Who Is The Best Undrafted NBA Player?

We take a look at the best undrafted NBA players in history, including hall of famers like Jerry West and John Stockton.

History of the NBA Undrafted Player

There have been many great players who have entered the NBA without being drafted. These players have often been overlooked for one reason or another. Maybe they were too short, or maybe they didn’t have the right skill set. Whatever the reason, these players have proved that they can compete with the best of the best. Here is a look at some of the best undrafted players in NBA history.

List of notable undrafted NBA players

In spite of the fact that the NBA draft has been in existence since 1947, there have been many great players who were not drafted. Here is a list of some of the most notable undrafted NBA players:

-Yao Ming: Yao was drafted number one overall by the Houston Rockets in 2002 and went on to have a Hall of Fame career.
-Dirk Nowitzki: Nowitzki was drafted ninth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1998 but was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks. He is a surefire Hall of Famer and is widely considered one of the greatest players of all time.
-Wilt Chamberlain: Chamberlain is one of the most dominant players in NBA history. He was drafted in the fourth round by the Philadelphia Warriors in 1959 but quickly became a star. He is still the league’s all-time leading scorer and holds many other records.
-Michael Jordan: Jordan is widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all time. He was drafting third overall by the Chicago Bulls in 1984 and went on to have a legendary career, winning six NBA titles.
-Kobe Bryant: Bryant was drafted thirteen overall by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996 but was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. He went on to have one of the greatest careers in NBA history, winning five NBA titles.

Why some players go undrafted

There are a number of reasons why some players go undrafted. It could be that they are considered too old, they come from a small school, or they might not have the physical tools that scouts look for. Whatever the reason, there are always a few players who slip through the cracks. Let’s take a look at some of the best undrafted players in NBA history.

Lack of exposure

One of the main reasons that some players go undrafted is because they lack exposure. This can be for a number of reasons, including playing for a small school or not being able to participate in the pre-draft process due to injury. Players who lack exposure are at a disadvantage because NBA teams are not as familiar with their skills and abilities. As a result, these players are often overlooked during the draft.

Lack of size

While there are many talented players who go undrafted every year, one of the primary reasons why some players slip through the cracks is due to a lack of size. In today’s NBA, speed and athleticism are valued more than ever before, and players who don’t have the prototypical size for their position often get overlooked.

This was the case for players like Wesley Matthews and Kent Bazemore, who both went undrafted despite being talented scorers in college. Matthews is just 6’4”, and Bazemore is 6’5”, which is considered undersized for shooting guards. They were both able to find success in the NBA by using their quickness to their advantage on defense, and they’ve carved out nice careers for themselves despite not being drafted.

Lack of skill

One of the main reasons why some players go undrafted is because they lack the skills that NBA teams are looking for. These players may have the physical ability to play at the NBA level, but they don’t have the necessary skills to thrive in the league.

Some of the skills that NBA teams look for in players include: shooting, ball-handling, passing, rebounding, and defense. If a player lacks any of these skills, it will be very difficult for them to make an NBA roster.

Another reason why some players go undrafted is because they come from small schools or play in less competitive leagues. These players may not have faced the same level of competition as other prospects, and NBA teams may feel that they are not ready for the jump to the professional level.

Finally, some players go undrafted because of character concerns. These players may have run into legal trouble or been involved in off-court incidents that cause teams to question their decision-making. NBA teams want players who will be positive role models for their franchises, and character concerns can cause players to slip through the draft process.

The best undrafted NBA players

There are a lot of great NBA players who were not drafted. This list will go over the best ones. These are players who have had great careers and have been very successful.

Ben Simmons

No one in the modern NBA has had a start to their career quite like Ben Simmons. The 6-foot-10 do-it-all forward was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, but due to a foot injury, Simmons missed what would have been his rookie season. He returned healthy the following year and promptly won Rookie of the Year, averaging 15.8 points, 8.2 assists and 8.1 rebounds per game while leading the Philadelphia 76ers to 52 wins and a playoff appearance.

Simmons did all of that while essentially serving as the Sixers’ point guard, despite being listed as a forward. He’s shown an incredible ability to see the floor and make plays for his teammates, utilizing his elite vision and passing skills. He’s also a menace on the boards, averaging over seven rebounds per game in his two seasons in the league. Simply put, Simmons is one of the most talented players in the NBA and he’s still just 22 years old.

The Sixers made significant additions to their roster this offseason in order to try and take that next step towards contending for an NBA title. The biggest move was trading for All-Star center Al Horford, which should help Simmons tremendously on both ends of the floor. If everything comes together for Philly, there’s no reason Simmons can’t emerge as one of the best players in the league and lead them to a championship.

Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler was born in Houston, Texas, on September 14, 1989. He played one year of college basketball for Tyler Junior College before transferring to Marquette University. At Marquette, Butler played two seasons and was named the Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year in his senior year. He was not selected in the 2011 NBA draft and began his professional career with the Miami Heat summer league team. Butler signed with the Chicago Bulls in July 2011 and made his NBA debut that December.

Butler quickly became one of the Bulls’ best players and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2012. He continued to improve and was selected to his first NBA All-Star Game in 2015. The following season, Butler was named the NBA Most Improved Player after averaging 20 points per game. In 2017, he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he helped lead the team to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years.

Draymond Green

Draymond Green was selected 35th overall in the 2012 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors. He was the third and final player selected by the Warriors in that year’s draft. Green played sparingly during his rookie season, appearing in just 23 games and averaging 2.9 points and 1.5 rebounds per game.

He improved drastically during his second season, earning a spot in the Warriors’ starting lineup and averaging 11.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game while helping lead Golden State to an NBA-best 67-15 record. Green was named to the All-Defensive Second Team and finished second in voting for Defensive Player of the Year.

He has continued to improve since then, becoming one of the best all-around players in the NBA. Green is a three-time NBA champion, a two-time All-Star and a one-time Defensive Player of the Year. He has also been named to four All-NBA teams and four All-Defensive teams.