- Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson were the two most successful players in the 1996 NBA Draft.
- The draft class accumulated a total of 19 NBA titles.
- The draft class also amassed 68 NBA All-Star appearances and 37 All-NBA selections.
The NBA Draft is one of the most exciting events in the league as the association welcomes a new wave of talent. This is where teams also have the opportunity to select the best possible player to improve their NBA odds of winning a title.
However, there is no guarantee that the player will live up to his full potential or maximum upside because plenty have been busts. Throughout the history of the draft, there is one in particular that stood out among the rest, and that is the 1996 draft class.
The Best NBA Draft Class in History
The 1996 NBA draft had a combined 19 NBA titles, 68 NBA All-Star appearances, and 37 All-NBA selections, which is an excellent testament to how brilliant these players were. Additionally, they became a significant influence on the new generation of ballers.
Leading this batch of players are Kobe Bryant (one of the best NBA players of all time), Allen Iverson, and Steve Nash, as the three won the regular season MVP during their careers (two for Nash and one each for Bryant and Iverson). Among these top three players, only Bryant won multiple titles with five and made the Los Angeles Lakers return to the top echelon at BetMGM’s sportsbook, while Iverson and Nash went ringless.
Mamba mentality 🐍
Here’s all of Kobe’s 81 points vs. Toronto pic.twitter.com/GYn7KwXZZI
— NBA TV (@NBATV) August 24, 2020
Another notable name in this draft class is Ray Allen, who became one of the greatest shooters in the league. He holds the record for the second-most three-pointers made in history with 2,973. Allen’s shooting skills have helped him win two NBA titles, one with Boston and one with Miami.
On this day in 2013… Ray Allen hit one of the most iconic clutch 3-pointers in NBA History to tie up Game 6 of the 2013 #NBAFinals! #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/TQpR1w95CV
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) June 18, 2022
Other notable players in this draft class are Stephon Marbury, Peja Stojakovic, Jermaine O’Neal, Antoine Walker, and Derek Fisher. These players played a major role on the teams that they played with and even helped them win a title.
Marbury became one of the most electrifying and exciting players in the league, especially during his time with the New York Knicks. He played in two NBA All-Star Games and was a two-time member of the All-NBA 3rd Team.
Stojakovic and O’Neal became solid role players, with the former becoming a lethal three-point shooter with a career percentage of 40.1% and winning one title. At the same time, the latter was a solid presence inside the paint who secured a Most Improved Player award and played in six All-Star games.
Walker was a prolific offensive player who helped Miami win a title in 2006 and was selected to three NBA All-Star appearances. Fisher was a solid point guard who could fit on all the teams he played in. Along with Bryant, the former Arkansas-Little Rock standout also won five NBA titles.