Fansided

10 best undrafted NBA players of all time

By Jakob Ashlin

Feb 14, 2012; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace (6) during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at The Palace. Spurs defeated the Pistons 99-95. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 14, 2012; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace (6) during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at The Palace. Spurs defeated the Pistons 99-95. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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Best undrafted NBA players
Nov 16, 1971; New York, NY, USA; FILE PHOTO; Phoenix Suns center Connie Hawkins (42) in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Many Rubio-USA TODAY Sports /

Best undrafted NBA players of all-time: 2. Connie Hawkins

4x NBA All-Star (1970-1973), ABA MVP (1968), ABA Champion (1968), ABL MVP (1962)

Hawkins had a strange career. In 1962, college basketball was turned upside down by a massive gambling scandal, which involved 37 players from 22 schools. At the time, Hawkins was a freshman and did not play for Iowa’s varsity team. However, his name was mentioned in an interview. He was never indicted, but Iowa expelled him from the university. This haunted him over the next decade.

Hawkins was not selected in the NBA Draft and was essentially blackballed from the league. As a result, he played for the Pittsburgh Rens in the ABL. After the league folded, he played four years for the Harlem Globetrotters. In 1967, the ABA officially launched, and Hawkins enjoyed the best years of his career in the league, winning MVP and a title.

Finally, he joined the NBA in 1969. Despite his late arrival, he still built an impressive resume. He was a four-time All-Star and was selected to the All-NBA first team in 1970.

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