(CNN) The draft "steal."
In pro sports, these can make or break a franchise. These are the underrated players chosen low in the draft but who go on to have long, successful careers.
They can provide unexpected value to a team, pushing them into the playoffs or maybe even a championship.
But for every other team, these success stories can bring anguish to their fans and their front office: "How did we not choose this guy? How did we pass him up?"
In many cases, it's their size -- or lack thereof.
Take Boston Celtics star Isaiah Thomas. He averaged nearly 30 points a game this season and led his team to the top of the Eastern Conference standings. But because he's only 5-foot-9, he was chosen dead last -- 60th overall -- by the Sacramento Kings in 2011.
The evolution of the NBA title ring
If you were a member of the NBA champion Boston Celtics during the 1983-84 season, this diamond cloverleaf ring might look familiar. Here's a look at some other NBA title rings from the past 40 years.
The Los Angeles Lakers' ring in 1985 featured a diamond basketball to resemble the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
In 1987, the Lakers marked their fifth Los Angeles title with five diamonds on the front of the ring. Note the name Johnson on the side -- this was the ring for Lakers star Magic Johnson.
The ring for the 1989-90 Detroit Pistons featured a large diamond surrounded by 20 smaller diamonds. On the side of the ring are the words "back to back" -- signifying the team's consecutive championships.
The Chicago Bulls' ring in 1993 featured a jewel-encrusted red bull. Note the name Jordan -- as in Bulls iconic guard Michael Jordan -- on the side of the ring.
The Houston Rockets' ring in 1994 featured the Rockets logo, 14 diamonds and the words "Clutch City" on the side. It was their first of back-to-back titles.
During the 1995-96 season, the Chicago Bulls set an NBA record by winning 72 regular-season games. They went on to win the title and this ring, which signifies the franchise's fourth championship.
Ever seen spurs made of diamonds and gold? You have now. This ring comes from the San Antonio Spurs' championship season in 1998-99.
Triangles were the theme of the Los Angeles Lakers' championship ring in 2001-02. The triangles signify the team's third consecutive world title -- and they're also a nod to the team's "triangle" offense.
In 2003, the San Antonio Spurs won their second league title.
This ring was created for the Detroit Pistons' championship in 2004.
Here's Shaquille O'Neal's championship ring that he earned with the 2005-06 Miami Heat. It was the franchise's first title.
Boston Celtics fans might like these championship baubles that were made in 2008 for the team's "Big 3": Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.
This 2009 championship ring includes the Lakers' logo and the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
The Dallas Mavericks won all the marbles in 2011. Here are three of their championship rings from that year.
Norris Cole shows off the championship ring he won with the Miami Heat in 2014.
Here's the ring Stephen Curry -- No. 30 -- won for his contribution to
the Golden State Warriors' championship in 2015.
In 2016, the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrated their first NBA championship with this ring featuring the team logo.
Even tall guys are overlooked for this reason. Draymond Green is 6-foot-7, but in the NBA that's considered small for the front-court positions he was projected to play. So he wasn't taken until the second round -- 35th overall, in 2012.
It worked out for the Golden State Warriors, though. Green's fiery competitiveness helped lift the team to an NBA title in 2015. This year, he led the league in steals and was an All-Star.
NBA All-Star superlatives
Russell Westbrook throws down a dunk during the 2016 NBA All-Star Game. He was the Most Valuable Player in what was the highest-scoring All-Star Game of all time. The two teams combined for 369 points as the Western Conference won 196-173. A year later, that record was broken when the West won again 192-182. Total points: 374.
First All-Star MVP: Ed Macauley, left, was MVP of the first NBA All-Star Game, which was played in 1951. Boston teammate Bob Cousy, right, was also on the team that year. Between them here is Walter Brown, the Celtics' original owner.
Most appearances as a player: Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was named to 19 All-Star teams during his career, and he played in 18 of the games.
Most MVP awards: Bob Pettit, left, and Kobe Bryant each won four All-Star MVP awards during their career. Both also shared one of their awards -- Pettit split with Elgin Baylor in 1959, and Bryant shared the spoils with former teammate Shaquille O'Neal in 2009.
Largest attendance: In 2010, there were 108,713 fans who attended the game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Most points in a game: Philadelphia center Wilt Chamberlain scored 42 points in the 1962 All-Star Game. Two months later, he set the league's all-time scoring record by putting up 100 against the New York Knicks. The All-Star Game scoring record was shattered in 2017 by Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans, who scored 52 points -- ten points more than Chamberlain.
Triple-doubles: Michael Jordan dunks the ball during the 1997 All-Star Game in Cleveland. He finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for the first triple-double in All-Star history. Only two other players have accomplished the feat: LeBron James in 2011 and Dwayne Wade in 2012.
Most All-Stars from one team: This year, for the eighth time in NBA history, four players from one team will be on the All-Star team. The four players this year are from the Golden State Warriors: from left, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Stephen Curry.
Youngest MVP: James was just 21 years (and 51 days) old when he was named All-Star MVP in 2006. He added a second MVP trophy in 2008.
Most wins: The Eastern Conference has a 37-28 record in the All-Star Game, but the Western Conference is catching up. The West has won five of the past six.
Location, location, location
There are, of course, other reasons that teams might underrate a player in the draft.
Maybe it's because they come from a small school.
Dennis Rodman, perhaps the greatest rebounder in NBA history, played at Southeastern Oklahoma State, located about 90 minutes north of Dallas, Texas, in Durant, Oklahoma. He went 27th overall in the 1986 draft.
Joe Dumars, one of Rodman's former teammates, was taken 18th overall out of McNeese State in Lake Charles, Louisiana, located between New Orleans and Houston, Texas.
Both Rodman and Dumars played for the Detroit Pistons teams that won titles in 1989 and 1990. Both are in the Hall of Fame.
Does experience playing in the US matter?
Maybe players have been overlooked because they weren't playing in the United States.
There weren't many basketball fans who had heard of Manu Ginobili or Tony Parker before the San Antonio Spurs chose them with late picks in 1999 and 2001.
Ginobili played for Argentine and Italian teams before the NBA drafted him. Parker cut his pro basketball teeth in France.
Now both men are household names and surefire Hall of Famers after leading the Spurs to four NBA titles.
NBA All-Star Game: Best photos
The National Basketball Association's Western Conference beat the Eastern Conference 192 to 182 to win the 2017 NBA All-Star Game Sunday night in New Orleans. For hometown hero, No. 23, Anthony Davis, it was an unforgettable game. Click through the gallery for more images of the history-making, record-breaking shooting match.
Davis scored 52 points, smashing a 55-year-old mark of 42 points set by the legendary Wilt Chamberlain. Davis also pulled down 10 rebounds.
The game included somewhat less intense defense on both teams than in previous years. Nonetheless, this drive to the basket by Western forward Kawhi Leonard was met by Eastern guard DeMar DeRozan, right, and Eastern forward LeBron James.
Eastern's No. 34, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks put on an amazing display at the hoop. By the end of the game, Antetokounmpo had scored 30 points.
The West's Kevin Durant, No. 35, scored 21 points. In the first quarter Durant and Russell Westbrook combined their efforts to score like they did when they were teammates on the Oklahoma Thunder.
Westbrook faced off against East guard Isaiah Thomas. Westbrook finished the game with seven assists and five rebounds.
Kyrie Irving, left, and James enjoy a moment while watching from the bench.
Westbrook was last year's All-Star MVP. This year, he nearly tied Chamberlain's 42-point All-Star Game record -- scoring 41 points.
This was "King" James' 13th All-Star Game appearance. He scored an incredible 23 points.
When it was all said and done, both teams had scored more total points than any previous All-Star Game: 374. Davis' unprecedented scoring and outstanding rebounding helped him take home the game's MVP trophy.
Getting better all the time
Sometimes, there's not just one reason players becomes known as draft steals. Maybe they just get to the league and blossom, working on their game, fixing their weaknesses and finding the right role or team that fits their skill set.
Click through the gallery above this story to see more low draft picks who became NBA superstars.