U.S. media ranks the top 10 undrafted NBA players: Ben Wallace tops the list, Fred VanVleet 4th, Austin Reaves 9th, Jeremy Lin 10th

Every NBA draft seems to overlook a few diamonds in the rough. On July 16, well-known U.S. media outlet Bleacher Report unveiled its ranking of the top 10 undrafted players, evaluating them on career length, personal accolades (All-Star selections, All-NBA teams, etc.), on-court winning contributions (championships, key playoff moments), and cultural influence. These players were ignored on draft night, faced a difficult path, yet carved out careers worthy of being remembered in history.

10th: Jeremy Lin, undrafted in 2010

Jeremy Lin's story reads like an unrealistic sports fairy tale: an Ivy League undrafted guard who once slept on a teammate's couch, yet took the basketball world by storm in 2012.

"Linsanity" sparked a global phenomenon. Over 26 consecutive games with the New York Knicks, Lin averaged 18.5 points and 7.7 assists; he hit a game-winner against the Raptors and dropped 38 points on Kobe Bryant's Lakers. This meteoric rise made him an overnight sensation, a cultural icon, and one of the most influential undrafted players ever.

Lin's overall career numbers are not spectacular: 11.6 points, 4.3 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game over nine seasons. But the significance of the "Linsanity" period is irreplaceable.

9th: Austin Reaves, undrafted in 2021

Reaves was not highly regarded by scouts, and that's where his story begins. In the 2021 draft, no team selected the young man from the University of Oklahoma. This kid from Newark, Arkansas, earned a two-way contract with the Lakers and has been moving forward ever since.

Reaves has played 331 career games, averaging 15.8 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.9 rebounds, with shooting splits of 48% from the field, nearly 37% from three, and 87% from the free-throw line. It's hard to imagine that scouts initially criticized him for being too slow and lacking explosiveness to make it in the league.

His playing style is reminiscent of crafty guards like Manu Ginobili and James Harden—his signature floater is deadly, he has a veteran's sense for drawing fouls, and his ball-handling far exceeds the stereotypes about his athleticism.

8th: Avery Johnson, undrafted in 1988

Avery Johnson rose from an undrafted point guard to an NBA champion and a well-known head coach, perfectly embodying perseverance. Fans affectionately called him "Little General." A 16-year playing career, followed by success as a coach, places him among the most influential undrafted players in history.

Johnson broke stereotypes about size, becoming a true floor general and a pass-first point guard. After going undrafted in 1988, he bounced around several teams: the SuperSonics, Nuggets, Rockets, Warriors, and Mavericks, with his most glorious years spent in San Antonio with the Spurs.

Johnson's peak playing achievement came with the Spurs, where he was a key contributor to the 1999 championship. In Game 5 of the Finals against the Knicks, he hit the series-clinching shot, securing the Spurs' first title in franchise history.

After transitioning to coaching, Johnson first served as an assistant under Don Nelson in Dallas, then became head coach in 2005. His debut season was a standout, leading the Mavericks to a 60-22 record and a trip to the 2006 NBA Finals. His outstanding coaching earned him Coach of the Year honors.

Avery Johnson is the ultimate example of an undrafted player rewriting his fate: once unwanted, he succeeded both as a player and as a coach, delivering results on the court.

7th: Alex Caruso, undrafted in 2016

Caruso went from an unknown figure in the G League to one of the most respected perimeter defenders in the league. It's hard to believe that no team called his name on draft night in 2016. But his rise wasn't accidental—it was built on tenacity, basketball IQ, and a defensive ability that every coach covets.

He first grinded with the Thunder's G League affiliate, then earned a two-way contract with the Lakers, eventually cracking the rotation in LeBron's first season with the team. By the 2019-20 season, he was an indispensable piece of the Lakers' championship core.

He won't put up flashy numbers, but his value is undeniable: he plays with aggression on both ends, hits clutch shots, locks down elite guards, makes smart decisions, and sacrifices his body for loose balls. He's a fan favorite and a darling of advanced statistics.

6th: Bruce Bowen, undrafted in 1993

Bruce Bowen's legacy is built on suffocating defense and a championship mentality. In fact, the "3-and-D" concept so often discussed today has its roots in his time with the Spurs.

After going undrafted in 1993, Bowen played in Europe and the CBA before finally earning an NBA foothold, eventually becoming a defensive cornerstone of one of the greatest dynasties of the 21st century.

During his Spurs tenure, Bowen won three championships (2003, 2005, 2007) and was named to eight consecutive All-Defensive teams (five first-team, three second-team). This sustained excellence from 2001 to 2008 established him as one of the top perimeter defenders of his era, firmly in the top five all-time.

Bowen's job was never about stats, but every star he guarded remembers him. The team often assigned him to the league's best scorers: Kobe, LeBron, Iverson, Nash... whoever it was, Bowen made life miserable for them. He was relentless, physical, and smart, walking the line between tough and dirty.

The league has always celebrated flashy offense, but Bowen made his name by stopping it.

5th: J.J. Barea, undrafted in 2006

This undersized undrafted guard from Puerto Rico and Northeastern University spent 14 seasons in the league, relying on grit, hustle, and clutch scoring. His performance in the 2011 playoffs alone secures his spot on this list.

Looking back: the defending champion Lakers were stacked and heavily favored. Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle turned to Barea as a surprise weapon. The little guard attacked the Lakers' drop coverage, relentlessly drove into the paint, forced switches, and repeatedly left the Lakers' bigs helpless.

He averaged 11.5 points and 5.5 assists in that series, but the numbers don't tell the whole story—the chaos he created helped the Mavericks sweep the Lakers. Los Angeles was tormented. If a player can frustrate a team to that extent, it says everything about how tough he is.

Barea continued to play a key role in the Finals, helping the Mavericks upset the Heat's Big Three to win the 2011 championship. He played 831 career games (mostly with the Mavericks, with a brief stint in Minnesota), averaging 8.9 points and 3.9 assists, often running the offense with poise and confidence.

4th: Fred VanVleet, undrafted in 2016

VanVleet overcame tremendous odds and carved out his own identity. After going undrafted in 2016, everyone had given up on him, but he lived by his famous motto: believe in yourself.

And he kept reaping the rewards.

The Raptors signed VanVleet, and he climbed from the G League to become one of the most reliable two-way guards in the league. He broke out in the 2019 Finals against the Warriors, serving as the team's fourth scoring option and a key spark off the bench.

He pestered Steph Curry on defense and hit crucial jump shots; he averaged 14.0 points and 2.2 steals in the Finals. In Game 6, he scored 22 points and sank dagger threes, helping the Raptors win their first championship and shatter the Warriors' dynasty.

Since then, VanVleet's résumé has only grown. He made the All-Star team in 2022; in 2021, he scored 54 points against the Magic, a single-game record for an undrafted player. He averages 14.6 points, 5.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals for his career, and is considered one of the best defensive guards under 6'3".

Now with the Houston Rockets, VanVleet continues to serve as a veteran leader, shaping the team's culture. In the 2025 first-round playoffs, he battled Steph Curry's Warriors to seven games and was the Rockets' best player: averaging 18.7 points, 4.4 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and shooting 44% from three.

In the 2025-26 season, VanVleet suffered a torn ACL and missed the season. The Rockets, especially in the playoffs, deeply felt his absence.

3rd: Udonis Haslem, undrafted in 2002

Haslem's career is synonymous with "Heat culture."

After going undrafted out of the University of Florida in 2002, the big man honed his skills in France, getting his body ready for a return to the NBA.

Upon returning, he joined his hometown team, the Heat, and never left. He spent 20 full seasons with one franchise, the longest tenure of any undrafted player with a single team. But loyalty alone doesn't put him in the top three—his championship contributions are key, and he delivered value across three decades.

He won three titles (2006, 2012, 2013) and appeared in seven Finals, the first in 2006 and the last in 2023. His career averages of 7.5 points and 6.6 rebounds aren't flashy, but he did the dirty work: defense, rebounding, hard screens, and holding teammates accountable.

2nd: John Starks, undrafted in 1988

Starks was a natural fit for New York. Going undrafted in 1988, he made his mark with a fiery attitude that became his signature. His lack of size and blue-collar background perfectly matched the gritty, never-say-die spirit of the 1990s Knicks.

By the early 90s, he was no longer just a role player but the emotional engine of those bruising Knicks teams. Tough, fearless, and unyielding, he quickly won over fans and became a genuine 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 full story. He was an All-Star in 1994, won Sixth Man of the Year in 1997, and made the All-Defensive Second Team in 1993. That's a great career for any player, especially an undrafted one.

The team often tasked him with guarding the league's toughest perimeter players: Jordan, Miller, Drexler. He didn't always win those matchups, but he never backed down.

And then there's that iconic dunk. In Game 2 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals, Starks drove baseline, leaped over Horace Grant and Michael Jordan with his left hand, and threw down one of the most famous dunks in NBA history. More than 30 years later, Knicks fans still buy T-shirts featuring that moment.

Starks was the heart and soul of the Knicks' "Battle in the Garden" era. He wasn't perfect—Knicks fans still remember his 2-for-18 shooting night in the 1994 Finals—but he never disappeared in big moments. He gave everything every game, leaving an impact that surpasses most drafted players. A true tough guy.

1st: Ben Wallace, undrafted in 1996

Ben Wallace is not just a great undrafted player; he's one of the greatest defenders in history. After going unselected out of Virginia Union in 1996, he rose from a backup big to the anchor of the championship Pistons. This center redefined what it means to be a franchise cornerstone: changing games with defense, forcing turnovers, and suppressing opponents' shooting percentages.

His career stats reflect his defensive dominance: 9.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. But that's just the start—he won four Defensive Player of the Year awards, was a four-time All-Star, made five All-NBA teams, and six All-Defensive teams. The most important reason he tops this list: he is the only undrafted player in NBA history inducted into the Hall of Fame. Let that sink in.

His career peak came in the 2004 Finals. Wallace led the Pistons to a five-game upset over the heavily favored Lakers. Everyone remembers Chauncey Billups winning Finals MVP, but Wallace was the decisive factor, limiting a prime Shaquille O'Neal to just 26 points per game while anchoring the best defensive system of that era.