The most unlikely NBA stars

[cdif911]

thought this would be a fun topic to throw around.  Coming into the league, who would you think had no chance of making it as a star

currently I'll go with JJ Barea

historically I'll go Mark Eaton

thoughts?

[FrDrake]

thought this would be a fun topic to throw around.  Coming into the league, who would you think had no chance of making it as a star

currently I'll go with JJ Barea

historically I'll go Mark Eaton

thoughts?

I guess it depends on what is your definition is of 'star.'

Is it a guy who made at least two all star games or just someone who is popular with the fans (like Barea)?  Not sure how Mark Eaton would meet anyone's definition of a star.

[the_Bird]

Eaton was also what, 7'4"?

To me, it's more surprising when you see undersized dudes like Barkley and Ben Wallace who are able to dominate in the paint. 

[CelticG1]

Eaton was also what, 7'4"?

To me, it's more surprising when you see undersized dudes like Barkley and Ben Wallace who are able to dominate in the paint. 

Ben Wallace is a great one. Undrafted pretty terrible coming into the league. Watching him play he just didn't seem like he knew how to play basketball. He really carved his own niche in the NBA

[perks-a-beast]

i don't know if he's exactly a star but Gordon Hayward is looking to be a solid player.

[cdif911]

Eaton was discovered while working as an auto-mechanic and went on to average a stellar 1ppg in college.

He managed to make 1 allstar team and win 2 defensive player of the year awards

I watched Barrea a bit in college and just didn't think he had what it took to play at the NBA level, let alone start for a championship team in the finals (3 of the 6 games)

[ederson]

Manute Ball maybe ??

well he wasn`t a star but neither was Eaton

[Edgar]

Delonte West

[Edgar]

Now if we are talking multi all stars i will say:

Pierce
Pippen
Barkley
Boozer
Randolph
Aldrige

some to name

[fairweatherfan]

John Starks...grocery bagger to All-Star.  Only even stuck on the Knicks because Ewing injured him in practice and he couldn't contractually be released that year.  Not so great with Game 7s though.

Michael Adams - 5'10", couldn't dunk, but managed to have a 26 pt, 10 assist season and make an All-Star team in a different season.

[nickagneta]

Besides Ben Wallace I gotta think two guys that have to be considered as unlikely NBA stars are John Starks and David Wesley.

Both went undrafted. Both had long long careers. Both scored over 10000 career points, 3000 career assists, 2000 career rebounds and 900 career steals. Starls was a Sixth Man Award winner and All Star. Wesley was a heck of a team leader, defender and overall floor general though he did nothing at an elite level or had elite athleticism.

[action781]

Zach Randolph, while a highly touted draftee and a McDonald's All-American game MVP, still continues to surprise me.  He's not super athletic, doesn't have a prototypical NBA body nor a really deadly jumpshot, but has been a force in this league when his mind is in the right place.  I'd be a rich man if I had a nickel everytime I said, "That guy just has an unbelievable knack for getting to the ball and putting it in the basket."

[ederson]

Starks.... right

That`s the kind of player that fits better to my interpretation of an unlikely star
Things are a little easier when  you are +7"

[Who]

Muggsy Bogues

[bballdog384]

Michael Adams - 5'10", couldn't dunk, but managed to have a 26 pt, 10 assist season and make an All-Star team in a different season.

You make it sound like most 5'10" can dunk. Somehow I missed the memo...