1996 NBA Draft: Revisiting the Greatest Draft of NBA History
There were many great drafts in NBA history.
The 1984 Draft is a perfect example, giving us legends like Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Charles Barkley, John Stockton, and other greats.
It also was the year of the most controversial draft pick of all time, having Sam Bowie picked second-overall over Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley.
Believe it or not, the Draft of 1996 had the most talented players to ever appear in one draft.
Each of these players will be examined, as will their success in the game.
10. Zydrunas Ilgauskas
1 of 10
Ilgauskas has had a lengthy career.
Drafted 20th overall, he played his whole career in Cleveland until signing with the Miami Heat this off-season.
He was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, and has been selected to play for the All-Star game twice.
He was injury riddled to start off his run as a pro, but came back to All-Star form.
He boasts career averages of 13.8 points per game, 1.6 blocks per game, and 7.7 rebounds per game. These included career high seasons of 17.2 points per game in the 2002-03 season, and 9.3 rebounds per game in 2007-08.
9. Peja Stojakovic
2 of 10
Peja may be a forgotten figure of his former self now, but there used to be a time when he was considered maybe the greatest shooter of his time.
He right now sits as the player with the third most three-pointers made in NBA history, trailing only Ray Allen and Reggie Miller. Ray Allen was actually part of this draft too.
Peja was part of the All-NBA Second Team in 2004, and was in the All-Star game three times in his career.
He has played for four teams in the NBA, the Kings, Pacers, Hornets, and his current team, the Toronto Raptors.
He may have lost his touch the last couple years, but when it comes to shooting, Peja is in a league above almost everyone else.
The two Three-Point Shootout Championships prove that, also.
8. Ben Wallace
3 of 10
Ben Wallace was a tenacious defender.
He was tough, physical, and was undrafted.
He proved everyone wrong when he won the Championship in 2004, and made the All-Star game FOUR times. He was more popular than Camby, even though I personally believe Camby is better, because he aged better. He has won Defensive Player of the Year four times as well, made the All-NBA team five times and has been on the All -NBA defensive team six times.
His career scoring average may only be 6.2, but at his peak averaged 3.5 blocks and 15.4 rebounds.
Him and Rasheed gave Detroit the toughness that won them a ring.
He struggled in scoring and free-throw shooting, but for someone who went undrafted he was extremely decorated with awards and a ring.
.png?w=256)
7. Stephon Marbury
4 of 10
Marbury is very controversial.
He made almost $20 million in New York, despite being put on the bench for a whi;e.
When he was given his minutes, he proved his worth.
He has career averages of 19.3 points and 7.6 assists.
His best season was undoubtedly his first year in New York, when he averaged over 20 and 9.
He was named an All-Star twice and was on the All-NBA third team twice.
His impact was felt on the court, even though his last seasons in New York were a little bad.
6. Marcus Camby
5 of 10
Camby is one of the greatest rebounders and shot-blockers in recent history.
For the past decade, he has been tearing up the glass and blocking shots.
He has career averages of 2.6 blocks and 10 rebounds, including his rookie season where he was more of a scorer than a defender.
Even this season, he is averaging more than 10 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.
HIs scoring has dipped alot this season, at a career low, but he doesn't need to score to dominate a game.
He is 12th in NBA history for total blocks, and is in a group of only 37 players in history to record 10 blocks in one game. On two occasions, he recorded 11, while two other times he recorded 10.
In his career, he has been selected to the All-Defensive First Team twice, the All-Defensive Second Team twice, and Defensive Player of the Year once, but never made the All-Star game due to his scoring keeping him from making it.
5. Jermaine O'Neal
6 of 10
Jermaine at his peak was one of the most exciting players in the NBA.
He averaged over 20 points four different seasons, and adds a career block average of 1.9.
He had a good post game, with a nice mid-range shot which helped him produce.
Lately, he hasn't produced as much and is currently playing for the Boston Celtics, but is injured.
Also a good rebounder, he was able to clean up the glass, even though that aspect of his game is on the decline along with everything else.
He brought toughness to Indiana, even thought they were stacked with it in Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson.
4. Ray Allen
7 of 10
Ray Allen is as consistent as gravity.
He comes to the game and knows what he is doing. Heck he shows up five hours earlier and practices his shot.
They say he has the keys to the gym they practice in, because he's always there practicing.
He is set to pass Reggie Miller on the All-Time three-pointers made list later this season, or next.
He is surely to become number one, and shooting isn't all he can do.
Back in the day, Allen could throw it down, and with ease.
He's a nine time All-Star, one time champion, has made both the Second and Third All-NBA teams. He also is a former three-point shooting contest champion, and is also a respectable person off the court, winning the Sportsman Ship award in 2003.
For his career, he has averaged over 20 points and has shot the three at a 39.6 percent clip.
3. Allen Iverson
8 of 10
Iverson is one of the most tenacious scorers of all time, boasting a 26.7 point average for his career, including leading the league in scoring four times, winning one MVP on the way, making the All-Star team 11 times, has made the All-NBA First and Second teams twice, and the Third Team once.
He had one of the deadliest crossovers ever. Just search "Iverson crossover on Jordan" on Youtube and be amazed.
He had an attitude, and didn't like "practice", but he had one of the biggest hearts when it came to basketball.
Sure, these last two years have been horrible for him, but he will always remain a fan-favorite because of what he did and how he did it.
Iverson will always be a great in the NBA, for as long as the league is intact.
2. Steve Nash
9 of 10
The "Wine" of the NBA, Nash just gets better and better as he ages.
He's a two time MVP, and for a good reason. He is one of the greatest shooters of all time, one of the greatest passers of all time, and has maybe the highest basketball IQ in the game today.
He knows what he's doing every night, and that's putting his team on his back. He has made all the All-NBA teams a collective seven times, which is how many times he appeared in the All-Star game, also.
"I know he's going to take my game to a whole other level,"
Those are the words of teammate Hakim Warrick.
Everyone wants to play with Nash because he gets his teammates involved.
He recently became one of only two players in history to shoot perfectly for a game and score 20 points while still racking up 15 assists.
His career averages aren't anything to jump at, but he is in the Top 5 Point Guard discussion for All-Time, if only he ever learned to play defense.
1. Kobe Bryant
10 of 10
"The Black Mamba"
This guy is just amazing.
He is second all time only to the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) and I shouldn't even have to mention the guy's name.
He is a five time champion, has an MVP to his name, leads the Lakers franchise in All-Time scoring, as well as leading the league twice. He's made the All-Star game 12 times. He's made the All-NBA teams 12 times, also.
His offense isn't the only thing that makes him great, his defense speaks for itself, too. He is a 10 time All-NBA Defensive Team member, and he even took his talents overseas and won gold in Beijing in 2008.
He's won it with Shaq, he's won it without Shaq.
No matter how you look at the guy, he deserves every bit of success he has had in his career, no matter what has happened off-court. He has a ring on all five fingers on one hand, even one on that broken finger.
He's played through pain, has won it all five times, and there is almost nothing he hasn't done in the NBA.
Lebron should look up, for as long as Kobe is in the NBA, 'Bron ain't king.
.png?w=480)
