For the first time in a long while, the NBA Draft was divided into multiple nights. The second round was conducted on Thursday, giving the not-as-hyped-up prospects—outside of Bronny James—the spotlight they deserve. It also allowed some analysts to discuss topics related to draft history, including Kendrick Perkins sharing his list of the five best second-round picks of all time.
The retired big man mentioning Nikola Jokic was a no-brainer, considering that the Denver Nuggets superstar has won three of the past four MVPs and picked up a ring last year. His other four choices, Dennis Rodman, Draymond Green, Manu Ginobili, and Jalen Brunson, have stirred up some debate.
Perk's recency bias?
Of course, each player Perkins mentioned has a legitimate argument for being named in the all-time top five.
Rodman is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year who was an essential piece on five championship-winning teams. Green is the defensive anchor and emotional leader of the Golden State Warriors dynasty, who also has a DPOY award to his name.
Ginobili was also a member of a different dynasty, the San Antonio Spurs, and proved instrumental in most of the franchise's title runs. Brunson , however, might be the controversial pick. As talented as the New York Knicks star is, he has not yet built up his resume, although he finally earned an All-Star berth and an All-NBA selection last season.
Several other second-rounders also deserve recognition, including legends who suited up in the Association when Perkins was a child or had yet to be born.
The most prominent snubs on his list include Alex English, the all-time leading scorer among all second-round selections and the man who recorded the most points in the 1980s. Dennis Johnson and Maurice Cheeks, both former champions and multiple All-Defensive team members, are available at the guard spots.
We can go back a decade or two more and mention the likes of Willis Reed, Bill Sharman, Tiny Archibald, and Hal Greer, all of whom were second-round picks. But because of the number of franchises in the league at the time, they were drafted much earlier than a typical second-rounder.
What about this year's second-rounders?
It will be interesting to watch if any of the prospects chosen on the second day of the draft can eventually challenge for a spot on Perkins' list. That might be a bit unreasonable to expect, considering that pundits are pessimistic about the strength of this 2024 draft class.
However, this year's notable second-rounders include Kyle Filipowski, who some draft boards had projected to be gone in the first round, and Bronny James, who may or may not have been drafted because of nepotism.
Related: "I want the separation between the two, and I believe he want that separation" - Kendrick Perkins urges Bronny to step out of his father's shadow and make a name for himself
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