It used to be true that if a basketball player went undrafted, he had two chances of making it in the NBA: slim and none.
But that has changed over the last few years, as a handful of undrafted men have become viable NBA players.
One great example is Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves, who had a promising rookie season and blossomed in a big way this past season. He was recently rewarded with a four-year contract worth over $50 million, and he could possibly take another jump forward this season.
The Lakers have another promising undrafted prospect. Colin Castleton is a center who spent the last three years at the University of Florida. Castleton displayed an intriguing set of skills during NBA Summer League a few weeks ago, and the team is hoping he will fill its need for a center who defends and rebounds at a high level.
Castleton gave credit to Reaves for paving the way for undrafted players to succeed at the next level.
Via Lakers Nation:
“(Reaves) laid the foundation. Somebody who has a hell of a story, somebody who is doubted, had chip on his shoulder and I feel like I relate to him a lot,” Castleton said. “I feel like going undrafted, you definitely have a chip on your shoulder, you have a little bit more of a reason to continue to play well and do what you’re supposed to do.
“You can’t have any slip ups, so watching his path and what he did, all the stories I hear about him working hard and the mindset he has is something I’m definitely trying to model and continue to follow his footsteps. He’s already done it and I’m taking that same route in a way, so being able to learn from him, continue to watch him, he just got paid really well, so he’s doing everything he needs to do.”
Los Angeles has only one true center on its roster, that being Jaxson Hayes. It has been considering signing another one in free agency, but nothing has transpired, at least not yet.