Every NBA team's greatest draft steal ever

It's hard to find All-Star talent outside of the first round, but that's what the Hawks did in 1983. Rivers quickly became a key contributor, and by his fifth year, he was named an All-Star. He enjoyed a productive 13 seasons in the league and in his eight campaigns with Atlanta, he averaged about 13 points and 7 assists a night.

A late-first-round pick, Rondo was quickly thrown into the fire as Boston's backup, and sometimes starting, point guard. He had the starting job by his second season, when he was a critical piece of the Celtics' 2008 championship run. He went on to earn four straight All-Star selections and lead the league in assists per game three times.

While Thomas played relatively limited minutes his first couple seasons, his per-36 stats were strong. That turned out to translate when he was given more opportunity starting in his third year, averaging 22 points a night that season. He has since remained a central piece of the Nets' offense.

In a 2018 draft that featured stars like Luka Dončić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Dončić, Bridges has quietly held his own as one of the class' most consistently good players. Over a three-season stretch, for example, he averaged 20 points and 7 rebounds per contest. His athletic play and versatility on defense, Bridges had ended up delivering strong value for a mid-round pick.

With the last pick in the first round, you don't expect star power, and for the first few years of Butler's career, the Bulls didn't get it. He gradually improved, though, and by his fourth season, he was an All-Star averaging 20 points a night. He has since bounced around the league a bit, bringing top-tier defense and clutch shot-making wherever he goes.

Aside from a career-closing year in Miami, Big Z was a Cavs lifer. Aside from a few extended stretches dealing with injuries, Ilgauskas was a picture of reliability. Over 12 seasons in Cleveland, he averaged about 14 points and 8 rebounds a game, and his defense helped him earn a couple of All-Star nods, too.

Howard hasn't necessarily remained in the collective basketball consciousness as one of the most-remembered players of his era. He was rock-solid, though, even being named an All-Star for the 2007 season. That was at the start of a three-year stretch where he averaged 19 points and 6 rebounds per game.

Jokić is likely the greatest steal in the history of the draft. Infamously, his selection was announced during a commercial break, while a Taco Bell ad played. Once he got on the court, he quickly improved and transformed himself into a multi-time MVP winner.

Rodman averaged over 10 points per game in exactly one season. It wasn't his offense that earned him a couple All-Star selections with the Pistons, however, but his defense and rebounding. In fact, there was a seven-season stretch where he led the league in boards per game, including in '92 and '93 when he averaged a wild 18 per night.

Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson get most of the attention and credit for powering the modern Warriors dynasty, though Green was a critical component too. The second-round pick delivers a well-rounded game, grabbing rebounds, handing out dimes, and playing lock-down D from the forward position.

Mobley was never an All-Star, but for a good stretch, he was about a rung below. From the '01-02 season, for instance, he collectively averaged over 20 points and 4 rebounds per game. Not bad for a second-round pick.

There was a moment when Granger, a mid-first-round pick, was emerging as a major star for the Pacers. From the 2008 to 2012 seasons, he averaged 21 points and 5 rebounds per contest, including the 2009 campaign where he had 25 a night and made the All-Star team. Unfortunately, injuries prevented him from achieving sustained success, but the peak was memorable nonetheless.

Jordan was a decent big for the Clippers over his first five seasons. After that, he blossomed into one of the league's most feared centers, particularly around the rim, where he was a supreme shot blocker. He earned an All-Star selection in 2017 and led the league in rebounding twice, in 2014 and '15.

Averages of 14 points and 6 assists per game over a 13-season career are great for anybody, but especially for a second-round pick like Van Exel. He was even named an All-Star once, in 1998. He gave the Lakers a boost at the right time as the franchise tried to find its way forward after the Magic Johnson era.

Technically, the Rockets picked Brooks, but he was a draft-night trade to Memphis. Either way, he cut his teeth as a fearsome defender with the Grizzlies, making an All-Defense team in 2023. He could put the ball in the bucket, too, averaging over 16 points per game for three straight seasons.

Another draft-night trade (Minnesota originally drafted him), Chalmers was thrown into the fire as Miami's starting point guard, where he provided playmaking consistency. He provided key support during the 2012 and 2013 championship seasons, too, delivering in high-pressure situations when the moment called for it.

You don't expect perennial MVP candidates (and two-time winners) outside of the first few picks. Giannis, though, was a raw prospect, but he ended up working out for Milwaukee in a major way. Aside from the MVPs, he also led the Bucks to a title in 2021.

When Minnesota took a swing on LaVine in the middle of the first round, he was a raw athlete with potential. He lived up to that potential, although it happened mostly after his time with the Timberwolves: From 2019 to 2025, he averaged about 25 points a game, quietly one of the league's most potent offensive forces.

A second-round pick is where teams can take a chance and hope for the best. It worked out pretty well with Jones, as he quickly became a starter for the team. That's thanks largely to his defensive abilities, which got him named First-Team All-Defense in 2024.

After an understated rookie season, Lee became a double-double guy as one of the league's best big men off the bench. Later, he became a 20-and-10 All-Star and even made an All-NBA team with the Warriors in 2013.

Ibaka, surprisingly, never made an All-Star team. His value for those threatening OKC teams of the 2010s was undeniable, though. He was a key part of deep playoff runs and during the regular season, he led the league in blocks per game twice.

It's tough for a six-foot player to succeed, which might be why Nelson fell to the late first round in the 2004 draft. He proved doubters wrong, though, becoming Orlando's consistent starting point guard for a decade. His personal apex came in 2009, when he made the All-Star game alongside teammates Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis.

From 1983 to 1987, Cheeks made an All-Defensive team for five straight years (he was on the first team for four of those). A second-round pick, he greatly outpaced expectations, earning four All-Star selections. He was also a key component of the title-winning 1983 Sixers team.

Finley is best remembered for his nine seasons in Dallas, but it actually all started in Phoenix. He didn't spend a lot of time in a Suns uniform, but he did prove to be valuable quickly, as he was part of the trade that brought Jason Kidd to Phoenix. Finley went on to regularly average 20 points per game and make a couple All-Star teams.

At 18 seasons spent in the league, few people have been in the NBA longer than Robinson, especially when you narrow it down to second-round picks like himself. Robinson was solid for a long time, averaging about 14 points and 5 rebounds a night over his career. At his peak, he was a Sixth Man Of The Year winner and an All-Star the next season.

It's hard to have a lot of faith in the literal last pick in the draft. 5'9" Thomas, though, quickly showed that he could be an impactful scorer, despite his size. He later averaged just under 29 points a game for the Celtics in 2017 and found himself on the fringes of the MVP conversation.

The Hall of Fame isn't home to a ton of second-round picks, let alone guys drafted in the 50s. Ginóbili is one of them, though. He spent 16 years with the Spurs, and the fact that he only made two All-Star teams during that time undersells his impact. He helped San Antonio win four titles and was one of the most clutch players in the NBA.

After a bit of a slow start to his career over his first two seasons, it started to click for Siakam. In his third year, he was named the Most Improved Player and was part of the Raptors' championship core. By the next season, he made his first All-Star team as a 20-a-game scorer.

In Utah, Millsap was routinely one of the league's most underrated players. When he found his way to Atlanta, he finally started getting the recognition he deserved, making the All-Star team in each of his four seasons with the team. Offering a combination of offense, defense, and consistency, Millsap was quietly one of the best players of the 2010s.

They don't make 'em much bigger than Mureșan, who stands at an imposing 7'7". Guys his size tend to have short, injury-riddled careers, and ultimately, that was Gheorghe's fate. But, there was a stretch in the '90s when he was able to consistently stay on the floor, and during this time, he was tough to get a shot off over and he won a Most Improved Player award.