Who are the 20 best undrafted NBA players in the league right now?

Throughout various NBA Drafts, several players have managed to establish themselves in the league despite not being selected by any team. Overcoming numerous obstacles, these exceptional undrafted players have made significant contributions to the NBA and have become valuable assets for their respective teams. Discover the untold story of the best undrafted NBA players, their teams and their accolades.

For undrafted players, the road to NBA stardom is a challenging one. They must overcome significant obstacles to demonstrate their worth and earn a coveted spot on the roster. Discover how several undrafted NBA players have defied the odds and succeeded in the league, earning well-deserved recognition for their exceptional skills, unwavering work ethic, and unrelenting perseverance.

Top 20 best undrafted NBA players

The draft can be a daunting obstacle for those who have played college basketball. Many talented players need to be noticed due to perceived weaknesses. Below is a list of the top ten best undrafted NBA players.

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20. Aron Baynes

• College: Washington State
• Teams: San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Sun
• Accolades: NBA champion (2014)

Baynes may have barely cracked this list a year ago, but it was before he became one of the league's most improved three-point shooters. The 6 feet 10 inches player nailed 35% of his treys during his first season in Phoenix and has since added five other years to his career. Aron Baynes currently plays for the Brisbane Bullets of the National Basketball League.

19. Joel Anthony

• College: UNLV
• Teams: Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs
• Accolades: 2x NBA Champion (2012, 2013)

The Montreal national played competitive basketball in his senior year of high school and was later cut from his local college team. Although it took longer than most to figure out how to play the sport, once he did, Joel Anthony became an integral part of two NBA championship squads in the Miami Heat.

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18. Kent Bazemore

• College: Old Dominion
• Teams: Golden State Warriors, LA Lakers, Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings
• Accolades: Bazemore ranked seventh in the NBA in steals percentage in 2017-18

Bazemore is the only player ever to sign a four-year deal worth $70 million. He inked his extension with the Atlanta Hawks in 2016 following his 11.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. Kent Bazemore received the Lefty Driesell Award, which is presented to the top defensive player in college basketball.

17. Earl Boykins

• College: Eastern Michigan
• Teams: New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, LA Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Bobcats, Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets
• Accolades: Boykins posted the NBA's fifth-best offensive rating in 2002-03

Earl Antoine Boykins is a former American professional basketball player. Standing at 5 feet 5 inches in height, he is the second-shortest player in the league's history behind Muggsy Bogues, who is 5 feet 3 inches tall. Earl Boykins averaged 12.3 points and 4.1 assists with the Nuggets from 2003 to 2007.

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16. JJ Barea

• College: Northeastern
• Teams: Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves
• Accolades: Champion (2011)

JJ helped spark Dallas to three straight wins. Consequently, he remained on the roster for more than nine years, and to date, he is one of the most popular players in franchise history. JJ Barea was Puerto Rico's starting point guard when the team won the gold medal at the 2011 Pan American Games and the silver medal at the 2007 Pan American Games.

15. Joe Ingles

College: Lake Ginninderra College and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS)

Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, South Dragons, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Utah Jazz

Accolades: Won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Joseph Howarth Ingles is an Australian-based professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks and represents the Australian national team. Aside from him playing at the small forward position, Joe Ingles is renowned for being the Utah Jazz's all-time leader in three-pointers made.

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14. David Wesley

• College: Baylor University, Temple College
• Teams: New Jersey Nets, Boston Celtics, Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets, Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers

The league's scouts were somewhat sceptical about David's height claiming he was too small to be drafted in 1992. However, David Wesley proved them wrong when he averaged 14.4 points and 5.0 assists over nine years from 1996 to 2004. As a result, he became one of the league's top combo guards.

13. José Calderón

• College: Spain
• Teams: Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Return to Detroit
• Accolades: EuroBasket All-Tournament Team, Spanish King's Cup winner, All-Spanish League Team, LEB Oro champion

José, a Spanish-based basketball executive and former player, is a special advisor for the Cleveland Cavaliers. José Calderón is notably famous for winning a FIBA World Cup title in 2006, two Olympic silver medals in 2008 and 2012, and a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

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12. Darrel Armstrong

• College: Fayetteville State
• Teams: Orlando Magic, New Orleans Hornets, Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, New Jersey Nets
• Accolades: NBA Most Improved Player (1999), NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1999)

The legendary 6 feet point guard played 50 games during the 1999 season and was consequently named the league's Most Improved Player and Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 13.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game. Darrel Armstrong is currently an assistant coach for the Dallas Mavericks.

11. Raja Bell

• College: Florida International University
• Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns, Charlotte Bobcats, Golden State Warriors
• Accolades: 2x NBA All-Defensive selection

Raja Bell was renowned for being one of the greatest lockdown defenders and capable scorers. The 6'5" basketball guru averaged 14.7 points per game in back-to-back seasons with the Suns from 2005 to 2007. Raja Bell was twice named to the NBA All-Defensive Team in his career.

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10. Jeremy Lin

• College: Harvard
• Teams: Golden State Warriors, Dongguan Leopards, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, Brooklyn Nets, Atlanta Hawks, Guangzhou Loong Lions, Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers
• Accolades: NBA championship

Jeremy Lin's thrilling nine-season NBA career was marked by his lightning-quick speed, superb ball-handling abilities, and unrivalled ability to drive to the basket. With a career spanning eight teams and an incredible stint with the Knicks, it is understandable why Jeremy Lin is regarded as one of the best-undrafted players in the history of the NBA.

Despite going undrafted in 2010, he captivated the world with a brief but unforgettable performance known as "Linsanity" during the 2011-12 season. He rose in popularity during this pivotal time.

9. Wesley Matthews

• College: Marquette
• Teams: Portland Trail Blazers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks
• Accolades: NBA Championship rings

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Undeterred by his absence from the 2009 NBA Draft, Wesley Matthews swiftly emerged as a pivotal player for the Utah Jazz. He has played for some of the biggest names in the game, including the Portland Trail Blazers, Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Los Angeles Lakers.

With a tenacious spirit, unparalleled work ethic, and defensive prowess, Matthews consistently delivers top-notch performances. He was a defensive prowess of one of the league's top perimeter defenders.

8. Avery Johnson

• College: Southern University and A&M
• Team: Seattle SuperSonics, Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks
• Accolades: NBA Champion (1999)

Avery Johnson is an authentic NBA legend who defied the odds. With an impressive 8,817 points and 5,846 assists under his belt, Johnson's unparalleled talent and unwavering dedication to the game have cemented his place in basketball history. Despite going undrafted in 1988, Avery Johnson became an NBA champion in 1999 with the legendary power forward Tim Duncan as a teammate on the San Antonio Spurs.

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Johnson secured victory for his team in the 1999 NBA Finals with a clutch shot that sealed the championship win against the Knicks. With a remarkable talent for facilitating his teammates and thwarting the opposition's offences, the Spurs honoured him by retiring his #6 jersey in 2007.

7. Brad Miller

• College: Purdue
• Teams: Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves
• Accolades: 2x All-Star

Despite being overlooked in the 1998 draft, Brad Miller rose to greatness and earned back-to-back All-Star appearances in 2003 and 2004. Miller was far from your average centre with his smooth, ball-handling skills, impressive 33% three-point shooting, and remarkable career stats of 9,724 points and 6,199 rebounds.

His unique physicality and footwork made him an impenetrable force when defending the post, leaving opponents with no chance of scoring inside the paint.

6. Udonis Haslem

• College: Florida
• Teams: Miami Heat
• Accolades: NBA Champion (2006, 2012, and 2013)

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Despite his undeniable talent, Udonis Haslem was overlooked in the 2002 NBA Draft due to his perceived lack of size. He went on to play a season in France before signing for his hometown franchise, the Miami Heat.

He rose to become a regular starter by 2004 and went on to play an astounding 20 consecutive seasons for the Heat. With three NBA championships, he has proven his dominance in Miami.

5. Bruce Bowen

• College: Cal State Fullerton
• Teams: Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs
• Accolades: 8x All-Defensive selection, 3x NBA Champion (2003, 2005, 2007)

Witness the inspiring journey of Bruce Bowen, who defied the odds and rose to become one of the greatest undrafted NBA players in history. With a career total of 5,290 points, 2,428 rebounds, and 1,089 assists, he has proven himself to be a force to be reckoned with.

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Bowen had three NBA championship wins and eight All-Defensive team selections during his illustrious eight-season career in San Antonio. With an unwavering determination and an unmatched skill to neutralise opponents, the Spurs honoured him by retiring his #12 jersey in 2012.

4. Fred VanVleet

• College: Wichita State
• Teams: Toronto Raptors
• Accolades: NBA Champion (2019)

In 2016, Fred VanVleet was not selected in the draft. However, the Raptors saw his potential and decided to take a chance by assigning him to the G League. He quickly emerged as a pivotal player on the team with exceptional scoring prowess, impressive playmaking abilities, and a rock-solid defence to boot. He is the best undrafted NBA player in 2023.

He was a key player in Toronto's triumphant 2018-19 NBA championship-winning team. Witness his meteoric rise to success as he secured the largest contract for an undrafted player, a staggering four-year, $85 million deal in 2020.

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In 2021, he soared to new heights, scoring an unprecedented 54 points in a single game for the Raptors. And a year later, he cemented his status as a true basketball phenom. He becomes only the fourth undrafted player to earn All-Star honours right now.

3. Connie Hawkins

• College: Iowa
• Teams: Phoenix Suns, LA Lakers, Atlanta Hawks
• Accolades: Hall of Fame, 4x NBA All-Star

Despite not being selected in 1964, Connie Hawkins persisted and made his NBA debut in 1969. He even spent four years as a member of the legendary Harlem Globetrotters, where he was a crowd favourite.

He was well-known for his great scoring powers and remarkable passing skills, averaging 18.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. His reputation is that of a four-time All-Star inducted into basketball's Hall of Fame in 1992.

2. John Starks

• College: Oklahoma State
• Teams: Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Utah Jazz
• Accolades: NBA All-Star (1994), NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1997)

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The player was instrumental in the Knicks-Bulls rivalry, often considered the best in the history of the NBA. Fans were stunned by his ability to contain Michael Jordan, widely considered the greatest NBA player ever.

Starks was an absolute monster on the court, as his career totals 10,829 points, 3,085 assists, and 2,129 rebounds. In 1994, his excellence on the court made him an NBA All-Star. John Starks has etched his name in Knicks as one of the franchise's all-time greats thanks to his dogged pursuit of victories and lasting impressions in the postseason.

1. Ben Wallace

• College: Virginia Union
• Teams: Washington Wizards, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
• Accolades: 4x All-Star, 5x All-NBA, 4x Defensive Player of the Year (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006), Champion (2004)

The Detroit Pistons, under the renowned guidance of Ben Wallace, dominated the NBA in the new millennium. The Detroit Pistons won the NBA championship in 2004 after defeating the Eastern Conference playoffs for the sixth consecutive year.

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A legend in basketball, this athlete scored 6,254 points in his career and grabbed 10,482 boards while blocking 2,137 shots. Wallace was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in the class of 2021.

Which NBA team has the most undrafted players?

The Miami Heat has perfected the art of winning with undrafted players. According to ESPN, it ia the fourth team in NBA history to have used at least five undrafted players in at least 65 games.

The best undrafted NBA players represent a unique subset of the league. They were not initially recognised for their talents and abilities, but they have persevered and demonstrated that they belong in the NBA. Undrafted players have proven to be valuable contributors to their teams, inspiring all those who have been overlooked or underestimated.

Sportsbrief.com published a list of the richest NBA franchises. Besides the sport's popularity, organizations are constantly looking for partnerships and investment opportunities with these teams to enhance their visibility while they smile to the bank.

The Golden State Warriors top the list, closely followed by New York Knicks. Other teams on the list include the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and Chicago Bulls. Check out the above article to discover the full list of the richest NBA teams.