NBA Draft: the 15 biggest steals in history

The NBA Draft is where every franchise builds its future, but the league’s best talent isn’t always selected at the top of the board. Throughout NBA history, several players drafted well outside the lottery – and often even in the second round – have become true Draft steals, earning All-Star, All-NBA honors and playing key roles on championship teams.

While no NBA MVP had ever been selected in the second round until Nikola Jokic, many players taken after the 20th overall pick have won awards such as Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Most Improved Player, or established themselves as essential pieces on title contenders.

In this ranking, we take a look at the 15 greatest NBA Draft steals of all time, focusing on the players who exceeded every expectation and left a lasting mark on league history. To qualify as a true Draft steal, a player must have been selected 20th or later, where the margin for error grows and identifying a future superstar becomes significantly more difficult.

15. Serge Ibaka (2008 NBA Draft – 24th pick)

Selected by the Seattle Supersonics in 2008, Ibaka saw the franchise relocate to Oklahoma City just six days later. He entered the NBA as a raw prospect but developed rapidly with the Thunder, joining a roster loaded with young stars such as Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. That core reached the 2012 NBA Finals, where it ultimately fell to the Miami Heat’s Big Three.

Although he never fully reached the superstar trajectory many envisioned early in his career, the Congo-born, Spain-naturalized forward remained an impactful player, helping the Toronto Raptors win the 2019 NBA championship. He later moved to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2020 and then to the Milwaukee Bucks, but recurring injuries prevented him from matching the impact he had in Toronto before eventually returning to Europe.

14. Danny Green (2009 NBA Draft – 46th pick)

If we’re talking about the ultimate role player, Danny Green is the perfect example. He won three NBA championships: first with the San Antonio Spurs‘ Big Four in 2014, then with the resilient 2018-19 Toronto Raptors, and finally with the LeBron James-Anthony Davis Lakers in 2020.

Despite often being limited to spot-up shooting and perimeter defense, Green consistently played a crucial role for his teams. His biggest moments always came on the biggest stage, as evidenced by the 27 three-pointers he knocked down during the 2014 NBA Finals – the second-highest total in Finals history. And he was drafted 46th?

13. Khris Middleton (2012 NBA Draft – 39th pick)

Drafted by the Detroit Pistons and assigned to the D-League, Middleton was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks the following year, where his climb toward stardom began. After establishing himself as the perfect second option alongside a certain Greek superstar, he earned his first All-Star selection in 2019.

His combination of elite shooting and strong defense made him one of the league’s premier 3-and-D players, narrowly missing membership in the exclusive 50-40-90 club. More All-Star appearances followed, along with an NBA championship with Milwaukee in 2021.

12. Kyle Lowry (2006 NBA Draft – 24th pick)

Lowry was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies, where he spent the first years of his NBA career before moving to the Houston Rockets and eventually the Toronto Raptors in 2012, the franchise that defined his legacy. He wasn’t the face of the Raptors’ 2019 championship, but he became the undisputed icon of “The North” – a fan favorite before anything else, and an outstanding player.

After Kawhi Leonard’s departure, Toronto also lost another key member of its championship core when Lowry headed to Miami. But some love stories always come full circle. Following stints with the Heat and the 76ers, Lowry returns to Toronto to finish his career where he had left his heart.

11. Sam Cassell (1993 NBA Draft – 24th pick)

Alongside Hakeem Olajuwon, Cassell won back-to-back NBA championships with the Houston Rockets, serving as the starting point guard and making a major contribution to both title runs during his first two NBA seasons. He closed his career the same way it began – winning another championship with the Boston Celtics.

Being selected 24th overall wasn’t entirely surprising at the time. The 1993 Draft was considered deep with “NBA-ready” prospects, and Cassell’s slender frame didn’t fit that mold. That evaluation proved completely wrong, as he became an invaluable contributor everywhere he played, whether as a second option, third option or role player.

His lone All-Star selection in 2004 rewarded a spectacular season as part of Minnesota’s “Big Three” alongside Kevin Garnett and Latrell Sprewell, after previously being part of another memorable trio in Milwaukee with Ray Allen and Glenn Robinson. In 2006, he also led the Clippers to their first playoff series victory since 1978.

10. Rudy Gobert (2013 NBA Draft – 27th pick)

The Stifle Tower, Gobert was selected late in the first round by the Denver Nuggets before immediately being traded to the Utah Jazz, where he became the franchise’s starting center for years before his blockbuster move to Minnesota. With the Timberwolves, he reached the Western Conference Finals twice but fell short of reaching the NBA Finals or winning a championship.

Beyond his three All-Star appearances, Gobert has built one of the greatest defensive résumés of his generation: NBA blocks leader in 2017, rebounding leader in 2022, four-time Defensive Player of the Year (2018, 2019, 2021 and 2024) – tying Ben Wallace and Dikembe Mutombo – and an eight-time All-Defensive First Team selection.

9. Pascal Siakam (2016 NBA Draft – 27th pick)

Selected with the 27th pick, Siakam opened his rookie season in Toronto’s starting lineup before losing his spot to Patrick Patterson and Serge Ibaka. Limited playing time led to a stint with the Raptors’ G League affiliate, where he helped win the championship and earned Finals MVP honors.

Back with the NBA club, his game blossomed. During the 2018-19 season, he captured the Most Improved Player Award while helping the Raptors win their first NBA championship. His playoff performances put him on the national stage, and Kawhi Leonard’s departure elevated him alongside Kyle Lowry as one of Toronto’s franchise cornerstones, earning his first All-Star selection in 2020.

Having firmly established himself among the league’s elite, Siakam was traded to the Indiana Pacers in January 2024, immediately becoming the ideal complement to Tyrese Haliburton. He helped Indiana reach the 2025 NBA Finals and earned Eastern Conference Finals MVP honors thanks to his dominant performances against the New York Knicks. He has now been selected to four All-Star Games.

8. Marc Gasol (2007 NBA Draft – 48th pick)

If being selected with the 48th pick seems shocking, it may surprise you even more to learn that Marc Gasol didn’t play a single minute during what would have been his rookie season. Just months after the Draft, the Lakers traded him to acquire his older brother Pau from the Memphis Grizzlies.

In Memphis, Gasol became the centerpiece of the Grit and Grind era alongside Mike Conley and Zach Randolph, helping lead the Grizzlies to the 2013 Western Conference Finals. He remained with the franchise until February 2019, when he joined the Toronto Raptors and provided the veteran presence that proved instrumental in the team’s championship run.

After one season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Gasol returned to his native Spain to play for Girona Basket, the club he had left in 2008 to pursue his NBA dream. He retired as the 2013 Defensive Player of the Year and a three-time All-Star (2012, 2015 and 2017).

7. Gilbert Arenas (2001 NBA Draft – 31st pick)

Drafted by the Golden State Warriors, Arenas quickly showcased his immense talent, winning Most Improved Player in his second NBA season. He signed with the Washington Wizards in 2003 and developed into the franchise’s undisputed star and one of the league’s most explosive scorers, famously dropping 60 points against Kobe Bryant and 45 against LeBron James.

A three-time All-Star (2005, 2006 and 2007), Arenas ultimately became his own worst enemy. He was suspended after bringing a firearm into the locker room, violating both NBA rules and the law. In addition to his suspension, he received two years of probation.

Although Arenas returned to the NBA, he was never quite the same player – or viewed the same way again. In 2012, he left the United States to play for the Shanghai Sharks in China. Despite the disappointing end to his career, his incredible talent at his peak earns him the No. 7 spot on this list, with the lingering feeling that he had everything needed for a legendary career.

6. Rajon Rondo (2006 NBA Draft – 21st pick)

Barely meeting this ranking’s criteria, Rajon Rondo was selected 21st by the Phoenix Suns before immediately being dealt to Boston. In Massachusetts, he quickly exceeded expectations, especially during his sophomore season, when he proved the Celtics’ Big Three was really a Big Four, handing out 16 assists in Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Lakers and winning his first championship.

As Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen aged, Rondo increasingly became the team’s floor general, establishing himself as one of the NBA’s most gifted playmakers and leading the league in assists in back-to-back seasons.

He later entered a brief journeyman phase, playing for four teams in four years while still producing flashes of brilliance, including another assists title with the Sacramento Kings. In 2018, he joined the Lakers and rediscovered his best basketball, helping lead the franchise to the 2019-20 NBA championship. He finished his career with the Cavaliers as a three-time assists leader (2012, 2013 and 2016), four-time All-Star (2010-2013), 2010 steals leader and two-time All-Defensive First Team selection.

5. Jimmy Butler (2011 NBA Draft – 30th pick)

The Chicago Bulls used the final pick of the first round in 2011 to select the Marquette product, landing a complete player who developed into both an elite defender and high-level scorer.

Butler won the 2015 Most Improved Player Award, the same year he earned the first of six All-Star selections. Beginning in 2017, he played for the Timberwolves, 76ers and Miami Heat, leading Miami to the 2020 NBA Finals before falling to LeBron James’ Lakers. After leading the league in steals in 2021, he later joined Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors, where he still plays today.

4. Draymond Green (2012 NBA Draft – 35th pick)

No list of NBA Draft steals would be complete without Draymond Green. A cornerstone of the Warriors dynasty, Green has won four NBA championships, bringing unmatched intensity and elite defensive versatility alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

Named Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, Green is also a four-time All-Star and nine-time All-Defensive Team selection. He narrowly missed joining the exclusive quadruple-double club by falling short in points, but still made history as the first player ever to record a triple-double without scoring at least 10 points.

3. Manu Ginobili (1999 NBA Draft – 57th pick)

He may not have been the brightest star on the team, but in terms of value relative to draft position, Manu Ginobili arguably stands alone. Selected with the 57th pick – the second-to-last pick of the 1999 Draft – he didn’t even know he had become part of the Spurs organization. He made his NBA debut three years later and won a championship as a rookie, quickly evolving from a rotation player into a key contributor.

Ginobili spent his entire NBA career in San Antonio, winning four NBA championships and playing pivotal roles in the Spurs’ 2005 and 2014 title runs. Alongside Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, he formed one of the most iconic and successful trios in league history. Willing to embrace any role Gregg Popovich asked of him, he also won the 2008 Sixth Man of the Year Award.

If you think Ginobili’s success came only because of the Spurs, remember that he is also a legend in Italy, where he won virtually every competition he entered. With Argentina’s national team, he captured numerous medals, including the historic Olympic gold medal in Athens. His No. 20 jersey was eventually retired in a ceremony worthy of both the player and the man he always was, on and off the court – a role model for generations.

Not bad for someone drafted so late that many believed he would never make it in the NBA.

2. Tony Parker (2001 NBA Draft – 28th pick)

Tony Parker had to be near the top of this list. He may not have been the offensive force Gilbert Arenas was, but his résumé speaks for itself: four NBA championships, one Finals MVP award and six All-Star selections. Those accomplishments still don’t fully capture his importance to the San Antonio Spurs, the NBA and especially European basketball, where he remains one of the greatest players ever.

The peak came in 2007, when Parker was named NBA Finals MVP after leading the Spurs past LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers. The French point guard averaged 24.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game in the series.

After spending virtually his entire career in San Antonio, Parker played one final season with the Charlotte Hornets before bringing his legendary career to a close.

1. Nikola Jokic (2014 NBA Draft – 41 pick)

The Denver Nuggets saw something special in Nikola Jokic. Behind the Joker’s 7-foot frame and 249-pound build, they recognized elite talent and extraordinary touch.

Despite his size, Jokic has established himself among the NBA’s elite thanks to one historic performance after another, including the fastest triple-double in league history – recorded in just 13 minutes – and the second perfect shooting triple-double ever, joining Wilt Chamberlain.

An NBA champion in 2023, Finals MVP, eight-time All-Star, three-time regular-season MVP (2021, 2022 and 2024), and the league’s assists and rebounding leader in 2026, Jokic remains the only second-round pick ever to win the NBA MVP award. Simply put, words are no longer enough to describe him.