 |
| RealGM Hoop Net |
|
| Search |
|
|
|
|
| Trade Checker ID |
| Draft Sim ID |
| Newsletter |
|
|
|
|
Authored by Brett Callahan - 16th September, 2008 - 4:14 pm
Every June, hype is built over the ensuing NBA Draft. Potential lottery picks sport tailored suits, bring their crying mothers, and smile for the documentaries being made about their experiences.
While the attention is almost always focused on 1st round picks, it’s not always the big names that live up to the hype. Every draft sees a Michael Sweetney, Kwame Brown, Rodney White, or Nikoloz Tskitishvili sign a multi-million dollar deal while others wait to prove their worth. Over the past decade, several 2nd round picks have shrugged off the low expectations and persevered long enough to show up their more touted counterparts. Many have since cashed in on All-Star careers, leaving the lottery picks to responsibilities of Gatorade fetcher at the end of the bench.
In tribute to these athletes who have risen above the odds, and to those GM's bright enough to take a chance on them, RealGM presents the All-2nd Round Draft Team:
Starters
PG: Gilbert Arenas – 31ST PICK, 2001
The 3-time All-Star has career averages of 22.8 ppg and 5.5 apg. He recently signed a lucrative $111 million contract to continue to team up with Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler for the Washington Wizards . He has been elected to 3 All-NBA Teams and is the only 2nd round pick ever featured on an NBA Live cover.
SG: Manu Ginobili – 57TH PICK, 1999
Although he did not make his NBA debut until 2002, Ginobili has been a huge reason why the San Antonio Spurs have won three championships in the last six seasons. In 2008, he was selected to the All-NBA Third Team in addition to being presented with the Sixth Man of the Year Award. His play for Argentina in the Olympics earned him a gold medal in 2004 and a bronze in the recent 2008 games. He has career averages of 14.7 ppg and 3.6 apg and was voted to the All-Star Game in 2005.
SF: Michael Redd – 43RD PICK, 2000
A career 39% 3-point shooter, Redd is one of the most reliable perimeter scorers in the game. In fact, he once made eight 3’s in one quarter, an NBA record. He recently won an Olympic gold with Team USA, an even bigger accomplishment than being voted to both the All-Star Game and All-NBA Third Team in 2004. He will take his career 20.5 ppg and combine them with recently acquired forward Richard Jefferson to help lead the Milwaukee Bucks .
PF: Rashard Lewis – 32ND PICK, 1998
Lewis spent his first 9 seasons in Seattle with Ray Alle, but avoided the debacle that is the Oklahoma City Thunder and signed on with the Orlando Magic and Dwight Howard in 2007. He has career averages of 16.8 ppg and 5.8 rpg and is regarded as one of the most versatile big men in the league earning a trip to the NBA All-Star Game in 2005.
C: Carlos Boozer – 34TH PICK, 2002
Boozer joined Redd in Beijing this year, helping USA take back the gold medal. His career averages of 16.9 ppg and 9.9 rpg make him one of the most potent double-double threats in the league. Together with point guard Deron Williams, he has made the Utah Jazz one of the NBA’s most successful teams in recent years. Boozer is a 2-time All-Star and was selected to the 2008 All-NBA Third Team.
Bench
Mo Williams – 47TH PICK, 2003
Williams will join LeBron James in Cleveland this season and will look to compete in the reloaded East. He has numerous college accolades from his days in the SEC and is coming off his best NBA season yet when he averaged 17.2 ppg and 6.3 apg.
Monta Ellis – 40TH PICK, 2005
Ellis has as bright a future as anyone on this list and should be a safe bet for a future All-Star team. Until suffering an ankle injury this summer, he was prepped to take over the helm for Golden State in Baron Davis’ absence. In 2007-08 he averaged 20.2 ppg, 5 rpg, and shot over 53%.
Cuttino Mobley – 41ST PICK, 1998
The Cat is still one of the best clutch three-point shooters in the league even as he enters his 11th season. He takes his career average of 16.1 ppg into his fourth year with the L.A. Clippers , where he will mentor young guns Eric Gordon and Al Thornton.
Stephen Jackson – 43RD PICK, 1997
No one on this list has had a journey quite like Jackson’s. It took him right around four years just to see his first action in the league after spending time in the CBA, Australia, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic. Since then he has established himself as one of the hardest working players in the NBA. In 2007-08 he was named a team captain of the Golden State Warriors and collected a career best 20.1 ppg. He won an NBA title with the San Antonio Spurs in 2003.
Mehmet Okur – 38TH PICK, 2001
One of the best shooting centers in the league, Okur is entering his 7th season in the NBA. He joins Boozer in the frontcourt for Utah as they look for their third straight playoff appearance. He was a member of the 2007 All-Star Game and has career averages of 13.4 ppg and 7.1 rpg. |
