It’s not a secret that not many second-round picks make an All-Star team. In reality, not many second-round picks even last long in the league, as their deals aren’t guaranteed and the spotlight often goes to those who are expected to become stars.
But there’s nothing wrong with being taken in the second round of the NBA Draft. If anything, making it to the league means nothing unless you’re able to actually establish yourself as a steady, trustworthy contributor to your team. It’s not about how you make the NBA, but how people can look back on your legacy once it’s all said and done.
Throughout the course of NBA Draft history, some of the most productive players have come from the latter spots in the order. They have to outplay their opposition, work harder than anybody else, and prove the scouts wrong for not trusting them in the first place.
That’s why today, we’re set to honor those hustlers. The guys who proved their worth to the head coach and even shined in the NBA Finals. Buckle up as we discuss the 15 greatest second-round picks in NBA Draft history.
15. Danny Green
While not the most athletic or skilled player, Danny Green has proven to be a bona fide winner in this league. He’s helped three different organizations win the NBA title with his elite backcourt defense and ability to stop fast breaks by taking charges of contesting shots.
Green was a late bloomer and needed to become a more consistent three-point shooter to find playing time in the league. He was taken 46th overall in 2009 by the Cleveland Cavaliers but after a long stint in the G-League and some time overseas, he finally broke out with the San Antonio Spurs.
Thus far, he’s a three-time NBA champion (once with the Spurs, once with the Toronto Raptors, and once with the Los Angeles Lakers). He also made it to the All-Defensive Second Team in 2017. Even though he hasn’t even made one All-Star appearance, his big contributions to three different championship teams cannot be ignored.
14. Gilbert Arenas
Albeit extremely controversial, one can’t deny the fact that Gilbert Arenas was one of the most entertaining players to watch in his prime. He was a dominant scorer from all three levels and a guy who looked like he was having way too much fun on the court. Unfortunately, that careless attitude is what derailed his promising NBA career.
Despite being considered an NBA draft lottery kind of talent, Arernas’ stock drastically fell when he refused to undergo a physical and didn’t take pre-draft interviews seriously. He ended up being a second-round pick, with the Golden State Warriors taking him 31st overall, serving mostly as a sixth man and starting just 30 games in his rookie season.
Two years later, Arenas joined the Washington Wizards in free agency, with the Los Angeles Clippers being a close second choice. He broke out as an explosive scorer and eventually made three All-Star appearances. He also made three All-NBA teams and was named the league’s Most Improved Player in 2003. Eventually, a gun-related incident put an end to his NBA career, as the Wizards traded him and his massive contract to the Orlando Magic. He was eventually waived and signed with the Memphis Grizzlies, but it was all over by then.
13. Spencer Haywood
Spencer Haywood was a physical, dominant force on both ends of the glass during his prime. He took the ABA by storm in his lone season there with the Denver (then Houston) Rockets, becoming a one-time All-Star in 1970 before taking his talents to the NBA. He was taken 30th overall in the second round of the 1971 NBA Draft.
Haywood wasn’t as impressive in the NBA as he was in the ABA but he still managed to have a very solid career with the Seattle Supersonics, New York Knicks, New Orleans Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers, and Washington Bullets.
He averaged 20.3 points and 10.8 rebounds per game and won one NBA championship. Also, Haywood made it to four All-Star Games and two All-NBA teams. He led the ABA in points and rebounds and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
12. Alex English
Alex English is considered to be the greatest player in Denver Nuggets history. Even though he failed to lead them to a ring, he was constantly among the league’s most unstoppable and versatile scorers during his prime. His footwork was elite and he was a master at his craft when it came to scoring from mid-range or cutting to the basket.
Throughout his Hall of Fame career, Alex ‘The Blade’ English made it to the All-Star Game eight times. He was also named to the All-NBA second team three times and led the league in scoring once. He was taken with the 23rd overall pick back in 1976, which happened to be the second round of the NBA Draft back then.
Albeit we don’t mention his name nearly half as often as we should, we’re talking about a guy who scored 25,613 points in his career, which is the sixth-highest figure by the time of his retirement.
11. Marc Gasol
Once known as ‘Pau Gasol’s younger brother’, Marc Gasol made sure to make a history of his own in the NBA. He was taken 48th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers and then traded to the Memphis Grizzlies for his older brother.
Marc was a bit of a late bloomer but once he established himself, he showed that he could be one of the most dominant two-way big men in the league. He was intelligent, elegant, and had a sweet shooting stroke you don’t see too often in centers. He became the Grizzlies’ defensive anchor both in the paint and the perimeter.
Throughout his career, the Spaniard big man made it to three All-Star Teams, got an All-NBA selection two times, made one All-Defensive Team, and won one NBA Championship. He also played for the Toronto Raptors and Lakers before heading overseas to end his career in his homeland.
10. Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic’s career is just getting started, yet he’s already one of the best international players in NBA history, one of the greatest second-round picks of all time, and the most talented and craftiest passing center to ever grace the face of the Earth.
Despite not striking with speed or athleticism, Jokic’s ballerina-like footwork, top-notch basketball IQ, passing, handles, and shooting skills made him the ultimate cheat code. He’s essentially a point guard trapped in a big man’s body. He’s a walking double-double and has steadily improved his defense with every season.
Jokic was taken in the second round during a Taco Bell commercial. Now, he’s a two-time MVP, four-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA First Team player, and has all it takes to become the greatest player in Denver Nuggets history once it’s all said and done.
9. Dennis Johnson
Dennis Johnson was the ultimate late bloomer, a guy who adapted his game multiple times in his career to help his team and that became one of the signature guards of the NBA during his prime. Taken 29th overall by the Seattle Supersonics, he excelled both at the shooting guard and point guard positions.
Johnson was an explosive scorer and incredibly athletic player for his size, being a prolific rebounder for most of his career. He was a willing passer and a leader on and off the floor, not to mention a lockdown defender with quick hands to pile up steals.
Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Johnson won three rings with one Finals MVP, made two All-NBA Teams, five All-Star Teams, and nine NBA All-Defensive Teams (six first, three seconds). He played for the Sonics, Phoenix Suns, and Boston Celtics.
8. Toni Kukoc
Taken in the second round of the 1990 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls had to wait three years until Toni Kukoc finally took his talents to the United States. And after a rookie season playing as their Sixth Man, he became one of the most impactful players in the league, especially during Michael Jordan’s first retirement.
Despite not being touted as a solid defensive player or a great athlete, Kukoc was smart, physical, and a versatile player who could fill up the stat sheet any given night. He was also an elite shooter and a guy who always embraced his role, regardless of if he was starting or coming off the bench.
Kukoc played a huge role in the Bulls’ second three-peat. He won three NBA Championships, was named Sixth Man of the Year and made it to the All-Rookie Team. He also won countless accolades at the FIBA level, being named one of the 50 greatest FIBA players of all time. In the NBA, he also played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, and Milwaukee Bucks.
7. Mark Price
Mark Price was Stephen Curry before Stephen Curry. He was a crafty passer and elite shot-maker who could shoot from everywhere on the court, and he put the Cleveland Cavaliers on the map way before the LeBron James era. Up to this day, chances are you’ll still see plenty of people wearing his jersey in Ohio.
Price broke onto the world scene after his first three seasons, getting his first All-Star appearance after averaging nearly 19 points and 9 assists per game. He became the second player in NBA history to finish a season shooting at least 50% from the floor, 40% from three-point range, and 90% from the free-throw line.
A master at his craft, Price retired as a four-time All-Star, made four All-NBA teams, and won the three-point contest twice, as well as posting multiple records in his alma mater Georgia Tech. His free throws were automatic, posting a 90.4% career average from the charity stripe, and he’d be a perennial All-Star selection if he played nowadays.
6. Hal Greer
Even though he was taken 13th overall, Hal Greer was still a second-round pick in 1958. Standing at 6’2”, not even the most optimistic scout thought he’d become the dominant scorer and rebounder he turned out to be at the NBA level.
Greer was one of the most explosive players in the early stages of basketball. He could turn the corner in the blink of an eye, change directions, handle the ball elegantly, and finish with both hands, being ahead of his time according to most analysts.
Throughout his Hall of Famer career, Greer averaged north of 19 points, 5 boards, and 4 dimes per contest. He was a ten-time All-Star, won one All-Star Game MVP, made seven All-NBA teams, and won one NBA title. He played his entire career with the Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers.
5. Nate Archibald
Nate ‘Tiny’ Archibald was taken 19th overall in 1970 by the Cincinnati Royals. Despite being 6’1”, he was a disruptive offensive force, a crafty scorer and playmaker who made up for his lack of size with top-notch basketball IQ and hustle.
Archibald was so good, so unstoppable, that he became the first player since Oscar Robertson to lead the NBA in both points (34.0) and assists (11.4) in the very same season. Also, he set the mark for the highest scoring average for a guard, a record that still stands for point guards to this day.
Tiny Archibald played for the Royals until their days in Kansas City. Then, he played for the New York Nets, Buffalo Braves, Boston Celtics, and Milwaukee Bucks. He was a six-time All-Star, won one All-Star MVP, made it to five All-NBA Teams, and won one championship.
4. Willis Reed
It’s been a while since the New York Knicks were a force in the league. But back then, Willis Reed made sure to put them on the map. He was a fierce scorer and one of the all-time greatest clutch performances in the history of the playoffs. Notably, he was taken 8th overall in 1964. The first round of that draft featured just seven players plus two territorial picks.
Despite being undersized to play at the five, Reed made up for it with top-notch hustle on both ends of the floor. He was a double-double machine and a master at boxing out bigger players and was strong enough to hold his own against the likes of Wilt Chamberlain or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Throughout his Hall of Famer career, Reed won one MVP, two NBA championships with 2 Finals MVPs, was named Rookie of the Year, made the All-Rookie Team, made seven All-Star appearances, and was named All-Star Game MVP once. He made it to five All-NBA Teams (one first and four seconds) and made the NBA’s All-Defensive Team. He was also named one of the 50 and 75 best players in NBA history. After his retirement, he became a coach and executive for the Knicks, Creighton University, the Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings, and New Jersey Nets.
3. Draymond Green
Even though Stephen Curry is the face of the Golden State Warriors dynasty, Draymond Green has been the heart and soul of the team during Steve Kerr’s tenure in charge. He’s been their glue guy, their vocal leader, and an extension of the coach on the hardwood.
For better or worse, Green’s emotions made him great. He’s a pesky defender who can guard one through five, but his brains and playmaking are what make him such a unique and irreplaceable player. Drafted as a second-round pick out of Michigan State, Green took the Warriors system to a whole new level once he established himself in the starting lineup in his third season.
One of the biggest contributors to the Golden State Warriors’ success, Green is a four-time NBA champion, four-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA member, and has made it to the NBA All-Defensive First Team four times. He led the league in steals in 2017 and won Defensive Player of the Year that season as well, and he’ll be a lock to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
2. Dennis Rodman
Dennis Rodman is considered by some as the greatest rebounder in the history of the league, as well as one of the best, most physical defenders of all time. Back in his prime, he was one of the few players who could actually hold his own against the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and the toughest big men on Earth.
Rodman first found glory with the hardnosed Detroit Pistons. But after a quiet stint with the San Antonio Spurs, he took his talents to the Windy City and brought the grittiness, toughness, and energy the Chicago Bulls needed to win their second three-peat and beat the Utah Jazz twice in three seasons.
Known for his larger-than-life persona off the court, Rodman was also a fearless contributor on it. Throughout his Hall of Famer career, the often-controversial star was a five-time NBA Champion, was a two-time All-Star, won Defensive Player of the Year twice, made the All-NBA third team twice, made eight All-Defensive teams, and led the league in rebounds seven years in a row. Not too shabby for a second-round pick out of Southeastern Oklahoma State.
1. Manu Ginobili
Even though Tim Duncan got most of the credit and rightfully so, there wouldn’t be a San Antonio Spurs dynasty if it wasn’t for Manu Ginobili as well. He was an extension of Gregg Popovich on the hardwood, a never-ending source of energy on both ends of the hardwood.
Neither Duncan nor most people in the NBA knew how Ginobili was when they took him 57th overall back in 1999. It took him a while to get settled in the league and get used to Popovich’s way, but once he established himself, he became one of the greatest Sixth Men in basketball history.
Besides being a FIBA legend, the Argentinean shooting guard became one of the most influential left-handed players of all time. He made two All-Star teams, got an All-NBA selection twice, won the Sixth Man of the Year award, and helped the Spurs win four NBA championships over his career.
How many 2nd round picks make it in the NBA?
Around 30% of 2nd round picks make it into the NBA.
How many rounds of draft picks are there in the NBA?
The draft has two rounds, and each round consists of 30 picks. However, this does not mean that 60 players are drafted every year because teams can trade their picks for other bonuses.
