A host of rookies are making their debuts this week, including several who not long ago seemed unlikely to do so. First-round picks are usually locks to make their teams, but second-rounders face a struggle, and undrafted players have the most daunting challenge of all, having to scrap just for training camp invitations, much less regular-season roster spots.
Several of the players on this list spent years developing overseas after they were passed over in their respective drafts, but a few who were left on the draft board this June managed to quickly overcome the snub and make it to the league for opening night. Many of them are on non-guaranteed deals, so their stays might not be permanent, but for now, they've made it to the big time.
The undrafted rookies are listed below by team, with their draft years in parentheses.
- Sixers: Maalik Wayns (2012)
- Hornets: Brian Roberts (2008)
- Knicks: Chris Copeland (2006), Pablo Prigioni (1999)
- Magic: DeQuan Jones (2012)
- Nets: Mirza Teletovic (2007)
- Pacers: Ben Hansbrough (2011)
- Pistons: Slava Kravstov (2009)
- Rockets: Scott Machado (2012)
- Suns: Diante Garrett (2011), Luke Zeller (2009)
- Timberwolves: Alexey Shved (2010)
- Warriors: Kent Bazemore (2012)