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NBA Draft: Best second round draft picks ever

By Chris Reichert

Dec 9, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili (20) gestures to a spot on the court against the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated San Antonio 97-94. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 9, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili (20) gestures to a spot on the court against the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated San Antonio 97-94. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 25, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) reacts after a play during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) reacts after a play during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

7. DeAndre Jordan, 2008, No. 35 overall pick

DeAndre Jordan currently holds many claims to fame whether it’s being part of The Hoopers, being held captive by his then former teammates, or posterizing poor souls over, and over, and over again, but he’s truly become a quality center in this league.

Jordan came out of Texas A&M heralded as the next Dwight Howard and after a slow start to his career, his coach and GM Doc Rivers has gotten the best out of his game the last few seasons.

  • Career — 8.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, on 67 percent FG%
  • Last three Yrs – 11.5 points, 14.1 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, on 69.6 percent FG%

That jump had the Dallas Mavericks drooling over adding him to their aging roster, but in the end Jordan returned to the Clippers for a cool four-years, $88 million and it seems to have been the right choice — even if done the wrong way. Jordan is a bit of a throwback in the sense that he doesn’t shoot anything resembling a jump shot. He’s a rim runner and he should be overjoyed to be playing with one of the best pick-and-roll point guards in the entire league in Chris Paul.

Along with his exhilarating dunks he’s become a stellar rim protector and the perfect pairing for his All-Star power forward Blake Griffin. The Clippers knew Jordan was a project when they drafted him in 2008 and he could have gone the other direction like many, many projects before him, but they have found a real diamond in the rough so their gamble certainly paid dividends.

Next: 6. Rashard Lewis

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