Greatest 2nd round draft steals in NBA history

In the NBA draft, the best players from college are always selected higher up on the draft ladder but in some cases, an unearthed gem doesn’t quite catch the attention of NBA franchises.

But which stars slipped through the radar of NBA scouts upon their respective draft nights?

Picked 27^th in the 1986 NBA draft, Dennis Rodman will go down as the greatest rebounder in NBA history and one of the biggest steals in draft history.

Hall of Famer Rodman went on to win five championships in his career, two with the ‘bad boy’ Detroit Pistons and three with Michael Jordan and co with the Chicago Bulls.

Green, who was picked 35^th in 2012 has been (and still is) the cornerstone of this generation's greatest team, the Golden State Warriors, winning four championships.

As well as four rings, the versatile forward has had four all-star selections, four all-defensive first-team selections, and won defensive player of the year in 2017.

Known for his explosive speed and late-game shot-making ability, Gilbert Arenas was arguably the biggest snub of the 2001 NBA draft after being picked up by Golden State with the 31^st pick.

It was with the Washington Wizards over a seven-year stretch where Arenas rose to superstar level. He achieved three all-star selections, and three all-NBA honors and averaged over 20 points in his career.

Selected as the 57^th pick in the 1999 NBA draft, Ginobili joined the San Antonio Spurs in 2002 and became a key player in the early part of the century winning four championships.

The man known for popularising the ‘Euro step’ is one of two players to win a Euro league, Olympic gold medal, and NBA title. Ginobili was awarded three all-star selections and inducted as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

After being picked 29^th in the second round of the NBA draft, Dennis Johnson became the missing piece for the Boston Celtics and was the glue to all the success in the eighties.

Johnson was an instant success, winning a championship and finals MVP only three years into the league with Seattle. He went on to win another two with the Celtics and was awarded five all-star selections.

Known for his defensive ability and ability to make tough shots, Maurice Cheeks was selected with the 36^th pick in the 1978 draft.

Cheeks was an integral part of the Philadelphia 76ers team that reached the finals three times in four years and helped win their only NBA title. He was a four-time all-defensive team and four-time all-star.

Gasol selected 48^th in the 2007 NBA draft, is regarded as one of the greatest European big men of all time.

In the NBA, the 6ft11 center was known for his defensive capabilities and his deadeye shooting range. He won defensive player of the year in 2013 and all-NBA honors in 2013 and 2015.

Selected as the 39^th pick in the 2012 NBA draft, it took Middleton a while before NBA teams saw the value in the now master of big-time shots.

It is with the Milwaukee Bucks where Middleton has risen to all-star level, after helping the Bucks to the 2021 NBA title.

With the level Nikola Jokic is playing at right now, it’s hard for people to believe that he was drafted with the 41^st pick in the 2014 NBA draft.

In the past two seasons, ‘the Joker’ has been voted back-to-back league MVPs and looks to be the greatest NBA second-round draft pick of all time.