Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 11
Next
May 24, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Rashard Lewis (9) reacts during a game against the Indiana Pacers in game three of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
May 24, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Rashard Lewis (9) reacts during a game against the Indiana Pacers in game three of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Rashard Lewis, 1998, No. 32 overall pick

Rashard Lewis is the only player on the list who came to the NBA straight out of the high school ranks. Had Lewis — a 6-10 stretch power forward — gone to college there’s no doubt in my mind he would have been a first round pick. However, he didn’t and the Sonics (RIP) will be forever grateful for that fact.

Lewis’ first two seasons were a learning process but by that third season (he was still only 21-years old) he got the starting nod and never looked back. The last three seasons Lewis played in Seattle he was one of the deadlier scoring threats in the entire NBA, posting consecutive seasons where he averaged 20 points or more. Then — at the height of his career and still only 27 — the Sonics traded him to Orlando for a future second-round pick and a trade exception?! The Sonics were in the midst of a budding rebuild and Lewis wanted out, but the return certainly should have been greater looking back now.

Lewis finished his career in 2014 with averages of 14.9 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting just over 45 percent. He was a two-time All-Star (2005 and 2009), is 12th all-time in three-pointers made at 1,787, and earned an NBA Championship with the Miami Heat in 2013 — though he wasn’t influential in the outcome.

Lewis’ career has to be viewed as a success. After being a second round draft pick he played over a decade in the league amassing earnings of a whopping $155 million!

Next: 6. Clifford Robinson

Home/NBA