Top 20 Undrafted Players in the NBA Today
by Joel Piton
Sportz Nation - 9/25/2026
60 names are called on draft night every year. For everyone else, the message is simple: prove them wrong.
Going undrafted can feel like the end of the road, but history has shown us time and time again that draft position doesn’t always matter. Fast forward to 2026, and the league has more undrafted players than ever before. So many of these players have since become starters, elite role players, defensive pests, sharpshooters and even superstars. These guys did everything and then some to prove they belong.
Here are the top 20 undrafted players in the NBA entering the 2026-27 season.
Daniss Jenkins (G)
Detroit Pistons
2025-26 Stats: 9.3 PPG · 2.3 RPG · 3.9 APG · 40.8% FG
Daniss Jenkins narrowly earns this final spot amid multiple candidates because he’s already proving he can be a real threat on a Division championship squad. Serving as Cade Cunningham’s primary backup, Jenkins gave Detroit 9.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game, providing a high arching shot and quick ball handles off of the bench. He’s still somewhat inefficient at 40.8% from the field, but for an undrafted guard this early in his career, the fact that he can run an offense, create for teammates and contribute close to double figures is impressive enough on its own. Jenkins hasn't been in the league long enough to surpass some of the veterans above him, but his production and growing role make him more than deserving of the No. 20 spot.
Jock Landale (C)
Atlanta Hawks
2025-26 Stats: 10.6 PPG · 5.7 RPG · 1.7 APG · 51.5% FG
Jock Landale lands at No. 19 after putting together one of the best seasons of his NBA career. The 6'11" Australian big man gave his team a little bit of everything last season, averaging 10.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 51.5% from the field. Landale is strong enough to battle inside, active on the glass and, importantly, comfortable stepping beyond the arc and keeping defenses nervous from three. He may not be super mobile, but his combination of size, toughness, rebounding and floor-spacing makes him a genuinely useful modern big—and earns the Aussie a spot inside the top 20.
Sam Hauser (F)
Boston Celtics
2025-26 Stats: 9.2 PPG · 3.9 RPG · 1.5 APG · 41.9% FG
It's been tough at times for Hauser. As one of the NBA’s most dangerous catch-and-shoot specialists, we expect the ball to go in when he lets it fly, but there have been inconsistencies. Still, even after taking a slight step back this season with a larger offensive role, his shooting gravity still demands constant attention. Hauser has already proven he can knock down threes on a championship team, and defenses simply can't afford to lose track of him on the perimeter. He may not create much off the dribble, but as a movement shooter and floor-spacer, his value is obvious: give him daylight, and he’ll make you pay.
Royce O'Neale (F)
Phoenix Suns
2025-26 Stats: 9.8 PPG · 4.8 RPG · 2.7 APG · 42.1% FG
Royce O’Neale checks in at No. 17 as one of the league’s most dependable undrafted 3-and-D veterans. After years of carving out a role from Utah to Brooklyn and beyond, O’Neale just posted a career-high 9.8 points per game while knocking down a career-best 40% from three. He doesn’t need the ball to make an impact—he spaces the floor, defends multiple positions and gives coaches a trustworthy veteran who fits alongside just about any lineup. O’Neale has spent nearly a decade proving that going undrafted was nothing more than an oversight, and at this point, it’s clear he’s here to stay.
Jose Alvarado (G)
New York Knicks
2025-26 Stats: 7.4 PPG · 2.5 RPG · 3.4 APG · 41.6% FG
“Grand Theft Alvarado” still feels underrated at times, and at this point, Alvarado has turned what once felt like a great underdog story into a legitimate NBA career. The undersized guard has secured his place through relentless point-of-attack defense, full-court pressure and his trademark ability to sneak up on unsuspecting ball-handlers for steals. But Alvarado is more than a defensive pest—he brings pace, playmaking and enough offensive creation to competently run a second unit. Now an NBA champion, he's proven that his energy translates when the stakes are the absolute highest. Alvarado might not be the tallest or most talented player on the floor, but few guards make opposing backcourts work harder for every possession.
Derrick Jones Jr. (F)
Los Angeles Clippers
2025-26 Stats: 10.1 PPG · 3.5 RPG · 1.4 APG · 49.9% FG
Derrick Jones Jr. is one of those rare athletes and the league’s longest-running example of how athleticism alone is turning into a real NBA skill set. “Airplane Mode” has always been known for the highlight-reel dunks, but he’s lasted this long because he’s become much more than a dunk contest guy. Jones is a dangerous cutter, transition finisher and interior scorer who uses his explosiveness to play above the rim against bigger defenders. Coming off a season where he averaged around 10 points per game, he’s still giving teams efficient scoring without needing plays called for him. Add in his ability to defend multiple positions and bring energy on both ends, and it’s easy to see why Jones keeps finding meaningful rotation minutes year after year.
Jay Huff (C)
Indiana Pacers
2025-26 Stats: 9.5 PPG · 4.0 RPG · 1.5 APG · 47.6% FG
The Pacers had a rather interesting season, and Jay Huff finally had the opportunity to show what he could do with a real NBA workload. Indiana desperately needed help in the frontcourt, and Huff answered the call with a career year, averaging 9.5 points and 1.9 blocks per game while appearing in all 82 contests. At 7'1", he gives the Pacers legitimate rim protection, but what separates him from a traditional backup center is his ability to stretch the floor and knock down threes while also being equally efficient on the defensive end. Huff's combination of shot-blocking, size and perimeter shooting made him one of Indiana’s most important breakout players—and turned the former undrafted journeyman into a legitimate rotation big
AJ Green (G)
Milwaukee Bucks
2025-26 Stats: 10.4 PPG · 2.7 RPG · 1.9 APG · 42.4% FG
A.J. Green comes in at No. 13 after officially graduating from “some corner shooter” to one of the most dangerous perimeter weapons in the league. Green averaged 10.4 points per game while drilling 41.9% of his threes, but the volume is what really makes that number pop—he launched more than seven triples per game. That’s not someone selectively taking wide-open corner shots; Green is firing off movement, quick releases and contested looks while defenses know exactly what he wants to do. His shooting gravity alone changes the geometry of Milwaukee’s offense, and after proving he can maintain elite efficiency on legitimately heavy volume, Green has more than earned his place among the NBA’s best undrafted players.
T.J. McConnell (G)
Indiana Pacers
2025-26 Stats: 9.4 PPG · 2.2 RPG · 5.1 APG · 53.8% FG
Playoff T.J. is a different beast, but he held it down throughout the regular season. McConnell is one of the league’s most reliable backup point guards and one of the purest examples of knowing exactly who you are as a player. With Tyrese Haliburton out, McConnell kept doing what he has always done best: organize the second unit, create good looks for teammates and relentlessly hunt efficient shots inside the arc. He isn’t a volume three-point shooter, but he compensates with craft, efficiency and a deadly midrange game that punishes even taller defenders who give him too much space. McConnell’s value goes far beyond the box score—he controls tempo, rarely forces the issue and gives Indiana a capable defender as well. For an undrafted guard to remain this dependable this deep into his career says everything about why he belongs this high.
Collin Gillespie (G)
Phoenix Suns
2025-26 Stats: 12.7 PPG · 4.1 RPG · 4.6 APG · 41.8% FG
Collin Gillespie just put together the best season of his NBA career in Phoenix. The former Villanova guard averaged 12.7 points per game while shooting over 40% from three and 87% from the free-throw line, giving the Suns an elite, steady perimeter threat alongside Devin Booker. Gillespie also chipped in roughly four rebounds per game, an impressive number for a guard his size and even more than Booker managed on the glass. He’s not the flashiest player on this list, but I like his combination of shooting, toughness, decision-making and seemingly above-average rebounding, and all of that has turned him from an undrafted flyer into a legitimate NBA rotation guard.
Duncan Robinson (G)
Detroit Pistons
2025-26 Stats: 12.2 PPG · 2.7 RPG · 2.1 APG · 45.6% FG
Duncan Robinson rounds out the top 10 as the quintessential undrafted sharpshooter. His value starts with one elite skill: movement shooting. Robinson is constantly sprinting off screens, relocating along the perimeter and forcing defenders to stay attached even when he never touches the ball. Robinson's gravity alone creates space for everyone else, and when he does get daylight, it feels like he can knock down 40% from three in his sleep. He’s also become more than just a catch-and-shoot sniper, improving his ability to attack closeouts and make quick reads off the dribble. For a player who entered the league undrafted, Robinson has built one of the most dependable shooting resumés of his generation, and No. 10 feels right.
Julian Champagnie (G)
San Antonio Spurs
2025-26 Stats: 11.1 PPG · 5.8 RPG · 1.5 APG · 43.7% FG
Julian Champagnie comes in at No. 9 after turning himself into one of the league’s most fearless undrafted wings. San Antonio rewarded him with a major payday this offseason, and it’s easy to see why. Champagnie proved during the playoffs that he isn’t just willing to take the big shots—he actively embraces them, launching difficult threes off movement, with defenders closing hard and even with the game hanging in the balance. That confidence, combined with his size, rebounding and floor-spacing, makes him an ideal modern role player. He went undrafted, but after showing he can produce when the pressure spikes, Champagnie has firmly established himself as part of the Spurs’ long-term core.
Brandon Williams (G)
Golden State Warriors
2025-26 Stats: 13.0 PPG · 2.9 RPG · 3.9 APG · 47.2% FG
Brandon Williams checks in at No. 8, and he might be the biggest “wait, who?” name on this entire list. But anyone who watched Dallas last season knows why he earned this spot. Williams averaged 13 points per game while shooting 47% from the field, impressive production for an undrafted guard who was never supposed to become this important. His biggest strength is his handle—he’s quick, shifty and comfortable creating separation off the dribble, giving the Mavericks a legitimate shot creator who can break other guards down offensively. The one thing holding him back from climbing even higher is the outside shooting. Until that becomes more consistent, there’s a ceiling on how dangerous he can be. Still, for an undrafted guard to produce at this level, Williams has already beaten the odds.
Max Strus (F)
Cleveland Cavaliers
2025-26 Stats: 11.2 PPG · 5.4 RPG · 2.0 APG · 44.3% FG
Max Strus comes in next despite an injury-shortened season, because when he’s healthy, he remains one of the NBA’s premier undrafted floor-spacers. Strus can bomb threes from well beyond the arc, sprint into shots off movement and punish defenses for giving him even a sliver of daylight. But reducing him to just a shooter undersells his game—he’s a surprisingly strong rebounder for a wing and an intelligent passer who routinely keeps possessions alive with the extra read. His availability knocked down his production last season, but the complete version of Strus is still the kind of complementary player every contender wants: shoot, rebound, move the ball and never stop moving without it.
Luguentz Dort (F)
Atlanta Hawks
2025-26 Stats: 8.3 PPG · 3.5 RPG · 1.2 APG · 38.5% FG
Defense may be his calling card, but Lu Dort has become much more than a one-dimensional player. Dort made the 2024-25 All-Defensive First Team, after serving as the primary perimeter wrecking ball for a championship Thunder defense. What keeps him this high as he enters his next chapter in Atlanta? Everything surrounding that elite defense. Dort has proven he can be a legitimate floor-spacer that can bring strength, physicality and enough downhill scoring to punish defenses that ignore him. His offense dipped last season to 8.3 points per game, but that doesn’t erase the value of a 27-year-old championship starter who can take the opposing team’s best perimeter scorer every night without needing the ball himself. Now Dort will pair up with Dyson Daniels to form an absolutely vicious defensive backcourt. For an undrafted player, becoming a champion and an All-Defensive First Teamer is elite.
Alex Caruso (G)
Oklahoma City Thunder
2025-26 Stats: 6.2 PPG · 2.8 RPG · 2.0 APG · 42.3% FG
Looking at Caruso's stats, this is exactly why box-score scouting can get you in trouble. Six points per game doesn't come close to describing his impact. Caruso is the kind of defender who makes a coach breathe easier the second he checks into the game—he can hound guards at the point of attack, switch onto bigger wings, blow up passing lanes and turn seemingly harmless possessions into chaos. He’s already a two-time All-Defensive selectant and two-time NBA champion, and even when he isn’t piling up points, he affects winning through positioning, communication, deflections and sheer defensive IQ. Caurso doesn’t need touches to justify his minutes. He moves the ball, cuts, takes open threes and lets the star handle the scoring while he does the dirty work everywhere else. There are better offensive players on this list, but there may not be many you’d trust more in a high-leverage playoff possession.
Fred VanVleet (G)
Houston Rockets
2025-26 Stats: 14.1 PPG · 3.7 RPG · 5.6 APG · 37.8% FG
Hear me out for a second. While the year-long absence makes this one a little unconventional, we’re talking about one of the greatest undrafted success stories the league has ever seen. VanVleet has spent his career proving that being undersized doesn’t prevent you from controlling an NBA offense, becoming an All-Star, NBA champion and established starting point guard after nobody called his name on draft night. His efficiency has slipped from his Toronto seasons, but the threat is still real. VanVleet can bury pull-up threes several feet behind the line, attack switches, orchestrate the pick-and-roll and suddenly pour in points in a flurry when his jumper gets rolling. He’s also an experienced floor general who can dictate tempo and create quality looks. There’s obviously some uncertainty after missing an entire season, but until VanVleet shows that he’s no longer that caliber of player, his portfolio is too strong for me to push him lower.
Naji Marshall (F)
Dallas Mavericks
2025-26 Stats: 15.2 PPG · 4.7 RPG · 3.3 APG · 51.0% FG
Naji Marshall at No. 3 is definitely the placement that’s going to make some readers do a double take—but the production backs it up. Marshall has climbed from a gritty undrafted bench wing into a legitimate third scoring option, and he’s done it without losing the edge that got him into the league in the first place. He can attack mismatches, finish through contact, punish defenses from the perimeter and create offense. His impact is ridiculous. He’s a capable multi-positional defender, plays with physicality, communicates and brings it vocally too. Most importantly, he’s become a guy Dallas can legitimately give the ball to when it needs a bucket. The Mavericks are simply tougher and more competitive with him on the floor. He may have entered the NBA as an overlooked role player, but heading into this season, Marshall has become far more than that—and the No. 3 spot reflects just how dramatic that rise has been.
Naz Reid (F)
Charlotte Hornets
2025-26 Stats: 13.6 PPG · 6.2 RPG · 2.2 APG · 45.6% FG
Naz Reid comes in at No. 2 as perhaps the most versatile big man on this entire list. A longtime fan favorite in Minnesota, Reid now brings his combination of skills and experience to Charlotte, where his adaptability immediately makes him one of the Hornets’ most valuable pieces. At 6'9", he can space the floor like a wing, attack slower bigs off the dribble and finish with surprising finesse around the basket. His handle is unusually smooth for a player his size, while his shot-blocking and physicality allow him to contribute on the other end as well. What makes Reid so difficult to game-plan against is that there simply aren’t any weaknesses you can exploit positionally. Go small and he can punish you inside; play a traditional center and he can drag him away from the rim and fire from three. After years of proving himself off of the bench, Reid has become the rare undrafted big capable of fitting virtually any lineup. He’s skilled, experienced, versatile and still very much in his prime—making No. 2 an easy call.
Austin Reaves (G)
Los Angeles Lakers
2025-26 Stats: 23.3 PPG · 4.7 RPG · 5.5 APG · 49.0% FG
Austin Reaves takes the No. 1 spot, and right now, that crown doesn't look like it's going anywhere. This kid has legitimately gone from a nameless, undrafted hopeful to a low maintenance star. Before injuries slowed him down, Reaves looked every bit like a legitimate All-Star caliber guard, highlighted by that ridiculous 51-point explosion that showed just how high his offensive ceiling really is. He can create off the dribble, change pace, get defenders leaning with nasty crossovers and attack from just about anywhere on the floor. His handle is elite, his footwork is solid and his scoring bag keeps getting deeper every season. What separates Reaves from everyone else on this list is that he’s no longer just a great role player. He can actually take over games. He can run pick-and-roll, create his own shot late in the clock, get to the line and punish defenders without needing a point guard setting him up. For a player who wasn’t selected on draft night to become this dangerous with the ball in his hands is remarkable.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Twenty names, twenty completely different paths—and not one of them heard his name called on draft night. The common thread is simple: none of them were guaranteed anything. Every minute, every contract and every role had to be earned.
So who did I rank too high, who did I disrespect, and which undrafted player do you think is next to crash the top 20?
Get ready hoops fans, NBA basketball is closer than it's been for a WHILE 🚨 Haven't kept up with the latest buzz this summer? Be sure to stay tuned into Sportz Nation for your sports updates on all things basketball.
Thanks for reading!
-Joel Piton
(@jpiton7)
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