The air around the NBA draft is charged with excitement and a thin layer of nervousness. The questions of who will be a star and who will flame out zip around the NBA world following draft night. One question everyone wants to be the first to answer is, who is the steal of the draft? Looking back, who has been the biggest steals of the last decade of NBA drafts? This list is from 2013-2023, but many think Carlton “Bub” Carrington will be the steal of the 2024 draft.
Biggest NBA Draft Steals This Decade
The Best Value Draft Pick Ever?
You can’t discuss all-time draft steals without mentioning Nikola Jokic. Jokic was selected 41st in the 2014 NBA draft during a now-infamous Taco Bell commercial. He is the only second-round pick since Willis Reed in 1966 to win MVP, having won three MVPs, becoming the ninth player to reach that achievement. Jokic is the third second-round pick ever to win FMVP, joining Reed in 1970/1973 and Dennis Johnson in 1979. On top of his accolades, Jokic has made a legacy as the greatest passing big man ever and one of the greatest offensive weapons the game has ever seen. Jokic is in the middle of his prime and is already a six-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA player. He is the best second-round draft pick of the modern era and maybe the best value draft pick ever.
A Freak of Nature
The 2013 NBA draft featured the biggest draft bust in recent memory, with Anthony Bennett going first overall. That same draft produced one of the best draft steals ever, with Giannis Antetokounmpo selected 15th. With the 15th pick, you hope to get a decent role player, not a superstar like Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo quickly rose to stardom, becoming an All-Star at 22 years old and being named to his first All-NBA and All-Defense teams. From there, Antetokounmpo would become a two-time MVP, one-time DPOY, and an FMVP in 2021. Like Jokic, Antetokounmpo has built a legacy outside of his awards, being the most efficient at-the-rim finisher in league history by the numbers.
Like Jokic, Antetokounmpo is in the middle of his prime and is already an eight-time All-Star and eight-time All-NBA player. He is a lock for the Hall of Fame and the best 15th pick in the NBA’s history.
A Champion Up North
The 2016 draft featured a star-studded top-three and talent throughout the draft. One of the most talented players in this draft was selected 27th by the Raptors. Pascal Siakam had next to no hype around him when drafted. At the start of his career, Siakam was just another high-energy hustle player until he broke out in 2018-19. Siakam helped lead the Raptors to their first-ever championship that season. With Kawhi Leonard leaving the Raptors the following year, Siakam became the first option and led the team to a 53-19 record, making his first All-NBA team. Siakam has been a two-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA player so far and finished last season helping lead the Pacers back to the conference finals.
Honorable mentions
The last decade has produced many draft steals, both in the first and second rounds. Jalen Brunson, Dejounte Murray, Desmond Bane, and Tyrese Maxey deserve to be considered elite draft steals. With time, Brunson, Bane, or Maxey could become better picks than Siakam, but for now, he takes third. Looking at the next decade, GG Jackson II and Andrew Nembhard could become some of the best steals of the 2020s, both being picked in the second round.
