The NBA’s Strangest Career Arcs

In the NBA, the typical career trajectory is easy to chart. Most players enter the league with modest roles, slowly improve through their early and mid-20s, peak in their late 20s, and then begin to decline after age 30. But as any longtime fan knows, some careers refuse to fit that mold. For a select few, the path zigzags, stalls, and surges in ways that no one could have predicted.

Today, we take a deep dive into five NBA players whose journeys have been anything but conventional. These are the stories of late bloomers, reinventions, comebacks, and transformations—players who, for better or worse, challenged expectations at every turn.

Norman Powell: The Late Bloomer Who Refused to Fade

Norman Powell’s NBA journey is a testament to resilience and adaptability. Entering the 2015 draft as a four-year college senior, Powell was selected by Milwaukee but immediately traded to Toronto. His early seasons were defined by spotty minutes, as he played behind stars like DeMar DeRozan and later Kawhi Leonard. Never the focal point of the offense, Powell found ways to contribute—cutting to the basket, sneaking past defenses, and defending bigger players out of necessity.

Raptors fans clamored for Powell to get more minutes, and following Kawhi’s departure, the team had no choice but to expand his role. The 2021 season saw Powell average nearly 20 points per game while playing over 30 minutes a night—a breakout year, but one that coincided with a Raptors team beset by injuries and a mid-season losing streak.

At nearly 28 years old during his breakout, Powell faced the disadvantage of being viewed as an older player. The Raptors, believing he had already peaked, traded him to Portland for a younger Gary Trent Jr., who was seen as having greater potential. In hindsight, Toronto’s bet did not pay off. Powell continued to excel, while Trent’s career stalled.

Portland, too, saw Powell as a good but not future-facing player and traded him to the Clippers, where he again found himself coming off the bench. Frustrated but undeterred, Powell proved his value every time he started, eventually earning a full-time spot and showcasing the potential he’d always had.

Powell’s story is one of constant reinvention—moving from benchwarmer to starter, traded twice due to age concerns, and ultimately leading the Miami Heat to unexpected heights in his 11th season. At 33, he’s playing the best basketball of his career, defying the typical aging curve and proving that persistence can pay off in the NBA.

Al Horford: The Veteran Who Found New Life in Boston

Al Horford’s career is a study in adaptation and perseverance. Drafted third overall by Atlanta in 2007, Horford was a solid contributor and multi-time All-Star for the Hawks. Yet, his early years were marred by two major pectoral injuries requiring season-ending surgery. Though he recovered physically, Horford admitted to being more cautious on the court, resulting in lower rebounding numbers and a less physical style of play.

The 2015 Hawks won 60 games and captured the top seed in the East, but Horford struggled in the playoffs, particularly against Cleveland’s Tristan Thompson, whose dominance on the boards exposed Horford’s limitations. These back-to-back playoff disappointments led Atlanta to let him walk in free agency.

Arriving in Boston, Horford’s career took a dramatic turn. He expanded his game, attempting more threes in his first two seasons with the Celtics than in his entire Atlanta tenure. He shot over 40% from deep in three Boston seasons and showcased passing skills that had been underutilized in Atlanta. Defensively, Horford became a key piece, guarding stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo even as he entered his late 30s.

Remarkably, Horford’s defense improved with age, and his intangibles—leadership, versatility, and basketball IQ—became invaluable to a young Celtics squad. Horford’s arc is a reminder that some players find their true value later in their careers, especially when placed in the right system.

Andrew Wiggins: From Underwhelming Star to Elite Role Player

Andrew Wiggins entered the league with immense expectations, often compared to LeBron James and Kobe Bryant before the 2014 draft. But his first five years in Minnesota were marked by underachievement, as he focused heavily on contested mid-range jumpers—a skill set increasingly devalued by analytics.

Wiggins’ struggle to live up to superstar billing led to criticism and doubts about his future. However, a trade to Golden State offered a lifeline. The Warriors, renowned for reviving careers, helped Wiggins shift his focus to defense, rebounding, and efficient scoring. He embraced a complementary role, using his athleticism to become a defensive stopper and reliable shooter.

In the 2022 playoffs, Wiggins averaged 2.5 offensive rebounds per game and played a key role in limiting Jayson Tatum, helping the Warriors secure another championship. He earned his first All-Star selection, proving that a player can reinvent himself and thrive in a new role.

Wiggins’ journey is particularly notable because few former top picks successfully transition from primary scorer to elite role player. His willingness to adapt, both in skill set and mindset, sets him apart from peers who struggled to find their place after early setbacks.

Brook Lopez: The Center Who Redefined Himself

Brook Lopez’s transformation is one of the most dramatic in recent NBA history. Early in his career with Brooklyn, Lopez was a traditional post-up center with excellent footwork and touch around the basket. He rarely shot threes and was considered a poor defender, hampered by foot injuries that threatened his longevity.

Everything changed when Lopez joined Milwaukee. He became an All-NBA defender and a three-point specialist, with his foot issues fading into the background. In Brooklyn, Lopez never attempted threes, but in Milwaukee, he routinely shot four to five per game and nearly won Defensive Player of the Year at age 34.

Lopez’s success is a testament to adaptation. As the NBA shifted toward spacing and versatile bigs, Lopez evolved from a low-post scorer to a model modern center who could protect the rim and stretch the floor. His career stands in stark contrast to peers like Al Jefferson, who failed to adapt and quickly faded from the league.

Today, every team wants a center like Lopez—versatile, defensively sound, and capable of shooting from distance. His journey from a “disrespected” center with an outdated skill set to a prototype for the modern big man is a lesson in embracing change.

PJ Tucker: The Ultimate Comeback Story

PJ Tucker’s career is unlike any other. A second-round pick in 2006, Tucker played just 17 NBA games before heading overseas, where he spent five years as a go-to scorer in Europe. Despite interest from NBA teams, Tucker insisted he would only return for a meaningful role—not just a spot on the bench.

In 2012, at age 27, Tucker found his opportunity with the Phoenix Suns, who promised him significant minutes. He quickly established himself as a starter, surprising fans and coaches with his maturity and experience. Tucker’s ability to guard multiple positions, rebound, and hit timely threes made him a valuable asset.

Over the years, Tucker became known for his toughness and versatility, earning regular minutes with contenders like the Milwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets, and Philadelphia 76ers. Despite modest scoring numbers, Tucker’s impact was felt every minute he was on the court, providing intangibles that don’t show up in the box score.

Tucker’s journey is remarkable not just for his comeback, but for its longevity. Few players fall out of the league so early, spend years abroad, and then return to play over a decade more in the NBA. His story raises questions about talent evaluation and the changing nature of the game—had he entered the league in the 2010s instead of the mid-2000s, his skill set might have been appreciated much sooner.

Conclusion: The Unpredictable NBA Journey

These five players—Norman Powell, Al Horford, Andrew Wiggins, Brook Lopez, and PJ Tucker—each carved out careers that defied the conventional NBA timeline. Whether through late blooming, reinvention, or unexpected comebacks, they challenged the notion that success in the league follows a predictable path.

Their stories are reminders that the NBA is as much about opportunity, adaptability, and resilience as it is about talent. For every player who follows the standard arc, there are those who write their own script, sometimes in ways that redefine the game itself.

As fans, analysts, and future players reflect on these journeys, the lesson is clear: in basketball, as in life, the only constant is change. The ability to adapt, to seize the moment, and to reinvent oneself can be just as important as raw skill or early promise.