NBA teams tend to know where the value is on their roster. Sometimes, though, a player will come out of nowhere to become a key contributor or even a star.
Typically, the path to the NBA for most players is to spend at least a season in college to get high-level basketball and important development under their belts.
In NBA conversations, there's usually talk of iconic Finals performances or of the greatest players who never managed to take home a ring. Then, there are those who never even had the chance.
Jermaine O'Neal was once among the best forwards in the NBA when he made six straight All-Star Games with the Indiana Pacers (2002-07). The 46-year-old most recently played in the league during the 2014 season when he was a member of the Golden State Warriors.
The draft lottery is where you usually find the NBA's biggest stars. That's not always the case, though, as some later picks have proven to be some of the greatest players ever.
Jermaine O'Neal was once among the best forwards in the NBA when he played for the Indiana Pacers. The six-time NBA All-Star retired after the 2014 season (when he was a member of the Golden State Warriors).
The Indiana Pacers have a top-three MVP finisher, an All-Time great shooter, and one of the best combined passing and shooting seasons by an individual in their franchise history.