Manu Ginobili went 57th in the 1999 NBA draft out of Argentina. He was the first non-NCAA pick in Spurs history, and, perhaps, a top 5 selection. He's become an
central part of the Spurs dynasty over the last 18 years, as well as being an All-Star, clutch late game scorer, and one of the best teammates anyone could ask
Drafted 28th in the 2001 NBA Draft out of France, Parker became the point guard of the future for the Spurs. Combined with Ginobili and Duncan, they'd go on to
win 5 championships together over the years. He'd also help turn the league into an international game helping to popularize the "euro-step". He's also one of the best point guards
Picked at number 60 in the 2nd round of the 2011 NBA Draft, Isaiah Thomas would bounce from Sacramento to the Phoenix Suns and finally to the Boston Celtics, where
he would become a star. Only 5'9, Isaiah is one of the shortest players and most explosive scorers in the league. In 2016, he had a breakout year, averaging 28.9
Green went at number 35 in the second round of the draft to the Golden State Warriors. He's never forgotten the slight. And after a Defensive Player of the Year
Joining his fellow "lob city" brother Blake Griffin in Los Angeles, this 35th pick of the draft has found his footing as a ferocious leaper, defender, and rebounder. He led
Detroit Pistons during the "Bad Boy" era, then with the Bulls second three-peat. He also became an immensely colorful character, crossdressing, gambling, and hanging out with then dictator-for-life Kim Jong Un
Taken number 18 out of tiny McNeese State, Joe Dumars formed the backcourt with Isiah Thomas that would cement the "Bad Boy" Detroit Pistons. He was essential to that squad, with
Going two spots after Kobe Bryant in that same '96 draft, Steve Nash would bounce around before he landed in Phoenix and became a two-time MVP and crystal ball holder
John Stockton was drafted at the 16th spot in the 1984 draft. Once teamed with Karl Malone, the hall-of-fame point guard would go on to become a dominant passer, logging
Picked at number 13 in the 1985 draft, Malone joined John Stockton and created one of the most potent pick-and-roll duos the league had ever seen. They were both part
The Portland Trail Blazers snatched Drexler at the 14th spot in the 1983 draft. An original member of Phi-Slamma-Jamma, Drexler would go on to be one of the best players
A serious scorer in the NBA who turned to coaching after he left the league, English went to eight All-Star games in his career. All that despite being the 23rd
Johnson was taken 29th overall by the Seattle Supersonics in the 1976 draft. A defensive specialist, he'd go on to be a key figure of those '80s Boston Celtics championship
The 19th pick in the second round of the 1970 draft, Nate "Tiny" Archibald became one of the most prolific scorers of his day. He'd eventually win a championship with
the Boston Celtics in 1981, but not before torching his opponents to the tune of 34 points a game in 1972, when he won the MVP award. He was inducted into
and Butler was forced to step into the spotlight, which he's done with aplomb. After the D. Rose injury, Butler worked himself into becoming one of the best two-way players
Mo Cheeks was the 36th pick in the second round in 1976 and he never looked back. He became a perennial All-Star in the league, won a championship alongside Julius
Leonard went 15th in the 2011 draft to the Indiana Pacers who promptly shipped him to the Spurs. He's become, arguably, the best two-way player in the NBA and looked
to be taking his game to another level before the injury bug found him in the playoffs last year. His nickname is literally "the claw" because he's such a great
Picked at number 43 in the 2000 NBA draft, Michael Redd was largely an after-thought. Well, that after-thought became a consistent All-Star who scored 23.5 points-a-game in his first 8
Proof that slow but steady wins the race, Millsap was selected at number 46 overall in the second round of the 2006 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz. He's slowly
gotten better over time, becoming a consistent 14-15 point scorer in the league. He's a true power forward, a rarity these days, and anchored those recent Atlanta squads through some
In 1998, when Lewis went in the second round and became the 32nd pick overall, he was an unknown quantity. A 6'10, fluid scorer who could effectively shoot the 3,
Lewis slipped on draft day because teams didn't know what to make of him. In today's game, he'd be a superstar. One of those guys you see out there moving
gracefully around the floor — all limbs. But he still had a badass career, becoming one of the best inside-out players in the league. Did we mention he jumped straight
Perhaps the ultimate embodiment of this list, Starks went undrafted out of Oklahoma State University-Stillwater. He walked on to the Golden State Warriors, but eventually got cut and ended up
playing in backwater leagues like the Continental Basketball Association and World Basketball League. As fate would have it, though, Starks twisted his knee in a try-out for the New York
Knicks trying to dunk on Patrick Ewing. The Knicks couldn't release him until he was healed, and he ended up hanging on, eventually becoming a starter with those tough-as-nails Knicks
The floor general of the great Cleveland Cavalier teams of the '80s and '90s, Mark Price was thought too small and too slow for the NBA. The overall 25th pick
in the 1986 draft, who thought then that we were looking at the future of scoring guards in the league. He shot the lights out, becoming one of the few
Marc Gasol has become the cornerstone of the Memphis Grizzlies franchise over the years, and he was taken as the 48th pick in the 2007 NBA draft. He does it
Arenas never expected to play a single minute his freshman year at the University of Arizona, which is why he famously chose the number zero. "Agent Zero," however, would eventually
go on a legendary run with the Washington Wizards, blossoming for a short time into one of the best shooting guards the league had ever seen. All this from a
Ben Wallace went to work. He could hardly do a single thing with the ball offensively, so instead he thrived in the NBA on hustle, effort, and guts. He, too,
went undrafted, and had to do the dirty work to make it, but instead of it hampering him, he relished his opportunity and became one of the best defensive players
of all time. He eventually went on solidify those Detroit Pistons teams of the early 2000s, winning a championship in 2004. He won defensive player of the year four times
should also think about defense. Peace won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2004, along with going to an All-Star game, and making the All-NBA second team. He's
Boozer went 35th in the 2002 draft to the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he used his large frame and deft moves to put up serious numbers. He's been an All Star
Monta Ellis fell to the Golden State Warriors as the 40th overall pick in the second round of the 2005 draft. He was a slashing, scoring swing man with seemingly
unlimited range and a mean handle that decided to forego college and skip right to the NBA. He won the Most Improved Player award in 2007 and seemed poised for
a long career with the rebuilding Dubs. Then they drafted Steph Curry. Now they had two players with similar skill sets occupying the same position. Ellis was too much of
the '86 draft. But sometimes hard work makes luck. He was a 20-point-per-game scorer on the Suns along with Kevin Johnson and Tom Chambers. And then he ended up going
to the team where he'd make his mark: the Utah Jazz. As the Jazz's second scoring option behind Karl Malone, Hornacek thrived. He was also an All Star, making the team
Cliff Robinson was a stretch-forward, a rarity in the NBA of the '90s. He's most famous for being the recipient of "the shrug", after Michael Jordan blazed Portland for six
Taken in the 3rd round by the Portland Trailblazers, Drazen Petrovich was a Euro-star before his time. He shot the lights out, and, before his death, was considered an budding
Nick "The Quick" Van Exel had to wait until pick number 37 in the second round to hear his name called by the Los Angeles Lakers. Regardless, Nick didn't disappoint.
In a rebuilding phase, he and a young Eddie Jones lit up scoreboards as the upstart Lakers played their hearts out. He made the All-Star team in 1998, but after
The Croatian superstar was a hot commodity in the mid-'90s NBA, but the Chicago Bulls nabbed him at the 29th spot in the second round in the 1990 draft. They'd
retired to play baseball. That year, with Scottie Pippen having an MVP-caliber season, Kukoc made waves. He won the Sixth Man of the Year award in 1994, and, of course,
The 45th pick of the 1990 NBA Draft, Antonio Davis worked his way to a starting role with the Indiana Pacers. His size and strength made him a perfect fit
Taken at number 17, Roy Hibbert was a force in the league from the moment he stepped on the court in Indiana. The two-time NBA All-Star helped take the Pacers
A fun part of the early '90s Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns, Cedric Ceballos was the 48th overall pick in the 1990 draft. He had two amazing seasons where
he put it all together, averaging over 21 points-per-game in 1995 and 1996. He made the All-Star team in '95, though he had to sit out due to injury. But
The 42nd overall pick in the 1997 draft by the Phoenix Suns didn't get a chance to play in the NBA until the 2000-2001 season with the New Jersey Nets.
He's bounced around quite a bit in his career, playing with the Spurs, Warriors, Hawks, Clippers, and more. He helped San Antonio win the NBA Championship in 2003, playing an
Long and athletic, Tayshaun Prince was drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the 23rd overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft. He helped the Pistons win a title in 2004 with
his suffocating defense and timely scoring. He was an intricate part of those playoff teams, and is responsible for what is, arguably, the most spectacular block in NBA playoff history
The 18th overall pick in the 2003 draft, David West has had nay-sayers his entire career. He's consistently proven them wrong. In New Orleans, with Chris Paul, he was a
There are obvious draft picks that end up being busts and there are guys people overlook that end up being superstars. That's why we roll the dice at the NBA draft and that's why people watch the spectacle, like staring down the black corridor of time. The NBA is a game of numbers, of course, but at the end of the day, after all that research and time, all you've got is your gut.
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