NBA G League Alums Prove Going Undrafted Shouldn't Sting Anymore
From Fred VanVleet and Alex Caruso to Duncan Robinson and others, plenty of NBA G League alums out there are proof going undrafted doesn't signify the end of the road for young prospects.
During the 2020 NBA Draft, upwards toward sixty prospects will hear their names called. There will be optimism in the air and said selections should be cause for celebrations. But they in no way guarantee a long and prosperous NBA career, much like going undrafted doesn’t necessarily mean that an under the radar talent won’t go on to have one, instead.
Alas, some of the NBA’s top contributors and notable names went undrafted before making a splash on the big stage. Not hearing your name called on draft night no longer stings like it once did. It’s not the end of the road. Instead, there are a number of possibilities.
In the interest of spreading the aforementioned optimism to those who find themselves undrafted, let’s take this opportunity to highlight five players (who all coincidentally enough, made stops in the NBA G League along the way) who carved out their own paths and now stand tall in The Association.
Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors
VanVleet serves as an excellent role model for undrafted players, especially considering he’s set for a big pay day this offseason. After averaging 17.6 points and 6.6 assists last season, the 26 year old stands to be paid like a star and could garner a multi-year contract in the $80-$100 million range. This could mean that when it is all said and done, the undrafted VanVleet could make more in one season of a suggested deal than many fizzled out lottery picks end up making over the course of a career.
VanVleet has proven his worth while contributing to winning environments. He won an NBA championship with Toronto in 2019, and strutted his stuff along Pascal Siakam to help bring an NBA G League title to the Raptors 905 in 2017.
Alex Caruso, Los Angeles Lakers
Speaking of winners, the undrafted Caruso is a newly minted champ after starting Game 6 of the NBA Finals and making key contributions to help Los Angeles secure a title in the bubble last season. He’s tough as nails, boasts athleticism that helps him rise to impressive heights, and has earned the respect of stars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis so much so that there’s very few others they trust just as much going to battle alongside.
Caruso paid his dues while playing parts of three seasons in the NBA G League, including two Two-Way contracts with the Lakers. He earned All-NBA G League Second Team honors in 2018 after averaging 19 points, 7.7 assists, and 2 steals through 29 contests. Most importantly, however, Caruso carried over his intensity and determination upon finally making his mark in the NBA.
Duncan Robinson, Miami Heat
Like Caruso, the undrafted Robinson also found himself competing in the NBA Finals this past season, in just his first season as a standard-contract NBA player. He appeared in just 15 big league games as a Two-Way Player in 2018-19, but the recognition he received as an All-NBA G League Third Team member for the Sioux Falls Skyforce (Robinson averaged 21.4 points and shot 48% from deep) was enough for Miami to catapult him into a starting role.
Robinson’s 270 three-point field goals last season were not only the most ever by an undrafted player, but he also set a Heat record for most daggers from deep by an individual player. Needless to say, Robinson recognized his niche and has been providing value ever since.
Kendrick Nunn, Miami Heat
Many of these players’ names should roll off the tongue rather easily and be fresh in the minds of basketball aficionados everywhere. That’s because winning teams have to get creative as to where they scoop up young talent, but they clearly know where to look because the rich keep getting richer.
The undrafted Nunn is further proof of this theory. He went from Santa Cruz Warriors sixth man in 2018-19 to starting point guard of the Miami Heat in 2019-20. After averaging 15.3 through 67 appearances, he made the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team, and turned up with an 18 point performance in Game 1 of the NBA Finals before scoring double-figures twice more in the series. His 112 points in his first five professional contests were the most by an undrafted player in NBA history, and the most by a rookie since Kevin Durant’s 113 in 2007.
Just think: the best is still yet to come for Nunn.
Luguentz Dort, Oklahoma City Thunder
Moving on from some Finals faces, the undrafted Dort also appears to boast some impressive upside. In the bubble, he went from putting the clamps on James Harden to scoring the most points by an undrafted player (30) in a postseason game, and the third most by a rookie in a Game 7 all-time.
This is a remarkable starting point to build off for Dort. He’s just 21 years old, but thanks to his showing in the bubble, he could be primed for a much more prominent role from day one of the upcoming season. During his rookie year, Dort split time with the Thunder and Blue. In addition to appearing in 36 NBA contests, he averaged 19.5 points through 13 minor league games.