005-06) : 18.0 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.4 apg - Achievements : NBA Champion (2004), NBA All-Star (2007) - Best years were with the Jazz 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: 18.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.3 BPG. As of early May, James and . His jump shooting was his strongest attribute but unfortunately, his career took a dip after suffering injuries that never made him the same player after the 2009 season. Here is a look at the most underrated soccer players of all time. 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. Six seasons into his career in 2005, Lewis earned his first All-Star selection and first 20.0 PPG season. His presence on the early 2000s Kings teams was a perfect fit that put them over the top as a contender at the time. He blew past defenders and glided through the air and threw down rim-rocking dunks with brutal authority. Career Achievements: 1x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection. He finished 3rd in MVP voting and was arguably the best two-way player in basketball. 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. 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. Richardson was a solid scorer throughout his career and was a very capable defender. Actor | Like Mike. In fact, Kirilenko was born in Izhevsk, where the weapon was first manufactured. From2004 through 2009, Redd battled injuries and bumps but still averaged at least 21.0 PPG every season. 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. 1 of 25. Vancouver selected Abdur-Rahim third overall, and he immediately became the teams leading scorer. 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. 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. You can reach him via email:aaroncmansfield@gmail.com. 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. 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. 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. The Best Athletes Of All Time. Wilt Chamberlain. He played one final season in Phoenix in 2011-12 before retiring. This honestly swayed an NBA championship, costing the Minnesota Timberwolves in their series against the Lakers, in which they were the better team. He had a sweet jumper and smooth release that he could knock down from anywhere in front of half-court. Andrei Kirilenko was a prototype of what the modern-day NBA landscape now values above all else; versatility. But for now, Lillard looks like the young PG with the most potential to grow into the best point guard of his era. During his early days in Seattle, Lewis took a bit to develop into the shooter and scorer he went down as. Redd became an even more prolific scorer in the seasons that followed. Bottom Line: Otis Thorpe. The players listed here may be relatively unknown, underappreciated, or underrated in terms of not making the elite lists of other football raters. The 2000s-era NBA was one of the more bizarre representations of basketball one could imagine. 1 seed Mavericks in 2007 but his career was so much more than one season. He could put the ball on the floor and get by defenders relatively easily and it made him a true three-level threat. When coming into the league, there were no expectations for Michael Redd having been the 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft.