Nikola Jokic, Draymond Green headline best second round picks in NBA Draft history

Scott Rafferty

Nikola Jokic, Draymond Green headline best second round picks in NBA Draft history image

Every year, a lot of attention gets paid to the NBA Draft Lottery.

There's a good reason for that — the top prospects in the class are usually the ones who hear their name called early — but that doesn't mean there isn't talent to be found elsewhere in the draft.

The second round of the draft even has a rich history of producing quality role players, starters, All-Stars and, in one particular case since the merger, a multi-time MVP.

From Maurice Cheeks to Jalen Brunson, here are some notable second-round picks over the last 40-plus years.

MORE: Nikola Jokic, a Taco Bell commercial and rise to league MVP

Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets), Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors)
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Notable active 2nd-round NBA Draft picks

Lou Williams

  • Draft: 2005
  • Pick: 45

Williams is in the conversation for the greatest sixth man of all time. He won three Sixth Man of the Year awards in his career, tying him with Jamal Crawford for the most in NBA history.

P.J. Tucker

  • Draft: 2006
  • Pick: 35

There's a reason Tucker bounces from contender to contender. Not only has he established himself as a lockdown defender, but he's a capable 3-point shooter, connecting on 36.5 percent of his long-range attempts in his career.

Draymond Green

  • Draft: 2012
  • Pick: 35

One of the best and most impactful defenders of all time, Green has earned one Defensive Player of the Year award and seven All-Defensive selections in his career. He's played a key role in each of Golden State's four championships.

Khris Middleton

  • Draft: 2012
  • Pick: 39

Middleton is one of the smoothest scorers in the NBA today. He's been named an All-Star three times in his career and was Milwaukee's second-leading scorer in its championship run in 2021.

Nikola Jokic

  • Draft: 2014
  • Pick: 41

If he isn't already, Jokic will likely go down as the greatest second-round pick of all time when it's all said and done. Through eight seasons, he's already racked up five All-Star selections, four All-NBA selections and back-to-back MVP awards.

Malcolm Brogdon

  • Draft: 2016
  • Pick: 36

Brogdon made history as a rookie, becoming the lowest draft pick since the merger to win Rookie of the Year. He's averaged 18.4 points and 5.1 assists per game over the last two and a half seasons.

Jalen Brunson

  • Draft: 2018
  • Pick: 33

Brunson turned the best season of his career into a big deal with the Knicks. He's played at an All-Star level in his first year in New York, averaging 23.2 points and 6.2 assists per game.

Manu Ginóbili, Tim Duncan, Gregg Popovich y Tim Duncan

Notable all-time second-round NBA Draft picks

In addition to the likes of Jokic, Green and Middleton, Manu Ginobili was a second-round pick, as was three-time All-Star Gilbert Arenas and now nine-time champion Steve Kerr.

Notable second-round NBA Draft picks since merger (1976)
Player Draft Pick
Dennis Johnson 1976 29
Alex English 1976 23
Maurice Cheeks 1978 36
Rick Mahorn 1980 35
Danny Ainge 1981 31
Doc Rivers 1983 31
Jerome Kersey 1984 46
Mark Price 1986 25
Dennis Rodman 1986 27
Nate McMillan 1986 30
Jeff Hornacek 1986 46
Steve Kerr 1988 50
Clifford Robinson 1989 36
Toni Kukoc 1990 29
Antonio Davis 1990 45
P.J. Brown 1992 29
Nick Van Exel 1993 37
Stephen Jackson 1997 42
Rashard Lewis 1998 32
Manu Ginobili 1999 57
Michael Redd 2000 43
Gilbert Arenas 2001 31
Carlos Boozer 2002 35
Mo Williams 2003 47
Kyle Korver 2003 51
Trevor Ariza 2004 43
Lou Williams 2005 45
P.J. Tucker 2006 35
Paul Millsap 2006 47
Marc Gasol 2007 48
DeAndre Jordan 2008 35
Goran Dragic 2008 45
Patrick Beverley 2009 42
Danny Green 2009 46
Patty Mills 2009 55
Hassan Whiteside 2010 33
Isaiah Thomas 2011 60
Jae Crowder 2012 34
Draymond Green 2012 35
Khris Middleton 2012 39
Jerami Grant 2014 39
Nikola Jokic 2014 41
Montrezl Harrell 2015 32
Norman Powell 2015 46
Malcolm Brogdon 2016 36
Dillon Brooks 2017 45
Jalen Brunson 2018 33

Scott Rafferty

Scott Rafferty Photo

 

Scott Rafferty is an experienced NBA journalist who first started writing for The Sporting News in 2017. There are few things he appreciates more than a Nikola Jokic no-look pass, Klay Thompson heat check or Giannis Antetokounmpo eurostep. He's a member of the NBA Global team.