An NBA superstar does not always come from a top-five draft pick. Nikola Jokić was selected 41st overall in 2014, Manu Ginóbili went 57th in 1999, and Draymond Green was the 35th pick in 2012. All three went on to become NBA champions, proving that draft position does not always determine a player's ceiling. Jokić became a multiple-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) and led the Denver Nuggets to their first championship in 2023, while Ginóbili helped build the San Antonio Spurs dynasty and Green became a defensive cornerstone for the Golden State Warriors.
NBA Draft steals are rare because teams evaluate prospects through scouting, college performances, physical attributes and interviews. Yet injuries, size concerns, international scouting gaps, and underestimated skills can cause future stars to fall. These 10 players demonstrate how overlooked talent can reshape franchises.
10. Khris Middleton (39th Pick, 2012)
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Milwaukee Bucks | Three-time NBA All-Star
Khris Middleton's fall to the second round came from a knee injury and an inconsistent junior season at Texas A&M. The Detroit Pistons selected him with the 39th overall pick before trading him to Milwaukee in 2013.
In Milwaukee, Middleton developed into a dependable scorer and a crucial partner for Giannis Antetokounmpo. He earned three All-Star selections and helped the Bucks win the 2021 NBA championship, making him one of the second round's most successful finds.
9. Jimmy Butler (30th Pick, 2011)
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Jimmy Butler entered the NBA with limited expectations after being selected by the Chicago Bulls with the final pick of the first round. His defensive ability and versatility eventually developed into elite two-way basketball.
Butler won the NBA's Most Improved Player award in 2015, earned six All-Star selections and led Miami to the NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023. His rise from an overlooked prospect to a franchise-leading player makes him a defining draft steal.
8. Gilbert Arenas (31st Pick, 2001)
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The Golden State Warriors selected Gilbert Arenas 31st overall in 2001, just outside the first round. He quickly exceeded expectations, starting 30 games as a rookie and winning the NBA's Most Improved Player award in 2003.
Known as "Agent Zero," Arenas became a prolific scorer and made three consecutive All-Star appearances from 2005 to 2007. His career showed how a second-round selection could become one of the league's most dangerous offensive players.
7. Marc Gasol (48th Pick, 2007)
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Drafted 48th by the Los Angeles Lakers, Marc Gasol reached the Memphis Grizzlies through the trade that sent his older brother, Pau Gasol, to Los Angeles.
Marc became an outstanding defensive centre, winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. He later helped the Toronto Raptors win the 2019 NBA championship. His combination of defence, passing and basketball intelligence made him far more valuable than his draft position suggested.
6. Dennis Rodman (27th Pick, 1986)
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Dennis Rodman's journey to the NBA was unconventional. Before becoming a professional basketball player, he worked as an airport janitor and developed into a standout college player at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
Selected by Detroit in 1986, Rodman became one of basketball's greatest rebounders and defenders. He won two Defensive Player of the Year awards and helped the Chicago Bulls secure three consecutive championships from 1996 to 1998.
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo (15th Pick, 2013)
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Giannis was not a second-round gamble, but his selection 15th overall by Milwaukee proved extraordinary. The young Greek prospect arrived with limited experience against elite competition and considerable room to develop physically and technically.
He became a two-time regular-season MVP and led the Bucks to the 2021 championship, earning Finals MVP after averaging 35.2 points in the series. His transformation into one of the league's dominant players makes him an exceptional mid-first-round success.
4. Draymond Green (35th Pick, 2012)
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Despite winning Big Ten Player of the Year at Michigan State, Draymond Green fell to the second round because scouts questioned his size and athletic profile.
Golden State found a defensive leader and versatile playmaker who could guard multiple positions, organise the defence and facilitate the offence. Green became an essential part of all four Warriors championship teams between 2015 and 2022.
3. Jalen Brunson (33rd Pick, 2018)
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Jalen Brunson was selected 33rd overall by Dallas after winning two NCAA national championships with Villanova. Concerns about his size and athleticism contributed to his second-round selection.
After developing with the Mavericks, Brunson joined the New York Knicks in 2022 and emerged as a franchise star. He led New York to the 2026 NBA championship and earned Finals MVP, turning a second-round pick into one of the league's defining success stories.
2. Manu Ginóbili (57th Pick, 1999)
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The San Antonio Spurs selected Manu Ginóbili 57th overall in 1999 and allowed him to develop overseas before he joined the NBA in 2002.
His creativity, fearless drives and unconventional playing style made him an essential part of San Antonio's championship teams. Ginóbili won four NBA titles and became one of the greatest international players in league history.
1. Nikola Jokić (41st Pick, 2014)
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Nikola Jokić is arguably the greatest NBA Draft steal because the Denver Nuggets found a generational center with the 41st pick in 2014. His average athleticism did little to reveal the exceptional court vision, passing and decision-making that would define his career.
Jokić became a multiple-time NBA MVP and led Denver to its first championship in 2023, winning Finals MVP. He also became the lowest-drafted player to win the regular-season MVP award, excluding Moses Malone, who entered the professional ranks without being drafted.
FAQ: NBA Draft Steals
Who is the biggest NBA Draft steal of all time?
Nikola Jokić is a leading choice because he was selected 41st overall and became a multiple-time MVP and NBA champion.
Which NBA player was drafted 57th overall?
Manu Ginóbili was selected 57th by the San Antonio Spurs in the 1999 NBA Draft. He won four NBA championships with the franchise.
Was Jimmy Butler a second-round pick?
Butler was the 30th overall pick in 2011, the final selection of the first round.
Why do NBA stars sometimes fall in the draft?
Injuries, questions about athleticism, limited high-level experience and uncertainty about how skills translate to the NBA can cause talented players to be overlooked.
What makes a player an NBA Draft steal?
A draft steal is a player whose professional performance substantially exceeds the expectations associated with his selection position, particularly when he becomes a star, wins major awards or helps a team win championships.
Also Read: What Is the NBA Defensive 3-Second Rule?
