John Starks was released by GSW in 1989 then he went on to become an All-star and scored 19.0 ppg at Knicks leading them to NBA finals.

Superstar is a rare category of guys, usually they are drafted very early, and held onto.

Ben Wallace is probably the best example I can think of.

He wasn’t released and wasn’t a “superstar” but the Celtics drafted Chauncey Billips 3rd and traded him almost immediately, after like 50 some games.

Moses Malone was picked by the Jazz in the draft, then they allowed him to go to the dispersal draft for the NBA/ABA merger (along with the pick that would become Magic) for Gail Goodrich. The Trailblazers picked him, immediately traded him to Buffalo since they already had Mo Lucas. Buffalo played him 2 games, then traded him to Houston for picks, where he won 3 MVPs.

David Ortiz’s career was not about to end. That’s a very dramatic retelling of history.   He had a very strong final season with the Twins, went to the playoffs and did well there too.  He was  released because the Twins were broke and couldn’t pay him.

He for sure wasn’t seen as a bonafide player yet, and was viewed a a platoon player, but a guy coming off a 2nd half hitting .300 with 15 HRs was not suddenly going to fall out of baseball.  He  did enough where he would have found a new home even if Pedro didn’t get the Red Sox to sigh him.

Jeremy Lin. Not quite a superstar in terms of ability but obviously had a nice career after being cut by Houston initially

Probably Ben Wallace? Not exactly released but passed over after summer league by Boston who went on to win multiple DPOYs, a ring and hall of fame

Not a superstar, but Danny Green. Cut by the Cavaliers and then picked up by the Spurs. Became a six year starter and one of the top three and D guys ever. Was making a legit case for finals MVP before Ray Allen‘s corner three.

Edit: They may have another in Julian Champagnie

While not a “superstar,” PJ tucker is probably the best example of a player who straight up got released and then had a comeback. Had a whole international career after being waived by the Raptors in 2007, then came back and was a killer 3-and-D guy that helped contribute to the Bucks 2021 chip.

Hassan Whiteside was garbage when the Kings waived him…he came back after 3 years, and had a decent 4 year run.

LeBron James wasn’t even good enough to play college basketball, now he is a really good pro player.

Not a star, but Joe Ingles was waived from the Clippers in the preseason (to make room for Jared Cunningham). The Jazz claimed him off waivers, and he carved out a decent career.

Zach Randolph maybe? The Knicks essentially dumped him and led the Grizzlies on playoff runs.

Jermaine O’Neal. I’m a Blazers fan and I can remember when he was drafted. Straight out of high school, same draft as Kobe. Unlike Kobe, never got a chance to play. I vaguely recall a quote in local media from him along the lines of “I’m an All-Star in practice” which he got clowned for. But of course he got the last laugh in Indiana.

Patrick Beverly released by the Heat went overseas came back on a 3 year non guaranteed deal with Houston and while not a superstar he is probably the most infamous one.

Austin Reaves and Caruso were undrafted ones.

Boris Diaw was waived by the Bobcats before being a key piece of a Spurs championship.

Hasan Whiteside got waived by the Kings and made a all-defensive team with a max contract.

Neither were ever “Stars”, but had an impact.

Closest I can think of would be Linsanity.

I think in the NBA it’s much more apparent you are/are going to be great.

Jermaine O’Neal wasn’t doing the best with the Trail Blazers, but wasn’t on his way out of the league…

I think the closest you will semi consistently find is ‘role player who makes the jump/promising prospect who took longer than expected to pan out.

Then you get guys like Lowry and Billups.

Kurt Warner was cut by the Packers, then won 2 MVPs

Chris Carter was waived by the Eagles is now a HOF

Danny Green was waived a bunch of times before finding his role. While never a star, he became a solid starter and did manage to win 3 titles

P.J. Tucker? Not a superstar, but he was released, couldn’t find a job in the NBA, toiled for years in various European and overseas leagues. Made his way back to the NBA. Became a solid contributor on a bunch of teams. Eventually won a NBA championship.

Ben Wallace is the best answer IMO. Went undrafted, got cut in camp, ended up a 4x DPOY and the heart of the 2004 title team.

Watch Ty Jerome, who was released early in his career, fit this one day lol.

Not superstars, but Max Strus and Spencer Dinwiddie were on the Bulls preseason roster before going on to success elsewhere.

In baseball, the Cubs released Kyle Schwarber, who went on to regularly hit 40 Hrs /season.

Jeremy Lin in Golden state if the superstar qualifier is two weeks

Mavs let Jalen Brunson walk…

Not a superstar by any means, but one name that deserves to be mentioned is Bobby Simmons. A second round pick who spent his rookie year in Washington, was a throw-in in the Jerry Stackhouse/Rip Hamilton trade. Was quickly waived by Detroit, and signed with Washington again. And then was waived by Washington after a month. He signed with Washington again a couple months later to finish the season. He joined the Clippers before the next training camp and became a rotation player. The next season became a starter, averaged 16/6/3 on 47/44/85 and won Most Improved. Signed a 5/$47 million contract with Milwaukee and had one solid season before his career was ruined by a preseason ankle injury.

Not a superstar but Aaron Nesmith was barely in the Celtics rotation before being traded to the pacers and almost winning the title starting at sg

Ortiz got better because he started juicing up to the gills on steroids.

Not seeing him mentioned - not a superstar, nor an all-star, but Hassan Whiteside was pretty close to DPOY candidate and All-star. Cut from the league, came back with triple doubles off the bench with blocks and league blocks leader. Really looked like a dominant force until he got paid and traded to Portland.

Like most other answers here… he wasn’t a superstar but Danny Green was nearly out of the league until the Spurs picked him up and he was important for their 2010s.

Ben wallace maybe?

Doesn’t really fit your criteria but Hassan Whiteside was waived 3 times before he had his run in Miami. He had one season where he had like 14/12/3.7blks and 17/14/2.

Don Nelson was waived twice, first by worst team in the league Chicago Zephyrs and then by Lakers. He was picked by Celtics who made him starter. He won 5 championships with them and made it into HoF.

In Ortiz case, steroids were a powerful thing. What a fraud

I don’t know much about baseball but it looks like a sport where that could happen. Basketball, not so much

The correct answer is Kyle Lowry or Austin Reeves

Could Danny Green be a candidate?

Was drafted then waived by Cleveland in 2010 (ANOTHER blunder by that mistake of a FO), before signing with SAS.

In 2013 finals, he was a FMVP runner up at one point thanks to his 3pt shooting, surpassing Ray Allen’s previous finals record.

Would ultimately win 3 rings (2014 SAS, 2019 TOR, 2020 LAL)

Not a superstar, but Bruce Bowen spent years on several teams’ scrap heaps, domestically and in France. After his 2nd stint in Miami, where he fully embraced and sharpened his “3 and D” profile (he played more minutes that year than in the previous 4 seasons combined), he signed with the Spurs and became integral to their run.

Not quite a superstar but Danny Green only played 20 games his rookie season, was waived at the start of his second season, then went on to win 3 titles.

Ortiz did roids to get better.

Superstar? Not quiiittteeee, but Chauncey Billups was on his 5th team in 7 seasons before he hit his stride in Detroit, got 5th and 6th in mvp voting and made 4 straight all star teams. That’s superstar adjacent.

Chauncey Billups

Siakam comes to mind. Went from g league to all nba selection and a championship within a year

David Ortiz did steroids. That’s a fact.

Sam Darnold? Kurt Warner?

PJ Tucker was drafted in the 2006 2nd round. By the 2008 season, he was playing in Israel and didn’t come back to the NBA before the 2012-2013 season

No one really. You are who you are in basketball. You don’t just suddenly go from a role player to being the leader of a team and dominating the league and stat sheets.

Very very small scale but Cam Payne was an upper first round draft pick with expectations to become good but fizzled out and was eventually waived a few years into his career. The Suns picked him up and he went on to become a great backup for CP3 and a key playoff piece during the 2021 finals run.

He maintained a decent level for a few years but kind of fizzled out again and I believe he’s playing in Europe now

Linsanity!

Wasn’t a superstar but had a helluva run in NY that year

McClung never made a roster for any NBA team, yet he is an NBA legend.

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