32 players you forgot were once NBA All-Stars
By Cal Durrett
![Luol Deng, Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer Luol Deng, Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3000,h_1687,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/307/01hpdptmezsq45chr49j.jpg)
18) Vlade Divac
Longtime NBA center Vlade Divac is perhaps best remembered for his time as a member of the Sacramento Kings and, of course, for being a part of one of the most lopsided trades in history. Divac started his career with the Los Angeles Lakers and spent seven seasons with the team, emerging as an above-average starting center during that time.
That made the Charlotte Hornets' decision to trade the draft rights to the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA draft to the Lakers seem justifiable at the time. Of course, as many know, that pick was Kobe Bryant, who would spend 20 years with the Lakers and become arguably the greatest player in franchise history. Meanwhile, Divac helped the original Hornets to back-to-back 50-win seasons before leaving in free agency and signing with the Kings at the age of 30.
His time in Sacramento proved to be a worthy second act. He was paired with Hall of Famer Chris Webber, and they formed a potent frontcourt pairing with their passing ability, which helped the Kings play a more modernized style of offense.
The Kings made the playoffs each of his six seasons there, including in 2000-01, when they went to the Western Conference Finals and nearly beat Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. Divac was named a first-time All-Star at the age of 32 after averaging 12 points and 8.3 rebounds on the season.
After his run with the Kings ended, Divac returned home to the Lakers and actually played with Kobe at the end of his career. Divac finished as the first international player to play more than 1000 games and stuck around partly thanks to his offensive skills, including his passing and flopping, but he was a key player on three successful teams.