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The greatest players in NBA history were normally high NBA Draft picks. However, that does not mean that players picked outside of the top spots have not been successful in the league as even undrafted players have become legends of the league.
High draft picks usually command the most attention on draft night and during their rookie year, whether it is for good performances or struggles. Some of the greatest players in NBA history, like Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, and Magic Johnson, were Top five picks of their respective NBA Draft classes.
Top five players in NBA history that were selected out of the Top 10 in their NBA Draft classes
In the 2020-21 NBA season, we saw Nikola Jokic, a former second-round pick, win the NBA MVP award and become the lowest pick to win the award (41st). Moreover, the reigning Finals MVP winner, Giannis Antetokounmpo, was not a Top 10 pick in his draft.
While the top picks dominate throughout NBA history in terms of MVPs, being a low pick is not indicative of a bad future in the league.
In this article, however, we will focus on NBA legends who were not selected in the Top 10 of their respective draft nights.
Without further ado, let us start.
#5 Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard was the 15th pick of the 2011 NBA Draft, and the team that selected him (Indiana Pacers) sent him to the San Antonio Spurs. With the Spurs, Leonard kept evolving his basketball skills and became a superstar with the team.
He won one NBA championship with the Spurs and took home the Finals MVP trophy.
Leonard also won two Defensive Player of the Year awards with San Antonio before delivering an NBA championship to the Toronto Raptors in 2019, again winning Finals MVP.
He's been an All-Star five times and has been a member of five All-NBA teams and seven All-Defensive teams in his career.
#4 Karl Malone
Karl Malone had an illustrious career, even though he was unable to win an NBA championship. 'The Mailman' was the 13th selection in the 1985 NBA Draft and went on to become a Utah Jazz and NBA legend.
Malone won two NBA MVPs in his 19-year career. He also earned 14 All-Star spots, 14 All-NBA selections, four All-Defensive selections and a couple of All-Star MVPs.
He is second on the all-time scoring list, having scored 36,928 points in his regular-season career.
#3 Giannis Antetokounmpo
The reigning NBA Finals MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, was the 15th pick of the 2013 NBA Draft and has come a long way with the Milwaukee Bucks. The 'Greek Freak' is one of the greatest players in today's NBA and his exploits on the basketball court are starting to make him one of the greatest players ever seen in the league.
The Milwaukee Bucks' superstar has taken home two NBA MVP awards, a Defensive Player of the Year trophy and an All-Star MVP. On top of being an NBA champion and Finals MVP, Antetokoumpo is a five-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA player, and four-time All-Defensive player.
He's also won the Most Improved Player and is only 26 years old.
#2 Julius Erving
Julius 'Dr. J' Erving was the 12th pick of the 1972 NBA Draft, making him a second-rounder back then. The Milwaukee Bucks, who had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson on their roster, selected Erving after his first year in the ABA.
A legal dispute involving the Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee and the ABA's Virginia Squires ended with Erving, the dunk artist, staying in the ABA for four more years before playing in the NBA.
In the NBA, Erving won an MVP award, one championship, and went to the All-Star Game in each of his 11 NBA seasons (all with the Philadelphia 76ers). Erving averaged 22 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game in his NBA career and definitely became a basketball legend.
#1 Kobe Bryant
The late great Kobe Bryant was selected 13th in the 1996 NBA Draft and he turned out to be the undisputed best player of said class, which was one of the best ever. Bryant became a sports legend for the 20-year career he carved out with the LA Lakers and his greatness on the court.
He won five NBA championships, two Finals MVP awards, one regular-season MVP and earned 18 All-Stars, 15 All-NBA and 12 All-Defensive selections.
A Top five player in league history for many, Bryant also won two scoring titles and a joint-record four All-Star MVPs (tied with Bob Pettit).
Also read: NBA Draft 2021 Results: Winners and Losers
