While the NBA Draft is often seen as the primary route to a successful career, many undrafted players have defied expectations and built their legacies.
Bruce Bowen
Bruce Bowen
Position: SG
Age: 54
Height: 201 cm
Weight: 91 kg
Birth place: Merced, United States of America
Whether through grit, determination, or raw talent, these players have proven that greatness can emerge from being overlooked.
Here are the 10 best undrafted NBA players of all time, including both the retired legends and active players still making their mark.
Top 10 undrafted NBA players
10. J.J. Barea
JJ Barea
JJ Barea
Credit AFP – Scanpic
J.J. Barea's career stats:
GP GS PPG APG RPG FG 3PT FT
831 108 8.9 3.9 2.1 42.4% 35.2% 79.4%
Accolades: NBA Champion (2011)
J.J. Barea was a key player for the Mavs during their 2011 NBA Championship run. His fearless drives and playmaking off the bench were crucial in the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat.
Barea is one of the most well-known basketball players from Puerto Rico. He has represented his country in numerous international competitions, including the FIBA World Cup 2010 and 2014.
Throughout his career, Barea was valued not just for his skills but also for his leadership. He played 11 seasons with the Mavericks and, in his later years, became a mentor to younger players on the team.
A fan favorite in Dallas, Barea's grit and grind earned him a spot among the greatest undrafted NBA players.
9. Avery Johnson
Avery Johnson's career stats:
GP GS PPG APG RPG FG 3PT FT
1054 637 8.4 5.5 1.7 47.9% 14.5% 70.6%
Accolades: NBA Champion (1999)
Avery Johnson, known as "The Little General," was the floor leader for the San Antonio Spurs during their 1999 championship run. He hit the game-clinching shot in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, helping the team win the title against the New York Knicks.
His leadership and clutch play make him one of the most respected and notable undrafted NBA players in the game's history.
He ranks second among all-time Spurs assists leaders and finished his career with 4,474 assists.
After retiring as a player, Johnson transitioned into coaching. He became the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks in 2005 and led them to the NBA Finals in 2006, where they lost to the Heat. He was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2006 for leading the Mavs to a 60-win season.
8. Alex Caruso
Alex Caruso
Alex Caruso
Credit AP - Scanpix
Alex Caruso's career stats (as of the end of the 2024-2025 season):
GP GS PPG APG RPG FG 3PT FT
417 133 6.9 2.8 2.9 44.0% 37.6% 75.8%
Accolades: NBA Champion (2020, 2025), NBA All-Defensive First Team (2023), NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2024)
Alex Caruso went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft but made his way into the league through the NBA G League.
He signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017 and steadily earned a reputation as a reliable role player, particularly known for his energy and defensive tenacity.
Caruso was an integral part of the Lakers' 2020 and Thunder's 2025 NBA Championship teams. His defensive prowess, hustle, and high basketball IQ made him a key contributor during the Lakers' playoff run, and he started in the deciding Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
He is best known for his outstanding perimeter defense. His ability to guard multiple positions, create turnovers, and disrupt opposing offenses has made him one of the top defensive guards in the league, earning him a spot on the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2023 and the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2024. He even got a Hustle award in the 2023-24 season.
7. Austin Reaves
Austin Reaves
Austin Reaves
Credit AP - Scanpix
Austin Reaves' career stats (as of the end of the 2024-2025 season) :
GP GS PPG APG RPG FG 3PT FT
280 171 14.5 4.3 3.8 48.1% 37.0% 86.3%
Accolades: NBA Cup champion (2023)
Austin Reaves went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft but quickly made a name for himself with the Los Angeles Lakers.
He signed a two-way contract with the team and soon earned a regular roster spot due to his successful play.
Reaves had a breakout performance during the 2023 NBA Playoffs with the Lakers. He was a key contributor, averaging nearly 17 points per game and demonstrating his ability to step up in high-stakes situations.
In the 2025-26 season, he stepped up his game even further, averaging more than 25 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds.
He is now considered among the top undrafted NBA players, not only currently, but all-time.
6. Brad Miller
Brad Miller
Brad Miller
Credit Reuters-Scanpix
Brad Miller's career stats:
GP GS PPG APG RPG FG 3PT FT
868 598 11.2 2.8 7.1 48.0% 33.0% 80.4%
Accolades: 2× NBA All-Star
Brad Miller's versatility as a big man who could pass, shoot, and rebound made him a highly valuable player throughout his career.
He had a reliable mid-range shot and was an excellent passer for a big man, often facilitating offense from the high post.
Miller is best remembered for his time with the Sacramento Kings (2003-09). There, he formed a frontcourt duo with Chris Webber and was part of a Kings team known for its ball movement and unselfish play under coach Rick Adelman.
5. Udonis Haslem
Udonis Haslem
Udonis Haslem
Credit AP-SCANPIX
Udonis Haslem's career stats:
GP GS PPG APG RPG FG 3PT FT
879 501 7.5 0.8 6.6 48.9% 12.7% 75.6%
Accolades: 3× NBA Champion (2006, 2012, 2013)
A Miami Heat legend, Udonis Haslem spent his entire 20-year career with the team, becoming a symbol of leadership, toughness, and loyalty.
Haslem is just the 3rd player to play 20 seasons with one team after Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks) and Kobe Bryant (Lakers). He also became the 10th player to play at least 20 seasons in the league.
His contributions to three championships, combined with his dedication to the franchise, work ethic, and professionalism, make him a standout among the best undrafted NBA players ever.
Haslem began his professional career in France, which was capped off by his No. 40 retirement from Miami.
4. Fred VanVleet
Fred VanVleet
Fred VanVleet
Credit AP-Scanpix
Fred VanVleet's career stats:
GP GS PPG APG RPG FG 3PT FT
550 401 14.9 5.7 3.4 40.1% 37.1% 86.2%
***Accolades:***NBA Champion (2019), NBA All-Star (2022)
Fred VanVleet went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft but signed with the Toronto Raptors, where he steadily worked his way up from a bench player to one of the league's top guards.
Despite being one of the shortest players in the NBA, VanVleet played an important role in helping the Raptors win their first-ever title in 2019. He was instrumental in the Finals against the Golden State Warriors, hitting clutch shots and providing solid defense, particularly on Stephen Curry.
VanVleet was named an NBA All-Star in 2022, averaging a career-high 20.3 points that season.
In 2021, he set a franchise record for the Raptors by scoring 54 points in a game against the Orlando Magic. This performance also made him the highest-scoring undrafted player in NBA history for a single game.
He has not played and will miss the entire 2025-26 season after suffering a torn ACL during training camp. However, if he maintains his high level of play upon returning from injury, there is a strong chance he will continue to improve his ranking among the best undrafted players in NBA history
3. Bruce Bowen
Bruce Bowen
Bruce Bowen
Credit AP – Scanpix
Bruce Bowen's career stats:
GP GS PPG APG RPG FG 3PT FT
873 644 6.1 1.2 2.8 40.9% 39.3% 57.5%
Accolades: 3× NBA Champion (2003, 2005, 2007), 5× NBA All-Defensive First Team
Bruce Bowen was widely regarded as one of the best perimeter defenders in NBA history. Known for his tenacity and ability to guard elite scorers, he was a key defensive player for the San Antonio Spurs during three championship runs, also earning eight NBA All-Defensive Team selections throughout his career.
Although primarily known for his defense, Bowen was also a reliable three-point shooter. He developed a reputation for hitting clutch shots, particularly from beyond the arc.
Bowen went undrafted in the 1993 NBA Draft but persevered through various leagues, including the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and overseas in France, before eventually signing with the Miami Heat in 1997.
His No. 12 jersey was retired by the Spurs.
2. John Starks
John Starks
John Starks
Credit AP Photo/David Phillip - Scanpix
John Starks' career stats:
GP GS PPG APG RPG FG 3PT FT
866 420 12.5 3.6 2.5 41.2% 34.0% 76.9%
Accolades: NBA All-Star (1994), NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1997)
John Starks is best known for his time with the New York Knicks, where he played from 1990 to 1998. He became a fan favorite and a key player for the team, helping them reach the NBA Finals in 1994.
Starks was named an NBA All-Star in 1994, averaging 19 points per game that season and becoming known for his clutch performances.
One of the defining moments of Starks' career came during Game 2 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals, where he famously dunked over Chicago Bulls star Scottie Pippen.
1. Ben Wallace
Ben Wallace
Ben Wallace
Credit AP-Scanpix
Ben Wallace's career stats:
GP GS PPG APG RPG FG 3PT FT
1088 912 5.7 1.3 9.6 47.4% 13.7% 41.4%
Accolades: NBA Champion (2004), 4× NBA All-Star, 4× NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Hall of Fame (2021)
Ben Wallace is a towering figure among the undrafted NBA Hall of Famers. Overall, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history.
Wallace was a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006) and earned five NBA All-Defensive First Team selections (2002-06). He is known for his shot-blocking, rebounding, and ability to guard multiple positions.
Wallace played the majority of his career with the Detroit Pistons (2000-06, 2009-12) and was instrumental in the team's success. He helped lead the Pistons to an NBA Championship in 2004, defeating the Lakers in the Finals.
His eventual Hall of Fame induction cemented his legacy as the greatest undrafted player in NBA history.
Pijus Sapetka
Pijus Sapetka began his basketball media career in 2021, building on years of closely following the sport. Since then, he has reported from a variety of basketball events, including the EuroLeague Playoffs, Lithuanian Cups, LKL Finals, EuroCup games, the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, and Goran Dragic's Farewell Game. He holds a degree in Journalism & PR.
About author
Subscribe to BN+ and get access to exclusive content.
If you like our content, please click here and add us as your preferred source. It helps us a lot, and we are committed to delivering you the very latest basketball news.