With all the buzz usually coming from the first round of each and every NBA draft, we often forget that potential would-be stars are silently waiting for their names to be called in the latter part of the annual event, particularly in the second round. But with the recent emergence of ballers who shined despite being perceived as afterthoughts due to their low selections, many NBA teams are suddenly putting premium respect on the second round due to its immense upside as a hunting ground in finding the next star in the league.
In today’s list, we will be Ranking the Top 10 Second Round Picks who went on to be Stars in the NBA.
10. Paul Millsap
When the Jazz chose Paul Millsap as the 47th overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft, not much was expected from the versatile power forward coming out from Louisiana Tech. Millsap’s first few years with the Jazz were somewhat decent as he played behind Carlos Boozer, Utah’s starting power forward at that time.
But Millsap’s potential was evident and when he was finally given the starting gig in the 2010-2011 season, his game took off. Often underrated compared to his peers, Millsap was one of the most reliable power forwards in the league in the 2010s, especially during his time in Atlanta. He made four all-star teams and was also selected to be a member of the All-NBA Second Team in 2016.
9. Isaiah Thomas
Whenever you are selected at the very end of the NBA draft, the expectations for you to secure a roster spot are basically non-existent. Washington’s diminutive floor general, Isaiah Thomas, apparently did not get that memo because despite being selected as the 60th and the last pick of the 2011 NBA draft, he went on to have a successful career in the league.
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While it’s a shame that he’s barely hanging on to his NBA career nowadays, there was a time when Thomas was the Boston Celtics’ go-to guy right before the Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown era. His best year as a pro happened during the 2016-2017 season as he averaged 28.9 ppg and was 5th in MVP voting. Not bad for a 5 foot 9 guy who was overlooked in 2011.
8. Toni Kukoc
Kukoc may not have won plenty of personal accolades aside from winning the 6th Man of the Year trophy in 1996, but he was one of the key players during Chicago’s second three-peat from 1996 to 1998. The Croatian great was selected 29th overall in the 1990 NBA draft, the 2nd overall selection in the second round.
His impact on the game was huge as he’s still often viewed as one of the best Europeans to ever play in the NBA. Despite standing at 6’11”, Kukoc had a smooth perimeter game which also extended beyond the three-point line.
7. Khris Middleton
Selected as the 38th overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft, the lanky forward from Texas A&M was initially perceived as a possible end-of-the-bench guy who could shoot jumpers whenever given some playing time. During Middleton’s rookie year with the Pistons, the analysis of his game was somewhat accurate as he was only awarded garbage time minutes and a stint at the G-League.
However, everything changed after Middleton was dealt to the Bucks in 2013. The 6-foot-8 forward quickly displayed his offensive arsenal while playing for Milwaukee and his potential to become a franchise pillar skyrocketed. He was eventually selected to three all-star games and became an NBA champion in 2021.
6. Marc Gasol
Marc was once viewed as the lesser one of the Gasol brothers but as we all know now, that’s relatively far from the truth. The 48th overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft was initially projected to be a possible backup big man – a far contrast with his brother, Pau, who was a lottery pick in 2001. But when Gasol decided to suit up for the Grizzlies in 2008, it was evident from the start that the struggling franchise finally found their starting center for years to come.
Marc won multiple personal accolades during his time with the Grizzlies such as being selected to two All-NBA teams, three all-star games and a Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2013. He eventually became an NBA champion in 2019 as the starting center for the Toronto Raptors.
5. Maurice Cheeks
Many fans(especially on the younger side) don’t have a clue about who Maurice Cheeks was as a player. The 36th selection of the 1978 NBA draft was one of the best floor generals during the 80s. While he was no Magic Johnson, Cheeks was an integral part of the Sixers, especially during their championship run in 1983.
The point guard out of West Texas A&M was selected to four all-star games and was a member of five All-NBA Defensive Teams, including four selections in the 1st team. The Sixers eventually recognized the great run he had with the franchise and retired his jersey after his playing days were over.
4. Draymond Green
Let’s be clear here: without Draymond Green, the Warriors’ dynasty would never have happened. Not much was expected from Green when he was selected as the 35th overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft. His potential to succeed in the league was somewhat limited according to several scouts back then due to being undersized at the power forward spot, standing at just 6 foot 6.
With a plethora of personal accolades later, plus four championship rings with the Warriors, the narrative about his game has entirely shifted. Steve Kerr’s offensive schemes – with Green in the middle of it all – catapulted the Warriors from annual cellar-dwellers into basketball titans almost overnight. With Green facilitating the offense, he might have inevitably prolonged Curry’s once injury-riddled career with the Warriors.
3. Manu Ginobili
Despite being selected as the 57th overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft by the Spurs, it wasn’t until 2002 that Ginobili ultimately gave the NBA a chance to showcase his skills after a legendary career in Europe. It certainly did not take the 6 foot 6 Argentinian a long while to make his mark in the NBA, especially with San Antonio.
Ginobili was one of the best players for the Spurs from 2002 to 2018. He has won four NBA titles with the team and was selected twice as an all-star. Even though he only won one 6th Man of the Year Award throughout his entire career, Ginobili is often considered one of the best sixth man the game has ever seen. His number 20 jersey is now hanging at the Spurs’ rafters.
2. Dennis Rodman
Rodman’s journey to reach the NBA was not an ideal one but when the Pistons took a chance at him as the 27th overall pick in the 1986 NBA draft(3rd overall in the second round), the gritty 6 foot 7 forward proved that despite his severe scoring limitations, he could still impact the game with his relentless hustle, which includes crashing the boards at a superhuman rate.
Despite his antics and eccentric behavior, Rodman participated in two all-star games, was a two-time member of the All-NBA Third Team, won two Defensive Player of the Year Awards, and was named as a member of eight All-NBA Defensive Teams. In addition, he has won five NBA titles – two with Detroit and three with Chicago.
1. Nikola Jokic
Literally, nobody saw Jokic on draft night. When he was selected as the 41st overall pick by the Nuggets in 2014, his selection was merely an afterthought because a Subway commercial was running on the screen. There were no highlights of his game and definitely no analysis either. After spending another year in Europe, Jokic decided to come to the NBA in 2015, where he has since thrived.
Fast forward to a decade later, Jokic is arguably the best second-rounder who ever played in the NBA. The Serbian big man has won two MVPs so far(with a third possibly coming soon), was named to a bunch of all-star games and All-NBA selections, plus a FMVP in 2023. Jokic is not the prototypical big man that we are all accustomed to.
He can essentially play all five positions on the floor due to his high basketball IQ. Triple doubles are not a rarity for him as he usually gets one on any given night. The scary thing is that his story is still currently being written as Jokic is in the middle of his prime years as a basketball player.
