![Giannis Antetokounmpo is the reigning MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. [Image Source: Flickr | Dan Garcia]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2020/11/16/660x290/b_502x220x82/giannis-antetokounmpo-is-the-reigning-mvp-and-defensive-player-of-the-year-image-source-flickr-dan-garcia_2544856.jpg "Giannis Antetokounmpo is the reigning MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. [Image Source: Flickr | Dan Garcia]")
With the 2020 NBA Draft taking place on Wednesday, many websites have been posting their mock drafts. Bleacher Report put up their last mock draft on Monday.
While it’s always more likely that your team will draft a future star the earlier they pick, sometimes there are gems that are found later. Here are the ten best players that have been selected outside the lottery since 2010. The lottery are the first 14 picks which are made by teams that did not reach the playoffs.
There have been plenty taken outside the lottery who have turned into excellent players. Some honorable mentions include Eric Bledsoe (2010 - 18th overall), Hassan Whiteside (2010 - 33rd overall), Isaiah Thomas (2011 - 60th overall), Jusuf Nurkic (2014 - 19th overall), Clint Capela (2014 - 25th overall), Montrezl Harrell (2015 - 32nd overall), Josh Richardson (2015 - 40th overall), Caris LeVert (2016 - 20th overall), Malcolm Brogdon (2016 - 36th overall), and John Collins (2017 - 19th overall).
A debate can be broken out as to who should be first among the first two names, but championship experience prevailed.
Kawhi Leonard (2011 - 15th overall)
A two-time champion (once with the Spurs and once with the Raptors), Leonard was named Finals MVP both times and won back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards for 2014-15 and 2015-16.
Odds to win 2021 NBA MVP ~
— BetOnline.ag (@betonline_ag) November 7, 2020
Luka Doncic +500
Giannis Antetokounmpo +600
LeBron James +600
Steph Curry +700
James Harden +800
Anthony Davis +1000
Damian Lillard +1200
Kevin Durant +1200
Kawhi Leonard +1400
Nikola Jokic +1600 pic.twitter.com/2q0jK8JXhs
Giannis Antetokounmpo (2013 - 15th overall)
Fourteen teams passed on Antetokounmpo, who has been named league MVP each of the last two seasons. According to AP News, he became just the third player ever this past season (along with Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon) to win both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.
December 22nd can’t come soon enough. 😤 pic.twitter.com/ffvECXY5RF
— Giannis Ugo Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) November 10, 2020
Jimmy Butler (2011 - 30th overall)
In nine seasons, Butler has been an All-Star five times, made the All-Defensive Second Team four times, and earned a spot on the All-NBA Third Team three times. Over the last six seasons, he owns averages of 21 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.8 steals.
Meyers Leonard says Jimmy Butler proved the narrative wrong. pic.twitter.com/7WAutwjp9Z
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 14, 2020
Nikola Jokic (2014 - 41st overall)
Arguably the best 7-foot passer the game has ever seen, Jokic has nearly averaged seven assists over the last three seasons. He finished ninth in MVP in 2019-20 and fourth in 2018-19.
▪️ 2nd NBA All-Star
— NBA (@NBA) November 7, 2020
▪️ All-NBA Second Team
▪️ WCF Appearance
Recap all the best moments and plays from Nikola Jokic of the @nuggets during the 2019-20 season! pic.twitter.com/37QUfMCnGJ
Draymond Green (2012 - 35th overall)
The 2016-17 Defensive Player of the Year, Green has made five All-Defensive Teams (three first, two second) in his eight seasons. He led the league in steals in 2016-17 and has won three titles with the Warriors.
They said Draymond hit 21 THREES in a row yesterday 👀 @Money23Green
— Overtime (@overtime) November 15, 2020
(via @swishcultures_) pic.twitter.com/Va2rXhPC1P
Rudy Gobert (2013 - 27th overall)
Known as the ‘Stifle Tower’, Gobert was the league’s Defensive Player of the Year both in 2017-18 and 2018-19. He led the league in rejections in 2016-17 and has averaged at least two blocks every season since 2014-15.
This draft could turn out to be similar to the one in 2013 when Anthony Bennett went No. 1:
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) November 9, 2020
2nd - Victor Oladipo
10th - CJ McCollum
15th - Giannis
27th - Rudy Gobert https://t.co/fqQkeyTjQd
Nikola Vucevic (2011 - 16th overall)
Vucevic has become one of the league’s best centers on an annual basis and has averaged a double-double (points and rebounds) in six of his eight seasons with the Magic. He was named an All-Star for the first time in 2018-19.
Thank you @CoachEnfield and @usc_mikebohn ! Matija can rep in style now! #FightOn @USC_Athletics pic.twitter.com/8CXIG5RUCB
— Nikola Vucevic (@NikolaVucevic) November 9, 2020
Pascal Siakam (2016 - 27th overall)
The 2018-19 season saw Siakam not just earn Most Improved Player but also win a championship with the Raptors. In 2019-20, his fourth year in the league, he took his game even further and was named an All-Star for the first time.
23(tie). Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks: 8.29
— NBA Math (@NBA_Math) November 12, 2020
23(tie). Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets: 8.29
22. Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors: 8.43
21. Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors: 8.5https://t.co/dAwHXHW4Cw pic.twitter.com/KTwr2AXigw
Khris Middleton (2012 - 39th overall)
Named an All-Star each of the last two seasons, Middleton shot 49.7 percent from the field in 2019-20, just missing out on a 50/40/90 season (41.5 percent on threes, 91.6 percent from the foul line). He posted career-best averages of 20.9 points and 6.2 rebounds last season.
#ad Hope everyone had an awesome #StateFarmSaturday and #NBAAllStar! I definitely did! pic.twitter.com/jaqmqEo9HG
— Khris Middleton (@Khris22m) February 19, 2020
Tobias Harris (2011 - 19th overall)
While many may believe he is overpaid (signed a five-year, $180 million contract last season), Harris is still a well-above average scorer in the league. In the last two seasons, he has averaged 19.8 points (on 48 percent shooting) along with 7.4 rebounds.
Tobias Harris (@tobias31) and his mother Lisa, share the impact his grandfather Lt. Col. John I. Mulzac had on their lives and other black men in the military as a member of The Tuskegee Airmen. #HoopsForTroops #VeteransDay pic.twitter.com/qVn4JGHSpE
— NBA Cares (@nbacares) November 11, 2020
