Draymond Green, Isaiah Thomas went from 2nd round to All-Stars
TORONTO – Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was selected No. 35 in the second round in 2012, Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap taken 47th in the second round in 2006 and Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas picked 60th – the final pick of the draft – in the second round in 2011.
All three are 2016 All-Stars – Green and Thomas for the first time.
“It just says a lot about where the game has gone and about the hard work guys have put in,” Green said.
Green has flourished in his unique role with the Warriors, becoming one of the most versatile players in the league – able to play multiple positions on offense and defense.
He is averaging 14.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and 7.2 assists and is shooting 48.5% from the field and 42% on three-pointers. He also leads the NBA with 10 triple-doubles. When Green is on the court, the Warriors score 117.6 points and allow 95.8 points per 100 possessions, and he is a major reason the Warriors are 48-4.
Millsap has been a steady player for a majority of his career but has also improved since joining the Hawks in 2013-14. He is averaging 17.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Hawks, who are in fourth place in the East.
Thomas, who is the second All-Star 5-10 or shorter, joining Calvin Murphy, has been a starter and a backup and now a starter again for Boston.
He’s averaging a career-high in points (21.5) and assists (6.6), and the Celtics are 32-23, winners of 10 of their past 12 games – good for third place in the East.
Thomas took note of players such as LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony congratulating him on his All-Star appearance.
“For them to come up to me and say you deserve to be here, it means a lot,” Thomas said. “It shows my peers respect what I do.”
Did Green ever think he was a first-rounder?
“I just always say, ‘Going in the first round didn’t fit my story,’ ” he said. “It worked out.”
Green, Thomas and Millsap give other second-rounders a roadmap.
“We could have all crumbled under those circumstances and not worked to get here,” he said. “Everybody’s put the work in, and it’s paid off.”