A first-round pick is one of the most valuable assets an NBA Team can have. They are usually young players with much room to grow and are cheap relative to the rest of the league.
More often than not, these players selected high in the first round return the most value because they are generally the most talented players and receive more opportunities.
But who says teams can't find immense value in the second round?
Manu Ginobili, Nikola Jokic, Draymond Green, Dennis Rodman, and Khris Middleton would like a word.
It seems that every year, a few players selected in the second round prove to be important pieces on championship teams.
The Pacers and Thunder have multiple players taken in the second round who helped their team reach the pinnacle of the sport.
Could there be players selected in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft that will have a similar impact?
Probably.
Here are five of the best picks from round two of the NBA Draft.
Phoenix Suns - Rasheer Fleming (Pick 31)
Rasheer Fleming should have been a first-round pick. The Junior was one of the best athletes in the class and improved into a solid catch and three-point shooter. He finished the year with 43 dunks and 62 threes.
He was the only player in the country to do that in 2025 and is one of eight players to finish with at least 40 dunks and 50 threes since 2008.
Fleming is an athletic 3&D power forward that can also act as a small-ball five because of his freakishly long wingspan.
Fleming struggles to put the ball on the floor (96.8% of his threes were assisted and 95.6% of his dunks were assisted) and create for himself or others, but he may not have to do that much early on, considering the Suns have other players to create offense.
Orlando Magic - Noah Penda (Pick 32)
Penda is another player who should have gone in the first round. He is one of the best event creators in the class. The Frenchman wreaks havoc on defense using his ridiculous size and wingspan to cover ground and guard multiple positions(3.3 steal percentage and 5.6 block percentage).
Penda is a growing offensive player. He is not a good shooter (30.2% from three and 67.2% from the charity stripe) and needs to improve his finishing around the rim in the half-court, but he adds value as a connective passer and play-finisher.
The Magic have crushed this draft, and Penda will add to an already elite defense.
Charlotte Hornets - Ryan Kalkbrenner (34)
During his time at Creighton, Kalkbrenner was one of college basketball's most dominant rim protectors. He won Big East Defensive Player of the Year four times, and this season the Blue Jays’ defense was 9.9 points better with him on the floor.
Kalkbrenner is also a dominant rim finisher (72.9% at the rim in the half court on 236 attempts) and a growing three-point shooter. Despite his size, Kalkbrenner could play a large majority of Creighton's minutes, which is rare for a 7-footer.
Kalkbrenner needs to improve as a rebounder and had an underwhelming block percentage during his collegiate career, which is probably why he slipped to the second round.
The Hornets desperately needed a center after trading Mark Williams on Wednesday and got one of the best in the class at pick 34.
Los Angeles Lakers - Adou Thiero (36)
Thiero is the best functional athlete in the draft. It is a crime that he fell this low to the Lakers.
The wing legitimately has star statistical indicators. Thiero finished the season with a 69.2 free-throw rate, 45 dunks, and a 9.1 box-plus-minus. Thiero is a menace on defense. He has an NBA-ready body and uses his 7-foot wingspan to pressure ball handlers and blow up passing lanes.
Simply put, Thiero was the best player on a team that made the Sweet 16. With him on the floor, Arkansas had a +11.7 adjusted net rating, and he led the team in scoring.
For Thiero to reach his ceiling, he must improve as a shooter, or he will risk falling into a rotation role. He shot just 25.6% from three on really low volume.
If he can improve as a spot-up shooter, he will likely be the Lakers' best pick in years.
Memphis Grizzlies - Javon Small (48)
The Memphis Grizzlies have had a track record of finding diamonds in the rough. They selected Desmond Bane and Santi Aldama at 30, Jaylen Wells at 39, GG Jackson and Vince Williams at 45 and 47th, respectively, and brought in undrafted players such as Scottie Pippen Jr.
Their scouting department is elite, and they might have picked up their next overlooked but productive player in Javon Small.
Small is a very well-rounded player. He is an efficient playmaker, tough defender, and relentless scorer. The guard was the engine that made the Mountaineers go after Tucker Devries was ruled out with an injury.
Small averaged 18 points, 5.6 assists (2.0 assist-to-turnover ratio), 1.5 steals and the team’s offense was +20.8 with him on the floor.
The guard struggles to get to and finish at the rim and shot just 35% from behind the arc, but was in an overtasked role at West Virginia.