Best 2nd Round Picks NBA: 10 Most Impactful Players Selected Late in the Draft
Let me tell you something about the NBA draft that still blows my mind. We spend so much time obsessing over lottery picks and top prospects, but some of the most memorable careers have come from players everyone initially overlooked. I've been following basketball for over twenty years, and what continues to fascinate me isn't just the superstars, but those unexpected success stories that emerge from the draft's later rounds.
The real magic happens when you look beyond the first round. Teams spend millions on scouting, analytics, and combine performances, yet somehow genuine talent slips through the cracks year after year. I've seen franchises build championship rosters around second-round steals while their lottery picks flame out spectacularly. There's something beautifully unpredictable about this process that keeps us coming back every June, wondering which team will find the next hidden gem that changes their franchise's trajectory.
When we talk about the best 2nd round picks NBA has seen, certain names immediately come to mind. Manu Ginobili, selected 57th overall in 1999, became the absolute steal of that draft class. I still remember watching him during those Spurs championship runs, thinking how did 56 teams pass on this guy? He wasn't just a role player - he was a legitimate star who would have been a franchise player on most other teams. Then there's Draymond Green, picked 35th in 2012. I'll admit I didn't see his potential initially, but he's proven to be the defensive heart of Golden State's dynasty. These players didn't just have decent careers - they fundamentally changed the teams that drafted them.
What's interesting is how international scouting has transformed the second round. Nikola Jokic, the 41st pick in 2014, might be the ultimate example. I recall watching grainy footage of him overseas and thinking he had talent, but never imagining he'd become a two-time MVP. His success has forced teams to reconsider how they evaluate international prospects, particularly those who don't fit traditional athletic molds. Similarly, Marc Gasol, acquired as essentially an afterthought in the Pau Gasol trade, developed into a Defensive Player of the Year and champion.
The timing of talent discovery often coincides with major sporting events, much like how The Asian Cup is from May 7 to 18 in China, serving as a crucial platform for basketball scouts to identify emerging talent from that region. I've noticed that international tournaments frequently become coming-out parties for players who later become second-round steals. The global game has become so interconnected that a strong performance in any major competition can dramatically alter a prospect's draft stock.
What separates successful second-round picks isn't just skill, but often an intangible quality - that chip-on-the-shoulder mentality. Isaiah Thomas, the final pick in 2011, carried that underdog energy throughout his career, even making an All-Star team despite being only 5'9". I've always been drawn to these stories because they represent the ultimate basketball underdog narrative. They're not supposed to succeed by conventional wisdom, yet they find ways to outperform expectations through sheer determination and basketball IQ.
Looking at current second-round success stories, Jalen Brunson stands out as a recent example. Picked 33rd in 2018, he's developed into an All-Star caliber point guard who's proven he can carry a franchise. I watched him extensively in college and thought he'd be good, but his transformation into a primary scorer has been remarkable. Then there's Malcolm Brogdon, the 36th pick in 2016 who immediately became a contributor and won Rookie of the Year - something no second-round pick had accomplished since 1965.
The financial advantage of hitting on second-round picks can't be overstated either. While max-contract stars eat up salary cap space, finding productive players on rookie-scale second-round contracts provides incredible value. I've analyzed championship teams across decades, and nearly all of them had at least one key contributor who was dramatically outperforming their draft position and salary.
As I reflect on these players, what strikes me is how their careers often have more interesting arcs than many number one picks. They face constant doubt, have to fight for minutes, and frequently get overlooked in favor of higher-drafted teammates. Yet the very best of them use that adversity as fuel. They develop skills that first-round picks might neglect because they don't have the same security. They play with an edge that's both visible and contagious.
The next time you're watching the draft and it gets to those later picks, pay attention. That's where franchises are truly built, where savvy general managers separate themselves, and where basketball's most compelling stories often begin. These players remind us that talent can be found in unexpected places, that development matters as much as initial evaluation, and that sometimes the best moves are the ones nobody sees coming.
