So, I was thinking, what are some of the best second-round picks in the NBA? I mean, we always talk about the first-rounders, the top prospects, but some real gems have been found in the second round. So I started digging.
First, I made a list of all the second-round picks since 1989 – that’s when they switched to the two-round format. I figured that’s a good starting point. Then I filtered out the ones who made at least one All-Star game. Turns out, there are 21 of them! Pretty cool, right?
Next, I wanted to see who among them had won some serious hardware. I checked for MVPs, Finals MVPs, and championships. Nikola Jokic, that guy’s a beast. He’s done it all – MVP, Finals MVP, and a championship. A true second-round steal!
- Looked up all second-round picks since 1989.
- Filtered by All-Star appearances.
- Searched for MVPs, Finals MVPs, and champions.
- Compiled a list of notable second-rounders.
Then I got curious about the odds. Like, what are the chances of a second-round pick actually becoming a decent player? From what I found, it’s less than a one-in-three shot that they even become a “below-average role player.” That’s rough. It really shows how impressive it is when a team finds a star in the second round.
I also stumbled upon some names from more recent drafts. Malcolm Brogdon, drafted in 2016, caught my eye. It might be a bit early to say for sure, but he seems like he could be one of the greats. Time will tell.
My Main Takeaways
Finding a star in the second round is like finding a needle in a haystack. But when teams do, it’s amazing. Jokic is the perfect example. He proves that you don’t have to be a top pick to become one of the best in the league. I’ll definitely be paying more attention to the second round in future drafts. You never know who might surprise us!
