The 1996 NBA Draft was one of the most significant in recent memory. Not only did it give us two future Hall of Famers in Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, but it also helped shape the current landscape of the NBA. Now, 20 years later, it’s time to take a look back at what happened in that draft and see how each player has fared over the past two decades. In this blog post, we will explore the 1996 NBA Draft and rank every player based on how they have performed in the league. From the #1 pick to the guy who was eventually waived by the Dallas Mavericks, read on to get a comprehensive look at how each player has progressed over the years.
96 NBA Draft overview
The 2017 NBA Draft is finally here, and as always, there are a lot of talented prospects to choose from. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive overview of the draft, including predictions for who will be picked where and when.
First things first: The order of the draft will be determined by team standings at the end of the season. The Lakers (first seed), Celtics (second seed), and76ers (third seed) will all have the right to select first, second, and third in each round, respectively. Teams with worse records can also trade their picks.
Here is our predicted order of the draft:
1st - Lakers
2nd - Celtics
3rd - 76ers
The top 5 picks
The NBA Draft is one of the most exciting events in professional sports, and it’s always fun to re-watch the top prospects play together in college. Here are five players who have had their stock rise thanks to strong seasons in 2018-19: Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cam Reddish, and Rui Hachimura.
Zion Williamson has been on many analysts' draft boards for years now, but he put up unfathomable numbers this season for Duke. He averaged 34.2 points, 13.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 63% from the field and 50% from three-point range. Williamson was also named ACC Player of the Year and was a unanimous first team selection for the All-ACC team. The 19-year-old will likely be a Top 3 pick in this year’s draft, and there’s no doubt that he’ll be a star in either the NBA or international leagues.
RJ Barrett has been one of the most improved players in college basketball this season. The 6'7'' forward from Kentucky averaged 23 points and 7 rebounds per game while shooting 46% from the field and 33% from three-point range this year. Barrett was also named SEC Player of the Year and was a unanimous first team selection for the All-SEC team. He’s likely to go Top 2 or Top 3 in this year’s draft, and
The best player not taken in the 1996 NBA Draft
The best player not taken in the 1996 NBA Draft was Allen Iverson. Iverson went 1st overall to the Philadelphia 76ers, and he is considered one of the greatest players in league history. He led the 76ers to six playoff appearances and two championships, and he is also a five-time scoring champion. Other notable players not selected in the 1996 draft include Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady and Ray Allen.
Key players who were picked in the 1996 NBA Draft
1996 NBA Draft
The 1996 NBA Draft was held on June 26th, 1996. 16 players were drafted in total. Some of the key players who were picked in this draft include Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter and Shaquille O’Neal. These players have since gone on to become some of the greatest players in NBA history.
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The 1996 NBA Draft
The 1996 NBA Draft was one of the most chaotic drafts in recent memory. Twelve players were drafted in the first round, which led to a lot of controversy as many teams felt they should have been able to get more picks.
As it turned out, the draft was very productive for teams as twelve players went on to become successful NBA players. Some of the players who were drafted in the first round include Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, and Shaquille O’Neal. These twelve players formed the nucleus of some of the best teams in NBA history, and their success paved the way for other stars to emerge.
Which players from the 1996 NBA Draft are still playing in the NBA?
Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal, Andre Iguodala, LeBron James
The biggest disappointments from the 1996 NBA Draft
The 1996 NBA Draft was one of the most disappointing in recent memory. Many high-profile players, like Allen Iverson and Ben Wallace, were drafted by teams that did not end up employing them to their full potential. Some players who ended up becoming stars, such as Antonio Davis and Stephon Marbury, were taken relatively late in the draft. Here are five of the biggest disappointments from the 1996 NBA Draft:
- Allen Iverson - Philadelphia 76ers: Iverson was drafted third overall by the 76ers, but he never lived up to his potential in Philly. He was traded to Denver in 2001 and then moved on to Detroit before settling in with Atlanta last season. He is now one of the league’s top forwards and a three-time All-Star.
- Ben Wallace - Chicago Bulls: Wallace was selected fourth overall by the Bulls and spent his entire career with Chicago before being traded to Miami in 2003. He is a nine-time All-Star and an eight-time Defensive Player of the Year winner.
- Antonio Davis - New Orleans Hornets: Davis was drafted fifth overall by the Hornets and became one of the best power forwards in the league. He won two MVP awards during his time with New Orleans and retired after this past season.
- Stephon Marbury - New York Knicks: Marbury was selected seventh overall by New York and had an amazing rookie season, averaging 20 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds.
Who would have been the best pick in the 1996 NBA Draft?
The 1996 NBA Draft was one of the most important in NBA history. It is widely considered to be one of the greatest drafts ever, with many future Hall-of-Famers being drafted. However, who would have been the best pick in the 1996 draft?
There are a number of great candidates for this title.1996 was a landmark year for basketball, with new rules being put into effect that changed how the game was played. This led to players like Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan emerging as stars, and made it difficult for some of the older players to keep up.
One player who would have benefited from these changes was Karl Malone. The Utah Jazz forward was already an All-Star when these new rules were introduced, but he elevated his game even further due to their effects. He averaged 32 points per game in 1995-96, which is still a record for a season by a power forward.
If Malone had been drafted in 1996, he likely would have become one of the greatest players in NBA history. Another player who may have benefitted from these changes was Shaquille O’Neal. The center was still developing at this point, and teams weren’t used to having a big man like him on their roster. If he had been drafted in 1996, however, O’Neal could have become one of the biggest superstars in league history.
Conclusion
The 1996 NBA Draft is one of the most controversial in league history, mainly because it produced some of the greatest players in NBA history. Some say that if not for a few unlucky picks, including Kwame Brown and Leandro Barbosa, the league would be much different today. Regardless of who you think was great or lucky in 1996, there’s no denying that these 10 players changed basketball forever. So take a look at this list and tell us which player – from either draft class – is your all-time favorite?
