Ranking The Last Ten #2 Overall NBA Draft Picks

Joel Piton
3 days ago
8 min read

by Joel Piton

Sportz Nation - 3/6//2026

For years, the No. 2 overall pick carried an unfair label as close, but not quite. Then players like Kevin Durant came around and reframed the conversation entirely. Durant didn’t just become a star; he became proof that the second pick can produce generational talent just as much as any No. 1 selection. Over the last decade, the No. 2 spot has produced a fascinating mix of outcomes: players who became immediate stars, players still growing into their ceilings, and others whose careers highlight just how difficult projection can be.

The range is wide, but the upside has remained consistent. That’s what makes this group so interesting to evaluate. So with KD's legacy serving as the blueprint for what the second pick can become, it’s worth stepping back and asking a simple question: how strong has this position actually been in recent years? Let’s take a look at the last ten No. 2 overall selections and see just how much talent has come from the spot.

James Wiseman (GSW) — 2020

Age: 24

Height: 7'0"

Position: C

2025-26 Stats: 3.3 PPG · 2.0 RPG · 0.8 APG · 60.0% FG

Wiseman continues to ball out as a representative for team USA, but. atthe NBA level, it might just be wraps. Wiseman came into the league with the skill, size, touch and mobility to be the Warriors long-term project at the center position, but a clean bill of health was simply too hard to come by. Playing just three games at the collegiate level due to scandal, the Warriors still saw enough to take a chance on his development, but injury after injury has stunted his growth, and he just never really got it going as a big man durable enough to withstand an 82 game season. Following a torn ACL in Indiana, Wiseman was cut last December, but at just 24 years old, he may get another chance.

Lonzo Ball (LAL) — 2017

Age: 28

Height: 6'5"

Position: PG

2025-26 Stats: 4.6 PPG · 4.0 RPG · 3.9 APG · 30.1% FG

Chino Hills and UCLA standout Lonzo Ball had tremendous upside entering the league as one of the most highly touted prospects of the 2010's. Unfortunately for Lonzo, he falls under the same pattern as James Wiseman with constant injuries. Lonzo was at one point one of the most reliable perimeter defenders in the NBA which certainly made up for his unorthodox jump shot, and his on-ball clamps gave him an All-Defensive Team upside that would make him a substantial point guard for years to come. Unfortunately, Lonzo's never managed to play much more than sixty games in a season, and following severe knee injuries that kept him off the court for over two years, he never really bounced back as a dependable player. With career lows this season of just four points a night before getting released, it's quite possible Lonzo's career has reached its end.

Marvin Bagley III (SAC) — 2018

Age: 27

Height: 6'10"

Position: PF

2025-26 Stats: 10.4 PPG · 6.2 RPG · 1.4 APG · 62.3% FG

Drawing comparisons to the like's of Chris Bosh and LaMarcus Aldridge for his shooting touch, mobility and efficiency, Marvin Bagley entered the league as the NABC Freshman of the Year putting up a 21 point double-double at Duke. He looked like a monster. After a solid rookie season as a bench four, Bagley remained consistent in Sacramento but never really took off tremendously on the offensive end or improved his numbers. Bagley's been a substantial role player for multiple teams at this point his career, finding comfort in Detroit as a lob-threat, a rebounder in Washington and now a key-contributor on a Dallas Team trying to make a final play-in push. Most of us remember him as the guy drafted before Luka and what could have been in Sacramento, but the reality is—Bagley's been a decent player.

Dylan Harper (SA) — 2025

Age: 20

Height: 6'5"

Position: PG

2025-26: 11.0 PPG · 3.4 RPG · 3.8 APG · 47.3% FG

With tremendous basketball IQ and playmaking ability, Dylan Harper could be a problem in the Western Conference for many years to come, he just hasn't really had much of an opportunity to showcase it yet. Wedged into a loaded backcourt with the likes of Stephon Castle, De'Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell, Harper struggles to find minutes in the rotation because of the abundance of guards in San Antonio. Even still, he's been putting up 11 points and 4 dimes on really good efficiency despite averaging just 22 minutes per game. Critics and fans have already put V.J. Edgecombe over him in terms of potential but I'm not sold—I think Harper is just scratching the surface of what he can do, and has a long career ahead.

Alex Sarr (WAS) — 2024

Age: 20

Height: 7'0"

Position: C

2025-26 Stats: 17.8 PPG · 7.8 RPG · 2.8 APG · 49.6% FG

Another prototype of a French big-man capable of breaking boundaries at the center position, Alexandre Sarr is another alien in a nutshell. Sarr's athleticism and quickness is off the charts for a player over seven-feet, and his tremendous timing on defense good make him and All-Defensive Team caliber player for years to come. Sarr's 2.0 swats a night have him tied for second in the NBA, and he looks as though he can do it without even trying. I expect to see Sarr on the stocks leaderboards. for years to come, but his offensive game is no slouch either. With the skillset to pull up from beyond the arc, mid-range, break a defender down in the post, and finish at the rim, Sarr is just barely scratching the surface of his offensive potential, yet his polish belies that of an NBA vet. For all the hate the 2024 Draft gets, Sarr might silence all of that talk.

Jalen Green (HOU) — 2021

Age: 24

Height: 6'4"

Position: SG

2025-26 Stats: 12.9 PPG · 2.9 RPG · 2.2 APG · 36.0% FG

If you'd have asked me a few years ago, I would be lying if I said I didn't think Jalen Green had hall of fame potential. Off the charts athleticism, backboard shattering dunks, elite handles and a crafty offensive game, Green was the flagship of the G-League Ignite experiment and one of the most exciting players to be on the look out for. Seemingly made in a lab, it was like there was nothing he couldn't do offensively. Green came into the league as a spark plug for a rebuilding Houston Rockets team, providing hope with the honorary James Harden gone. Drawing comparisons to the likes of Zach LaVine, Clyde Drexler, and Kobe Bryant, Green was superb scorer who anchored Houston offensively across the stretch of four seasons. Seemingly ironclad, playing all 82 games in back to back seasons, Green's health has been a disaster this season. And when he has been on the court, he hasn't looked like the same player at all. Some say his confidence was swiped during last year's postseason, but Green's game as downsized tremendously. I hope he turns it around soon because I can't believe I'm putting him fifth.

Brandon Miller (CHA) — 2023

Age: 23

Height: 6'7"

Position: SF

2025-26: 20.9 PPG · 4.7 RPG · 3.4 APG · 42.6% FG

We knew Brandon Miller would be a bucket, but no one expected him to be so versatile offensively and to have improved this quickly, especially considering his injuries. Following surgery on his right wrist, Miller has been a glue guy for the Hornets all season long as the Hornets leading scorer, putting up 21 points on more shot attempts. I think right now the Hornets are trying to work out the tandem of Knueppel, Miller and Bridges in terms of who goes where and who provides most of the offense. All three are capable of putting up. 20 points a night, but I think Miller's trajectory will make him the team's primary scorer. If Miller takes a leap on the defensive end of the floor, I don't see why he can't climb higher on this list.

Brandon Ingram (TOR) — 2016

Age: 28

Height: 6'8"

Position: SF

2025-26 Stats: 21.8 PPG · 5.8 RPG · 3.8 APG · 47.0% FG

Drawing KD comparisons upon arrival, Ingram has done a decent job maintaining a career based largely on offense. Clinching his second all-star appearance in six years, Ingram is single-handling reviving his career on a competitive team, and he's been making the Raptors fun to watch. It's no secret Ingram can score, he does it efficiently and in bunches and no one can really guard him from that midrange spot. But Ingram has been so consistent offensively over the course of his career that we almost take it for granted. A certified three level scorer, the Raptors are thriving with a mixture of multiple scorers putting up 18 points per game (Quickley, Barrett, and Barnes), and Ingram could probably average 25-28 points if need be. Because of the talent and depth on this Raptors team, it's hard to see how valuable Ingram is, but without him I don't think this team secures a playoff spot. Throughout the squad's injury woes, Ingram has been keeping them afloat.

Chet Holmgren (OKC) — 2022

Age: 23

Height: 7'1"

Position: PF

2025-26 Stats: 17.2 PPG · 9.0 RPG · 1.8 APG · 55.3% FG

Chet is already the most accomplished player on this list and his career is literally just beginning. One of the best defenders in the NBA by far (tied for second in blocks) with the mobility and timing to guard virtually any position and send any shot to the cheap-seats, Chet is a defensive cheat code that ended up anchoring an NBA season to a title even after missing the majority of that same season to injuries. For how great he is on the defensive end, Chet's a phenomenal offensive player too, shooting 37% from beyond the arc with a clean shooting stroke. My only critique throughout the offseason is that I wanted to see his rebounding numbers go up, and Chet has done exactly that, putting up multiple double doubles this season and looking more consistent on the glass. I think Holmgren is one of the most promising young players in the NBA, and most people see it too.

Ja Morant (MEM) — 2019

Age: 26

Height: 6'2"

Position: PG

2025-26 Stats: 19.5 PPG · 3.2 RPG · 8.1 APG · 41.0% FG

Say what you want about Ja now, but peak Ja Morant's athleticism and IQ gave him Hall of Fame upside that was every bit justified. However, now I'm almost certain that the majority of this list will pass him up one day. A string of negative incidents, injuries, and untimely setbacks have clouded what once looked like an inevitable star career. Availability has become central to his evaluation and at his best, the two-time All-Star was maybe the most electric player in the league. Fast-forward to now and his future in Memphis is up in the air. It certainly seems he doesn't want to be there anymore, and losing Jaren Jackson did not help the situation. Sustained greatness requires leadership, and while we're not seeing it from him now, I think Ja could surprise us all. Even after putting up near career lows this season, I don't think the talent hasn’t disappeared, but he has a lot to reclaim.

This is a pretty polarizing order. The last decade of No. 2 overall picks has been defined by contrast— not strictly good or bad—but a group of selections that perfectly captures how unpredictable development can be at the NBA level.

As with any case, this list is a snapshot that will change with time. Everyone here is in there twenties, and with hard work, growth, and opportunity, change is inevitable.

For now, this is where we stand. Did we get it right—and just how different does this order look in a few years? Let us know in the comments!

The 2025-26 NBA Season has been anything but predictable, and playoffs are soon to come 🚨 Can't keep up? Stay tuned to Sportz Nation for your sports updates on all things basketball.

Thanks for reading!

-Joel Piton

(@jpiton7)