NBA Draft: Top 30 draft steals in league history

Best NBA Draft steals of all time: Michael Redd, Milwaukee Bucks

When evaluating whether a player is a draft steal or not, it’s essential to measure his draft position versus his production on the court.

Being the 43rd overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft, Michael Redd exceeded his draft position expectations.

After spending three full years in college at The Ohio State University, Redd declared for the NBA draft, only to hear his name called as one of the final 15 picks. His rookie year did not yield results that would change any team’s stance on passing him over, appearing in only six games.

After his inaugural season, Redd took off in Milwaukee, finding a solid role with the team due to his impressive shooting ability. He earned a starting spot on the team in his fourth year and became an NBA All-Star and an All-NBA team selection.

Redd was also selected as a member of the United States Men’s National Team, winning a gold medal in the FIBA World Championship in 2007 and another gold medal in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

While Redd only made three playoff appearances and had just the single season as an All-Star, his career 38 percent 3-point shooting still made him incredibly valuable.

Even though he spent the final season of his career with the Phoenix, Suns Redd is a Bucks legend. He is the fourth highest scoring Buck in franchise history and still holds the team’s single game scoring record, logging 57 points against the Utah Jazz in the 2006-07 NBA season.

While Redd isn’t as decorated as some of his peers, his production as a late second-round pick makes him a great NBA Draft steal.