NBA: Ranking the 10 best scouting departments over the past 20 years

San Antonio Spurs

What has always been most impressive about the San Antonio Spurs is that not only is their international scouting the best in the league — by a large margin — but they often tend to find these hidden gems within the late first and second rounds; obscure names that come draft night, many of us can’t even pronounce.

Those five championship banners they have at the AT&T Center, all came primarily through internal development; in the past 20 years, Tim Duncan is the only top 10 lottery pick R.C Buford and Pop have had the luxury to build around nor have they relied on free agency to contend, like the Lakers or Rockets (besides LaMarcus Aldridge).

Hits: Kawhi Leonard, Dejounte Murray, Gary Neal, Corey Joseph, George Hill, Davis Bertans, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Bryn Forbes, Tiago Splitter, Beno Udrih, Johnathon Simmons

Misses: Livio Jean-Charles, Marcus Williams, Deshaun Thomas, Ian Mahinmi