NBA Draft: All-Decade team of guys who were drafted too low (2010-19)

The five players who compose “the starters” of the All-Decade drafted too low team.

Point Guard – Isaiah Thomas – No. 60 overall selection in 2011 by the Sacramento Kings

There may be no player more fitting to kick off the All-Decade drafted too low starting lineup than Isaiah Thomas. The five-foot-nine Thomas has put his name amongst the greatest of little guys to ever play, averaging 18.4 points and 5.0 assists per game for his career.

Before he was finishing third in MVP voting and dropping 50 points in playoff games, Thomas got his start playing college basketball with the Washington Huskies. His time there is highlighted by the memorable game-winner he hit against Arizona, with an even more memorable call by Gus Johnson.

While at Washington Thomas was named the Pac-10 Freshman of the year and in both his sophomore and junior seasons he was selected to the first-team All-Pac-10. Despite his accomplishments and prowess as a scorer, it is a bit more understandable why Thomas fell in the draft given his size concerns.

Still, nine years, two All-Star games, and with his No. 2 Washington jersey hanging in the rafters, Thomas has had every team kick themselves wondering why they let him pass multiple times on draft day.

Shooting Guard – Jimmy Butler – No. 30 overall selection in 2011 by the Chicago Bulls

If there were ever a person who grinded their way to stardom in the NBA, it’s Jimmy Butler. Butler played his college ball in two different places: his first stop was at Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas, from there he transferred to play under Buzz Williams at Marquette.

Butler was not top a top recruit in his school, and playing JUCO ball at Tyler was one of his only options. He averaged 18.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists at Tyler, but was still only seen as a two-star recruit.

It was not until his junior and senior seasons at Marquette that Butler started to shine. Butler averaged 14.7 points as a junior and upped it to 15.7 as a senior. His hard work paid off into him getting drafted, but he still nearly slipped out of the first round before the Bulls selected him at No. 30.

As a most improved player, four-time all-star, two-time all NBA performer, and one of the most clutch players in the league, Butler has outworked every team who opted to pass on him back in 2011, and those results have landed him in the starting lineup of the All-Decade team.

Small Forward – Kawhi Leonard – No. 15 overall selection in 2011 by the Pacers, traded to San Antonio on draft day.

Who else? Kawhi Leonard is a two-time NBA Champion, a two-time Finals MVP, a three-time All-Star, perennial defensive player of the year candidate, and arguably the best player in the NBA right now.

Getting selected at No.15 in the draft, one pick outside the lottery, may not seem like a draft-day fall, but when considering Kawhi’s resume, it’s mind-boggling that he got drafted where he did. Leonard played his college ball at San Diego State where he seemed like nothing more than a solid player with an intriguing physical profile.

Leonard’s biggest college achievement was being named to the Second Team All-America after his sophomore season in which he averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds a game while leading the Aztecs to the Sweet 16.

Perhaps scouts and front offices overlooked the fact that in his two seasons, Leonard led San Diego State, not typically a dominant program, to a combined record of 59-12 and two NCAA Tournament appearances.

Whatever it may have been that cause Leonard not to be a lottery selection, those teams who selected in the lottery in 2011 would certainly like a do-over now.

Power Forward – Pascal Siakim – No. 27 overall selection in 2016 by the Toronto Raptors

Kawhi Leonard’s teammate during last season’s finals run and one of the brightest young stars in the NBA now played his college ball at mid-major New Mexico State. Siakim has come a long way from his college days to turn into the player he is now.

Siakim was forced to redshirt as a freshman at New Mexico due to injury. He eventually returned to the floor and worked his way to Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year honors after his freshman season and then became a 20 point per game and Player of the Year level player as a sophomore.

Again, despite showing continued improvement and possessing loads of potential, Siakim came close to slipping out of the first round. The Raptors were willing to take a shot on him and he’s gotten better every year since.

Center – Draymond Green – No. 35 overall selection in 2011 by the Golden State Warriors

Any player who can name all 34 players selected ahead of them in their draft class takes pride in overcoming his draft slot to become the player he is today. It’s hard to argue with Draymond now as he has three NBA titles and three All-Star appearances to his name and is a part of arguably the greatest team ever built-in NBA history.

Green played his college ball under Tom Izzo and had himself a very successful four years at Michigan State. Green had an immediate impact his freshman season averaging 8.5 points and 5.3 rebounds during the Spartans run to the National Title game.

By the time he was a junior, Green was averaging a shade under 13 points and 9 boards a game and he was a member of the third-team All-Big-Ten for the second consecutive year.

Green’s senior season ended with him becoming Michigan State’s all-time leader in career rebounds, the third player in school history to score 1,000 points and grab 1,000 boards, and he was named the Big Ten Player of the Year.

Those accolades and the team success for the Spartans were not enough to make Green a first-round selection in the draft. With the Warriors, Green transformed his body, found his role, and became one of the most versatile and valuable players in the NBA.