The most notable forgotten star from every NBA franchise

Abdur-Rahim was quietly one of the NBA's best scorers for half a decade in the late '90s and early 2000s, averaging over 20 points a game from 1998 to 2002. The final season of that run was his first with the Hawks, and it also marked his first and only All-Star selection. Despite his production, though, Atlanta shipped him out after just two-and-a-half seasons with the team.

White, to be clear, was one of the best players of his time. In the '70s, he was a seven-time All-Star and helped Boston win two championships. Ultimately, though, his career was sandwiched between two far more iconic Celtics eras, meaning that despite his accomplishments, his legacy has historically been overshadowed.

Petrović was on his way to greatness. After an okay start in Portland, he flourished with the Nets, became a 20-a-game scorer, and made an All-NBA team in 1993. The success he ultimately achieved is often overshadowed by the potential that was tragically taken away when he died in a car accident.

Okafor was the No. 2 pick in the 2004 NBA Draft and won Rookie Of The Year, but after that, he failed to meet expectations and never developed into an All-Star-caliber player. This overshadows, though, that for a decent while, he was still a rock-solid big man option. For his first five seasons, he averaged at least 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks a game, and followed those with a pair of 10-and-9 seasons.

Armstrong isn't one of the first two players that comes to mind when you think of the '90s Bulls. It can be easy to forget, though, that MJ and Pippen weren't Chicago's only All-Stars of the decade. The 1994 Bulls, who were surprisingly successful without Jordan, and Armstrong ended up making his first and only All-Star team that season (as did Horace Grant, another player who could have also taken this spot).

Free played his best basketball in the first half of his career, which featured back-to-back seasons in which he scored over 28 points per game. By the time he got to Cleveland in his 30s, though, he was still very productive. Those teams weren't successful enough for Free to get any All-Star consideration, but over four seasons with the Cavs, he averaged 23 points a game.

The 2007 Mavericks were incredible, finishing with a 67-15 record. The NBA just had to give the team multiple All-Star picks, so alongside Dirk Nowitzki, Howard made the cut. He spent a few years as a fringe guy, including a three-season run as an 18 PPG scorer, but he ultimately didn't become an NBA star.

It's hard to call Billups, one of the most memorable players of the 2000s, forgotten. As far as his late-career stint in Denver, though, that only lasted fewer than three full seasons. In fact, he only had one complete season with the team (2010), but it was a good one: The Nuggets finished 53-29, and Billups was an All-Star for the final time alongside Carmelo Anthony.

By the time Blake Griffin left the Clippers, it seemed like his time as an All-Star might be done, as he hadn't been selected in a few years. In his first full season with the Pistons, though, he enjoyed a resurgence. In 2019, he averaged a career-high 24.5 points per game and made his first All-Star and All-NBA teams in four years. His legacy, though, was made with the Clippers.

Wiggins was a key part of the recent title-winning Warriors in 2022, so he's not forgotten. What might not be as remembered, though, was that he actually made his first All-Star team that season. He had had better statistical years before, but in '22, the stars lined up just right for Wiggins.

Barkley was one of the NBA's most feared forwards during his time with Philadelphia and Phoenix. Less storied were his four seasons spent in Houston, which were the beginning of the end. He was still good, though, and made one final All-Star team in his first season with the franchise, in 1997.

Miller was one of the better big men of the 2000s, but it's easy to forget that there was a short window when he was a bit of a star. That's especially true for Indiana fans: He spent one-and-a-half seasons there, and in his only full season with the team, he got the nod. His numbers weren't outstanding (13 points and 8 rebounds a game), but Miller helped power the Pacers to one of the league's best records of the first half of the 2003 season.

It's not that Jordan wasn't memorable: He and Blake Griffin were perhaps the NBA's most exciting big man duo of the 2010s. DeAndre was always just frequently on the edge of the All-Star conversation, like the two seasons he made All-NBA teams (including a first-team nod) but wasn't an All-Star. He finally broke through for the first and only time, though, during the 2017 season.

As a second-round pick, Van Exel quickly exceeded expectations and was the Lakers' starting point guard for a good portion of the '90s. In 1998, the Lakers were undeniable, so much so that they had four players in the All-Star Game: Shaq, Kobe, Eddie Jones, and Van Exel. His numbers didn't necessarily pop off the page (14 points and 7 assists a game) but Van Exel's contributions helped keep the Lakers white-hot.

Fun fact: As of the 2025-26 season, the Grizzlies have sent only five players to the All-Star game, largely because it's a young franchise that has had many low-win seasons. Abdur-Rahim (the first repeat player on this list) had a run of some good-numbers-bad-team seasons in the late '90s and early 2000s, averaging at least 20 points and 7 rebounds a game during his final four years in Vancouver.

During early-career stints in Phoenix and Houston, Dragić was a borderline All-Star. It seemed like that might remain the case when he arrived in Miami, too. He led some not-so-great Heat teams in the 2010s, but regardless, he finally made his first All-Star appearance in 2018.

For years, Holiday was considered one of the league's most underrated players, a star who rarely got star recognition. He did get an All-Star nod (his first) back in 2013 with Philadelphia, though. A decade later, in 2023, he finally did again with Milwaukee, demonstrating how well his game had aged.

The 2002 Timberwolves had a strong regular season thanks in part to third-year forward Szczerbiak emerging as a worthy sidekick to Kevin Garnett. Wally was an All-Star that year, but that was about the height of his powers. He was a solid scoring option for a few teams for the rest of his career, but his one All-Star season remained an anomaly.

Magloire is regularly cited as one of the strangest or most surprising one-time All-Star selections. He earned the honor during the 2004 season, averaging 13 points, 10 rebounds, and a block per game. On paper, the season is forgettable, but because the league recognized it, it was sort of memorable in a sense.

The 5'9" dunker undoubtedly left his mark on the NBA thanks to his Dunk Contest moments. What's often overlooked, though, is that he had a really strong season for the 2009 Knicks. He averaged 17 points, four rebounds, and four assists a game off the bench and was one of the league's best sixth men that year.

Sefolosha was mostly regarded as a role player throughout his 14-year career. Indeed, his career averages of about 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist per game support that. He was a star on the defensive end, though, making second-team All-Defense in 2010.

For a few years, Anderson was one of the biggest offensive threats in the league thanks to the volume and efficiency of his long-range shooting. That era started with his final year in Orlando in 2012. It was then that he picked up the Most Improved Player award, averaging 16 points a game and leading the league in both 3-point makes and attempts per game.

By the time Dikembe reached Philadelphia in his mid-30s, his prime in Denver and Atlanta was far behind him. He was still very useful for the 76ers, though, to the point that he made his final All-Star team at 35 years old in the 2002 season, as well as an All-NBA team. Considering his run in Philly lasted less than two full seasons, he's not exactly a 76ers legend, but he definitely made a major impact.

Hornacek is best remembered as the great third piece behind Stockton and Malone on the Jazz's mid-to-late '90s teams. Before that, though, he was more of a primary option in Phoenix for six seasons. In fact, he made his only All-Star Game in 1992, averaging 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Despite never making an All-Star team, Strickland was quietly one of the most productive point guards ever. He's one of just 15 in league history with over 7,500 career assists. Strickland bounced around the league but had some great years in Portland, including the 1995-96 season, when he averaged just under 19 points and 10 assists per game.

The Kings teams of the early 2000s were stacked, but perhaps the most unsung hero of the bunch is Christie. He was a reliable offensive contributor when asked, but he made his money on defense. For four straight years, he made the All-Defense team, including a first-team nod in 2003.

Elliott played with the Spurs for over a decade and later became a color commentator for local broadcasts, so he's certainly not forgotten in that region of Texas. More broadly, though, his legacy is overshadowed by those of teammates like Tim Duncan and David Robinson. Elliott was a stud, though, making a pair of All-Star games and playing key roles on some great teams.

During his time in Toronto, Calderón was perhaps the most underappreciated point guard in the league. Over a five-year stretch with the team, he averaged 11 points and 8 assists per game and was routinely in the top five or ten in APG league-wide. His entire season of shooting over 98 percent from the free-throw line will also likely never be matched.

If Jefferson had been on some better teams, he would likely be remember as one of the great bigs of his era. Over his nine-season peak, he put up averages of 19 points, 10 rebounds, and a steal and block a game. Those were about his numbers during his three years in Utah, too, but those teams hovered around a .500 record, making it tougher to appreciate Al's greatness.

Despite being taken near the end of the 2005 draft, Gortat ended up enjoying a productive decade-plus career. "The Polish Hammer" spent the most time in Washington, serving nearly five seasons as a walking double-double. He could also block shots and provide interior toughness for those Wizards teams, serving as a highlight during mediocre seasons for the squad.