Think you can fall asleep once the first round of the NBA Draft is over? Think again. It seems like every year, a player or two from the second round emerges into a solid NBA contributor, eventually developing into an All-Star caliber player. Here is a list of the Top 10 second round picks from the last 20 years. The criteria are simple: how good was the player or how good does the player project to be once his career is over? I also took into account whatever accolades the player won, be they All-Star appearances, All-NBA teams, even All-Defensive or Sixth Man awards. Special consideration was given to those players who were key players on championship squads. After all, that’s what it’s all about.
But first, a few Honorable Mentions:
Younger players who still could make the list: Mehmet Okur, Bobby Simmons, Carlos Boozer, Cuttino Mobley, Stephen Jackson, Ryan Gomes, Anderson Varejao, Zaza Pachulia, Maurice Williams, Earl Watson, Steve Blake, Chris Duhon
Older/Retired players who had solid NBA careers: Cliff Robinson, Cedric Ceballos, P.J. Brown, Antonio Davis, Steve Kerr, Vernon Maxwell
10. Rashard Lewis, 1998, drafted #32 (Seattle)
Career Averages: 16.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, .461 FG%
Lewis was drafted by the Sonics out of high school and quickly became one of the team’s best players, averaging 14 points or more each of the last six seasons and 20 points or more the last two years. In the 1998 draft, his hometown team (the Houston Rockets) passed on him three times, selecting instead Michael Dickerson, Bryce Drew and Mirsad Turckan. Ouch. In 2005, Lewis was named to his first All-Star Game. He is still just 27, so he could move up the list (or fall off) before his career is done.
Bonus points for…having a great three-point shot (38.6%) for a 6-10 player.
Negative points for…despite being 6-10, he doesn’t rebound very well, he has a questionable post up game and takes almost 30% of his shots from long range. Go inside, young man!
9. Nick Van Exel, 1993, #37 (L.A. Lakers)
Career Averages: 14.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 6.6 apg, .405 FG%
Along with Eddie Jones, Van Exel was the main reason for the Lakers’ resurgence in the post-Showtime era. Though his career shooting percentage is low, he was known as a clutch shooter, hitting numerous game-winning shots in his career, including the shot that gave the Lakers the win in their last appearance in the fabled Boston Garden. He was an All-Star in 1998 and was in the top 10 in assists five times in his career.
Bonus points for…standing off the free throw line when shooting foul shots.
Negative points for…that less-than-stellar shooting percentage.
