Every year, the NBA Draft Combine gathers the top prospects for a multi-day showcase of athletic testing, interviews, and scrimmages. It’s the ultimate job fair for future NBA talent. When someone fails to receive an invitation, it brings a harsh dose of reality. For others, it’s just another bump in the road, one they bulldoze through on the way to the league. Not being invited to the Combine isn’t the end; in some cases, it’s just the beginning.
In today’s NBA, several standout players have never heard their name called for a Combine invite but still went on to build impressive careers. From undrafted underdogs to international phenoms who skipped the event, these athletes prove there’s more than one path to the pros. Let’s take a look at five current NBA players who never attended the NBA Draft Combine and still made their mark.
Top NBA Players To Never Attend NBA Combine
1. Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)
Victor Wembanyama didn’t need the Combine to prove his worth. The 7-foot-4 French sensation was the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, and he skipped the Combine while finishing the season with Metropolitans 92 in France. His playoff run overseas took priority, and NBA scouts had already seen enough.
Wembanyama went on to win Rookie of the Year and quickly became one of the league’s biggest attractions. His case is unique, but it shows how international stars, especially those considered generational talents, can entirely bypass the traditional draft process.
2. Fred VanVleet (Houston Rockets)
The story of Fred VanVleet shows how an undrafted player can excel in the NBA. The 2016 Wichita State graduate failed to receive an invitation to the Combine and went undrafted, but that didn’t stop him.
VanVleet signed with the Raptors and worked his way up, eventually becoming a key member of their 2019 championship-winning roster. He is known for his combination of sheer toughness, leadership abilities, and skillful clutch scoring, which led to his All-Star nomination and then his massive Rockets contract in 2023.
3. Austin Reaves (Los Angeles Lakers)
Reaves completed his college athletics at Oklahoma University in 2021 before going undrafted without an invite to the Combine. During his scouting process, the Lakers gave Reaves a two-way contract.
After accepting the opportunity, Reaves transitioned to a professional NBA deal. Los Angeles accepts Reaves as a dependable starter because of his intelligent decision-making, scoring abilities, and solid defensive skills. He’s now a core part of the Lakers’ rotation and a fan favorite.
4. Naz Reid (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Naz Reid entered 2019 the draft out of LSU with plenty of potential, yet the Combine didn’t invite him, so he went without a selection. The Minnesota Timberwolves gave him an opportunity, which he has transformed into a successful journey.
Reid contributes with high energy and improved range, continuously improving his accuracy when shooting from a distance. His ability to fill the paint and stretch the defense makes Reid a top backup center in professional basketball. His performance during the 2024 playoff run was pivotal for Minnesota.
5. Alex Caruso (Chicago Bulls)
The 2016 NBA draft passed Alex Caruso by, and he also failed to gain a Combine selection. The professional stages of his career began at the Oklahoma City Blue in the G League until the Los Angeles Lakers showed interest in his performance.
The key factor in Caruso’s successful rise to NBA stardom was his combined efforts in aggressive defensive play, athletic movement, and accurate team-oriented decision-making.
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The Lakers won the 2020 championship because of his essential role as a team member. Chicago Bulls leadership recognizes Caruso as one of the best perimeter defenders who consistently make team-oriented contributions that any championship team desires.
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