Being drafted in the second round of the NBA draft is a far more challenging path than being a lottery pick or a first-round pick.
There’s no guaranteed money, contract length, or success when you get picked after the first round. One has to prove himself right away to stay in the line-up or get into the rotation. But being picked in the second round doesn’t mean that you can make it in the NBA.
A lot of second-round picks have enjoyed very successful NBA careers. And then some rose above the label and became NBA stars.
Let’s take a look at the best second-round picks in the NBA since 1985:
There are a lot of second-round picks before and after him, that had and have better averages than him. But considering that this 5-9 guard was the 60th and the last pick of the 2011 NBA draft, what Isaiah Thomas has done is exceptional.
After playing for the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns, Thomas was traded to the Boston Celtics where he had the best two seasons of his career. Thomas was named an All-Star in 2016 and 2017. He was also named to the All-NBA 3rd team in 2017 where he led the Boston Celtics to the best record in the Eastern Conference.
Thomas currently plays for the Washington Wizards and he averaged 12.2 points and 3.7 assists per game during the 2019-20 season.
The book is not yet closed on Nikola Jokic. It’s just begun. The Joker was the 41st overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets but the seven-footer only joined the NBA in 2015 after playing out his contract with Mega Basket in Serbia’s professional basketball league.
Jokic had a good rookie season where he averaged 10.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. He was named to the All-Rookie first team in 2016 and finished third in the Rookie of the Year balloting. He was just getting started. Jokic nearly put up a double-double season the following year. He averaged 16.7 points and 9.8 rebounds while also dishing off 4.9 assists per game.
Then last season, he established himself as one of the NBA’s best centers by putting up career highs across all major stats. Jokic averaged 20.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He has been an All-Star in the last two seasons and was an All-NBA First-team selection in 2019.
The price was right with Mark Price. The Cleveland Cavaliers picked the diminutive Price with the 25th pick overall of the 1986 NBA draft and he went on to become the team’s floor general and one of the best shooters in the history of the NBA.
Price was the second player after Larry Bird and one of 8 players in NBA history to join the 50-40-90 shooting club. He won the NBA’s Three-Point Contest in 1993 and 1994 and was a four-time NBA All-Star. His peak came during the 1992-93 season where Price was named to the All-NBA First team.
He was also a three-time All-NBA third-team selection and he played for the U.S. Men’s basketball team which won the gold medal in the 1994 FIBA World Championship. Price was known in the NBA for his ability to split the double-team. He was the Cavs’ all-time assists leader before LeBron James overtook him.
Gilbert Arenas was one of the most explosive scorers in the NBA during the 2000s decade. He was the Golden State Warriors’ second-round pick in 2001 and played two seasons with the Dubs. However, his career took off when he signed with the Washington Wizards in 2003.
After winning the Most Improved Player award during his second year with Golden State, Arenas became an All-Star from 2005-07. He had four 20-point seasons with the Wizards. Including a career-high 29.3 points per game during the 2005-06 season. But after a 2009 incident where he was found to have stored a loaded gun in his locker room at the Verizon Center, things went downhill for Arenas.
Arenas was named to the All-NBA 2nd team in 2007 and also to the All-NBA 3rd team in 2005 and 2006. He played in China during the 2012-13 season and averaged 24.9 points,7.9 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game for the Shanghai Sharks. Arenas retired with a career scoring average of 17.1 points per game.
Paul Millsap was the Utah Jazz’s second-round pick in 2006 and he was a bet to steal Rookie of the Year honors. Brandon Roy won the award but Millsap led all rookies in double-doubles with six and he was named to the All-Rookie 2nd team. He was a solid player in Utah but his career took off when he transferred to the Atlanta Hawks.
He made the All-Star team during his first season with the Hawks. Millsap also made the All-Star team in the next three seasons. In 2016, he was named to the All-Defensive 2nd team. Millsap then signed with the Denver Nuggets in 2017 but he’s battled an assortment of injuries in Mile High.
Millsap played only 38 games in 2018 and only 44 games during the 2019-20 season. He averaged 12.0 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Nuggets during the current campaign. Although his role has diminished, he is still expected to be a big factor, especially if the season resumes and the Nuggets hit the postseason.
The Golden State Warriors ascent during the latter part of the 2010s decade is attributed to their sweet-shooting duo called the Splash Brothers. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson broke one three-point record after another during the Dubs’ run to the 2015 title. Then Kevin Durant joined the team in 2017 and they won back to back titles.
However, there is a fourth All-Star in the Bay Area and he is often overlooked. Draymond Green was Golden State’s 35th pick in 2012 and he has been the swiss knife of the team. His ability to do multiple things on the floor has made him a valuable piece of the Warriors’ puzzle.
Green was named to the All-Star team from 2016-18 and he made the All-Defensive first team from 2015-17 and the defensive second team from 2018-19. He led the NBA in steals in 2017 and he was also named as the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year that season. Green was also an All-NBA selection in 2016 and 2017.
The Croatian sensation was one of the key members of the Chicago Bulls’ dynasty team during the 1990s. Kukoc was selected 29th overall by the Bulls during the 1990 NBA draft but he joined the league only in 1993, after winning three Euroleague Final Four MVP awards.
He was plug and play with the Bulls and came off the bench. He won NBA Sixth Man of the Year award in 1996 and helped the team win three straight NBA titles from 1996-98. Kukoc was the Bulls’ third-leading scorer behind Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen and he played for the team until 2000.
He played for three more NBA teams before he retired. Kukoc currently works as an advisor for Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf. Kukoc was inducted to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2017.
Pau Gasol’s younger brother was drafted 57th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1999 and was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies for his brother. Pau was the Grizzlies’ first superstar but Marc became a part of the Grit and Grind era where the Grizzlies became a consistent playoff team.
Gasol was named to the All-Stat squad three times. He was the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 and was named to the All-NBA first team in 2015. By 2016, Gasol was one of the top centers in the league with his ability to score, defend, and pass. Together with Zach Randolph, Mike Conley, and Tony Allen, he led the Grizzlies to six playoff appearances.
He was traded to the Toronto Raptors in 2019 and he helped the team win the 2019 NBA title. Gasol also helped Spain win two silver medals in the Olympics and two gold medals at the World Cup.
Dennis Rodman is one of the best rebounders in the history of the NBA. His knack for getting to the loose ball is unprecedented. His desire to get the rebound is unmatched and his dedication to defense is unparalleled.
Before he became the demolition man with multiple hair colors, he was a small-town guy drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the 1986 draft. He joined a physical team led by Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn and his ability to play lockdown defense made him an instant fit with the Bad Boys. Rodman helped the Pistons win back to back NBA titles in1989 and 1990. He added three more rings with the Chicago Bulls.
Rodman was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year winner and a seven-time member of the All-Defensive First team. He led the league in rebounding for seven straight seasons from 1992-98. Although his controversial personality and personal life often precede him, there is no doubt that Dennis Rodman is one of the best second-round picks in the history of the NBA.
Manu Ginobili had one of the most successful NBA careers of any player from Europe. He is only one of two players in the history of basketball to win a Euroleague title, NBA championship, and Olympic gold medal. He played in a total of 23 professional basketball seasons in Europe and the NBA. He played his entire career for the San Antonio Spurs.
Ginobili helped the Spurs win four NBA titles. He teamed up with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker to form one of the most consistent NBA teams ever. When he joined the Spurs, he was already a decorated professional basketball player, winning MVPs and titles in Italy and the Euroleague.
Manu was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year winner in 2008 and he was named to the All-NBA 3rd team twice. Ginobili was also selected to play in two All-Star teams and he helped Argentina win the gold medal in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
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