Every year, all NBA players send countless scouts to watch the best prospects in college basketball and even overseas, with the experts and the media putting together their rankings and projections about them.
And, while 90% of the time the best players in the world enter the league via Draft, there have been a few exceptions to that rule. Sometimes, players make a roster as free agents and end up having a better career than those who were drafted.
There isn’t such a thing as a ‘can’t-miss’ talent in the NBA Draft. Projections aren’t an exact science, and the intangibles, work ethic, and even luck also play a big role in how players fare in the pros.
That’s why today, we’re going to honor the top 5 greatest NBA players who beat the odds, proved the world wrong,and became stars – or very good players – in the league despite going undrafted.
see also
NBA Draft: Top 5 players drafted straight out of high school
Honorable Mention: Brad Miller, Raja Bell, Darrell Armstrong
5. Udonis Haslem
Haslem will enter his 17th season. (Getty)
Stats: 7.6 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 0.8 APG
Accolades: All-Rookie
Championships: 3
While his individual accomplishments and his stats are somewhat underwhelming, Udonis Haslem has been one of the most impactful players in Miami Heat history. His grit, hustle, and flawless work ethic helped build a winning culture there for almost two decades, and that’s why they keep bringing him back despite his little production over the last couple of years.
Even though he’s never been a skilled scorer, his physicality and athleticism helped him make a strong impact on the defensive end. He always delivered when called upon, and is the only player in franchise history to appear in all their 5 trips to the NBA Finals. That’s something not even Dwyane Wade can say.
4. Avery Johnson
Johnson spent 15 years in the NBA. (Getty)
Stats: 8.4 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 5.5 APG
Accolades: N/A
Championships: 1
Avery Johnson was a bit of a roadrunner. He played for the Sonics, Nuggets, Spurs, Rockets, Warriors, and Mavericks throughout his 15 years in the league, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t make a huge impact on every single one of his teams. In fact, he holds the record for most assists for an undrafted player (5,486).
Johnson was the starting point guard during the Spurs’ first championship, leading the NBA in assists in the 1999 playoffs (7.4 APG). While not an elite athlete or a solid defender, he was a never-ending source of energy with a feel for making huge plays as an electrifying and streaky scorer.
3. John Starks
Starks retired in 2002. (Getty)
Stats: 12.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 3.6 APG
Accolades: 1x All-Star, All-Defensive, Sixth Man of the Year
Championships: 0
Long before Jeremy Lin took Madison Square Garden by storm as an undrafted and unknown player, John Starks was already making huge plays off the bench for them on both ends of the floor. He gave them a huge spark thanks to his elusiveness, quick hands, and savvy moves down the lane.
Starks was a steady scorer throughout his entire career in the league, scoring10,829 points (the most by an undrafted player) and having 10 straight seasons averaging double-digits in scoring. Moreover, he won the Sixth Man of the Year award after averaging 13.8 points per game off the bench for the Knicks.
2. Bruce Bowen
Bowen played for the Heat, Celtics, Sixers, and Spurs. (Getty)
Stats: 6.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.2 APG
Accolades: 8x All-Defensive
Championships: 3
It took him a while to find his place, but once Bruce Bowen stopped bouncing around the league and made it to the San Antonio Spurs, he became not only one of the most beloved players in franchise history but also one of the greatest defenders of all time. That’s not an overstatement.
Bowen was physical and had a huge nose for the ball. He didn’t mind matching up vs. bigger players, and his savviness and quick hands made him a nightmare for opposing guards as well. His impact went far beyond what his stats reflected, and he made a living out of making huge plays down the stretch.
1. Ben Wallace
Wallace entered the league in 1996. (Getty)
Stats: 5.7 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 1.3 APG
Accolades: 4x All-Star, 6x All-Defensive, 2x Rebounds Leader, 1x Blocks Leader, 4x Defensive Player of the Year
Championships: 1
Ben Wallace is one of the toughest players in NBA history. Period. Once he settled with the Detroit Pistons, he became one of the most physical rim protectors to ever do it, and he perfectly embodied what Motor City wanted out of their players, anchoring their best defense since the ‘Bad Boys’ era.
Wallace holds the record for most All-Star appearances for an undrafted player (4), most rebounds by an undrafted player (10,308), and is tied with Dikembe Mutombo as the only players to ever win 4 Defensive Player of the Year awards. Once it’s all said and done, he’ll become the first undrafted player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
