When Mark Price looked back on his journey to the NBA, he couldn’t help but reflect on how easily he was overlooked by some scouts and executives. Coming into the league, he wasn’t the highly touted prodigy or the physical specimen that front offices salivated over.
Instead, Price arrived with a massive chip on his shoulder, fueled by the skepticism of critics who doubted his ability to survive, let alone thrive, at the highest level of professional basketball. For Mark, being underestimated because of his unathletic appearance wasn’t a setback. It was the baseline of his entire career.
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“I still think there were a lot of teams that, you know, [I] couldn’t get past the eye test,” Price told Ilthy for Cavs last year.”When I walk in the room, I look like everybody else. I don’t look like a basketball player and I think there was a lot of skepticism of could I take that next step and play the NBA level.”
Price was Curry before Curry
Long before he graced the NBA hardwood, Price proved his mettle in the powerhouse ACC, playing for Georgia Tech. Under coach Bobby Cremins, the gritty point guard rose to national prominence, transforming the Yellow Jackets program into a legitimate contender.
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Mark was a multi-time All-American and led his team to an ACC Championship in 1985. As his collegiate career progressed, NBA scouts could no longer ignore his lethal shooting and fearless style of play.
Yet, despite his stellar college resume, talent evaluators remained skeptical because of his underwhelming, 6’1″ and 170-pound frame. Instead of letting the doubts drag him down, Price channeled the negativity into an unwavering competitive fire. He never whined about being a second-rounder in the 1986 NBA draft or being traded by the Dallas Mavericks on draft night to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
It didn’t take long for Price to silence the naysayers. He quickly proved that his skill set was decades ahead of his time. Mark was a pioneer of the modern pick-and-roll, famously splitting double teams with a wizardry that left defenses helpless.
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More than anything, “OK Kid” was a marksman. In fact, he became just the second player in NBA history to join the prestigious 50-40-90 club. In today’s context, many of Price’s peers consider him as Steph Curry before Steph Curry.
“He might not shoot like the distances that Steph Curry and the guys do today, but he could have if he wanted to,” former Cavs teammate Craig Ehlo once said of Mark. “He was lethal out there and I was lucky to play with him.”
“Shooting the ball from half-court and that type of skillset,” former rival Muggsy Bogues raved. “Mark always made me pay anytime I left him or tried to help out, the ball winds up back out in his hands, and he would drain it. That is always something that got under my skin, and I felt like I have to be glued to this guy.”
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Hall of Fame worthy
Price’s legacy remains deeply embedded in the Cavs history. During his time with the team, Mark almost single-handedly elevated the Cavaliers into perennial playoff contenders. He led a formidable Cleveland squad that challenged Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Moreover, Price was also named an All-Star four times.
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Because of Price’s talent and impact, a growing chorus of NBA purists, former teammates and even rivals firmly believe that he rightfully belongs in the Hall of Fame. Even though it never happened, most old-school fans still revered Mark. They see him as living proof that greatness isn’t about how intimidating you look but the skills you possess and the indelible mark you leave on the game.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jun 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.