SAN FRANCISCO – Second-round picks have a reputation for being afterthoughts in the NBA Draft, just pointless time-fillers announced by deputy commissioner Mark Tatum on the TV broadcast.
The Warriors have the No. 41 overall pick in the 2025 draft, which is far from the top of anyone’s list of places Golden State could find a contributor to help the team’s upcoming push for the fifth title of the Steph Curry era.
So should Warriors fans, who watched the veteran-heavy team lose in the second round of the playoffs, ignore the upcoming draft next Wednesday and Thursday?
When looking at the past 20 drafts, history shows that it could be unwise.
From MVPs to solid starters at every position, the past two decades have shown that there is great value to be found in the middle of the second round.
Even if general manager Mike Dunleavy does not orchestrate a trade back into the first round of what is expected to be a deep draft, he can still find gold.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO
Nikola Jokic (2014)
Yes, you have probably heard that Nikola Jokic was picked during a Taco Bell commercial.
What you might not have known is that the three-time MVP was the No. 41 overall pick by the Nuggets in the 2014 draft.
So will lightning strike twice?
No, because there is a better chance of lightning striking the same spot three times – or Draymond Green developing into a 45% 3-point shooter – than Dunleavy picking one of the 20 best players of all time after 40 players have already been selected.
But there is a chance the Warriors find their next franchise cornerstone.
GOOD STARTER
Golden State Warriors forward Eric Paschall (7) is defended by New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley (5) and center Taj Gibson (67) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in New York. (Wendell Cruz/Pool Photo via AP)
Jodie Meeks (2009), Pat Connaughton (2015), Jarred Vanderbilt (2018), Eric Paschall (2019), Tre Jones (2020), Adem Bona (2024)
None of these guys were MVPs or averaging 25-point triple-doubles, but they stuck around as starters for multiple contracts.
Jodie Meeks (9.3 points per game) and Pat Connaughton (35.6 3-point%) were and are long-range snipers whose shot always gave their teams great spacing for their stars.
Eric Paschall washed out after a few years, but he and his funny jumper that helped him average 14 points as a rookie was one of the lone bright spots during the 2019-20 season. And do not be surprised if he ends up on a NBA roster next season.
Jarred Vanderbilt (5.9 points, 6.2 rebounds per game) took a while to get going, but he is now a versatile big on the Lakers who impresses with defense and makes up for his non-existent scoring game with underrated passing chops.
Tre Jones will never be a superstar, but he has carved out a career as a dependable backup point guard (8.4 points, 4.7 assists per game) who can run an offense, and Adem Bona (5.8 points, 1.2 blocks per game) was not totally overmatched last year as a rookie for the flailing Sixers.
EVERYONE ELSE
Roko Ukic (2005), James Augustine (2006), Chris Richard (2007), Nathan Jawai (2008), Jarvis Varnado (2010), Darius Morris (2011), Tyshawn Taylor (2012), Jamaal Franklin (2013), Stephen Zimmerman (2016), Tyler Dorsey (2017), Joe Wieskamp (2021), EJ Liddell (2022), Amari Bailey (2023)
While finding a starter is possible, the rest of the No. 41 picks over the past 20 years show that the draftee becoming a non-factor is probably the most likely outcome.
A few, like floor general Roko Ukic (2005), big man Tyler Dorsey (2017) and the late point guard Darius Morris (2011) were able to hang around for a few seasons and even cracked rotations.
But even more ended up like Jamaal Franklin (2013), Stephen Zimmerman (2014) and Amari Bailey (2023), non-factors who flamed out after a year or two.