The Top 10 Most Underrated NBA Players Of The 1990s

Many have claimed that the 1990s was the greatest era of NBA basketball. The 90s certainly have a strong case to be considered so based on the explosion of the sport’s popularity during that time. Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls reigned supreme during the 90s, fueling international and domestic popularity the likes of which the NBA had never seen. If there was a marquee matchup on television on any given night, you could bet that fans of all ages flocked to their television to catch the action. Jordan and the Bulls were not the only factors that fueled this popularity though.

The 90s was also the time for some of the greatest big men to ever step on the court. Shaq, Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutombo, and David Robinson are just some of the few who stood out during the 90s. There were also those that didn’t truly get the recognition they deserve during the decade even though they were spectacular on the basketball court. Today, we honor the lesser-known ballers of the 1990s. The guys that should be given a whole lot more credit and a better shake than they currently do when we speak about their era.

These are the 10 most underrated NBA players of the 1990s.

10. Vin Baker

Championships: 0

Career Stats: 15.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.9 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.0 BPG

Career Achievements: 4x All-Star, 2x All-NBA Team Selection

Vin Baker was selected 8th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1993 NBA Draft. The following 5 seasons would be the best stretch of Baker’s 13-year career. He is credited, along with Ray Allen and Glen Robinson, to help resurrect the Milwaukee Bucks after they had been in the basement following the Sidney Moncrief era. Baker was a big power forward/center who could snag rebounds among the elite and knock down jumpers better than almost anyone at his position. Baker would suffer a rapid regression toward the end of his career due to a very public battle with alcohol and addiction.

Baker enjoyed a solid rookie season in Milwaukee, averaging 13.5 PPG and 7.6 RPG in 82 games that season. Over the next 4 years is where he earns his spot on this list. He became an All-Star in his second season with 17.7PPG and 10.3 RPG. He followed that up with back-to-back 20.0 PPG and 9.0 RPG seasons that showed he could very well be the next great big of the 90s. Baker was sent to the SuperSoniocs after his 4th year and enjoyed another solid season and a half there as well. Baker could have been one of the greats had he kept his head on straight and for that, he comes in at No. 10 on our list.

9. Detlef Schrempf

Championships: 0

Career Stats: 13.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 3.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Career Achievements: 2x Sixth Man Of The Year, 3x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Team Selection

Detlef Schrempf was drafted into the NBA in 195 by the Dallas Mavericks. It wouldn’t be until he was traded to the Indiana Pacers in 1990 that he would make a real name for himself. Schrempf was almost the perfect prototype for the modern-day NBA player. He could shoot the long ball at an exceptionally high rate and wasn’t afraid to get dirty and fight for rebounds in the paint either. During the 90s, Schrempf would go from an unknown rotational player with the Mavs to a valuable All-Star with the Indiana Pacers and Seattle SuperSonics.

Schrempf would take home back-to-back Sixth Man Of The Year awards in 1991 and 1992 with the Indiana Pacers. Over those 2 seasons, he averaged 16.7 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 3.8 APG on 52.8% shooting overall. The following season, he would be named a starter for Indiana and immediately blossomed into an All-Star. He would be traded to the SuperSonics the following season where he would make 2 more All-Star teams and help them reach an NBA Finals in 1996. In 6 seasons with Seattle, Schrempf averaged 16.6 RPG and 6.3 RPG. For his career, Schrempf shot 38.4% from three and 49.1% overall.

8. Glen Rice

Championships: 1

Career Stats: 18.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Career Achievements: 3x All-Star, 1x All-Star Game MVP, 2x All-NBA Team Selection

If there were ever a chance to pluck 1 player from the 90s and throw them into today’s game, Glen Rice would be one of the first I chose. Rice was a prolific shooter, especially in the 90s, having shot 40.0% for his career from deep. His high release made it nearly impossible to contain his jumper. More than just a shooter, Rice would embarrass defenders who tried to overplay him off the ball and take it to the rim or pull up off of one or two dribbles.

Rice was a star in the mid-90s, especially in his days with the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets. In Miami, we watched his development take flight as he formed into a consistent 20.0 PPG scorer. When he got to Charlotte, his scoring exploded including a 1996-97 season that saw him average 26.8 PPG and lead the league in three-point percentage when he shot 47.0% from deep. Rice spent just 3 seasons in Charlotte but in those seasons, he made the only 3 All-Star games of his career and the only 2 All-NBA Teams of his career. When we speak of the game’s greatest shooters, Rice’s name needs to come up a little more often. 

7. Mookie Blaylock

Championships: 0

Career Stats: 13.5 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 6.7 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Career Achievements: 1x All-Star, 6x All-Defensive Team Selection

Mookie Blaylock is one of the great two-way guards of the 1990s that you never hear about. He had a nose for the ball on defense that led to 2 steals titles and a career average of 2.3 SPG. At his peak, Blaylock looked like the quintessential modern-day point guard with his ability to run a pick and roll or knock down a pull-up three. He was also quite the playmaker, showing great speed off of the dribble while being able to find teammates for open opportunities to score.

After 3 years in New Jersey with the Nets, Blaylock landed with the Atlanta Hawks where he hit his stride completely as a player. In his 7 seasons in Atlanta, he averaged 14.9 PPG, 7.3 APG, and 2.6 SPG. His abilities as a two-way point guard were on full display as he took home back-to-back steals titles in 1997 and 1998 while still scoring 15.0 PPG or more and dishing out at least 5.0 APG and grabbing 5.0 RPG. Post-retirement off-the-court issues unfairly diminish his on-the-court ability and land him here at No. 7 on our list.

6. Mark Price

Championships: 0

Career Stats: 15.2 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 6.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.1 BPG

Career Achievements: 4x All-Star, 4x All-NBA Team Selection

Mark Price is one of the best pure shooters and passers in NBA history. Thanks to Michael Jordan and the Bulls, he is barely remembered by NBA fans as such. He was elite at getting to his spots and knocking down mid-range pull-up jumpers but could also knock it down from deep when need be. He was one of the best at splitting double-teams while being fearless and tough entering the paint against guys who were much larger and stronger than he was. He didn’t care. His tenacity and strength shined through en route to making the Cleveland Cavaliers legit contenders during the 90s.

Mark Price spent the first 9 seasons of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers. During that time, he averaged 16.4 PPG, 7.2 APG, and 1.3 SPG. He became just the 2nd member of the elite 50/40/90 club in 1989 but really hit his stride in 1992. From the 1991-92 season through the 1993-94 season, Price made 3 consecutive All-Star teams. Over that time, he averaged 17.6 PPG, 7.7 APG, and 1.3 SPG. He shot 48.3% overall and 40.1% from three as well. Price should be remembered as yet another player who debuted in the NBA just a little too early but still thrived in a time that he shouldn’t have.

 5. Rod Strickland

Championships: 0

Career Stats: 13.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.2 BPG

Career Achievements: 1x All-NBA Team Selection

Rod Strickland is one of the great all-around guards of the 1990s. He was an elite passer, a good defender, and an above-average shooter. He was the consummate floor general on the court who knew how to rally his teammates and put them in the best position that he possibly could to win. During his 14-year career, Strickland was able to accumulate 7,987 assists which ranks Top 10 all-time, and over 14,000 points.

Probably the biggest question about Strickland’s career is how the heck didn’t he make one All-Star team? He really hit his stride in 1994 with the Trail Blazers when he became a consistent 17.0 PPG scorer and 9.0 APG passer. From 1994 through 1998, Strickland averaged 17.9 PPG, 9.4 APG, and 1.7 SPG. He led the league in assists in 1998 when he recorded 10.5 APG over 76 contests. Again I ask, how the heck was he never an All-Star?!

4. Dan Majerle

Championships: 0

Career Stats: 11.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.4 BPG

Career Achievements: 3x All-Star, 2x All-Defensive Team Selection

Majerle is another one of those players who did all of the dirty work and got almost no recognition for it. He was one of the best wing defenders of the decade, imposing his strength on opponents without getting too risky and committing fouls. He used his athleticism and quick hands to give elite scorers of the 90s fits on the perimeter. On offense, he possessed a sweet shooting stroke that made him one of the Top 30 three-point shooters in NBA history.

Majerle spent the first 8 seasons of his career with the Phoenix Suns where he averaged 13.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 1.4 APG during that time. From 1992 through 1995 with the Suns, Majerle averaged 16.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG, and 1.7 SPG while being named an All-Star 3 times and earning 2 All-Defensive Team selections. The fact remains that Majerle is one of the best role players of the 90s and he should be lauded as such throughout NBA history.

 3. Terry Porter

Championships: 0

Career Stats: 12.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.1 BPG

Career Achievements: 2x All-Star

Many people remember Clyde Drexler as the face of the 90s Trail Blazers during their 2 runs to the Finals in 1990 and 1992. The fact is that Portland doesn’t get that far without the services of one Terry Porter. He was a smooth operator especially when it came to shooting the ball sporting a career 38.6% three-point percentage and 57.6% true shooting percentage. Defenders had no answer for Porter in the 90s as he used his stocky frame to fend them off and get to the basket regularly. When they sagged off, it was lights out from Porter.

From 19879 through 1993, Porter was one of the top point guards in basketball. He averaged 17.7 PPG, 7.5 APG, and 1.7 SPG over that span while helping Portland make 2 NBA Finals appearances that they unfortunately lost. On both of those playoff runs, Porter averaged over 20.0 PPG and over 6.5 APG while providing a significant boost on defense. When we speak of those great Portland teams, Drexler’s name shouldn’t be the only one we talk about.

 2. Mitch Richmond

Championships: 1

Career Stats: 21.0 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Career Achievements: 1x Rookie Of The Year, 6x All-Star, 1x All-Star Game MVP, 5x All-NBA Team Selection

It is hard to get recognition as a shooting guard during the 90s when Michael Jordan dominated the position for most of it. Mitch Richmond deserves more than he has gotten over the years. Richmond was a pure scorer who racked up the points in a variety of ways. He could shoot from mid and long range. He was absolutely deadly in the open court, using his speed to blow by defenders with or without the ball. He was once named the toughest defensive assignment in the league behind Michael Jordan by His Airness himself. The problem was, that Richmond’s teams were always terrible.

Richmond began his career as a member of the Run TMC Warriors along with Tim Hardaway and Chris Mullin. He took home Rookie Of The Year in 1989 with 22.0 PPG and 4.2 APG. After 3 years in Golden State, Richmond moved on to the Sacramento Kings where he flourished but the team did not. From 1993 through 1998, Richmond made 6 straight All-Star games and averaged 23.5 PPG, 3.9 APG, and 1.3 SPG. In 1997, he finished with 25.8 PPG which was 4th in the league behind only Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, and Glen Rice. His Kings team only made 1 playoff appearance in 1996 in which they were swept in the first round. Regardless of team success, Richmond has to be considered one of the very best players of the 90s. 

1. Kevin Johnson

Championships: 0

Career Stats: 17.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 9.1 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.2 BPG

Career Achievements: 1x Most Improved Player, 3x All-Star, 5x All-NBA Team Selection

Considering the way that Kevin Johnson used to score and facilitate, he has to be considered the most underrated player of the 90s. Johnson spent the entirety of the 90s with the Phoenix Suns who he helped reach multiple Western Conference Finals and even an NBA Finals appearance in 1993 alongside Charles Barkley. Johnson was super explosive off of the dribble and displayed crazy athleticism especially when he was putting guys like Hakeem Olajuwon on posters with dunks. He became a nightly 20.0 PPG and 10.0 APG threat during this time, yet we rarely ever hear his name come up in great point guard conversations.

From 1989 through 1994, Johnson had one of the great 6-year stretches for a point guard of the decade. He averaged 20.4 PPG, 10.5 APG, and 1.7 SPG over this span and led the Suns to 2 Western Conference Finals and 1 NBA Finals. He also made 3 All-Star appearances and made 4 All-NBA Second Teams during that stretch. Johnson provided 90s fans with some of the most exciting highlights and times during the decade and for that, he is named our No. 1 Most underrated player of the 90s. 

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