In the NBA Draft, you don’t need a first-round pick to find a potential franchise-changing player. Some of the most influential draft picks have been drafted with second round picks.
Everyone is obsessed with the NBA Draft Lottery and early first round picks. But if the team is smart and lucky, they can find value in any of the 60 recent NBA draft slots. This includes Hall-of-Famers, legendary leaders, and transformational offensive and defensive linemen.
Here are the top five second-round picks in NBA draft history:
5. Manu Ginobili
The Argentine, who is a member of the 2022 NBA Hall of Fame Class, has had a long and successful career. Drafted with the 57th overall pick in the second round, Ginobili spent his first three outsiders even after being drafted. But once he arrived with Tottenham, he made his presence felt.
It didn’t take long for the left shooting guard to acclimate to the NBA’s style of play. Once in the NBA in 2002, he earned All-Rookie Second Team honors. He played a prominent role in the Spurs’ run to the 2003 NBA Championship. Little did we know that this was only the beginning for Ginobili and the Spurs.
He became an All-Star for the first time in only his third season with the Spurs. In the same year, Tottenham won another championship. After winning two championships in their first three seasons in the NBA, the Spurs went on to enjoy one of the most dominant eras in NBA history. They had a streak of 18 consecutive 50-win seasons, which set an NBA record.
Manu Ginobili and the Spurs went on to win two more titles, ending his career as a four-time NBA Champion. Ginóbili continued to improve as his career went on, earning two All-NBA Third Team honors.
Ginobili was also the team’s ultimate player who was willing to make sacrifices if it meant helping the team win. Not only did he accept a bench role with Tottenham, he thrived in it. He was awarded the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award for his efforts in the 2007-08 season.
Throughout his illustrious 16-year career, Manu Ginóbili averaged 13.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. He has been a key part of one of the most historically dominant teams in the history of American professional sports, making Ginóbili an easy addition to this list.