By Paulie Knep 

Over the past couple of weeks, every sports website and magazine has published a mock draft, projecting which player each team will select in the first round. After the draft, basketball analysts will grade all the first round picks and judge which teams did the best.

Yet, little attention is paid to the players drafted in the second round.

Due to the recent influx of international players and youngsters declaring for the draft after one or no years of college experience, there are many unproven diamonds in the rough to be plucked late in the draft.

Numerous second round steals have become NBA All-Stars and integral parts of championship teams. This is a list of the top second round draft picks of the past 20 years.

TOP 10 SECOND ROUND NBA DRAFT PICKS

10. Nick Van Exel, Los Angeles Lakers, 1993

“Nick the Quick” was an excellent ballhandler who broke down defenders with a nasty crossover dribble. He was equally dangerous from behind the arc and ranks seventh all-time in three-pointers made. Van Exel thrived in the transition game, and though he was a shoot-first point guard, he created shots for his teammates as well. He earned a reputation for hitting big shots in the playoffs as a member of both the Lakers and Mavericks.

9. Toni Kukoc, Chicago Bulls, 1990

Touted as the “Michael Jordan of Europe,” Kukoc replaced Jordan in the Bulls lineup in 1993 when His Airness retired to play baseball. An intelligent player with a well-rounded offensive game, Kukoc was the Bulls’ third-leading scoring for each of their three championship teams from 1996-98. He was named Best Sixth Man for the 1995-96 team that won an NBA-record 72 games and posted his most impressive numbers in 1998-99, averaging 18.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.7 assists per night.

8. Clifford Robinson, Portland Trailblazers, 1989

Robinson was a valuable contributor off the bench for the great Blazer teams of the early 1990s. At 6-foot-11, he protected the basket and posed matchup problems on the other end of the floor with his shooting range. As a member of the Suns, he scored 50 points in a game against the Nuggets in 2000. Over his 18-year career, he averaged close to 15 points and more than one steal and one blocked shot per game.

7. Anthony Mason, Portland Trailblazers, 1988 (third round)*

“Mase” possessed a unique combination of strength and quickness which enabled him to lock down guards on the perimeter and bang with the big boys in the paint. The barrel-chested bruiser was an immovable force in the post and such a proficient ballhandler and passer that Don Nelson consistently ran the offense through him and had him bringing the ball up the court. He led the league in minutes played twice and was selected to the 2001 All-Star team as a member of the Miami Heat.

6. Monta Ellis, Golden State Warriors, 2005

Ellis was one of the quickest guards in the league and flourished in Don Nelson’s uptempo offense. After receiving limited playing time as a rookie, he exploded in his second season, raising his scoring average from 6.0 to 16.5 points per game, earning the Most Improved Player award in the process.

5. Rashard Lewis, Seattle Supersonics, 1998

Since being drafted out of high school by the Supersonics, Lewis has utilized his athletic 6-foot-10 inch frame to develop into a versatile player who fills up a boxscore. He can shoot from the outside, post up smaller defenders and finish on the fast break. He averaged over 20 points per game for three consecutive seasons in Seattle before becoming an integral part of the Magic’s offense this past year.

4. Michael Redd, Milwaukee Bucks, 2000

Redd’s quick release and three-point range have made him one of the most feared shooters in the league for years. The lefty guard is also adept at getting to the rim and is an excellent foul shooter. He averaged more than 20 points per game during each of the past five seasons, including a career-high 26.7 points in 2006-07. In ‘04, he was selected to the All-Star team and named to the All-NBA Third Team.

3. Gilbert Arenas, Golden State Warriors, 2001

After spending his first three seasons with the Warriors, Arenas’ career blossomed when he joined the Wizards in 2003. “Agent Zero” can beat anybody off the dribble, and his ability to get off his shot in a split-second from anywhere on the floor makes him nearly impossible to defend. He averaged nearly 30 points a game during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons, and he elevates his game to another level in crunch time.

2. Carlos Boozer, Cleveland Cavaliers, 2002

After being named to the All-Rookie team and averaging a double-double for the Cavs in his second season, Boozer immediately signed with the Utah Jazz. He’s turned himself into a highly skilled low-post scorer with an endless motor and has averaged over 20 points and 10 rebounds a game each of the past two seasons. He led the Jazz to the Western Conference Finals in 2007 and should be an All-Star for the next several years.

1. Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs, 1999

Ginobili’s been an invaluable member of a Spurs team that’s won three championships since his arrival in 2002. The pride of Argentina has excellent basketball instincts and a knack for making plays when his team needs them most. He can knock down the three-ball and shreds defenses with his unique slashing ability. He made the All-Star team in 2005, and this past season was named to the All-NBA Third Team and as well as winning the NBA’s Best Sixth Man award.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Sherman Douglas, Miami Heat, 1989
Antonio Davis, Indiana Pacers, 1990
P.J. Brown, New Jersey Nets, 1992
Mehmet Okur, Detroit Pistons, 2001
Stephen Jackson, Phoenix Suns, 1997
Cuttino Mobley, Houston Rockets, 1998

(*After the 1988 Draft, the NBA reduced the number of rounds from three to two.)