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#3 Manu Ginobili, 57th pick in the 1999 NBA Draft
Manu Ginobili did not feature for the San Antonio Spurs immediately after he was selected as the 27th pick in the 1999 NBA Draft second round. Although he was dominant in Europe before entering the NBA Draft, franchises were still skeptical about how well he would perform in the NBA.
His partnership with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker turned the Spurs into a dynasty in the 2000s. They combined for four NBA Championships in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014. Kawhi Leonard also played a role in the 2014 championship, earning his first ring in his third season in the NBA.
The chances of getting this kind of value from the second-to-last pick in the draft are next to none. However, Ginobili showed that his run in Europe was not a fluke and can be replicated anywhere.
Ginobili, won the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award in 2008, made two All-Star appearances (2005 & 2011), and has his No. 20 jersey number retired by the Spurs. He is responsible for making the Euro Step popular.
#2 Dennis Rodman, 57th pick in the 1986 NBA Draft
Dennis Rodman was not given much consideration in the draft because of his size. But he is perhaps the greatest rebounder in NBA history. He is worthy of the title because of his size compared to those in the top 25 list.
Rodman was selected by the Detroit Pistons as the 27th pick in the second round of the 1986 NBA Draft. In what was one of the worst draft classes in the NBA, Rodman stood out and made a name for himself against all odds.
The ability to rebound the ball so well was not out of sheer luck for Rodman. He studied the spin of the ball and trajectory to anticipate where the ball will land. More often than not, he was correct, which saw him grab more boards than his bigger counterparts.
Although successful with the Pistons, he became a stronger force after he joined the Chicago Bulls dynasty. He won three of his five NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls (1996-1998). Added to that, he was the NBA's Defending Player of the Year in 1990 and 1991. For seven consecutive seasons, he led the league in rebounds (1992-1998).
#1 Kobe Bryant, 13th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft
While Kobe Bryant was not selected deep in the draft, his achievements for a 13th pick were phenomenal. He was selected by the Charlotte Hornets for the LA Lakers in the 1996 NBA Draft to complete a trade deal.
That move made the LA Lakers one of the powerhouses in the NBA, as Kobe was instrumental in bringing five NBA Championships to the Staples Center. He is considered one of the greatest to put on purple and gold.
Bryant's career highlights and awards are numerous to mention. However, he was recognized for his efforts both offensively and defensively. While leading the NBA in scoring in 2006 & 2007, he almost made the NBA All-Defensive First Team.
In his 20-year career with the Lakers, he made 18 All-Star appearances, won the NBA Finals MVP in 2009 & 2009, and was the regular-season MVP in 2008. Both jersey numbers (8 & 24) he used while at Lakers have been retired by the franchise.
