In every upcoming basketball player, he desires to appear in the 60 members of the draft. And if they don’t, they can try one more time or become an unrestricted free agent. That means he can end up being one of the best undrafted NBA players if he gets spotted by a particular team. But how do these players get into the draft in the first place? 

First, a player must be 19 years old at the time of drafting in that calendar year. He should have at least one season after high school graduation, and if he didn’t graduate, he should declare his eligibility sixty days before the draft commences. 

But in the earlier days, three players would enter the NBA even without college basketball experience. However, one of them had to attain 39 years old to enter the league. Later on, they changed that until a player completed two years after high school. 

 Most teams know that not everyone makes it in the draft, so they start scouting for the potential players earlier. However, just because a player didn’t get to the draft doesn’t mean he is ineligible to join the league of the best undrafted NBA players. Since any undrafted NBA player is free to sign with any team that wishes to pick them, most of them even outwit their drafted counterparts. 

Why go for undrafted players?

At first, this can be risky, as you still don’t know the potential of an undrafted player. However, if a player pans out to be lazy and doesn’t play as expected, the team lets him go easily. That doesn’t cost them a thing. And if he puns out to be great, it’s a great advantage for the team.  

Also, undrafted free agents have some advantages over the ones in the draft. When they receive multiple offers, they can weigh the best and go with it. In comparison, their counterparts have no option but to go with the team that selects them.

 We have so many second-rounders who fell to the undrafted class. But they punned out to be some of the best undrafted NBA players after getting signed by big teams that gave them a chance. 

Best undrafted NBA players

When players don’t get in the draft, they know it’s up to them to prove their eligibility. They work extra hard. These are some of those who proved to be the best undrafted NBA players in 2020. 

Devon Dotson

The 21-years-old guard could have been a second-rounder in the 2020 NBA Draft but went undrafted in the same year. He got signed by the Chicago Bulls with a two-way contract. Devon spent two seasons at Kansas and averaged 14.9 points in 66 games. And he had a shooting of 47 percent from the field. 

 Dotson got the Wooden Award All-American, a Consensus All-America Second Team as he led the Big 12 and fifth Jayhawk, scoring at 18.1 ppg. He made (2.1) a steal and free throws (142). Devon panned as a three-time Big 12 Player of the Week between 2019 and 2020. He also ranked amongst the Big 12 leaders in 20-point games- second with nine.  Free throw percentage and fifth at 83.0, field goal percentage-second at 46.8 assists-fifth at 4.0 and finally, assist-to-turnover ratio-fifth at 1.7. He ended up joining the wagon of one the best undrafted NBA players. 

Marcus Garrett

On Thursday, the Atlanta Tipoff Club stated that Garret was on the 2021 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Men’s Basketball Player of the Year Watch List. After this announcement, Marcus became one of 50 student-athletes nationwide to get to the Watchlist.

On the same day, the Athletic also named Garrett one of its top 20 guards entering the 2020-21 season.

In addition, Marcus got votes for the Associated Press Preseason All-America team. He is on the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award watch list. Garret was also a unanimous selection of the Preseason All-Big 12.

He was also the 2020 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year last season and led the Big 12 as a junior in 4.6 assists, a ratio of 2.7 assist-to-turnover, and ranked among the league leaders fifth at 1.8 in steals. Garrett was having an average of 4.5 deflections per game in his last outings in 2019/20.

During the same season, Garrett generated 9.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. He became the 2020 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and an All-Big 12 Second Team. Garret was also a unanimous Big 12 All-Defensive Team selection and a USBWA All-District VI.

 Lamar Stevens 

Coming out of Penn State, the 6′ 8″ forward senior averaged 16.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Stevens only shot 26 percent from three-point range last year on over three attempts per game. Leading his college in scores, Lamar earned a two-way deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, becoming one of the best undrafted NBA players.

Ty-Shon Alexander 

The 6′ 4″ guard Alexander is a three years Creighton and a 37 percent shooter from 3P. Ty-Shon was also projected as a second-round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. But Alexander went undrafted, but a few days after, he signed a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns. 

Freddie Gillespie

When Gillespie didn’t hear his name in the 2020 NBA Draft, he somehow agreed to terms with the Dallas Mavericks. The 6′ 9″ forward finishes well around the basket, and he is also a good rim protector. Gillespie is in his second year at Baylor, averaging 9.6 points, 9-rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game.

 In Conclusion, to be eligible for the best undrafted NBA players, you have to shine in the game. It all boils down to determination, dedication, and zeal to keep going until you get the team of your choice.