Now Reading
Top 5 Active Second Round Picks

Top 5 Active Second Round Picks

Being picked in the first round of the NBA draft doesn’t always mean you’ll also be a great player in the league. Sometimes, the second round draftees turn out to be very suitable for the NBA, and develop into All-Stars and even cornerstones of their franchises. Here are five of the best active second round picks in the league.

5. Paul Millsap

Photo: Isaiah J. Downing -USA TODAY Sports

Millsap was drafted into the NBA in 2006 with the 47th pick by the Utah Jazz. Even though he was a second round pick, he was soon referred to as a potential rookie of the year candidate. He didn’t end up winning the award, but had a great, steady season. After his trade to the Atlanta Hawks, Millsap became a 4-time All-Star.

4. Marc Gasol

Photo: Soobum Im – USA TODAY Sports

The youngest Gasol brother was drafted in the NBA with the 48th pick in the 2007 draft. He was drafted by the Lakers, but never played a game for them, as he was traded to the Lakers for his brother Pau. He has been named an All-Star three times and won the Defensive Player of the Year award once. Furthermore, he can be seen as the best all-time Grizzlies player.

3. Isaiah Thomas

Photo: NBC Sports

Isaiah Thomas was the last (60th) pick in the 2011 draft by the Sacramento Kings. In spite of that, he started 37 games in his first season. His numbers went up during his season with the Suns, but his exceptional talent really started to show as soon as he was traded to the Celtics. Since then, he was a MVP candidate and he has been named an NBA All-Star twice.

2. Draymond Green

Photo: USA TODAY Sports

Green can definitely be seen as one of the most successful second round picks in the NBA. He was drafted with the 35th pick by the Golden State Warriors in 2012, and though his stats might not always show it, Green is the heart of the Warriors’ defense. Furthermore, last season, Green got a triple-double without points. Green has been named an All-Star three times, was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 and was named a member of the All-Defensive Team three times.

1. Manu Ginobili

Photo: Mitchell – USA TODAY Sports

Ginobili can also be named one of the best draft steals of the last 25 years. He was drafted into the NBA with the 57th pick in 1999 by the San Antonio Spurs. At first, Ginobili had a hard time adjusting to the NBA, and he spend most of his first season either on the bench or injured. No one knew exactly what Ginobili would bring to the NBA, but he soon proved his worth. He improved in the second half of the year, and became a more important part of the rotation in the playoffs. Eventually, the Spurs would win the Championship. Now, he has won 4 titles with the Spurs, was named an All-Star twice and he always manages to up his game in the post-season.

View Comments (0)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

© We Are Basket is published by Behind the Arc

Scroll To Top