Overlooked Gems

Chris Ekstrand/Inside the NBA[urhttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/chris_ekstrand/11/13/undrafted.starters/1.html]SI.com[/url]
November 13, 2006 5:18PM



Bruce Bowen, San Antonio Spurs forward

Then: Bowen was regarded as a defensive specialist even in college, although he averaged 16.3 points a game as a senior for Cal State Fullerton in 1993. Most NBA people didn't regard Bowen as a major prospect, although NBA director of scouting Marty Blake listed him as a sleeper "who can play two positions."

Bowen went undrafted in 1993 and played in the CBA and France for four seasons before the Heat signed him to finish out the 1996-97 season. He played for Boston and Philadelphia and had a second stint with Miami before San Antonio signed him to a long-term contract at age 30 in the summer of 2001.

Now: Bowen has played the role of defensive specialist and 3-point shooter in San Antonio for six seasons. He was a starter on NBA championship teams in 2003 and 2005.

Udonis Haslem, Miami Heat forward

Then: Haslem was a durable, reliable college player at Florida, playing in 130 straight games and starting his final 99 games. Some scouts were disappointed he didn't have a breakout season as a senior, averaging 16 points and 8.2 rebounds, similar to his numbers as a junior. Despite his durability, Haslem's conditioning was questioned by scouts.

After going undrafted in 2002, Haslem played a year in France for Chalon and finagled a spot on the Heat's summer league team in 2003. His rebounding and work ethic made him a favorite of then-Heat coach Stan Van Gundy, and Haslem earned a spot on the roster.

Now: Haslem is now a three-year starter and helped the Heat to the 2006 championship. He owns an effective medium-range jumper to go with his rebounding and excellent interior defense.

Mike James, Minnesota Timberwolves guard

Then: James was evaluated as a shooting guard at Duquesne, and most scouts felt he was too small at 6-2 to play that position in the NBA. While he displayed some point guard skills, no team was willing to help James make the transition to the position he would have to play in the NBA. He went undrafted in 1998.

James played in Austria, France and the CBA before Miami gave him his first NBA shot in 2001. Through stints with Boston, Detroit, Milwaukee and Houston, James was regarded as a defensive point guard who could make the occasional 3-pointer. His breakthrough came with Toronto last season, when he averaged 20.3 points per game.

Now: This summer, James signed a four-year contract worth more than $23 million to take over the point for the Wolves. James (15 ppg) is the second-leading scorer behind Kevin Garnett, but Minnesota has started 2-4.

Raja Bell, Phoenix Suns guard

Then: Bell scored in double figures all four college seasons, two apiece at Boston University and Florida International, but NBA teams didn't consider him special enough to merit a draft selection in 1999. So Bell took his game to Yakima of the CBA and became a more well-rounded scorer and a top defensive player.

Philadelphia signed him late in 2001 and he ended up playing key minutes for the Sixers and even appeared that season in the NBA Finals. After a year each with Philly and Dallas, Bell got the first multiyear contract of his career with Utah and spent two seasons with the Jazz, scoring in double figures both years. He then signed a free agent deal with Phoenix in the summer of 2005.

Now: He became so important to the Suns in his first season with the team that some pointed to his injury during the 2006 Western Conference finals as the reason the Suns lost that series to Dallas.

Quinton Ross, Los Angeles Clippers forward


Then: Ross was a big-time scorer at SMU, averaging 20.3 points as a senior in 2003. But his slender build and inconsistent shot prevented him from being drafted. After both NBA teams from L.A. looked at him during the summer, Ross was off to Belgium where he played for Oostende, one of the country's top teams. The next summer, Ross went back for another go-around with the Clippers and this time earned a roster spot.

Now: Ross has worked on his perimeter game to at least keep opposing defenses honest, but his major role with the Clippers continues to be his feisty defense against great athletes at shooting guard and small forward.

Smush Parker, Los Angeles Lakers guard

Then: Parker played just one season of Division I basketball, for Fordham in 2001-02, before entering his name in the 2002 draft. Although he was not selected, he managed to make the Cavaliers' roster for the 2002-03 season. The Cavaliers did not re-sign him, however, and he split the next season between Greece and the CBA. In 2004-05, he had brief trials with Detroit and Phoenix, but spent most of the season playing in the NBA Development League.

Now: After being out of the league for most of two seasons, Parker made the most of his chance with the Lakers last year and ended up starting all 82 games. While most teams still give Parker the outside shot, he's made enough to keep his starting spot for now.

Ime Udoka, Portland Trail Blazers forward

Then: Udoka bounced around the college level, playing for three different schools, the last of which was Portland State, where he averaged 14.5 points in 1999-2000. He wasn't considered even a longshot NBA prospect, though, so Udoka took the minor league route to work on his skills.

After becoming one of the more reliable players in the NBA Development League, Udoka earned short stints with the Lakers and Knicks, mixed in with parts of seasons in France and Spain. Entering this season, he had 12 NBA appearances to show for six professional seasons. But at 29, Udoka got his big break. He was signed by the Trail Blazers six years after leaving Portland State.

Now: Injuries to Darius Miles and LaMarcus Aldridge gave Udoka a real chance at playing time in preseason, and he worked all the way into Portland's starting small forward spot. He's averaging 7.7 points per game.

Chuck Hayes, Houston Rockets forward

Then: Hayes was a tough customer in a high-profile program at Kentucky, but he never compiled the eye-catching stats that would cause an NBA team to get excited. As a senior, he averaged 10.9 points and 7.7 rebounds.

After being passed over in the 2005 draft, Hayes went to the NBA Development League's Albuquerque Thunderbirds, where he opened some eyes by averaging 11.4 rebounds and 10.8 points. The Rockets, whose 2005-06 season was ruined by injuries, added Hayes in January and he played in 40 games last season.

Now: Hayes had worked his way into the starting lineup before injuring his knee against the Heat on Sunday night.

Fabricio Oberto, San Antonio Spurs center

Then: Oberto was eligible for the 1997 draft and while a few teams knew a bit about him, but his skill level was not thought to be on par with his feisty, aggressive play. At the time of that draft, he was still playing for Atenas de Cordoba of Argentina and had not been scouted heavily. He played well before NBA eyes at the McDonald's Championship in Paris in October 1997, but by then he was no longer eligible to be drafted.

Instead of coming to the NBA at that time, Oberto played one more season in Argentina before moving to Europe for a season in Greece and six seasons in Spain. At 30, Oberto became an NBA rookie with the Spurs last season, but played rarely.

Now: With Rasho Nesterovic and Nazr Mohammed elsewhere, Oberto seized the opportunity to gain the starting center position and has played well. His intelligence and mastery of fundamentals make him ideal for the Spurs.

Kevin Ollie, Philadelphia 76ers guard

Then: Ollie was a low-turnover, role-playing point guard at UConn, playing setup man for Ray Allen his final two seasons. Ollie wasn't even a cinch to stick in the CBA when he started his pro career in 1995, but he persevered and got better and better each season. After a couple of solid seasons for the CBA's Connecticut Pride, Ollie was given his first NBA shot by Dallas in 1997 and has beaten the odds to fashion a 10-year NBA career, playing for 10 different teams.

Now: As the only true point guard on Philadelphia's roster, Ollie is starting and averaging about 22 minutes per game. His assist-to-turnover ratio is a bit better than his superb career average of 3-to-1.[/b]

funny 3 of this players played in France

This is a good list. I am not big on Smush Parker but if he has another season like last year I miight come around,