Whether it was at UNLV for a couple of years or throughout his entire NBA career, Joel Anthony never had an offensive game, averaging no more than a few points a game. That’s what made him lasting 10 seasons in the league so impressive.
He started out with the Miami Heat, where he had a huge impact on the Heat’s title teams in 2012 and 2013, whether starting or coming off the bench for them.
His strong defense and physicality (plus always having six fouls to give each game) made him a valuable asset. Anthony’s maturity and leadership helped LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade get through the massive national attention and media scrutiny during those times.
Even after leaving Miami, Anthony still managed to stay in the NBA for a few years later, playing for the Boston Celtics, the Detroit Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs.
He played in just 108 games total during the time with zero starts, but was still viewed as an asset on the bench as a veteran for the younger players. That can be just as important as being an effective contributor on the court.
The odds of a player with the same skillset as Anthony making it in the NBA after going undrafted to begin with is slim to none. But he managed to have a solid impact in the league, along with a couple of rings to show for it.
Career stats (490 games): 2.8 rebounds, 2.2 points, 0.2 assists per game