More often than not, second-round draft picks commonly have an NBA career trajectory of spending a lot of time on the bench of a team or a short journeyman career. However, there are a handful of times when a second-round draft pick becomes a diamond in the rough by elevating into an All-Star or even a superstar.
In fact, throughout history, we've witnessed NBA franchises build around second-round draft picks. Let's take a look at 10 second-round draft picks that became franchise superstars.
Goran Dragic
Draft: 2008 2nd round, 45th overall pick by San Antonio Spurs
After the departure of Steve Nash, the Phoenix Suns needed someone to fill the void. What better way to give the keys to Nash's apprentice, Goran Dragic? The Suns tested Dragic as their main player from 2012-2014.
In the 2013-14 season, Dragic averaged 20.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game while leading them to a 48-34 record. However, after only two seasons, the Suns traded the All-Star guard to Miami.
Jerami Grant
Draft: 2nd round, 39th overall pick by Philadelphia 76ers
Breaking out with the Denver Nuggets in the 2019-20 season inside the NBA Bubble, the Pistons managed to pluck Jerami Grant away after offering him a lucrative deal. With the lowly Pistons, Grant easily stood out as their best player.
In fact, he averaged 22.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game in his first season to finish as the runner-up to the Most Improved Player of the Year Award race. However, with Grant at the helm, the Pistons only registered two 20+ win seasons.
Monta Ellis
Draft: 2nd round, 40th overall pick by Golden State Warriors
Before Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors relied on second-round NBA Draft pick Monta Ellis. But unlike the Warriors dynasty, the Ellis-led Warriors were either bottom feeders or borderline playoff contenders.
There's no doubt that Ellis had his best years in the NBA with the Warriors as the centerpiece of the offense. In fact, he was even crowned Most Improved Player of the Year in 2007. Unfortunately, the Warriors struggled to stay relevant in the NBA.
Gilbert Arenas
Draft: 2nd round, 31st overall pick by Golden State Warriors
Everyone remembers Gilbert Arenas for being the face of the dysfunctional Washington Wizards squad. Although Arenas emerged as one of the more dangerous scorers of the league, his shenanigans and antics often distracted the team's performance.
Despite this, the Wizards squad still decided to hand the keys to the controversial three-time All-Star. As a result, it isn't surprising that they had to endure several seasons of disappointment.
Isaiah Thomas
Draft: 2nd round, 60th overall pick by Sacramento Kings
Despite being undersized, Isaiah Thomas was difficult to stop during his peak. After making a positive impact for the Sacramento Kings and the Phoenix Suns, a trade to the Boston Celtics ultimately changed his career trajectory.
Thomas was given the keys to the Celtics offense, allowing him to become a two time All-Star and an All-NBA Team selection. In fact, he was even considered to be an MVP candidate after leading the Celtics to competitive campaigns before suffering a hip injury that started the decline of his career.
Marc Gasol
Draft: 2nd round, 48th overall pick by Los Angeles Lakers
Before winning an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors, Marc Gasol spent several seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies as their main anchor on defense. Moreover, Gasol was the face of the Grizzlies squad that had their best run as a franchise in the early 2010s.
With Gasol at the helm, the Grizzlies made several deep playoff runs and upsets against their Western Conference rivals. For his efforts, Gasol became a three-time All-Star and won the Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Alex English
Draft: 2nd round, 23rd overall pick by Milwaukee Bucks
After shining bright as a scorer for the Indiana Pacers, Alex English proved to everyone that he was a diamond in the rough with the Denver Nuggets. The eight-time All-Star even led the NBA in scoring at one point in his career. Furthermore, English spearheaded the Nuggets into elevating the franchise into a legitimate Western Conference contender.
Nate “Tiny” Archibald
Draft: 2nd round, 19th overall pick by the Cincinnati Royals
Despite entering the NBA as a second-round draft pick, Nate “Tiny” Archibald proved to be a star early on with the Cincinnati Royals. In fact, he once led the NBA in scoring and assists in the 1972-73 season, the only player in league history to lead both categories in the same season. Furthermore, Archibald also played a key role in helping the Celtics win the 1981 NBA title.
Willis Reed
Draft: 2nd round, 8th overall pick by New York Knicks
Despite getting selected in the second round of the NBA Draft, Willis Reed became a New York Knicks legend. He was the first second-round draft pick to win the NBA MVP award. Moreover, Reed also led New York to a pair of NBA championships with both times crowning him as the Finals MVP.
Nikola Jokic
Draft: 2nd round, 41st overall pick by the Denver Nuggets
The only other second-round NBA Draft pick to win the MVP award is Nikola Jokic. Jokic already has three to his name and was runner-up in MVP voting in 2023-24. But more importantly, Jokic also led the Nuggets to the franchise's first NBA championship, with him named as the Finals MVP. As a result, Jokic is arguably the best second-round draft pick in NBA history.