It’s not about where a player is drafted. It’s about what they do once they reach the NBA.
As the 2014-15 NBA season commences with the start of training camp, first-year players will get their first taste of basketball at the highest level. With rotations yet to be set, every player has a chance to carve out playing time.
That includes players who were left out of the first round at the 2014 NBA Draft. While a second-round selection often signals limited first-year action, a number of players have proven that theory wrong.
In recent seasons, Draymond Green, Chandler Parsons and Isaiah Thomas discovered instant playing time after going in the second round. Before them, the likes of Carlos Boozer, Manu Ginobili and Marcus Thornton did the same.
The question is, which second-round picks from the 2014 NBA Draft have the best chance to follow in their footsteps?