More times than not, NBA teams need a lottery pick to find a star player in the NBA Draft. Some years, it almost seems like the top-5 picks are the only valuable slots while the rest of the draft is a crapshoot, especially the second round. But as always, there are exceptions to that. They may be few and far between, but there have been some excellent finds in the second round. That got us thinking about the very best second-round picks in NBA Draft history.
Paul Millsap
It took a handful of years for Millsap to become a starter in the NBA, but once he became one, his career really took off. It got to the point where Millsap was an all-star four years in a row, becoming one of the most consistent and well-rounded players in the league.
He was also on a lot of winning teams, helping his team to the playoffs in all but three seasons while averaging better than 13 points and seven rebounds per game during his career.
Draymond Green
In retrospect, it seems utterly foolish that Green was only drafted 35th overall. Obviously, he was overlooked because he’s a 6’6’’ power forward. But he’s turned himself into a three-time all-star and an invaluable part of the Warriors winning three NBA championships.
Green is also a frequent member of the All-Defensive Team and won Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2017. His career is far from over and despite not being an elite scorer, he’s already one of the best players to ever come out of the second round.
Manu Ginobili
There’s no doubt that Ginobili is one of the winningest players ever drafted in the second round. The Spurs took a chance on him with the 57th pick in the 1999 Draft. All he did was help them win four championships while making two all-star teams. Even after his days as a starter were all but over, Ginobili was good enough to win Sixth Man of the Year honors.
His career numbers probably would have been more impressive if he didn’t have to defer to Tim Duncan and Tony Parker so much. Nevertheless, Ginobili was a winning player and it was undoubtedly a brilliant stroke of genius by the Spurs to draft him when they did.
Nikola Jokic
When all is said and done, there’s little doubt that Jokic will end up being the best player ever drafted in the second round. The Nuggets drafted him 41st overall in 2014 and by his third season, he averaged a double-double.
In a few short years, Jokic became a perennial all-star, and by winning MVP honors in 2021 at the age of 26, he solidified himself as a bonafide superstar and an absolute steal for the Nuggets.
Marc Gasol
Until Jokic gets a few more all-star caliber seasons under his belt, Gasol remains the best second-round pick in NBA history. Since being drafted 48th overall in 2007, he’s played at a high level for over a decade. Gasol has been an all-star three times and also won Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2013.
Even in his later years, Gasol has continued to be a useful role player, winning a championship with the Raptors in 2019, starting all 24 playoff games while putting the finishing touches on an impressive career.