The greatest draft of all-time you ask? Perhaps.
The initial plan was to make the focus of this article a showdown between Allen Iverson and Steve Nash for the No. 2 slot in the remix. Instead, let’s just cut to the chase — Iverson wins due to the longevity of his greatness. But, that being said, the battle was probably closer than most people would be willing to admit.
The reason we are cutting the Iverson-Nash debate short (other than the fact that AI pretty much beats Nash in most categories when you look at their whole careers) is that focusing just on two players wouldn’t do THE GREATEST DRAFT OF ALL-TIME any justice. But is 1996 really the greatest draft of all-time? Now that is a debate more worthy than Nash-Iverson.
It really comes down to 1984 and 1996 in the G.O.A.T debate. 2003 might make it a three horse race in the future, but it is still too early for LeBron & Co. to really be a true threat. In terms of quantity, 1996 is the undisputed champion of the world. No other draft class has produced more All-Stars or more All-NBA players than 1996. But 1984 has the best shooting guard and best player of all-time in Michael Jordan and top five all-time greats at point guard (John Stockton), power forward (Charles Barkley) and center (Hakeem Olajuwon). All 1996 has is the second-best shooting guard of all-time in Kobe Bryant, probably three other Hall of Famers and a bunch of other players who had real good careers.
So, as incredibly deep as 1996 is, you can’t really argue against MJ, Stockton, Barkley and Olajuwon being the winners. Can you?
1996 NBA Draft
Grade: A+
All-Stars: 11 (Allen Iverson, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Stephon Marbury, Ray Allen, Antoine Walker, Kobe Bryant, Peja Stojakovic, Steve Nash, Jermaine O’Neal, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Ben Wallace)
Biggest Bust: Todd Fuller, Golden State, pick No. 11
Second Round Steal: Jeff McInnis, Denver, pick No. 37
Winning Team (in the long run): Los A
ngeles Lakers (Kobe Bryant)
Career Scoring Leader: Allen Iverson
Career Rebounding Leader: Ben Wallace
Career Assist Leader: Steve Nash
Pick No. 1 | Philadelphia 76ers
Actual Selection: Allen Iverson
Draft 365 Remix: Kobe Bryant (13)
The basketball universe as we know it would have been irrevocably altered if Philly had chosen the hometown boy Kobe instead of AI. Shaq and Kobe wouldn’t have a fistful of rings. Iverson probably wouldn’t be as beloved as he is (after all, he seems to have been made for Philly). It’s hard to really fault the Sixers for their choice though – they passed on one Hall of Famer to choose another. The player they did pass on, though, turned out to be one of the greatest of all-time.
Pick No. 2 | Toronto Raptors
Actual Selection: Marcus Camby
Draft 365 Remix: Allen Iverson (1)
It was already mentioned above why Iverson beat Nash out for the No. 2 slot. As much as critics like to beat on Iverson for his tats, or his shot-happy ways, they can’t knock the man’s heart. The greatest, toughest little man to ever player in the NBA?
Pick No. 3 | Vancouver Grizzlies
Actual Selection: Shareef Abdur-Rahim
Draft 365 Remix: Steve Nash (15)
The same thing that was said about Kobe and Philly can be said about Steve Nash and Vancouver — what if the Grizzlies selected the “hometown” hero instead 
of Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Would Nash’s presence have been enough to keep the franchise north of the border? Impossible to say, just as it was almost impossible to predict back in 1996 that Nash would be the only two-time MVP from his draft class.
Pick No. 4 | Milwaukee Bucks
Actual Selection: Stephon Marbury
Draft 365 Remix: Ray Allen (5)
The NBA’s reigning three-point king, Ray Allen also possesses one of the sweetest strokes you are ever going to see on the court. Nine-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, NBA champion — is there anything Jesus (Shuttlesworth) can’t do?
Pick No. 5 | Minnesota Timberwolves
Actual Selection: Ray Allen
Draft 365 Remix: Ben Wallace (Not drafted)
The first undrafted player to make it into one of our remixes (apologies to Brad Miller who was accidentally overlooking in 1998), Ben Wallace has had the most unusual career – a late bloomer who burned out early. But when he was at the peak of his powers, there wasn’t a more intimidating defensive player around. No other undrafted player can boast four All-Star selections, five All-NBA appearances and four Defensive Player of the Year awards.
Pick No. 6 | Boston Celtics
Actual Selection: Antoine Walker
Draft 365 Remix: Jermaine O’Neal (17)
Jermaine O’Neal looked like another high school bust — during his first four seasons in Portland he barely sniffed the court. But after being emancipated to Indiana, he became a six-time All-Star and three-time member of the All-NBA team. But, like Wallace, he blossomed late (not in regards to his age though) and burned out early.
Pick No. 7 | Los Angeles Clippers
Actual Selection: Lorenzen Wright
Draft 365 Remix: Stephon Marbury (4)
Before he became an internet sensation (for all the wrong reasons) and before all that messy business in New York with Zeke, Stephon Marbury has going to revolutionize the point guard position in the NBA. While he never did quite achieve that, he had a great career — a two-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA recipient.
Pick No. 8 | New Jersey Nets
Actual Selection: Kerry Kittles
Draft 365 Remix: Peja Stojakovic (14)
NBA fans upset that Ricky Rubio decided against coming across the pond to play this year need to remember about Peja Stojakovic. Peja played a couple of more years in Greece after being picked by Sacramento, and he entered the NBA a better player because of it.
Pick No. 9 | Dallas Mavericks
Actual Selection: Samaki Walker
Draft 365 Remix: Antoine Walker (6)
Before he was known for his gambling problems and for his battles with the bulge (OK, maybe not before that), Antoine Walker was a deadly gunner. As an early running mate of Paul Pierce’s, Walker made three All-Star teams even though the bad shot identifier in his brain was malfunctioning.
Pick No. 10 | Indiana Pacers
Actual Selection: Erick Dampier
Draft 365 Remix: Marcus Camby (2)
It’s a crime that Marcus Camby has never made an All-Star team (well, maybe its not a felony, but at least it’s a misdemeanor). Amazingly, the skinny, brittle Camby has gotten better the older he has gotten — he’s made four All-Defensive Team appearances and won the Defensive Player of the Year award since turning 30.
Barely missed the Top 10 Remix: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Derek Fisher, Kerry Kittles.
Next on the Remix: The Kid opens up the high school floodgates.
Read more of Jeff Fox at The Hoops Manifesto.
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And, Kobe would have been eaten alive in Philly. First, he would have been competing with Stackhouse of minutes at the two. Then, he would have had to deal with the rabid Philly fanbase with his rookie skill set, which while nice, wasn’t obviously franchise player worthy. I think Kobe would have had a very, very similar career to Iverson if he had been drafted first.
Cause y’all know Shaq and Phil saved Kobe from becoming the world’s greatest chucker.
Yes, one CAN make an argument for Nash. But it would not only be wrong, but silly.
Nash, as much as I love him as a PG, is not top ten (I actually think I have him listed as eleven or twelve in the best point guards of all time).
But look at 1984:
Jordan is the NUMBER 1 shooting guard of all time.
Stockton is number three or four (Magic and Oscar are pretty much unanimous one and two).
Barkley is either the second or third best power forward of all time (Malone or him. Duncan is number one).
And finally, Hakeem is a top two to five center (he’s always jumbled somewhere inbetween Wilt, Jabbar, Russell and Shaq).
Give me Air, Stock, Barkley and the dream over Kobe, AI, Nash and Jesus any day.
1. Magic Johnson
2. Oscar Robertson
3. John Stockton
4. Isiah Thomas
5. Walt Fraizer
6. Jason Kidd
7. Chris Paul
8. Bob Cousy
9. Gary Payton
10. Nate Archibald
11. Steve Nash
12. Kevin Johnson
13. Maurice Cheeks
14. Deron Williams
15. Dennis Johnson
16. Fat Lever
17. Lenny Wilkins
18. Tony Parker
19. Mark Jackson
20. Tim Hardaway
Agree, disagree?
So I probably deserve to put him over Deron Williams (who I personally think has more skill but I guess hasn’t proved it) but over Cheeks? I dunno, Cheeks was tough.
Mark Jackson could bump over Wilkins and Parker, but for now I can’t justify it. He has the passing stats the way they are because he played for like 19 years.
Wayno: We wont talk
Teddy:
1. Michael Jordan
2. Kobe Bryant
3. Jerry West
4. George Gervin
5. Clyde Drexler
6. Allen Iverson
7. Dywane Wade
8. Pete Maravich
9. Reggie Miller
10. Earl the Perl
11. Sidney Moncrief
12. Ray Allen
13. Manu Ginobli
14. Joe Dumars
15. David Thompson
16. Gail Goodrich
17. Dave Bing
18. Mitch Richmond
19. Hal Greer
20. Bill Sharman
Note this was a helluva lot harder than point guards and a lot of these I’m questioning looking back at them (and I feel bad for leavin’ out guys like Carter, Harper, Majerle, Sam Jones, Blackman, Steve Smith)… but that’s the list I have. I moved Dwayne Wade over Miller, that’s about all the changes I’m gonna make but I’m sure you guys can correct some of them.
@Wayno: That guy with the white socks is Lorenzen Wright
lol, Potapenko then is looking like Adam Morrison now.
Why didn’t Walter McCarty make the list? he’s the best singer after all!
If we adjust these stats to 36 minutes a game (starter minutes), Manu comes away with averages of 19.2/5.3/4.6/2.0 on .454 shooting.
Just for reference, Ray Allen, the dude above him, would average 20.2/4.3/3.6/1.2 on .448 shooting at the same pace.
But forget about stats (I wont even go into offensive advanced statistics– it’s damn near Lebronish with a career .591 true shooting percentage, and top ten in PER for over half his career), what matters in basketball is winning right? Well, what facet of basketball has Manu not won on? No, really! Think about it!
One Italian League Championship, two Italian Cups (where he was Finals MVP), one Euroleague championship (where he was Finals MVP), one Olympic Gold Medal (where he was MVP), and THREE NBA Championships (where he should have been MVP in 2004).
He is the only player to ever win a triple crown, an olympic gold medal, and an NBA championship.
Where ever he goes, teams win. Sure, pass it off as dumb luck. I’ll pass off Manu as one of the best shooting guards of all time, a leader, a winner, and after all that, I think it’s a shame he isn’t in the top ten all-time shooting guards
(where is Spanny to see this).
I can see Wade moving to the five spot if he keeps himself mostly injury free.
If we adjust these stats to 36 minutes a game (starter minutes), Manu comes away with averages of 19.2/5.3/4.6/2.0 on .454 shooting.
Just for reference, Ray Allen, the dude above him, would average 20.2/4.3/3.6/1.2 on .448 shooting at the same pace.
But forget about stats (I wont even go into offensive advanced statistics– it’s damn near Lebronish with a career .591 true shooting percentage, and top ten in PER for over half his career), what matters in basketball is winning right? Well, what facet of basketball has Manu not won on? No, really! Think about it!
One Italian League Championship, two Italian Cups (where he was Finals MVP), one Euroleague championship (where he was Finals MVP), one Olympic Gold Medal (where he was MVP), and THREE NBA Championships (where he should have been MVP in 2004).
He is the only player to ever win a triple crown, an olympic gold medal, and an NBA championship.
Where ever he goes, teams win. Sure, pass it off as dumb luck. I’ll pass off Manu as one of the best shooting guards of all time, a leader, a winner, and after all that, I think it’s a shame he isn’t in the top ten all-time shooting guards
jdn41: Well… yes! Sure, Manu’s stats aren’t very gaudy, but look at the minutes he has played in San Antonio’s system— insanely minuscule! A career 27 minutes a game!
If we adjust these stats to 36 minutes a game (starter minutes), Manu comes away with averages of 19.2/5.3/4.6/2.0 on .454 shooting.
Just for reference, Ray Allen, the dude above him, would average 20.2/4.3/3.6/1.2 on .448 shooting at the same pace.
But forget about stats (I wont even go into offensive advanced statistics– it’s damn near Lebronish with a career .591 true shooting percentage, and top ten in PER for over half his career), what matters in basketball is winning right? Well, what facet of basketball has Manu not won on? No, really! Think about it!
One Italian League Championship, two Italian Cups (where he was Finals MVP), one Euroleague championship (where he was Finals MVP), one Olympic Gold Medal (where he was MVP), and THREE NBA Championships (where he should have been MVP in 2004).
He is the only player to ever win a triple crown, an olympic gold medal, and an NBA championship.
Where ever he goes, teams win. Sure, pass it off as dumb luck. I’ll pass off Manu as one of the best shooting guards of all time, a leader, a winner, and after all that, I think it’s a shame he isn’t in the top ten all-time shooting guards
Teddy: In my mind, I only remember John Starks getting dunked on by Jordan and getting all his shots blocked by Hakeem. He was a great defender and a great dunker, but I’m not sure he’s much else. A great role player who could have helped any championship team, no doubt.
I don’t know why everyone salivates over Iverson’s 33 points and 7.4 assist a game season. It wasn’t like, something that is never repeatable. Let me show you:
33 points, 3.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.9 steals, .02 blocks on 44% shooting… player A.
30 points, 5 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 2.2 steals, 1.3 blocks on 49% shooting… player B.
Player A is Iverson. Player B is Wade. Is Wade already better than Iverson?
Also, John Starks was a sharpshooter who was absolutely crazy behind the 3 point line, and he was also a skilled and underrated passer. He makes my list being one of my favorites. I agree, he could have helped a lot of teams as a role player, but he also helped bring the Knicks to the finals as the star (alongside captain Patrick Ewing).
Player A scores 20.2 points a game, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.2 steals all in .448 shooting for his career
Player B scores 19.2 points a game, grabs 5.3 rebounds, dishes out 4.6 assists, 2.0 steals and hits .454 shooting for his career
Player A is Ray Allen, and Player B is Manu Ginobli, if we adjusted their stats to 36 minutes a game (starter minutes).
Also, Manu Ginobli is the only player ever to win a triple crown (Italian League, two time Italian Cup, Euroleague champion), Olympic Gold Medal, and three time NBA Championship. Oh, and he was the Finals MVP of the Italian Cup, Euroleague, and Olympics. And he should have been the Finals MVP for the NBA in 2004.
So, yeah, where ever Manu goes, the team wins.
Think about all of that.
Yeah, about three years oughta do it.
And Wade isn’t really that short at 6’4. What, most shooting guards are 6’5-6’8, so I don’t really consider Wade that handicapped, considering the dude can jump higher than most of them (whereas AI doesn’t have THAT crazy of a vertical leap and has to make up his shots with insane technical skill).
However, I must make a point: I am NOT taking into consideration a height handicap when making this list. Just because AI needs more skill to get his shot off than Clyde, Kobe, and Gervin, doesn’t mean he should be viewed in a higher light. Like shooting, height is something needed to be a good basketball player. To me, if I put Allen Iverson over guys because he’s shorter and it’s harder for him to score, I’m going to put Lebron James over guys like Baylor, Barry, and Bird because Lebron has no jumper and he still averaged 31 a game, ya know?
I’m cool if you take into consideration Iverson’s height and the skill he has to have to get those shots off, but I avoided that when making my list. If I had to factor that in, he’d probably go over the Clyde and be close to the Iceman.
@Dave: Wanna know something that Gervin did that Iverson and Clyde didn’t? Average over 50% from the field. Dude dropped 33 and 32 a game, and he did it well over 50%. He also outrebounded Clyde and AI, blocked a helluva lot more shots, and did it all in less minutes than those guys did. Sure, I’m cool with putting both the Answer and the Glide over the Iceman (there’s legit debate) but I’ll take the four time scoring champion Iceman over the others.
Say what you want, that means a lot to me.
But yeah, also being a better rebounder, defender, more efficient scorer, and overall better leader helped him to (I’ll note: not saying there’s not an argument for AI to be on top. I don’t think Drexler could have gotten that Phili team to the Finals, that’s for sure).
You’re wrong about AI’s vertical (check out some rookie and G-Town highlights, he gets us) and you’re underestimating his freakishly long gorilla arms, which give him an insane wingspan.
I think in three to four years, if Wade stays injury free, his career trumps AI’s. That makes me sad, but I see it happening. I always thought Wade was the evolution of Iverson, so I’m not surprised. I can’t see Gervin over Iverson. Iverson’s passing and steals give him the nod. Since I’ve researched Clyde’s career a little more I can see the debate about he and Iverson, but my bias is for Iverson.
All of Chris Paul’s teams have been less talented than that Seattle team Payton had. Remember, before the coke and booze, Shaun Kemp was on his way to being a top ten power forward of all-time. Matter of fact, even with Rodman’s insance defense, Kemp was giving the Bulls the business when George Karl got out of his way.
Or do you mean at any point would I have rather had Iverson than Wade?
Finally, how does that question determine who has had the better career so far? I would never take Tim Duncan over Hakeem, but Tim Duncan has still had the better career when you consider objective measures.
tavoris, Wade has been injury free only one year?
David West can’t hold Kemp’s jock strap. And, other than David West, who have the Hornets had besides Paul? A washed up Peja whose jumper and legs are gone. Chandler, Peterson, other random dudes.
Now they’ve got Okafor, but prior to that trade, Paul’s talent was horrible.
Payton had Kemp, a good shooter in Hawkins, a washed up pro in Nate, a still decent Detlef and other assorted bums. I mean, they were consistently winning 60 games.
Spaceship
I don’t think Wade has been better than Iverson every year since Wade stepped into the league. I think Wade’s career has been nice though, and if he can avoid long layoffs, he can pass Iverson. That said, right now, Iverson has had the better career even with Wade’s one ring and gold medal. Although, it’s closer than I first thought.
Also, you’re WAY too high on Deron. Number three all time on potential? Wahhhh?
I always have trouble placing Shawn Kemp on a top-20 list, because yes, he was dominate but yes, he did fade quickly, but my small forward top-20 list, just a quick glance, is freaking terrible (created it what, almost a year ago?) and it needs some updates pronto.
Rip Hamilton: 18.3/3.1/4.4/.6 on .447 shooting (0.368 three)
Allen Iverson: 17.4/3.1/4.9/1.6 on .416 shooting (0.286 three)
Wait, but you said “inferior talent?” How are Rip’s stats equal, if not better, than Allen Iverson?
Perhaps it’s not about TALENT, but the SYSTEM and how talent works. Houston was WAY different than Portland, Portland was a slasher team which was lead by the Glide, and Houston was a grind it out three pointer team. Glide came in and adapted to the system. Iverson came and played worse than Rip, the “inferior talent”. THIS SAYS SOMETHING.
Yes, there’s no way Clyde could get that 2000 Phili team to the Finals. So everyone has a role to play. But I say that Clyde’s adaption to different roles (along with better defense and rebounding, smarter scoring) puts him ahead of AI. I’m cool if you think AI is better, at this point, I think Gervin, Iverson, Wade, and Glide are rather interchangeable. It’s what you value and who you like.
if you don’t think there is an argument though, I’d brush up on basketball before 19998.
I love lists and I love the debate that comes with making lists. I dunno why SLAM’s lists aren’t this fun.
You don’t seem to understand, there’s not much I can do. I bet you’re going to start reminding me how short Iverson is and how hard it is to get that shot off soon, aren’t you?
Manu has played HEAVY minutes in the Olympics, and the Euroleagues, where he was both named MVP. Manu CHOOSE to play lesser minutes SO HE CAN WIN.
Man, look up PER. For more than half of his NBA career, Manu has been in the top ten in PER. It’s him and Kobe, the top guards. Yeah, it’s unbelievable, but Manu is so damn efficient for the minutes he gets, and if he wanted to, he could easily average 20-6-5-2 on a team that’s willing to give him 37 minutes a game. I’m not going to discount that. He sacrificed that to win, bro.
And why should I discount that he’s won in Europe and the Olympics? He was beating NBA caliber talent when he was doing that.
You really gotta get this PER and “if he played more minutes” or “if he did this…” shit outta here. Its not about “ifs” or lame ass Euroball. It is about the best league in the World (NBA) and what you did there. NBA “caliber talent” talent is not the NBA. That’s like saying, oh well Carmelo beat “NBA caliber talent” at Syracuse-so he’s got a Title. Naw dude, NBA is all that matters. Europe?!?!? Pssshhhh. Bonzi Wells is over there averaging like 35 a game. He wouldn’t make a single team in the NBA. Never bring that crap up again. Also, Chris Paul is sick, and should one day be #7, but you can’t say right now that he is better then Nash. No way. He has done more individually, more as a team, or changed the way basketball is played more then Nash. Nash and the SSOL Suns brought a whole new dimension to the league that had been missing for years and years. he has done more for basketball and been more of a baller (2 time MVP is still 2X!!!) then CP3 any day. Call me in ten years, maybe we can change that.
“Gervin… Average over 50% from the field. Dude dropped 33 and 32 a game, and he did it well over 50%. ”
That’s a really good point.
“He also outrebounded Clyde”
No he didn’t. Unless by Clyde you mean Frazier. Or by outrebounded you mean ‘collected cannonballs a couple of years in the ABA’.
Plus, did you make up that information on Bonzai Wells? He never played in Europe. He played in China, where he was cut from the team because he wasn’t showing up. Man, don’t make up this crap buddy.
Tavoris: Who are the people whispering? Stockton had a 19 year career… I mean… Deron would have to go crazy to surpass him… I don’t know man. Your points about Deron having a better career is surely possible (good points about athleticism and staying close to the ground) but comparing Deron to Stockton seems insane right now. I don’t know if he has any upside.
Dave: My bad, yer right. Next time I’ll look this sh*t up.
jbizz: Iverson would never play for the triangle and Kobe would demand a trade. Both their careers would be tarnished.
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