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 regular season is important, but NBA legends are made in the playoffs. More specifically, it's the Finals where the all-time greats have built their otherworldly reputations.
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.