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Securing the top pick in the NBA draft can change the fortunes of franchises, as there is a greater chance of selecting a superstar. However, some second-round picks have proved to be just as efficient, if not more, in helping teams compete in the league.
Although some of these talents are unrecognized when they make it to the NBA draft, a few have made sure they are remembered through exceptional performances. Amazing talents like Goran Dragic, DeAndre Jordan and Malcolm Brogdon are products of second-round picks that deserve an honorable mention despite not making the top ten.
Throughout history, more attention has been paid to first-round picks. Although most of them have lived up to the billing, the orders were mediocre at best. Regardless, the achievements of some second-round picks are just as impressive as those in the first round.
On that note, here are the top ten second-round draft picks in NBA history.
#10 Lou Williams
Although Lou Williams is not one of the most explosive guards in the NBA, his place on this list is well-deserved because of how impactful he has been in the NBA. He was selected as the 45th overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2005 NBA draft.
Lou's career did not get off to a flying start as he was used sparingly in his rookie season. However, things picked up for the guard despite coming off the bench. He finished the 2011-12 season as the 76ers scoring leader and was the runner-up for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award behind James Harden.
He is tied with Jamal Crawford for most sixth man awards in the NBA. Lou first won the award in 2015 with the Toronto Raptors, before a back-to-back win in his time with the Los Angeles Clippers (2018 & 2019).
#9 Khris Middleton
Khris Middleton was the anchor who held the Milwaukee Bucks together before the advent of Giannis Antetokuonmpo. He was selected by the Detroit Pistons as the 39th overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft.
The Detroit Pistons shipped him off as part of a trade deal with the Bucks in 2013, where he has since played in the NBA. His partnership with Giannis has brought relative success to the franchise, although they are yet to win a championship.
Middleton is not the face of the Bucks and has never been. However, he has been crucial to their successes over the years. He finished the regular season as the team's second-best scorer behind Giannis. Middleton is currently fighting to advance to the NBA playoffs Eastern Conference Finals.
#8 Trevor Ariza
The New York Knicks selected Trevor Ariza in the second-round as the 43rd overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft. Although not one of the best scorers, he was a menace on the defensive end. His efforts helped secure the 2009 NBA championship for the LA Lakers.
Ariza currently plays for the Miami Heat after being bounced around by nine different teams in the NBA. He is currently ranked sixth in the NBA's all-time steal percentage standings with .252.
#7 Marc Gasol
Unlike his brother, Pau, Marc Gasol was selected by the LA Lakers as the 48th overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft. Before the NBA, Marc played in Spain from 2003 for FC Barcelona and CB Girona.
Although Gasol has a championship in his time with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, his greatest achievement might be holding Joel Embiid scoreless in the 101-96 Raptors victory over the 76ers on November 25, 2019.
Marc has made three All-Star appearances in his illustrious career and won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award in 2013.
#6 Danny Green
Perhaps the most surprising feature on this list, Danny Green, has shot his way to three NBA championships with three different franchises. He was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the 46th overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft.
Green is well-known in the NBA for his resilient defending and ability to shoot the ball from beyond the arc. Of his twelve seasons in the NBA, he has shot over 40% from the three-point range in eight.
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#5 Draymond Green
Draymond Green was selected by the Golden State Warriors as the 35th pick in the 2012 NBA draft and has since proved invaluable to the team.
Draymond is on the top five list of active players with the highest basketball IQ. His reading and understanding of the game has helped the Warriors to three NBA championships from 2015 to 2018.
Coupled with three championships, the big man has also won several individual awards in the NBA. In 2017, he was the NBA Defensive Player of the Year and also led the league in steals.
#4 Toni Kukoc
Toni Kukoc played overseas for a while before enlisting in the NBA draft. He was the 29th pick in the 1990 NBA draft and joined the formidable Chicago Bulls dynasty.
Despite being drafted in 1990, Kukoc reported to the Bulls in 1993 after the team won their first three-peat. However, the Croatian had his chance to play alongside Michael Jordan as the Bulls won the NBA Finals in 1996, 1997, and 1998.
Kukoc was also one of the best sixth man in the league, winning the award in 1996 after he was kept off the starting lineup following Michael Jordan's return.
#3 Dennis Rodman
Dennis Rodman was drafted by the Detroit Pistons as the 27th pick in the 1986 NBA draft. He joined the physically dominating Pistons team that were popular for their hard-nosed approach to the game.
Rodman's efforts on defense helped the Pistons to back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990. His efforts did not go unnoticed when he was voted into the NBA All-Defensive First team in 1989. Rodman went on to win the Defensive Player of the Year award in 1990.
Meanwhile, he finished his NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks in 2000, winning several individual titles. His partnership with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls brought his NBA championship titles to five, while he also led the league in rebounds on seven occasions.
#2 Manu Ginobili
Manu Ginobili played in leagues in Argentina and Italy before joining the NBA in 2002. He was selected by the San Antonio Spurs as the 57th overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft.
In his first season with the Spurs, he was a valuable member of Gregg Popovich's playoffs team as he was the backup guard for Steve Smith. The Spurs went ahead to win the championship after defeating the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA Finals.
Ginobili's championship in his first year was the start of an era for the Spurs as he led them to 2005, 2007, and 2014 championships. He also finished his career with several individual awards, including Sixth Man of the Year in 2008 and two NBA All-Star appearances.
#1 Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic jumped to the top of the list after achieving what no other second-round pick could despite several other accolades they have gathered. Jokic played in all 72 games for the Denver Nuggets in the 2020-21 NBA regular season and was impactful in every single one of them.
Jokic is the only second-round pick to have won the prestigious NBA MVP award. He did so with an average of 26.4 points, 8.3 assists and 10.8 rebounds. Jokic was selected by the Denver Nuggets as the 41st pick in the 2014 NBA draft.
The Nuggets big man has carried the team without the contributions of Jamal Murray, who is sidelined due to injury. The Nuggets are currently facing off against the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 NBA playoffs Western Conference Semifinals.
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