NOTE: Written by me about 5 months ago or so. Just putting it in here to help jumpstart this section. :dribble:There are many draft busts in the NBA, but there are also plenty of draft steals. Here are my top ten steals from the last 10 years (1995-2005). This is only including 2nd rounders. _____________________________________________________________________10.Malik Rose-Hornets-1996-44th Pick OverallAwards-2 NBA ChampionshipsCareer Averages-6.8PPG, 4.5rPG, .8APGAfter coming to the Spurs in 1997-98, he has been a reliable 3rd post player off the bench. Playing most of his career with David Robinson and Tim Duncan, he has been able to find his niche playing tough defense, rebounding, and giving the Spurs a toughness. In each of his 6 seasons, he has been able to increase his scoring with his best season averaging 10 points and 6 rebounds a game, all coming off the bench. Although getting traded to the Knicks last season, he is still known as one of the nicer and smarter players in the league. If he was able to get onto a team that was a postseason regular, he would still be able to contribute in spot minutes. _____________________________________________________________________9.Eric Snow-Bucks-1995-43rd Pick OverallAwards-2005 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, 2002-03 All-Defensive Second Team Career Averages-7.3 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 5.2APGSince coming into the league, Snow has been known as a pure point guard who plays excellent and tough defense. After starting off in Seattle where he played very small minutes, he was traded to the 76ers wear he teamed up with Allen Iverson to help his team to the NBA Finals in 2001. While playing with Iverson, he was his perfect complement on the court. A player that distributed the ball, played defense, and didnt take a lot of shots. His one downfall is his shooting though, although he has had 3 season where he averaged in double figures. Although his best days are over, he still gives the Cavs a point guard that plays great defense and mental toughness. _____________________________________________________________________8.Ruben Patterson-Lakers-1998-31st Pick OverallAwards-NoneCareer Averages-10.3 PPG, 4.0RPG, 1.6 APGEver since coming into the league Patterson has made his name for his energy coming off the bench. For every team he has played for, he has been able to spark his team while coming off the bench. Throughout his career, he has been a full-time starter or averaged more than 28 minutes a game. He has been able to score on bigger defenders and play superb defense anywhere he has gone. Since coming into the league, he has always guarded the opposing teams best perimeter player. _____________________________________________________________________7.Carlos Boozer-Cavs-2002-35st Pick OverallAwards-NoneCareer Averages-14.2 PPG, 9.2RPG, 2.0APGHis 1st two seasons in the league he played with the Cavs and 129 of the 156 games he played. He has become a reliable double-double player who plays great defense and a pretty good low post scorer. His last 2 seasons in Utah have been marginal due to injury problems, although the latter part of this season he was playing very well averaging 16 points a game and grabbing 8 rebounds while shooting 54% from the field. _____________________________________________________________________6.Stephen Jackson-Suns-1997-43rd Pick OverallAwards-1 NBA championshipCareer Averages-13.8 PPG,3.7 RPG,2.4 APGJackson was drafted back in 1997 by the Suns, but didnt play his first game in the NBA until the Nets signed him to a contract in 2000-01 season. That season he averaged 8 points a game and started half of his games with the team. The following season, he signed with the Spurs. That 1st season with them was disappointing due to him only able to play in 20 games and average only 4 points. The next season was quite different; he was a part time starter on the Spurs team that won the 2002-03 NBA finals. Following this season he has played with the Pacers and the Hawks. These have been his best individual seasons averaging 17.7 PPG. Last season he was part of the Detroit brawl which cut his season short. Even with this, he is still a productive wing player for the Pacers. _____________________________________________________________________5.Cuttino Mobley-Rockets-1998-41st Pick OverallAwards-1998-99 All Rookie 2nd Team,Career Averages-16.8PPG,4.0RPG, 2.8APGMobley started his career in Houston playing for the Rockets playing along the side of Steve Francis. He has become a great 3 point shooter and defender. During the 1999-2000 season, he came off the bench and averaged over 15 points a game. Since becoming a full time starter, he hasnt averaged less than 16 points or shot under 42% from the field. Since leaving the Rockets, he has played with the Magic, Kings and now the Clippers. Since coming to the Clippers, he has become their designated shooter spotting up for jumpers from the double teams Elton Brand demands. He has been a key contributor to this Clipper team that has finally made the playoffs. _____________________________________________________________________4.Rashad Lewis-Sonics-1998-32nd Pick OverallAwards-noneCareer Averages-16.0 PPG,5.6RPG, 1.6APG Lewis came into the league before the big high school player boom of the 2000s. His first season he played minimal minutes. The next season he became a great scoring threat off the bench averaging 8 points a game in only 20 minutes a game. Since becoming a starter in 2000, he hasnt averaged less than 15 points and 5 rebounds a game. He has great size to play both the 3 and 4 positions. He is able to drive on bigger defenders and post up smaller ones. He is also a reliable 3 point shooter shooting over 38% in his career. Last season with the help of Ray Allen, they were able to lead the Sonics back into the postseason. _____________________________________________________________________3.Emmanuel Ginobili-Spurs-1999-57th Pick OverallAwards-All Rookie 2nd team, 2004 Gold Medal, 2 NBA ChampionshipsCareer Averages-12.9PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.3 APGGinobili started his career on an already great team. His rookie season he came off the bench and contributed greatly playing great defense, averaging nearly 8 points a game, and playing with a ton of heart. In his 4 seasons in the league, he has 2 rings and counting. He is a great slasher and a very streaky outside shooter. He has also lead his home country Argentina to a gold medal in the last summer Olympics. _____________________________________________________________________2.Michael Redd-Bucks-2000-43rd Pick OverallAwards-noneCareer Averages-19.3PPG, 4.2PRG, 2.0APGRedds first season in the league you could call a normal 2nd rounder rookie season. His 2nd and 3rd seasons he became a reliable scorer off the bench averaging 10 and 15 points. In 2003 he got his first chance to become a full time starter and it sure paid off. He has averaged 23 points a game since becoming a starter. He is one of the most feared 3 point shooters in the league shooting 39% from behind the arc in his career. This last season, he has lead his Bucks to the playoffs. _____________________________________________________________________1. Gilbert Arenas-Worriors-2001-31st Pick OverallAwards-2002-03 Most Improved Player of the Year, 2004-05 All-NBA 3rd TeamCareer Averages-21.7PPG, 4.2RPG, 5.4APGI consider Arenas the greatest 2nd round steal in the last 10 years because he is actually a dominant player now. Hes lead his team to the playoffs the last 2 seasons and has played really well in both years. I think hes just head and shoulders above the rest of the 2nd rounders. His rookie season was a pretty good one. He started 30 of the 47 games he played in averaging about 10 points a game in about 24 minutes. Since then, he has raised his scoring average each season with his last one averaging 29.3 points a game. Since signing with the Wizards, he has become one of the elite scorers in the league. Any other season, he would be number one in the league in scoring. Now those are my top ten players. What do you think?
Nice write up. Alot of good stuff. Most of those guys would be in my top 10 also. Not trying to be bias. But Eduardo Najera. Not a stat sheet guy, but shows up and will play 110% every night. Brings defense and a very physical player
I agree with your list, Arenas has to be number 1 I don't think anyone ever expected this out of Arenas and he basically has become a allstar. Redd is a close second I mean Redd is a beast.
