Ranking the 10 Best NBA Undrafted Players of All Time
Every NBA draft leaves behind a few hidden gems.
We're here to celebrate the very best of those undrafted success stories, but with a key boundary: We’re drawing the line at the NBA-ABA merger in 1976-77. While there were standout players before that era, the post-merger league is widely seen as the modern NBA's true beginning, where talent and competition reached a new level of consistency.
To determine the top 10 undrafted players, we evaluated career longevity, individual accolades (All-Star selections, All-NBA teams, etc.), impact on winning (championships, key playoff performances) and cultural legacy. These players defied the steep climb they faced after being snubbed on draft night, making up for it with careers worth remembering.
Honorable Mentions
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The cut for the top 10 was razor-thin, and these names deserve their nod.
José Calderón (undrafted in 2003) quietly put together a decade-long career defined by efficiency and leadership, and was often among the league’s assist-to-turnover leaders.
Austin Reaves (2021), though still writing his story, has already become a key piece on a contending Lakers squad—his rise from undrafted to Olympic-caliber rotation player is no fluke.
Wesley Matthews (2009) carved out a 15-year career as a reliable three-and-D specialist for eight teams, most notably the Trail Blazers and Mavericks—the kind of player every playoff team needs.
Raja Bell (1999) brought defensive toughness to every stop, making life miserable for elite scorers in the mid-2000s.
David Wesley (1992) was a bucket-getter before that term even had traction—an undersized guard who averaged double figures for a decade. None cracked the top 10, but all are textbook cases of undrafted excellence.
10. Jeremy Lin, 2010
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Jeremy Lin’s story is the kind of sports fairytale that barely seems real—an undrafted Ivy League guard, sleeping on a teammate’s couch, who took over the world for a month in 2012.
“Linsanity” was a global movement.
Over a stretch of 26 games with the New York Knicks, Lin averaged 18.5 points and 7.7 assists, which included a game-winner in Toronto and a 38-point explosion against Kobe Bryant’s Lakers. That lightning-in-a-bottle run turned Lin into an overnight sensation, a cultural icon and one of the most impactful undrafted players ever.
Lin’s overall career numbers won’t blow anyone away: 11.6 points, 4.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game over nine seasons. But the context of Linsanity matters.
His career spanned eight teams: Warriors, Knicks, Rockets, Lakers, Hornets, Nets, Hawks, and Raptors. Injuries derailed what looked like a promising peak, but Lin still carved out a solid NBA tenure.
He became the first Asian-American to win an NBA title, which came in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors, and his presence helped expand the league's reach across Asia in ways few players ever have.
What puts Lin at No. 10 isn’t just the stats or the resume—it’s the moment. Linsanity redefined what undrafted players could achieve. For those few weeks, Lin was the NBA.
9. Brad Miller, 1998
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Brad Miller might not have had the flash of some other names on this list, but his résumé is undeniable.
Undrafted out of Purdue in 1998, Miller worked his way into the league through the CBA and eventually carved out a 14-year NBA career that included two All-Star selections—a rare feat for any undrafted player, let alone a center in a golden era of big men.
Miller averaged 11.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists across 868 career games, with career shooting splits of 48 percent from the field and nearly 80 percent from the free-throw line—a testament to his touch and skill.
A progenitor of current high-passing bigs such as Nikola Jokić, Isaiah Hartenstein and Karl-Anthony Towns, Miller thrived in systems that valued high-post decision-making. In Sacramento, he was an essential cog in coach Rick Adelman’s motion offense, helping the Kings during their mid-2000s contention and in the post–Chris Webber era.
Over his career, Miller suited up for the Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls (two stints), Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets.
His best years came during his time with the Kings, where he was named an All-Star in 2003 and 2004. He also played a key role in the Pacers’ and Bulls’ playoff runs in the early 2000s. While he had a soft touch as a playmaker, he balanced it out with a roughneck, proud country boy attitude that took no crap. Including from Shaquille O'Neal.
8. Avery Johnson, 1988
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Avery Johnson's journey from undrafted point guard to NBA champion and esteemed head coach exemplifies perseverance. Known affectionately as "The Little General," Johnson's 16-year NBA playing career and subsequent coaching success make him one of the most impactful undrafted players in league history.
Standing at 5'10", Johnson defied expectations for his size, carving out a notable career as a floor general, a prototypical pass-first lead guard. After going undrafted in 1988, he played for several teams, including the Seattle SuperSonics, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks and most prominently the San Antonio Spurs.
Over 1,054 regular-season games, Johnson averaged 8.4 points and 5.5 assists, with a field-goal percentage of 47.9.
Johnson's most significant playing achievement came with the San Antonio, where he was instrumental in their 1999 championship run. In the Finals, he hit the series-clinching shot in Game 5 against the New York Knicks, securing the franchise's first title.
Transitioning to coaching, Johnson served as an assistant for the Dallas Mavericks under Don Nelson before becoming head coach in 2005. He quickly made an impact in his first season as head coach, leading the Mavericks to a 60-22 record and their first NBA Finals appearance in the 2005-06 season.
His efforts earned him the NBA Coach of the Year award. Johnson is the ultimate example of an undrafted player rewriting his own script—thriving as both a star and a coach for teams that once passed on him.
7. Alex Caruso, 2016
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Alex Caruso went from G League anonymity to one of the most respected perimeter defenders in the NBA. Not bad for a dude who never heard his name called on draft night in 2016. But don't let the hype fool you: Caruso’s rise is built on grit, IQ and defense that coaches drool over.
After grinding with Oklahoma City's G League affiliate and earning two-way status with the Lakers, Caruso cracked the rotation during LeBron’s first year in L.A., and by the 2019–20 season, he was a vital piece of their championship core.
He didn’t light up the box score, but his impact was undeniable as a two-way pest and clutch shot-maker. Caruso’s ability to disrupt elite guards, make the right read offensively, and sacrifice his body turned him into a fan favorite and an analytics darling.
He made the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2023, a massive honor for any player—let alone an undrafted one. In 2023–24, he averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, and shot over 40 percent from three—all while guarding the opponent's best perimeter player night in and night out.
Now with the Thunder, Caruso has leveled up. He is that dude you hate playing against but love on your team. Just ask Nikola Jokić, who Caruso was tasked with guarding to close out the Western Conference Semifinals. He fronted Jokić and made the three-time MVP earn every catch and seal, while causing turnover chaos.
His blend of hustle, instincts and championship pedigree make him one of the best undrafted success stories of the modern era. At No. 7, he helped the Thunder on their run to the '25 title.
6. Bruce Bowen, 1993
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Bruce Bowen's legacy was built on suffocating defense and championship grit. In fact, you could say the overused term "three and D" started with his San Antonio Spurs tenure.
Undrafted in 1993, Bowen bounced around Europe and the CBA before finally catching on in the NBA, eventually becoming a defensive anchor for one of the greatest dynasties of the 2000s.
As a member of the Spurs, Bowen won three NBA championships (2003, 2005, 2007) and earned eight consecutive All-Defensive Team selections—five First Team and three Second Team. That streak of recognition, from 2001 to 2008, cemented his reputation as arguably the best perimeter defender of his era. And top five all-time.
Bowen’s role wasn’t to fill up the stat sheet, but the guys he guarded remember him. He was routinely assigned to the league’s top scorers: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Allen Iverson, Steve Nash—you name them, Bowen made their life hell on the hardwood. He was relentless, physical and cerebral, often toeing the line between tough and dirty.
Offensively, he understood his role to perfection. Bowen became a reliable corner three-point shooter, spacing the floor just enough to make defenses pay. He shot 39.3 percent from three for his career, almost entirely off spot-ups.
In a league that often celebrates offensive fireworks, Bowen made his name by stopping them.
5. Fred VanVleet, 2016
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Fred VanVleet beat the odds while making a brand out of it. Undrafted in 2016, passed over by every team in both rounds, VanVleet stuck with his now-famous motto: "Bet on yourself."
And he’s been cashing in ever since.
Signed by the Toronto Raptors, VanVleet worked his way up from the G League to being one of the most dependable two-way guards in the league. His breakout came during the 2019 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors, where he was essential as the fourth offensive option and spark plug off the bench.
He hounded Steph Curry on defense, dropped clutch jumpers and averaged 14.0 points and 2.2 steals per game in the series. In Game 6 he put up 22 points and nailed dagger threes en route to the Raptors' first title, dismantling the Warriors' "Death Lineup" dynasty in the process.
Since then, VanVleet’s résumé has only grown. He was an All-Star in 2022, and he holds the record for the most points scored in a game by an undrafted player—54 against Orlando in 2021. Across his career, he’s averaged 14.6 points, 5.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, all while earning a rep as one of the league’s best defensive guards under 6'3".
Now with the Houston Rockets, VanVleet continues to be a veteran leader and culture-setter. He was the team's best player in its first-round, seven-game slugfest against Curry and the Warriors this postseason, as he dropped 18.7 points, 4.4 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game while shooting 44 percent from three.
4. J.J. Barea, 2006
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Undrafted out of Northeastern, 5'10" Puerto Rican J.J. Barea carved out a 14-year career defined by heart, hustle and clutch-time production. But it’s his role in the 2011 playoffs that cements his spot at No. 4 on this list.
Let’s set the scene: defending-champion Lakers, stacked and favored. Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle unleashed his X-factor: Barea. The undersized guard torched the Lakers' drop coverage, relentlessly attacked the paint, forced switches and made L.A.’s bigs look helpless at times.
He averaged 11.5 points and 5.5 assists for the series, but the numbers don’t tell the whole story—it was the chaos he created that helped the Mavs sweep the series. It got so bad for L.A. that Andrew Bynum delivered a full-on WWE-style elbow to Barea in Game 4, a flagrant foul that earned the big man an ejection and suspension.
You don’t commit that kind of foul unless a guy is giving you nightmares.
Barea went on to play a key role in the Finals as Dallas shocked Miami’s Big Three, and the world, winning the 2011 title. Across his 831-game career (mostly with Dallas, plus a short stint in Minnesota), he averaged 8.9 points and 3.9 assists, often running the offense with poise and fearlessness.
Barea wasn’t just a scrappy backup but a playoff killer.
3. Udonis Haslem, 2002
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Udonis Haslem’s NBA journey defined "Heat Culture."
Undrafted out of Florida in 2002, the 6'8" big man went overseas to play in France, transformed his body and came back ready to grind.
Back in the NBA, he signed with his hometown Heat and never left—spending 20 seasons with one franchise, the longest run for any undrafted player in league history. But loyalty alone doesn’t earn you a top-three spot—championship impact does. And Haslem delivered that over three decades.
He won three titles (2006, 2012, 2013) and participated (to varying degrees) in seven Finals, the first in 2006 and the last in 2023. His career averages of 7.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game won’t wow you, but his value came in the dirty work: defending, rebounding, setting brutal screens and holding teammates accountable.
He was the guy every contender needs but few actually have.
Look back at the 2006 NBA Finals, and you’ll see Haslem battling Dirk Nowitzki every possession—giving up inches but getting inside Nowitzki's head, bullying him into an all-time choke job. His physical defense disrupted Dirk’s rhythm just enough to swing the series, helping Miami erase a 0-2 deficit to win four straight.
Haslem set the tone in the locker room and the paint. A true undrafted success story, not just for how long he lasted, but for how hard he fought every night.
2. John Starks, 1988
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John Starks was built for New York. Undrafted in 1988 and cut from multiple teams, he clawed his way into the league with the kind of edge that became his trademark. His undersized physique and underdog origin embodied the puncher's chance mentality of the '90s Knicks.
By the early ’90s, he wasn’t just a role player—he was the emotional engine of those bruising Knicks teams. Tough, fearless, and never one to back down, Starks became a fan favorite and a legit All-Star.
His career averages of 12.5 points, 3.6 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals over 866 games don’t tell the whole story. Starks made the All-Star team in 1994, won NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 1997 and earned All-Defensive Second Team honors in ’93. A great career for any NBA player, especially an undrafted one.
He consistently drew the league’s toughest perimeter assignments: Michael Jordan, Reggie Miller, Clyde Drexler. And while he didn’t win every battle, he never backed down.
And then there’s The Dunk. Game 2 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals. Starks goes baseline, elevates left-handed over Horace Grant and Jordan and throws down one of the most iconic dunks in NBA history. Knicks fans still wear bootleg shirts with the image more than 30 years later.
Starks was the emotional heart of the "blood in the garden" Knicks. He wasn’t perfect (Knicks fans still remember that 2-of-18 night in the ’94 Finals), but he never disappeared. He showed up, fought hard and left a legacy that outshines most drafted players. He’s a certified dawg.
1. Ben Wallace, 1996
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Ben Wallace wasn’t just good for an undrafted player—he was one of the greatest defenders ever. Left undrafted out of Virginia Union in 1996, Wallace went from backup big to the backbone of a championship Detroit Pistons team. As a 6'9" center, Wallace redefined what a franchise cornerstone can be as a defensive alchemist, turning offensive sets into turnovers and shooting percentages into stock market drops.
His career numbers show his defensive impact: 9.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. But it's just the start for the four-time Defensive Player of the Year, four-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA selection and six-time All-Defensive Team member. He takes the top spot because he's the only undrafted player in NBA history to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Let that sink in.
Wallace’s crowning moment was the 2004 NBA Finals, where his Pistons dismantled the heavily favored Lakers in five games. Everyone remembers Chauncey Billups winning Finals MVP, but the big man was instrumental in limiting prime Shaquille O'Neal to 26 points per game while anchoring the best defensive unit of the era.
Even Tracy Morgan had to admit it in their iconic NBA2K ad: “The way I dunk on you will be unorthodox!” Cut to Wallace, straight face: “The way I block it? Will be legendary.” That’s exactly what he was.
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