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With the 40th pick of the 2010 draft, the Indiana Pacers select… Lance Stephenson
Lance Stephenson
Wait a moment! We have one more 40th pick in our list?
Despite making a name for himself as one of the greatest High School players ever, Stephenson’s reputation took a hit in college to various controversies, and NBA teams passed over him fearing chemistry and personality issues. The Pacers took a chance on him in the Second Round in 2010 (after picking Paul George in the First Round) and he bubbled quietly under the radar for several years. But now, an explosive breakout season has made Stephenson into one of the most improved players in the league this season and a regular starter for the East’s best Pacers. After suffering a dip in his career, it seems that Stephenson is ready to rise again.
With the 45th pick of the 2008 draft, the San Antonio Spurs select… Goran Dragic
The Spurs have always been one step ahead when it comes to scouting international talents, and they made the right choice when they selected Dragic 45 in 2008 after the Slovenian point guard had already enjoyed a pro career in his home country and Spain. But the Spurs made the mistake of trading his draft rights to the Suns, where Dragic became the understudy to Steve Nash. Dragic was sent to the Rockets a few years later and then bounced back to Phoenix, where now, he has developed into one of the most exciting guards in the league and is sure to make one of the All NBA teams this season. Averaging career highs across the board, Dragic has the surprising Suns fighting for a playoff spot.
With the 47th pick of the 2003 draft, the Utah Jazz select… Mo Williams
Mo Williams might be one of the most unexpected All Star players in NBA history when he was rewarded in 2009 for being the second-best player in the league-best Cleveland Cavaliers. Although he never blossomed into a superstar talent, Williams enjoyed some good years with the Bucks, Cavs, and Clippers. He’s now a steady backup for the Portland Trailblazers.
Paul Millsap
With the 47th pick of the 2006 draft, the Utah Jazz select… Paul Millsap
Another player whose value fell victim to his ‘unconventional’ size, Millsap was considered too small to play power forward but too slow to be at the perimeter. The Jazz picked him to play backup to Boozer in 2007, where he showed great potential as a rookie and quickly blossomed to a solid starter. Millsap signed with the Hawks before this season and has enjoyed the best stretch of his career since, averaging career-best scoring numbers and made the All Star team for the first time.
With the 48th pick of the 2007 draft, the Los Angeles Lakers select… Marc Gasol
The ‘Gasol’ name came with great responsibilities for Marc, trying to follow elder brother Pau who was already one of the NBA’s top big men. But not showing the same early potential as his brother, Marc fell to the Lakers at 48th pick in 2007, but didn’t join the team. Ironically, his draft rights were traded to the Grizzlies for his own brother a few months later. Pau helped the Lakers win two championships. Marc, meanwhile, slowly made the leap to become a solid starter. By 2013, he overtook his brother, becoming the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year and making the All NBA Second Team. Now, Marc is helping to lead Memphis back to the playoffs and is still one of the most reliable Centers in the league.
Marc Gasol
With the 56th pick of the 2002 draft, the San Antonio Spurs select… Luis Scola
Although the Spurs picked the Argentine big man in 2002, he didn’t join the NBA for another five years. By then, the Spurs had already traded his draft rights to Houston, and the big man instantly made his presence felt. After his dominating performances in Spain, maybe we should’ve seen this coming. Scola was named to the NBA All Rookie First Team in his first season and became a nightly low-post threat, peaking with a career-high 18.5 points per game in 2011. Scola played for the Suns for one season and is now part of the Pacers’ bench mob helping to lead the team to a title.
With the 57th pick of the 1999 draft, the San Antonio Spurs select… Manu Ginobili
And yes, it’s the Spurs again, picking up an unnoticed international player deep into the second round. But this time, they didn’t let him go, and he has rewarded them back with a Hall of Fame career. After being drafted 57th in 1999, the Argentine Ginobili finished his pro career in Italy before joining the Spurs in 2002. Ever since then, he has partnered with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker to win three championships and carry his team to four Finals. Ginobili has been a two-time All Star, a sixth man of the year, and was named twice to the All NBA third team. No greater player has fallen this low in the draft since then, perhaps a sign that NBA scouts have become smarter and don’t want to miss talents like him again.
Guess the Lakers players!
