There are legends that are not selected🏆B/R reviews the top ten draft picks in history: Jeremy Lin ranked 10th, Caruso ranked 7th

(The original article was published on June 26, and the author is Lee Escobedo in the open-air stands. The content of the article does not represent the translator's views)

Each NBA draft will have several pearls of the sea, paying tribute to the most brilliant success stories in the draft, but setting a key boundary: the merger of the NBA and the ABA in the 1976-77 season is a watershed. Although there were outstanding undrafted players before the merger, it was recognized as the real starting point of the modern NBA after the merger of the league. Since then, players' talent and competitive level have reached a stable new height.

Lee Escobedo in the open-air stands selected the top ten undrafts in NBA history based on career length, personal honors (All-stars, best team, etc.), impact on victory (champion, key playoff performance) and cultural influence. These players completed a counterattack after being left out on draft night, playing a career worth remembering.

Honorary nomination

The following undraft players are only one step away from the top ten in history and are also worthy of recognition.

Jose Calderon (unselected in 2003) has quietly forged a ten-year career with his efficient performance and leadership, and has been at the top of the league's assists and turnovers rankings for many years.

Austin Reeves (undrafted in 2021) is still writing his career, but it has become a key puzzle for the Lakers' championship lineup. It is no accident that his journey from undraft to a championship-level rotation player.

Wesley Matthews (unselected in 2009) has been a 3D expert in the league for 15 years, playing for eight teams, and is well-known during his time as a Trail Blazers and Mavericks. He is a puzzle player that every playoff team desires.

Laga Bale (undrafted in 1999) injected defensive resilience into every team he played for, causing many top scorers to suffer in the mid-2000s.

David Wesley (lost in 1992) has practiced its essence before the word "scoring machine" has become popular, and the short guard has averaged double-digit scores for ten consecutive years.

Although the above players have not ranked among the top ten in history, they are all exemplary cases of counterattacks in the undraft.

10th place: Jeremy Lin (unselected in 2010)

Jeremy Lin's story is the most incredible fairy tale in the sports world. This Harvard dynasty who slept on his teammate's sofa made a sensation around the world in 2012. "Lin Crazy" is a global phenomenon. In 26 games for the Knicks, Jeremy Lin averaged 18.5 points and 7.7 assists per game, including a killer against the Raptors and a 38-pointer against Kobe-led Lakers. This flash-like performance made Jeremy Lin an overnight phenomenon, a cultural symbol, and one of the most influential no-drafts in history.

Looking at his nine-year career, his average of 11.6 points, 4.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game is not amazing, but the cultural significance of "Lin Crazy" far exceeds that of the data level. Jeremy Lin has played for eight teams in his career: the Warriors, the Knicks, the Rockets, the Lakers, Hornets, the Nets, the Hawks and the Raptors. Injuries hindered the higher peak he could have reached, but he still built a solid NBA career.

As the first Asian American to win the NBA championship (winning the championship with the Raptors in 2019), Jeremy Lin's presence has promoted the NBA's communication influence in Asia in a rare way. The key to Jeremy Lin’s tenth place in history is not only data or resume, but also that legendary moment. "Lin Crazy" redefined the height that the undrafted candidate could reach, and in those short weeks, he was synonymous with the NBA.

Ninth place: Brad Miller (unselected in 1998)

Brad Miller may not have the halo of other players on this list, but his career experience is undisputed. After leaving Pudu University in 1998, Brad Miller took advantage of the opportunity of the league's suspension to open the NBA door, and finally built a 14-year career, and was selected as the All-Star twice during this period. This is a rare achievement for any undraft, let alone the No. 5 player in the golden age of center.

This technical center has played in 868 games in his career, and has averaged 11.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, shooting percentage of 48% and free throw percentage of nearly 80%, fully demonstrating his delicate feel. As a pioneer of modern support big men such as Jokic, Haltenstein and Towns, Brad Miller is in a tactical system that focuses on high-level support. Within the Kings, he became a key gear in coach Rick Adelman's dynamic offensive system, which not only helped the team through the difficult period of Chris Webber's injury, but also continued the King's competitiveness in the early new century.

Brad Miller played for the Hornets, Bulls (twice), Pacers, Kings, Timberwolves and Rockets. His peak period was spent in 2003 and 2004, when he was selected as the All-Star for two consecutive years in 2003 and 2004. In the early 2000s, he also made great contributions to the Pacers and Bulls' playoff journey. This organized center with a soft passing feel always maintains the style of a country tough guy. Even when facing an inside giant like O'Neal, he never gives in.

8th place: Avery Johnson (unselected in 1988)

From being unselected to the NBA championship to the highly respected head coach, Avery Johnson's counterattack path is a model of perseverance. This player, affectionately known as the "Little General", wrote one of the most influential legendary stories in league history with his 16 years of player career and subsequent coaching career.

Avery Johnson, who is only 1.78 meters tall, broke the height limit and made a fortune with the traditional point guard's brain characteristics. After losing the election in 1988, he joined the Supersonics, Nuggets, Rockets, Warriors, Mavericks and other teams, and finally shone with the Spurs.. In his 1054 regular season games, he averaged 8.4 points and 5.5 assists per game, and his shooting percentage was 47.9%. The highest bright moment of Avery Johnson's player career was to win the championship with the Spurs in 1999. In the fifth game of the finals against the Knicks, he hit the key goal of winning the series, bringing the Spurs the first championship trophy in team history. After becoming a coach, Avery Johnson first served as the Mavericks assistant coach under Don Nelson and took over as head coach in 2005. In his first season, he led the team to an impressive record of 60 wins and 22 losses, and led the Mavericks to the Finals for the first time in history (2005-06 season), and was awarded the Best Coach of the Year. As a undraft, Avery Johnson completed the perfect counterattack with a dual identity, both as a player and as a coach, and he has achieved remarkable achievements in teams that once ignored him.

No. 7: Alex Caruso (undrafted in 2016)

From the unknown in the Development League to one of the most respected outside defenders in the league, this report card is impressive enough for the player who was left unattended in the 2016 draft night. But don't be confused by the spotlight: Caruso's rise is entirely based on the defensive hardness, basketball IQ and fighting spirit that makes coaches covet. Caruso first honed himself in the Development League team under the Thunder, and then joined the Lakers as a two-way contract player. During this period, he gradually squeezed into the rotation lineup in his first season with James. By the 2019-20 season, Caruso has become an indispensable defensive sharp knife in the Lakers' championship lineup.

Although Caruso's data bar is never dazzling, his ability to disrupt the attack and key ball handling at both ends is unforgettable. From locking up top defenders to precise offensive choices, to countless flights to save the ball, Caruso won the double recognition of fans' love and advanced data with his blue-collar player's style. The achievement of being selected as the first team of the best defensive team in 2023 is a supreme honor for any player, let alone a undraft. In the 2023-24 season, Caruso averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, with a three-point shooting percentage of more than 40%. At the same time, he shouldered the heavy responsibility of marking the opponent's number one outside scorer every night.

Now that he has come to the Thunder, Caruso has even completed his evolution. He is the kind of player who hates his opponents and his teammates can't let go. Just ask Jokic that in the Western Conference semi-finals tiebreak, Caruso was assigned to defend the three-time league MVP. He made Jokic exhausted every catch by defending the front, while creating a lot of mistakes and chaos. This trait that integrates struggle instinct, defensive smell and championship bloodline makes Caruso one of the most outstanding examples of undraft counterattacks in the modern NBA. He ranks seventh in this list and is a key member of the Thunder's road to winning the championship this year.

No. 6: Bruce Bowen (lost in 1993)

The legend of Bruce Bowen is based on suffocating defense and championship bloodline. It can be said that the concept of "3D player" that is abused today began with his years of playing for the Spurs. After losing the election in 1993, Bowen went to the European League and the Continental Basketball Association, and eventually gained a foothold in the NBA and became the defensive cornerstone of one of the greatest dynasties of the 2000s. During his time with the Spurs, Bowen won three championships (2003, 2005, and 2007), and was selected for the best defensive team for eight consecutive years (five first teams, three second teams).

Bo Wen's mission has never been to swipe data, but the stars he has defended will never forget him for his life. From Kobe, James to Iverson and Nash, the top scorers in the league have suffered under his iron-bone defense. Bowen has both endless fighting, tough physical confrontation and exquisite defensive prediction, and his defensive style wanders on the boundary between tough and dirty.

Bo Wen interpreted the positioning of the role player to the extreme. With the killer move of three-pointers in the bottom corner (the career three-point shooting percentage is 39.3%, almost all from fixed-point shooting), he can always open up the space just right to give punishment to his opponent. In this league that advocates offensive firepower, Bao Wen made a name for himself by locking the attack.

Fifth place: Fred Van Vlitter (unselected in 2016)

After no one was interested in the 2016 draft, Van Vlitter started his counterattack journey with his current famous league's personal motto: "Betting on yourself." Starting from a Raptors' Development League team, Van Vreet has gradually grown into one of the most reliable dual-sports guards in the league. The 2019 Finals match against the Warriors became the highlight of his career. As the team's fourth firepower point and defensive vanguard on the bench, he averaged 14 points and 2.2 steals per game, and made key shots many times. In the sixth game, he scored 22 points and ended the game with a fatal three-pointer, personally dismantling the Warriors' "Death Five Smalls" dynasty, bringing the Raptors' first championship in team history.

Since then, Van Vreet's resume has become more and more dazzling: he was selected as the All-Star in 2022, maintaining a record of scoring in a single game in the undraft (scoring 54 points against the Magic in 2021). He averaged 14.6 points, 5.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals in his career, and was ranked among the best defensive backs under 1.85 meters tall. After

switched to the Rockets, Van Vreet became the leader of the locker room and the founder of the team culture. In the seven games against the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs this year, he averaged 18.7 points, 4.4 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game, with a three-point shooting percentage of up to 44%, making him the best player of the Rockets in the series.

No. 4: JJ Barria (unselected in 2006)

This small Puerto Rican man from Northeastern University, who is only 1.78 meters tall, has used his 14-year career to explain what "the heart is bigger than body shape". The legendary performance of the 2011 playoffs was pushed to fourth place. Facing the defending champion Lakers that year, Coach Carlisle used his secret weapon: Baria. This short guard used endless breakthroughs to tear the Lakers' defensive system. Behind the data of averaging 11.5 points and 5.5 assists per game is his tactical value that makes Gasol and Bynum miserable.. In the G4 series, Bynum, who was so annoyed that he was so angry that he actually used a WWE-style elbow strike. This malicious foul became a shameful footnote to the Lakers' dream of breaking their three consecutive championships. If he had not been tortured to the point where his mentality collapsed, how could he have committed such a vicious crime?

Baria continued to play the role of surprise in the finals, helping the Mavericks defeat the Heat Big Three to win the championship. In 831 games of his career (mainly playing for the Mavericks and briefly playing for the Timberwolves) averaged 8.9 points and 3.9 assists per game. Barrea has always used calmness and fearlessness to connect the team's offense. This Puerto Rican little man is by no means just a desperate Saburo, but a playoff killer born for the big scene.

Third place: Yudunis Haslem (unselected in 2002)

Haslem's NBA journey perfectly interprets the true meaning of "Heat culture". After leaving the University of Florida in 2002, the 2.01-meter inside player went to the French League to reshape his body and return to the king. After signing with the hometown team Heat, Haslem set a record for 20 years of undrafting. Loyalty is just the background. The three championship trophys (2006, 2012, 2013) and the seven finals experience spanning three years (2006-2023) are the third hard-core capital in Haslem's history. His career average of 7.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game is mediocre, but his value in defensive positioning, rebounding scrambles, solid covers and locker room leaders is irreplaceable. He is the perfect puzzle that every championship team dreams of but hard to find.

Looking back at the 2006 NBA Finals, you will see Haslem fighting Nowitzki in every round. Although he was at a disadvantage in height, he used his tough defense to disrupt the opponent's mentality, which eventually led to Nowitzki's rare misperformation. It was his close consumption against Nowitzki that became a key turning point for the Heat to pull four consecutive games behind 0-2. From the locker room to the paint area, Haslem sets a benchmark with his iron-blooded style for twenty years. The greatness of this undraft lies not only in the length of his career, but also in the fighting spirit he devotes every night.

Second place: John Starks (unselected in 1988)

John Starks was born to belong to New York. After losing the election in 1988, he was laid off for several teams. He returned to the league with his signature tough guy style. A short defender from grassroots is perfectly in line with the team temperament of the Knicks "Challenger" in the 1990s. By the early 1990s, he was no longer an ordinary role player, but the soul of the Iron Blood Knicks. His tough defense, fearless breakthroughs and hot temper made him the darling of Madison Square Garden.

The data averaged 12.5 points, 3.6 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 866 regular season games in their careers is far from summarizing its value. Starks was selected as the All-Star in 1994, won the sixth man in 1997, and was also selected as the second team of the All-Defensive Team in 1993. These honors are brilliant for any NBA player, let alone a undraft. Starks always volunteers to defend top scorers such as Jordan, Reggie Miller, and Drexler. Perhaps they can't always have the upper hand, but they never retreat. The 1993 Eastern Conference Final G2's legendary dunk: Starks broke through the bottom line and dunked Holance Grant and Jordan with his left hand are still classic patterns on New York's pirated T-shirts.

As the spiritual leader of the "Garden Bloody Battle" era, Starks may be imperfect (the nightmare performance of 2 of 18 shots in the 1994 Finals was still criticized), but he will always dare to fight. This dog-like spirit makes his brilliance far exceed that of most draft players.

No. 1: Ben Wallace (unselected in 1996)

Ben Wallace is not only the best in the draft, but also one of the greatest defenders in basketball history. After leaving Virginia United University in 1996, the 2.06-meter center grew from a substitute to the backbone of the Pistons champion Iron Cavalier. He redefined the value of the defensive core, dismantling his opponent's offensive system into countless mistakes, and pushing his opponent's shooting percentage to the bottom. His career average of 9.6 rebounds and 2 blocks per game is only a footnote to his glory, including the 4th All-Defensive Player, 4 All-Stars, 5 All-Squad, and 6 All-Defensive Team. These hard honors make him the only undraft in NBA history to be selected for the Hall of Fame.

Ben Wallace's peak moment was in the 2004 Finals. The Pistons Five Tigers led by him used iron-blooded defense to solve the favorite Lakers who won the championship with five games. Although Billups won the FMVP, it was the center's restrictions on peak O'Neal (suppressing his average score to 26 points) that created the greatest defensive system in the new century.

Original text: Lee Escobedo

Compiled by: Li Taibai