RE-DRAFTING THE 1996 NBA DRAFT BASED ON RANKINGS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS!

Most of the time, good NBA scouting teams made wiser selections that could lead to glory or success for years to come. Consider the Golden State Warriors, who went from being a failing club to being good draft picks. That isn't what we're going to talk about, but it is somewhat related to what I described earlier. We're going to redraft the 1996 NBA draft class, which was probably one of the deepest drafts in NBA history. Whether you're wondering if I'm going to redraft the entire draft, nah, I'll just give you the top five because it would be boring to see unfamiliar faces, right? Let us now move on to our major point.

1. Kobe Bryant, Philadelpia 76ers [Original Pick : A. Iverson]

Career Averages :25 points 5.2 rebounds 4.7 assists

"File:Kobe Bryant Drives2.jpg" by Keith Allison from Kinston, USA is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

Kobe Bryant's original draft pick was the 13th pick, which went to the Charlotte Hornets at the time, but was acquired by the Lakers in a trade for their starting center Vlade Divac. We all understood that after an outstanding 20-year NBA career in which he won five championships, he was the deserving first pick in this draft class. Kobe's career average wasn't particularly high, owing in part to the fact that he shared the court with Shaq for many years and wasn't the starting point guard in his first two seasons with the purple and gold. Even though he only earned one regular-season MVP award, we can't dispute that he is considered one of the greatest players in NBA history. The Black Mamba demonstrated that he can win without Shaq, despite the fact that he is being criticized and despised by the fans for attempting to transfer the league's most dominant center.

Part of the reason he was taken considerably below what he deserved was because he was the first non-big to enter the NBA straight out of high school. Imagine Kobe carrying the 76ers for the remainder of his career. What would his stats have been like? Maybe he wouldn't have as many championships, but it's amazing to think he could average a triple double. Who won the scoring crown every season But one thing is certain: Kobe made an unforgettable mark on sports history. Without a question, he is number one on this list.

2. Allen Iverson, Toronto Raptors [Original Pick : M. Camby]

Career Averages :26.7 points 3.7 rebounds 6.2 assists

"Allen Iverson and the Sixers" by Kevin Burkett is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Allen Iverson, sometimes known as A.I., was one of the best players during his peak. He was the first pick in this draft class and is still deserving of the #1 spot. He led a team of inferior quality to the NBA finals, where they were able to steal one game from the widely favored Los Angeles Lakers, who were led by two of the league's best players, Shaq and Kobe. Iverson, one of the finest scorers, if not the best scorer at his size, brought the streetball style of play to the NBA and successfully left his stamp on the history of basketball as a whole.

Being capable of winning a regular season Most Valuable Player award and lead his team to the NBA finals despite him as the sole superstar in Philadelphia was his biggest accomplishment as a player, in my opinion. 1st ballot hall of famer, A.I. is a four-time NBA scoring champion, has finished the season first in steals three years in a row, and was voted rookie of the year, which is something that all players aspire to be. But it kills me to place Kobe at number two on this list due to him.

3. Steve Nash, Vancouver Grizzlies [Original Pick: S. Abdul-Rahim]

Career Averages :14.3 points 3.0 rebounds 8.5 assists

"File:SteveNash3.jpg" by Keith Allison from Baltimore, USA is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

Steve Nash, one of the NBA's most talented passers, is deserving of the third pick in this strong draft class, having put up great season averages of 90-50-40 several times in his career. Winning the regular season MVP twice during the Kobe-Shaq era is an incredible feat for an NBA player. Throughout his basketball career, Nash has been one of the most efficient point guards and one of the top facilitators.

The one blemish on Steve's credentials is his inability to win an NBA championship, which is difficult to do given that he grew up during the Spurs Dynasty and the Lakers' Kobe and Shaq eras. Not to mention being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on the first ballot. The Phoenix Suns got a true steal in the draft when they took him 15th overall, but he's worth more as a lottery pick.

4. Ray Allen, Milwaukee Bucks [Original Pick: S. Marbury]

Career Averages :18.9 points 4.1 rebounds 3.4 assists

"ray-allen-wallpaper" by RaulGonzalez2320 is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Ray Allen has been one of the best shooters in NBA history. He is without a doubt one of the top players in this draft class, having defeated Kobe in the championships once in Boston alongside other big three members Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Ray Allen demonstrated that he is a major element in championship wins when he scored one of the best clutch threes ever, assisting LeBron to win his second championship victory in Miami. Allen was originally the fifth pick in this selection, so you can really say he very well lived up to the hype, which he did. Ray Allen, like Steve Nash, was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame this year. The ten-time NBA All-Star also took the three-point contest once, which is understandable given his shooting talent.

5. Stephon Marbury, Minnesota Timberwolves [Original Pick: R. Allen]

6. Jermaine O'neal, Boston Celtics [Original Pick: A. Walker]

7. Ben Wallace, L.A. Clippers [Original Pick: L. Wright] Ben was undrafted

8. Antoine Walker, New Jersey Nets [Original Pick: K. Kittles]

9. Peja Stojakovic, Dallas Mavericks [Original Pick: S.Walker]

10. Marcus Camby, Indiana Pacers [Original Pick: E. Dampier]