After taking a look at the No. 1 picks since 2000, here is a ranking of all the No. 2 draft picks this century.
Analyzing All The NBA’s No. 2 Picks Since 2000
Hall of Famers
1. Kevin Durant, Seattle Supersonics 20o7
Kevin Durant gets some flak for ‘chasing rings,” though he is a top 25 basketball player. NBA history and a member of the league’s all-75th anniversary squad. The 2013-14 NBA MVP and two-time Finals MVP, Durant, is by far and away the best player in the 2007 draft class and should have been the No. 1 overall pick that year. He is a 13-time all-NBA first or second team selection and eighth on the league’s all-time scoring list. He is also among the top 100 on the NBA’s docket in rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.
All-NBA Performers
2. LaMarcus Aldridge, Chicago Bulls 2006
LaMarcus Aldridge was one of the best frontcourt players in the NBA for about a decade. The seven-time all-star and five-time all-NBA performer was nearly unstoppable in the post and was a strong interior defender. He ranks in the top 70 of the league in points, rebounds, and blocks.
Aldridge arguably turned out to be the best player in his draft class. While Chicago held the No. 2 in 2006, the Bulls sent him to Portland on draft night for Viktor Khryapa and Tyrus Thomas.
3. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies 2019
Ja Morant is a world-class hooper with some baggage. It is his baggage that may keep him from reaching his full potential, including injuries. The 25-year-old guard has yet to play 70 games in a season. He was the 2020 Rookie of the Year and Most Improved Player of the Year as well as a two-time All-Star.
Morant was a quality pick at No. 2 by the Grizzlies. Zion Williamson, who has his own issues, was the top pick in 2019.
4. Tyson Chandler, Los Angeles Clippers 2001
Tyson Chandler was an elite defender, rim-protector, and rebounder. Named the 2011-12 Defensive Player of the Year, Chandler was a three-time all-defensive team selection and 2011 NBA champion with Dallas. He was also a 2013 NBA All-Star selection.
Offensively, Chandler was limited but very efficient and a tremendous offensive rebounder. Chandler finished his career ranked 18th in offensive boards, 41st in total rebounds, and 50th in blocks. He is sixth all-time in the league with a 62.6 true shooting percentage and ninth in effective field goal percentage at 59.7%.
Chandler was one of the top players in an extremely strong 2001 draft. Pau Gasol is one of the few players who possibly would’ve been a better selection than Chandler at No. 2.
NBA Starters
5. Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans 2016
Brandon Ingram has his detractors, but the 27-year-old forward is sensational on the offensive end. Besides being a 20-point scorer, Ingram is an outstanding playmaker. However, his defensive and injury issues have kept him from reaching his full potential. While he has to be considered a draft disappointment in the deep 2016 draft, Ingram still has plenty of time to finish his story.
6. D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers 2015
D’Angelo Russell has been maligned throughout his career, but he is a solid offensive player with defensive limitations. He has scored 40+ points four times, pouring in a career-high 52 during the 2019-20 campaign. He is a good 3-point shooter, and his 2.5 threes a game for his career ranks 16th all-time. The 2019 all-star is also in the top 100 all-time with 5.7 assists per contest.
Russell, who will suit up for Dallas in 2024-25, is a top-8 player in the 2015 class. He was selected right after Karl-Anthony Towns. However, Devin Booker, Kristaps Porzingis, and Myles Turner would have been better selections for the Lakers.
7. Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic 2013
Injuries have hindered Victor Oladipo from being one of the top two-way players in the league and ultimately forced him out of basketball. Oladipo, who was an NBA analyst last season for ESPN, sat out all of 2023-24, marking the sixth straight year he played 42 or fewer games. Before the injuries, the 2017-18 Most Improved Player was a two-time all-star.
Oladipo spent 10 years in the NBA and went behind only the very disappointing Anthony Bennett in the draft. While Oladipo is a top 10 player in the 2013 draft, Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the better picks.
8. Emeka Okafor, Charlotte Hornets 2004
Emeka Okafor was a fantastic two-way center who averaged a double-double in each of his first four seasons. Okafor did struggle with efficiency in his first two seasons, but improved his effectiveness later on. Staying healthy was a problem for the 6-10 big man as he missed the majority of two seasons in his first eight years and sat out four years before finally retiring in 2018.
9. Marvin Williams, Atlanta Hawks 2005
Marvin Williams had a solid 15-year career, where he was a starter for most of his career. Williams didn’t do anything spectacular, but he was versatile and wasn’t a liability. Also, he was a decent 3-point shooter and was pretty consistent, except for his final season in 2019-20.
Williams is a top-10 player in the class. However, Deron Williams and Chris Paul would have been better choices with the No. 2 pick.
Too Early To Tell
10. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder 2002
While Chet Holmgren missed his rookie campaign in 2002-03, he has definitely lived up to his hype. The 7-1 center was a first-team All-Rookie selection in 2023-24 but was limited to 32 games due to a fractured pelvis. If he can stay healthy, the 23-year-old has at least All-NBA potential.
11. Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs 2025
Dylan Harper is considered one of the top players in this past June’s draft. Harper, the son of former NBA player Ron Harper, is a big-bodied, do-it-all playmaker who thrives at attacking downhill.
Harper showed off his athleticism and scoring ability in his two Las Vegas contests, but otherwise struggled during summer league. The 19-year-old scored 16 points in each of his Vegas games. He averaged 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steals while shooting 35.7/12.5/78.6.
12. Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets 2023
Brandon Miller is an excellent talent who showed improvement in year two. Miller averaged 21 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.1 steals before having his season ended after 27 games due to a wrist injury. While Miller has a lot of career left, Amen Thompson, who went No. 4 overall to Houston, looks like a better selection today.
13. Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards 2024
Alex Sarr had an up-and-down rookie campaign in 2024-25. Sarr improved during the season and was much more productive in the second half. The 20-year-old was extremely inefficient offensively, but he thrived as a rim protector.
Sarr was a first-team All-NBA Rookie selection and finished in the top 10 of the NBA in the league. The 7-footer averaged 13.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks, though he shot just 39.4% from the field and 30.4% from deep. He produced 10 double-doubles and scored in double-figures in 50 of 69 games while topping the 20-point mark 10 times.
Disappointments
14. Jalen Green, Houston Rockets 2021
Jalen Green is still very young and a high-volume scorer. Green has improved as a facilitator, though 3-point shooting and turnovers are an issue. He is not great defensively, though he has shown improvement throughout his career.
While Green gets a fresh start this year in Phoenix, there were arguably several better options for the Rockets’ 2021 draft. Scottie Barnes, Alperen Sengun, Evan Mobley, and Josh Giddey likely should have been selected ahead of Green.
15. Lonzo Ball, Los Angeles Lakers 2017
While Lonzo Ball is a potential draft bust due to no fault of his own, I can’t go that far at this moment. Ball is a talented basketball player who has seen his career besieged by injuries. Known for his wizardry passing and defense, the 27-year-old point guard gets a chance to revive his career in Cleveland this year.
There was some debate whether Ball should have been the No. 2 overall selection in 2013; now it will be hard for him to crack the top 10 of the draft class. Jayson Tatum is a superstar, while Bam Adebayo, Donovan Mitchell, Derrick White, and Jarrett Allen are among the players in the 2017 draft class.
16. Evan Turner, Philadelphia 76ers 2010
Evan Turner was a solid role player for most of his 10-year career. Turner did all the little things well and had a couple of years averaging most of his career. His biggest issue was that he couldn’t shoot.
Turner probably should have been a mid-first-round selection. Paul George, Gordon Hayward, and DeMarcus Cousins would have been better picks at No. 2.
17. Michael Kidd Gilchrist, Charlotte Hornets 2012
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist came into the league as an uber-athletic defensive stopper. While Kidd-Gilchrist lived up to that moniker, he struggled offensively due to his limited offensive abilities. Unlike Turner, he wasn’t a playmaker either.
The 2012 NBA draft was one of the weaker drafts this decade. Kidd-Gilchrist probably should have been a late lottery pick (between 8-14). Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal are among the players who should have been selected ahead of Kidd-Gilchrist.
18. Stromile Swift, Vancouver Grizzlies 2000
Stromile Swift was an athletic center who excelled on the defensive end and was a good rebounder. Swift, an excellent shot-blocker, was very limited offensively. He appeared in 547 games over nine seasons, finishing in the top 20 in blocks twice.
Swift probably should have been a top-10 pick in a weak 2000 draft. Mike Miller is one of a handful of players who should have been chosen ahead of Swift.
19. James Wiseman, Golden State Warriors 2020
James Wiseman is one of the worst draft picks in 2020. However, he is just 24 and still active in 2025-26.
Wiseman, who played three games as a freshman for Memphis, is a talented scorer and rebounder who hasn’t been able to find his footing in the NBA. Defense and consistency have been huge issues for the 7-footer.
Wiseman has appeared in just 148 games while playing for three teams (Golden State, Detroit, and Indiana). Wiseman sat out 2021-22 due to injury. He saw five minutes with the Pacers last season before being traded to Toronto for cash. The Raptors immediately waived him, and he signed a multi-year deal with Indiana this summer.
20. Marvin Bagley III, Washington Wizards 2018
Marvin Bagley III is in a similar situation to Wiseman, as he is extremely close to being a bust, though he is only 26 heading into 2025-26. Also like Wiseman, Bagley is an outstanding low-post scorer and rebounder. He has struggled to stay on the court in his seven seasons because of conditioning and defense.
Bagley, who has been a part-time starter throughout his career, has averaged double-figures in six of his seven seasons. The 20218-19 All-Rookie selection averages 12 points and six boards for his career. He finished the 2024-25 campaign with Washington and signed a one-year deal with the Wizards this summer.
Several players selected immediately after Bagley III would have been better choices at No. 2. Luka Doncic and Trae Young are among those players.
Busts
21. Michael Beasley, Miami Heat 2008
As the kids say today, Michael Beasley was a bucket. Beasley averaged double-figures in seven of his 11 seasons. He produced a career-best 19.2 points a game in 2010-11, which ranked 20th in the league.
Beasley was a first-team All-Rookie selection in 2008-09. Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook were the better choices for the Heat.
22. Jabari Parler, Milwaukee Bucks 2014
Jabari Parker is a talent and is still playing overseas. Not sure why exactly Parker was not given another chance since going overseas, but he certainly could put the ball in the basket. He averaged 14.1 points while shooting nearly 50 percent from the field in eight years, though he didn’t provide much else.
Parker was chosen after Andrew Wiggins, but ahead of Joel Embiid and Aaron Gordon.
23. Derrick Williams, Minnesota Timberwolves 2011
Derrick Williams was part of Minnesota’s rotation for the first three seasons after being the No. 2 pick in 2011. The 2011-12 second-team all-NBA rookie selection spent seven years in the league, with his best season in 2015-16. He was out of the league after a two-game stint with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017-18.
While there were a handful of bad draft misses in 2011, Williams was taken behind only Kyrie Irving. Kawhi Leonard, Jonas Valanciunas, Klay Thompson, and Kemba Walker are among the players who would have been better choices.
24. Darko Milicic, Detroit Pistons 2003
Darko Milicic is one of the biggest NBA draft busts in history. While a disaster offensively, Milicic did spend 10 seasons in the league and appeared in 468 career games. The 2004 NBA champion ranked in the top 15 of the league in blocks three times. Carmelo Anthony should have been the No. 2 pick that year.
25. Hasheem Thabeet, Memphis Grizzlies 2009
Hasheem Thabeet is also one of the biggest draft busts this century. Thabeet averaged 10 minutes over 224 games in five seasons. He averaged just 2.2 points and 2.7 rebounds for his career.
26. Jay Williams, Chicago Bulls 2002
Jay Williams had his career derailed due to an unfortunate motorcycle accident, where he was severely hurt. The 2002-03 second-team All-Rookie selection attempted a comeback in 2006, though he only lasted three games with the D-League Asheville Toros.
Photo Credit: © Benny Sieu, Imagn Images
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