NBA Draft 1996: Players who left their mark on the league

Each year the teams who missed the playoffs in the previous season participate in the lottery process to determine the lottery winner who gets the first selection in the Draft.

The most noted NBA Draft years have been 1984, 1996 and 2003. Each of those is often referred to as one of, if not, the best NBA Draft ever.

For today let’s focus on the 1996 Draft, which has most of his players so deep into their careers that their impact on the league can be gauged.

Honorary Mentions:

Jermaine O’Neal: The high point of his career was the 8 seasons he spent at Indiana. In his 8 seasons he was named a six-time NBA All-Star and the NBA most improved player for 2001-02. He led the Pacers to the playoffs six times including a trip to the Conference Finals in 2003-04.

Peja Stojakovic: He had to wait 15 years for his first title with the Dallas Mavericks but in his early years was known for his three-point shooting with the Sacramento Kings. A three-time All-Star, he also won the All-Star three point contest in consecutive years in 2002 and 2003 and made it to the All NBA second team in 2004.

5. Derek Fisher:

#2 Derek Fisher in the 2010 Finals series during his second stint with the Lakers

The 24th overall pick drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers, is a five-time NBA champion. Contributing off the bench as a role player, he earned his first three rings with the Lakers in their three-peat entering the millennium. His remaining two rings came in the Lakers titles of 2009 and 2010.

He adds more to the team than just numbers. In the early years it was the energy he would bring to the game off the bench for the Lakers and in his second stint it was his experience and skill as a leader.

In his second stint with the Lakers, Fisher started every game that the Lakers featured in whether regular season or the playoffs. Do the math and that’s a staggering 404 consecutive games.

He was criticised many a times at being slow and not being able to stay in front of younger and faster point guards, Fisher would make for it with his consistent clutch shooting in the post-season. His famous .4 shot against the Spurs is at the 18th spot on the All-time playoff moments list.

4. Allen Iverson:

#3 Allen Iverson drives his way to the basket against Chicago Bulls which would be the final game of his career

The 2001 NBA league MVP was the first overall pick and was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers. At 6’1 he could beat you off the dribble with his crossovers or simply blow by you with his speed. He was the league’s scoring champion and almost single-handedly led his team to the NBA crown in 2001 if it wasn’t for the Los Angeles Lakers.

He won the NBA’s scoring title four times in seven years. Despite his height, he was one of the most prolific scorers in the league. His playoff career scoring average of 29.7 is second only to Michael Jordan and regular season average of 26.7 ranks 6th all time.

His lone appearance in the Finals was the only highlight of his career related to a NBA crown. After repeated disappointments and failures at Philadelphia, post 2006, Iverson played for 3 teams in 3 years before returning back to Philadelphia 2009-10 season when he announced his retirement.

He was the rookie of the year, 11-time All-Star, two-time All-Star game MVP and made it to six All NBA teams.

3. Ray Allen:

#20 Ray Allen during his years at Boston as a part of the “Big 3″

A two-time NBA champion and leader for most career three’s made (2,857 as of now), Ray Allen was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves and was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks on the same night.

He along with Sam Cassell and Glenn Robinson led Milwaukee to the Conference Finals in 2001 where they lost to Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers in 7 games. Midway through the 2002 season he was traded to Seattle Supersonics along with Ronald Murray and Kevin Ollie in exchange for Gary Payton and Desmond Mason.

He along with teammate Rashard Lewis took Seattle to the Conference semi-finals, his second closest shot at the title. Whether with the Seattle or Bucks, Allen’s 3 point shooting was a constant threat. He led the league in three point field goals made in a season thrice.

A 10-time All-Star, Allen won his first title in his first year as a part of Boston’s Big 3 in 2007-08. His second title came as a Miami Heat player in the season of 2013 when he accepted a three year deal after rejecting a 12 million two year deal with the Celtics.

2. Steve Nash:

#13 Steve Nash captured back to back league MVP honors during his second stint with the Phoenix Suns

Drafted 15th overall by the Phoenix Suns, the NBA title has always eluded Nash. In his 18th season at the age of 39, Nash has the league MVP honors twice in his career (2005 &2006), both during his second stint with the Phoenix Suns.

An eight-time all-star, he has led the league in assists for the season 5 times in his career. Nash has reached the Conference Finals thrice in his career with Dallas in 2003 as being part of high scoring trio which also included Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley.

In his second stint with the Phoenix Suns he made it to the Conference Finals twice, each time losing to eventual champions, San Antonio Spurs in 2005 and Los Angeles Lakers in 2010.

He and Larry Bird are the only two players to complete the 50-40-90 feat in more than one season. Nash achieved the feat four times in his career.

1.Kobe Bryant:

Kobe Bryant lifts the Finals trophy and his Finals MVP trophy in 2010 after beating arch-rivals Boston Celtics in seven games

By some distance and without doubt, Bryant has made the biggest impact in the league. A 15-time All-Star and league MVP in 2007-08, he was drafted 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets and traded to the Lakers on the same night for center Vlade Divac.

Often compared to Michael Jordan due to his physique and style of play, Kobe is a five-time champion and two-time NBA finals MVP, achievements which are not even a shadow of the Hall of famer Bulls player.

However the Lakers guard has created his own legacy in the league with his skill to deliver game winning buzzer beaters in the clutch and would definitely feature in anybody’s top 10 all-time guards list. A two-time scoring champion for the season, Kobe jointly holds the record for most All-Star MVP awards winning it four times.

He has played his entire career for the Lakers and stands sure of that fact that he would retire a Laker. He presently stands fourth on the all-time points scoring list, highest among active players.

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Edited by Staff Editor