Indiana Pacers’ forward David West watched the NBA drafts in the years before he would be eligible and knew his playing style was different from his immediate predecessors at the position. He didn’t play above the rim and he wasn’t the quickest player on the court.

NBA teams told him prior to the 2003 draft that he’d a marginal player in the league because he didn’t fit the prototype of a modern NBA power forward.

“I never let any of that get to me, it just motivated me,” said West. “If you look around, most of those guys who could just fly out the roof dunking the ball are no longer in the league.”

Since falling to the 18th pick in the 2003 draft despite being voted National Player of the Year at Xavier, West averaged double figures each of the past eight seasons and made two All-Star appearances, with possibility of being selected for a third this season.

via Mike Wells of USA Today