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Top underrated NBA players of the late 1990s-early 2000s

Basketball is one of the most loved sports worldwide. Yet, not all players who saw action at the NBA, the biggest basketball league in the world, are well-known. Sports Mania Asia lists five underrated NBA players between the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Peja Stojaković

Sacramento picked Pedrag Stojaković at the 1996 NBA rookie draft while still playing in Greece. He made an immediate impact in his rookie season two years later. Stojaković was a three-time NBA All-Star, spending most of his career in the challenging Western conference. He also played a major role in the Kings’ successive playoff runs in the early 2000s, including reaching the conference finals in 2002.

Peja Stojaković ended his career by winning a title with the Dallas Mavericks. He turned out to be one of the best shooters to come out of Europe.

Antawn Jamison

Antawn Jamison is one of those unheralded NBA players of the 2000s, a decade that made a mark in the legacies of players such as Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowtizki, and Tim Duncan. He played for six different teams throughout his career in the league.

Jamison is known for his stints with the Golden State Warriors and Washington Wizards. He averaged 25 points and nine rebounds for the Warriors in 2000-01, his third season. He won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2004 with the Dallas Mavericks, averaging 14 points and six rebounds, appearing in all 82 regular season games.

The former North Carolina Tar Heel was paired with Gilbert Arenas when he joined the Wizards in 2004. The duo took Washington to the playoffs from 2005 to 2007, including the Eastern conference semifinals in 2005.

Antawn Jamison, a two-time NBA All-Star Game participant, also suited up for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, and LA Lakers, ending his career at the conclusion of the 2013-14 season.

Kevin Martin

Known as one of the best pure scorers of the 2000s, Kevin Martin was an exemplary leader on every team that he has represented, from the Sacramento Kings to the San Antonio Spurs. From 2006 to 2011, he averaged at least 20 points per game, even reaching a high of 24.6 ppg in the 2008-09 season with the Kings.

At the peak of his career, Kevin Martin was performing at an outstanding level. There are many fans who believe Martin cemented his reputation as one of the best guards of the past 20 years.

Mike Bibby

He is one of the most underrated NBA players of all time. Mike Bibby made his name with the Vancouver Grizzlies before carving his niche as the leading point guard of the successful Kings in the early 2000s.

One of his best seasons was in 2005-06 with Sacramento. Bibby helped his squad make the playoffs, the last time the Kings made it to the NBA postseason.

Even though he never took part in the All-Star Game or managed to win a title, Bibby was respected by his teammates because of his leadership and enthusiasm. Mike remained to be a valuable asset with the Miami Heat, where he played with at the 2011 NBA finals.

Michael Redd

Michael Redd excelled for the Milwaukee Bucks where he had an 11-year tenure with the team. There are a lot of scouts that did not expect the 43rd pick of the 2000 draft, Michael Redd, to be a valuable NBA player.

Redd failed to have much team success in Milwaukee, and due to injuries, had to end his basketball career at the early age of 32. Nevertheless, his true fans will surely not forget his splendid scoring.

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