Best undrafted players in NBA history

Tomorrow’s NBA Draft will be the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, patience and perseverance for 58 lucky players looking to complete their dream of playing at basketball’s top level. But what about the other guys?

The dream continues

The NBA door doesn’t shut for those who don’t get their name called in the first or second round of the draft. There are still plenty of options to make a NBA roster, and if they need any proof of that all they need to do is look around the league.

Guys like Fred Van Vleet, Alex Caruso, Naz Reid and Austin Reaves were not selected in the NBA Draft and they are enjoying successful careers in the league. It’s hard enough to get selected in the two rounds featured in the NBA’s selection show but when you take into account there will only be 58 picks in this year’s draft instead of the regular 60, that makes it even more difficult for this class of potential draftees.

Some of the current players that came into the league undrafted are doing incredibly well, but they have a little while to go before they can join this list.

Ben Wallace

He was a generational defender that led one of the most cold blooded teams the game had ever seen. With no jumper, and practically no offensive game at all, Ben Wallace was all heart.

After graduating from Virginia Union and being named to a Division II All American, Wallace was looked over in the 1996 draft and went to Italy where he played just one game before the Washington Wizards came calling. He was in the nation’s capital for three years before joining Orlando and then the Detroit Pistons in 2000.

He was the engine of a Detroit team that was known for their rough and rugged style of play. He had his best days in the Motor City, getting named to four All-Star Games, three All-NBA Second Teams and was named Defensive Player of the Year four times. He and the Pistons won the 2004 NBA Title in a five game series over the Lakers and secured his place among the greatest to ever play in the league without being drafted.

Udonis Haslem

Udonis Haslem was a staple of longevity and loyalty in the NBA. He played in the league for two decades and spent all 20 of those years in Miami. Udonis was lucky enough to be a part of two fantastic eras in Heat history and should be known as Mr. Miami after winning all three of the franchises titles.

Haslem went to the University of Florida and despite being named to the All-SEC team all four years, he was not a hot commodity coming out of college. He was forced to play in France for Chalon-sur-Saone for a year after not hearing his name called on draft day. His 6′6″ frame was not though to suit the typical power forwards body in the NBA, but he impressed in France and the Heat took notice.

He returned to his home town of Miami and made an impact from the start of his NBA career. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2004 and helped the franchise win their first title in 2006 when Dwayne Wade and Shaquille O’Neale were the face of the franchise. He would win two more titles in the Big Three era of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. His number 40 jersey was finally retired by the Heat when he finally hung it up in 2023.

John Starks

John Starks was one of the most memorable players of the 1990s. Either you hated him or you loved him, but one thing is for sure. You remember him. He was the defensive pest who put his heart and soul on the line for the every team he played for.

He most notably represented the New York Knicks, but Starkes was signed by Golden State after not being selected in the 1988 NBA Draft. Starks played very little for the Warriors as their rookie point guard Mitch Richmond went on to win Rookie of the year. Two years later he went to New York where he became a main stay on a team that featured Patrick Ewing and Charles Oakley.

The Knicks never won a title in that era, and they were more known for being the pesky team that you would have to get through on your way to the NBA Finals if you were the Chicago Bulls or Indiana Pacers. Starks was a one time All-Star, named to the All-Defensive Second Team once, and named Sixth Man of the Year award in 1997.

Bruce Bowen

The idea of a three-and-D player was never more personified than with Bruce Bowen. Bruce might have set the standard when it comes to the modern game and how a lot of players get picked up on NBA rosters.

Bruce graduated from Cal State Fulerton in 1993 but went undrafted out of college and spent four years going back and forth from France to the CBA. Finally, he got his first chance at NBA ball with the Miami Heat when he signed a 10 day contract at the end of the season. He played one minute in one game and had one block. The Celtics signed him the following season and he would stay in Boston for the next two years.

He would spend time in Philadelphia, and then again in Miami, but his career would flourish under the tutelage of Gregg Popovich in San Antonio. In his time as a Spur he would be named to five All-Defensive First Teams and three All-Defensive Second Teams while aiding the Spurs to three titles in 2003, 2005 and 2007. He shot 42.2% from downtown over the course of his career, and is without question the greatest “three-and-D” player the game has ever seen.

Connie Hawkins

He may be the least known on the list, or at least he is for me, but when you look at his achievements he may be the most worthy. He wasn’t drafted out of college because he never got to play in college.

Smith was connected to but never arrested or indicted on a point shaving scandal that led to his expulsion from the University of Iowa before he could ever debut with the Hawkeyes. Pro basketball shunned him at first and he was forced to play with the Harlem Globetrotters for four years. He would get his first spot on an ABA team with the Pittsburgh Pipers who would later move to Minnesota.

He won an ABA title with them in 1968 before playing joining the Phoenix Suns of the NBA in 1969. He played seven NBA years, made 4 All-Star teams, was an NBA First-Teamer in 1970 to go along with his ABA MVP, and Playoff MVP award in 1968. He has his number retired by the Phoenix Suns and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.