NBA Draft History: Top 30 Steals of the Lottery Era

Jun 6, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker (9) and shooting guard Manu Ginobili (20) react during the fourth quarter of game one of the 2013 NBA Finals against the Miami Heat at the American Airlines Arena. San Antonio Spurs won 92-88. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

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Each year in the NBA draft, teams are hoping to land a player who has significant impact in their future success. Throughout history, the lottery positions have changed. In 1985, the first seven teams were considered as lottery teams. The number changed to nine in 1989, then changed again in 1990 to 11. Today, the first 14 picks are in the lottery for the draft.

The players who are taken late in the first round and during the second round are usually projected to be role players on their respective teams. However, the players who are drafted in the second round aren’t even guaranteed a contract, so many front offices are just hoping something will come out of drafting them. When these players succeed, it’s considered a “steals,” which indicates a team taking a flier on a player late in the draft but seeing huge success out of it.

There have been a shocking number of players that you may have forgotten weren’t taken in the lottery of their draft, but the success and impact they had for their teams were remarkable.

We count down the top 30 steals in NBA draft history.

Editor’s Note: These are only players taken outside of their respective year’s lottery selection since 1985.

Next: 30. Mr. Irrelevant