5 Best Active NBA Players Who Went Undrafted

As recent NBA history has shown us, players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft are instant difference makers, and potentially superstars. Second round picks are usually good all-around players.

Being an undrafted player has a bad reputation. But there are significant players not drafted by a team that have and currently are lighting it up on the hardwood.

Here are the five best undrafted players currently in the NBA.

5. Kendrick Nunn

Memphis Grizzlies v Miami Heat / Michael Reaves/Getty Images

There's no denying it. The Miami Heat have found themselves a stud in Kendrick Nunn. After going undrafted out of Illinois, Nunn spent time on the Golden State Warriors G-League affiliate in Santa Cruz. This past April, the Heat signed him, and Nunn immediately impressed in the preseason, giving him a spot on the regular season roster. Through his first five games, Nunn has scored an impressive 112 points, the most by any undrafted player in NBA history.

4. Allonzo Trier

New York Knicks v Washington Wizards / Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

Allonzo Trier made an instant impact in New York last season after signing on as an undrafted rookie out of Arizona. Trier averaged 10.9 points and 3.1 rebounds across 64 games last season, and is looking to follow that up as a sophomore in the league. While Trier didn't generate much draft hype while in college, partially due to a suspension due to a banned substance, he certainly made the most of his opportunity in New York.

3. JJ Barea

Dallas Mavericks v Portland Trail Blazers / Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

JJ Barea is not at the top of his game right now, but he's proven to be a quality depth piece throughout his career. Undrafted out of Northeastern University, Barea joined the Dallas Mavericks, where he was a member of the 2011 NBA Championship winning team that defeated the LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh-led Miami Heat. In fact, he's the second-ever Puerto Rican-born player to win an NBA Title.

2. Wesley Matthews

Miami Heat v Milwaukee Bucks / Dylan Buell/Getty Images

Wesley Matthews went undrafted out of Marquette in 2009, and had a journeyman start to his NBA career. After a short stint with the Utah Jazz, Matthews stuck on with the Portland Trail Blazers and Dallas Mavericks for four seasons each. After being traded to the New York Knicks last season, Matthews signed with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he's earned starter's minutes alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. In four games this season, Matthews averaged 11.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 29.8 minutes.

1. Fred VanVleet

Toronto Raptors v Brooklyn Nets / Steven Ryan/Getty Images

Fred VanVleet is the best undrafted player in the NBA right now. VanVleet was signed by the Toronto Raptors following the 2016 NBA Draft. In his first season with the Raptors organization, VanVleet won the NBA D-League Championship with Raptors 905. The guard became a regular figure in Toronto's lineup, most notably this past season, in which he helped the Raptors win their first NBA title in franchise history, where he finished second behind Kawhi Leonard for Finals MVP. VanVleet has the perfect mentality for an undrafted success story in the league, and he continues to defy the odds with his impressive play.