Top 10 all-time biggest NBA Draft steals

Behind the stars of the draft, other equally brilliant talents regularly lurk. Most of the time, these go unnoticed and only emerge once the initial stars have passed. But others are found much further down the Milky Way. Only GMs with a keen eye can spot them. They often select them with indifference, trust them, and as a result, huge surprises emerge in the NBA.

Here is the top 10 list of the best draft steals in history. To establish this ranking, the following criteria were used: time spent with the drafted franchise, pick number, role, and contribution.

10) Marc Gasol : We start with the 48th pick! Selected 2nd overall in the 2007 Draft, Marc Gasol was initially just one piece of a package that sent his brother Pau to the Lakers. Generally speaking, what people remember most is this aspect, this trade that gave Kobe Bryant two more rings. However, it’s too often forgotten how good this trade also was for the Grizzlies. Girone’s center arrived in complete anonymity. In Memphis, however, he quickly earned significant playing time. His elite court vision—the result of passing and shooting skills rarely found in a center—made him a central player for the team. Especially since, on the other end of the court, he was one of the very best big men of his generation, as evidenced by his Defensive Player of the Year award in 2013. A key player for the famous “Grit and Grind” Grizzlies, the Spanish international didn’t win any trophies for nearly 10 seasons in Tennessee, but he left a lasting impression. He even earned a spot on the 2015 All-NBA First Team. Not bad for the 48th pick! This illustrious career culminated in a championship with the Toronto Raptors. Today, his jersey hangs at the top of the FedExForum. However, it’s difficult to place him higher due to the lack of a title and his status being far from that of a “franchise player.”

9) Kawhi Leonard : George Hill… The Indiana Pacers traded Davis Bertans, Erazem Lorbek, and, most importantly, their 15th pick in the 2011 Draft for George Hill ! If it were just the first two names, no one would remember this trade. Except that with this pick, the Spurs were betting on a player surrounded by doubts. A player whose lack of vertical leap and offensive skills most experts believe would be a glaring flaw in the league. His prospects didn’t extend beyond the status of third option. However, Gregg Popovich placed his faith in this power forward. Little by little, he found his footing, progressed at breakneck speed, and established himself as one of, if not the, leaders of San Antonio. Kawhi Leonard had just laid the foundations of his legend! Defensively speaking, his immense wingspan earned him a Defensive Player of the Year award. But even this off-ball strength didn’t come out of nowhere. In the NCAA, he had already showcased this aspect of his game. No, the most astonishing thing is when the ball is in his hands. He displays flashes of brilliance reminiscent of Jordan, a power combined with devastating accuracy. Even though his time in Texas was marred by his missed free throws in the 2013 Finals against Miami, he more than made up for it in 2014 with that title, crowned by a Finals MVP award. Sugar K would later repeat this feat with the Raptors in 2019. That’s what you call a major steal! The rather short duration of his reign with his first franchise, as well as a relatively low draft pick compared to the competition, prevented him from aiming higher. One thing is certain: the Spurs know how to unearth hidden gems.

8) Dennis Rodman : Who would have imagined that, fresh out of high school, a 5’6″ kid constantly cut from the team would become a basketball legend ? No one, including the man himself ! That same summer, Dennis Rodman traded his basketball for a broom. He worked not as a center, but as a janitor, remaining completely anonymous. As the days went by, however, he continued to grow, and quite a bit at that. This rapid growth spurt led him back to the court. After a few unsuccessful stints at prestigious universities, he finally headed to the modest Oklahoma State University. In the NAIA (the minor college basketball league), he put up impressive numbers (17.6 points and 13.3 rebounds). Finally, he stole the show at the Portsmouth Invitational. This performance prompted Jack McCloskey to take notice of Rodman. Detroit ultimately prioritized John Sammey in the 1986 Draft and then selected him with the 27th pick. Once again, this move feels more like a gamble. And how right the Pistons were to take that risk! A key cog in the machine of these Bad Boys, The Wormse emerged as one of the very best defenders our sport has ever seen. Despite his advanced age, he displayed exceptional cunning and rebounding ability. The man with the multicolored hair achieved back-to-back NBA championships (1989-1990) and Defensive Player of the Year awards (1990 and 1991). Seven seasons during which he lit up Michigan before helping Michael Jordan achieve another three-peat with the Bulls. It’s a shame he didn’t spend his prime with his hometown franchise.

7) Tony Parker : We’re heading back to the southern United States to talk about this pick that’s very familiar to us. France knew the talent of this 18-year-old point guard, a starter in the French Pro A league. However, the Americans didn’t see this player in a positive light. At the time of the 2001 NBA Draft, Europeans were still largely overlooked on the other side of the Atlantic. Although Tony Parker sounds like a quintessential American name, the future GOAT of French basketball was no exception. He flew under the radar, except for a certain RC Buford. The Spurs’ GM had been advocating for the Frenchman for quite some time. Gregg Popovich, however, wasn’t entirely convinced, especially after Parker’s first workout was a complete disaster. Fortunately for our story, the PSG Racing player seized the second chance he was given. When the draft arrived, San Antonio wanted only him… and they were practically the only ones! The franchise patiently waited for the 28th pick before selecting him. A choice that paid off handsomely, as in just a few games Tony Parker established himself in the starting lineup, became a full-fledged member of an iconic trio alongside Ginobili and Duncan, amassed championship rings, and earned the 2007 Finals MVP award. Our Frenchman didn’t miss a single moment of his American dream, much to the delight of the Spurs. His longevity earned him many points compared to Rodman, among others, although he wasn’t his team’s first choice.

6) John Stockton : A youthful face, a slender build, and a height of just 6’1″. We’re a far cry from the stereotypical NBA giant, especially considering the competition in the 1984 Draft. Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Alvin Robertson, Kevin Willis… all cyborgs that franchises fought over. Faced with this gathering of prospects, the Jazz had a clear idea in mind: to bring back this flamboyant point guard, Gonzaga, whom everyone had overlooked because of his size. Because on paper, how could the best scorer, passer, and stealer in the West Coast Athletic Conference be drafted 16th overall? A question that the Cavs, Suns, Clippers, and Mavs must still be asking themselves. So much the better for Jerry Sloan’s crew! With the selection of Karl Malone the following year with the 13th pick (another steal), Utah acquired, at minimal cost, the two pillars of its golden age. This was an unusually consistent period in the NBA, symbolized by its 15 consecutive playoff appearances from 1989 to 2003. The conductor of this legendary armada, the NBA’s all-time leader in assists (15,806) and steals (3,265) is considered THE greatest point guard of his generation. A member of the legendary 1992 Dream Team, the Spokane native fell short in his quest for a championship ring (thanks to Jordan) but forever etched his name in the Jazz’s history. A one-franchise man, he also boasts an incredible individual record: 10 All-Star Game selections, 11 All-NBA Team selections, 5 All-Defensive Team selections, and 1 MVP award. A king without a crown, whose lack of a ring stops him at the border of the Top 5.

5) Draymond Green : These Warriors 2.0 are taking shape under Mark Jackson’s leadership. The emergence of Stephen Curry has been joined by sharpshooter Klay Thompson. The team is coming together but still lacks a leader inside. A versatile player capable of dominating under the basket without being a liability to Golden State’s offense. They need a hybrid player, a final support for the Splash Brothers! And this player appears during the 2012 Draft. The California franchise has some valuable picks which they use to select Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli. Then comes the second round, during which the franchise manages to acquire the Nets’ 35th pick to select Draymond Green. Too small to play center (or even power forward), not comfortable enough with the ball to play in the backcourt, not a good enough shooter to play on the wings… What to do with this player no one wants? Well, maybe turn this atypicality into a strength! Steve Kerr unearths a basketball IQ well above average in Day-Day, complemented by elite defense despite his size. He will be the boss of the paint. The 2017 Defensive Player of the Year becomes the ideal counterpart to the Splash Brothers. An excellent playmaker, a formidable screen-setter whose court vision constantly feeds Steph’s teammates. A key player in the four championship rings won by this dynasty, he also boasts several All-Star and All-NBA selections. His difficult personality and lesser importance compared to the following names place him in this respectable 5th position.

4) Giannis Antetokounmpo : It took real foresight to spot this 18-year-old Greek-Nigerian. When Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress discovered Giannis Antetokounmpo, he was playing in tiny Athenian gyms. And the year he was drafted, he was playing in the Greek second division. Sure, he performed well and even earned a spot in the All-Star Game. But that was about it. His resume was far from matching the greats. And against all odds, the Bucks used their 15th pick to select him, even though everyone expected him to be a typical second-round pick. During the introductory press conference, John Hammond’s composure regarding this player with the unpronounceable name was intriguing. He referred to him as a “future All-Star”! Many basketball fans believe he’s mistaken, and they’re right. The Greek Freak has become THE NBA star, THE co-best player of his generation, the extraterrestrial who brought the NBA championship back to Milwaukee after a 50-year wait. Following his Most Improved Player award in 2017, Giannis transformed into a two-time All-Star capable of single-handedly turning the tide of an NBA Finals. His Greek god-like physique gives him sensational presence on both ends of the court. Nevertheless, he remains close to the Top 10 and doesn’t yet possess the same legacy as his successor in the rankings.

3) Kobe Bryant : Among the likes of Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Tim Duncan, and the like, our ranking of the greatest NBA players of all time includes a 13th draft pick. Yes, you read that right… In 1996, nearly 12 franchises passed on one of the greatest players in history. Even more astonishing, the franchise where the Black Mamba would forge his legend wasn’t even the one that drafted him. When he shook hands with David Stern, Kobe Bryant was wearing a Hornets cap. Yet, it was on the Los Angeles coast that this 18-year-old kid would write his legend. So why did Charlotte pass up this gem? Because in return, they had the great, the immense Vlade Divac. Today, nobody calls him that anymore, but rather: “Oh yeah, the guy who got traded for Kobe!” Everyone knows what happened next, but we never tire of repeating it. Four years after arriving in the NBA, he won the first title of this inaugural three-peat alongside Shaq. Then, following a slump, he followed up with a back-to-back championship, scoring 81 points, hoisting his only MVP, and embarking on an iconic farewell tour. While he is by far the best player on this list, ahead of him are legends acquired in the second round.

2) Manu Ginobili : Throughout his young career, this basketball player from Bahía Blanca had to fight to make his mark in Italy, Europe, and finally the NBA. He brilliantly achieved his first milestone in his native country, earning him a four-year stint in Italy. First with Viola Reggio di Calabria and then Virtus Bologna, he established himself as THE best player on the continent. A virtually unique status for a player his age, one that the Americans completely ignored. Because despite these accomplishments, the NBA refused to open its doors to him. Gregg Popovich, however, sensed a very special potential in him. Nothing too surprising, though, as the Spurs waited until the 57th pick of the 1999 NBA Draft to select him. Yes, the 57th pick! Being drafted doesn’t guarantee playing time. Once drafted, San Antonio exercised its rights and let him hone his skills in Europe. For three years, none of his exploits caught the franchise’s eye. It wasn’t until the 2002 World Cup, where he finished second for Argentina, that the Spurs finally gave him a chance. Immediately integrated into the team, Gino won everyone over. A valuable sixth man and a full-fledged member of the Duncan-Parker-Ginobili trio, he brought a unique energy to the league every time he stepped onto the court. This resulted in four championship rings in nearly 16 seasons, including a legendary block on Jared Harden in the 2017 Western Conference Semifinals against Houston. This podium finish is well-deserved, befitting his draft pick. 57, imagine that! The difference between him and today’s number one pick lies in his status.

1) Nikola Jokic : Nikola Jokic’s first image in the NBA was a Taco Bell commercial. Yes, that’s a real sentence! Only a fleeting banner at the very bottom of the screen revealed the name of the 41st pick of the 2014 Draft. A certain Nikola Jokic… This 6’11” center came straight from KK Mega Vizura, where he was coming off a season averaging 19.2 points in the Serbian league. This book, undoubtedly very interesting, nevertheless deterred more than one GM because of its rather unusual cover. Not exactly handsome, rather slow, and above all, possessing a physique closer to that of a weekend warrior than an NBA player. A first impression that masked some interesting performances at the 2013 U19 World Championship and the 2014 Hoop Summit. Only the Nuggets took a closer look at the man himself, and they were right to do so. His rookie season surprised more than a few. Even Denver didn’t seem to expect such a level of play. In over 80 games, the Joker is averaging nearly a double-double. A warning before the storm! Mr. Triple-Double is going to completely redefine the center position. A highly skilled player, the three-time MVP still dominates the league today, culminating in this 2023 playoff run. He is by far the greatest steal in NBA history.

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Top 10 all-time biggest NBA Draft steals