The NBA is home to the world's best basketball players, and interestingly, some of its most talented individuals did not enter the league through the traditional draft process.
Numerous players have made a significant impact despite going undrafted. The following list will highlight the best-undrafted players currently playing in the NBA.
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1. Austin Reaves - Los Angeles Lakers
Perhaps the most popular player on this list, Reaves was a revelation for the purple and gold in 2021-22, where he was an unexpected contributor after going undrafted in 2021.
The next season, he continued to elevate his game as the team made a run all the way to the Western Conference Finals. The guard provided firepower on offense and intangible defense on the other end on Stephen Curry, as they eliminated the then-defending champion Golden State Warriors in the second round.
The 25-year-old was also part of the Team USA squad that competed in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in the Philippines. Reaves signed a four-year deal worth $54 million this past offseason to remain with the Lakers.
2. Alex Caruso - Chicago Bulls
The 6-foot-5 combo guard went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft and played the rest of the year with the NBA G League team Oklahoma City Blue.
Caruso received his first NBA contract in 2017 with the Los Angeles Lakers after impressing in that year's Summer League, stepping in for lottery pick Lonzo Ball in some games.
Since then, he became a crucial player for the Lakers during the subsequent years, contributing significantly, especially during the team's 2020 championship run in the bubble, where he excelled in providing intangibles for the purple and gold.
The 29-year-old signed for the Chicago Bulls in a four-year deal worth $37 million in 2021.
3. Lu Dort - Oklahoma City Thunder
Dort, regarded as one of the best defenders in the league, went undrafted in 2019. He gained prominence for his breakout performance in the 2020 NBA bubble, where the Oklahoma City Thunder unexpectedly secured a playoff slot.
The wingman was praised for his defensive effort on Rockets star James Harden, and the Thunder narrowly lost Game 7 by just two points.
Since then, Dort has proven valuable to the Thunder, who signed him to a five-year contract worth $87.5 million in 2022.
4. Naz Reid - Minnesota Timberwolves
The 6-foot-9 big man has been playing in the league for a couple of seasons, signing with the Wolves in 2019 after going undrafted in the same year. However, it would take a while for him to experience his breakout.
In the 2022-23 season, Reid set several career highs with averages of 11.5 points and 49.5 rebounds, shooting an impressive 53.7% from the field.
He has been a reliable option for the Wolves inside and has seen regular action despite a loaded frontcourt with Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert.
The Wolves signed him to a three-year deal worth $42 million this past offseason.
5. Fred VanVleet - Houston Rockets
The 29-year-old is one of the most successful undrafted players ever, winning an NBA championship in 2019 and being named an NBA All-Star in 2022.
VanVleet spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Toronto Raptors after going undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft. The 6-foot guard came in second in the 2019 NBA Finals MVP voting after Kawhi Leonard as they won the title.
VanVleet made the history of the NBA by signing a three-year, $130 million deal with the Houston Rockets during the past offseason, marking the largest contract ever awarded to an undrafted player.
He initially set this record in 2020 with a four-year, $85 million extension with the Raptors. However, Duncan Robinson surpassed it the following year by signing a $90 million deal with the Miami Heat.
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