1996 NBA Draft Do-Over
Kobe Bryant (photo. Mannion)It’s been called the greatest draft class of all-time, or at least the greatest in the time since most of the Dime generation can remember. The Class of ‘96 boasts a handful of future Hall of Famers as well as its share of All-Star caliber players, from Kobe and A.I. down to Peja and Jermaine O’Neal. The Sixers had the #1 pick that summer, having won just 18 games the previous season on a foundation of Jerry Stackhouse — still in the “next Jordan” phase of his career — Clarence Weatherspoon and Derrick Coleman. At the time Philly went with Iverson, and he’d go on to not only define their city, but also become one of the most prolific scorers of all-time and a cultural icon. Knowing then what they know now, however, would everything A.I. brings to the table outshine the player who’s the greatest on the planet today?
For a recap of the draft rules, click HERE. Onto the ‘96 Lottery do-over…
1. Philadelphia — Kobe Bryant, SG, Lower Merion H.S. (Pa.)
We’re not getting a repeat of “Portland not taking MJ because they already have Drexler at the two.” Keep Stackhouse, pick Kobe, and find a way to make it work.
2. Toronto — Allen Iverson, PG/SG, Georgetown
Going into their second season as a franchise, the Raps just needed to take the best player available. Again, they already had Damon Stoudamire at the one, and a Stoudamire/Iverson backcourt would present some obvious matchup problems that wouldn’t fall in Toronto’s favor, but you can’t pass up A.I.
3. Vancouver — Ray Allen, SG, UConn
Whereas the Raptors were building through the backcourt, the Grizzlies used their first-ever pick on “Big Country” Bryant Reeves in ‘95. In Allen they’d have a legit go-to scorer who could nail open jumpers off the double-teams that Big Country would (or was supposed to) command.
4. Milwaukee — Steve Nash, PG, Santa Clara
The Bucks had Vin Baker and Glenn Robinson in their primes dropping 20 points a night, and they were flanked by serviceable guys (Sherman Douglas, Johnny Newman) in the backcourt and a less-than-serviceable guy (Benoit Benjamin) in the middle. Nash would find ways to maximize the scorers on this squad and maybe even make Benoit look good.
5. Minnesota — Jermaine O’Neal, PF/C, Eau Claire H.S. (S.C.)
What the Bulls couldn’t quite pull off with Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry in the 2000s, the Wolves could have taken a crack at with high school phenom J.O. and 19-year-old second-year pro Kevin Garnett in the 1990s.
6. Boston — Ben Wallace, C, Virginia Union
Dark days for the Celts. How dark? Rick Fox and Dino Radja were carrying the load along with a midget backcourt of Dana Barros and David Wesley. They were also terrible defensively, giving up over 107 points per game in the ‘95-96 season, which is where the four-time Defensive Player of the Year fits in.
7. L.A. Clippers — Stephon Marbury, PG, Georgia Tech
Marbury’s talent has never been in doubt, and his numbers have him right there with the best point guards in history, but any team looking into the future would also see the history of losing teams and fired coaches left in Steph’s wake. But have the Clippers ever had a problem taking guys with a high risk factor? Have they ever had a problem losing games and firing coaches? This would be perfect for Steph.
8. New Jersey — Peja Stojakovic, SF, Serbia
The story that’s made its way around basketball circles over the years is that the Nets wanted to take Kobe at this spot back in ‘96, but Kobe’s camp threatened that the kid would refuse to sign with New Jersey because they wanted Kobe in a bigger market (hence the Lottery pick by Charlotte and ensuing trade to L.A.). The Nets were left with Kerry Kittles. Given a do-over they could get a better long-range sniper in Peja.
9. Dallas — Marcus Camby, C, UMass
How did the Mavs only win 26 games in ‘95-96 when they trotted out a “Big Three” of Jason Kidd, Jimmy Jackson and Jamal Mashburn? Well, Mash missing more than 60 games due to injury was a factor. So was the fact that somebody named Lorenzo Williams started more than 60 games on the front line. (By the end of the next season, all three J’s had been traded.)
10. Indiana — Shareef Abdur-Rahim, PF, Cal-Berkeley
Elton Brand before Elton Brand came along. ‘Reef was good for 20 points and 8-10 boards a night for several years, however he never played on a good team until he was past his prime. And then that team got bad soon after his arrival.
11. Golden State — Antoine Walker, SF/PF, Kentucky
Adding ‘Toine to a nucleus that included aging Chris Mullin, pre-choking Latrell Sprewell and the previous year’s #1 pick Joe Smith, Rick Adelman’s club would have no problem getting their shots up.
12. Cleveland — Zydrunas Ilgauskas, C, Lithuania
Back in ‘96 the Cavs used this pick on Vitaly Potapenko, and landed Big Z later on at #20. No need to wait this time.
13. Charlotte — Derek Fisher, PG, Arkansas-Little Rock
Product of the system? Maybe. A role player who’s ridden the coattails of superstars his whole career? Possibly. But the Hornets could do a lot worse than a guy who was a top-seven rotation guy and occasional starter on three NBA championship teams and is now a full-time starter currently not far from his fourth ring.
OTHER NOTABLES: Kerry Kittles, Erick Dampier, Lorenzen Wright, Tony Delk, Jeff McInnis, Chucky Atkins, Walter McCarty, Samaki Walker, Adrian Griffin, Jerome Williams, Moochie Norris, Randy Livingston, Shandon Anderson, Darvin Ham, Othella Harrington, Malik Rose, Todd Fuller, Vitaly Potapenko, John Wallace, Drew Barry.
DRAFT DO-OVERS: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
June 6th, 2008 at 10:34 am
DaPro says:
Don’t think Kobe would have developed and learned to play “team ball” playing in Philly
Plus Philly is notorious for killing players and bad teams and Kobe isn’t bulletproof or thick skinned
He would have taken the fan treatment to the heart
June 6th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Sam I Am says:
OMG…Jermaine O’Neil and KG….It’s nice wishing it would’ve happened.
Love the Wolves and Miss KG
GO CELTICS IN 7
June 6th, 2008 at 10:41 am
YOUNGFED says:
Lakers in 5
June 6th, 2008 at 10:46 am
the_don_mega says:
interesting pick at #5 for the T-Wolves… that frontcourt tandem would’ve been amazing… as for the #4 pick by the bucks… i aint sure if stevie nash would’ve been this good earlier in his carrer… for who should be #1… i aint sure myself…
BTW… nice shout out there to Big COuntry!!!
June 6th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Sam I Am says:
YOUNGFED … you crazy !
Lakers win 4 straight!!!!! HA!
June 6th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Zach says:
Wasn’t one of the only reasons Kobe went so low in the real draft was because he said that he would only play in LA or NY (the reason for the Vlade trade)? Would the Sixers still have taken him #1 knowing that?
June 6th, 2008 at 10:58 am
doc says:
I’m sure who should be number 1 Kobe Bean and thats who we shoulda took if we had some balls.But I aint mad at AI.
June 6th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Kobeef says:
Kobe would probably make an exception with Philly since it was his hometown but I doubt Iverson would go to Toronto without a fight.
I think this draft is over-rated. Iverson and Kobe are all time greats but the rest are guys who will be answers to tough trivia questions some day.
- Nash didn’t even stay with the team that drafted him because he was slow to come around
- Jermaine had a couple of good years but needs to re-invent himself if he is going to be a superstar
- I wouldn’t touch Stephon if I could do this draft over – remember he basically demanded a trade away from KG because he wanted to be the man…and proceeded to become one of the most hated players in the league. That dude is garbage.
June 6th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:
I mean looking at the draft in hindsight, Kobe is the nnumber 1 pick. I don’t think anyone actually saw Kobe being THIS good. Dude was a nervous wreck when he first came in the L, shooting airballs and just plain terrible! Phil Jackson made dude better. That’s just what phil does. Maximize a players potential, encouraging him, developing his mind. He made a bum named Stacey King feel important in Chicago. Coaches can be VERY instrumental in the development of a player, and in this case, Kobe benefited.
June 6th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:
@Kobeef
I agree with you on that stephon tip. Dude had a bad attitude.
nash and O’neal improved because of their coaches also in my opinion. O’neal and Nash were bench riders, and still just trying to find their niche.
June 6th, 2008 at 11:30 am
shake&bake says:
I would probably take Camby at #6 instead of Wallace. Camby gives you the shot blocking and rebounds but with a better offensive game.
June 6th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Kudabeen says:
If Kobe went to Philly he wouldn’t have reached the level where he is today. I still take AI then Kobe 2. Just me. Abdur-Rahim isn’t getting the credit he deserves. He languished with the Griz. Put him with a better franchise this guy is an All-star and recognized contributor on a playoff squad. Like the Indiana pick, but it’s too late based on talent…
Jermaine O’neal couldn’t even get on the court and had a good stretch, but now he is a complaining vet that doesn’t contribute as much on the court as he does to the instability of the team in the locker room. he needed to play behind tough vets to develop and not wash out of the league. he is not as tough as people make him out to be…Minn could got Big Z or Abdur-Rahim even Fisher and be better off than having Jermaine…
June 6th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Celts Fan says:
If the Bucks had a “less than serviceable guy in the middle” then they should take JO. It took rules changes allowing for more offense for Nash to not just be tossed around the court like a bitch. JO, Vin & Tonic, and Big Dog would’ve been a VERY formidable front court.
Also, Big Z after Ben Wallace, Antoine and Camby is a joke (especially after Big Ben and Antoine – since the rules are we don’t know he’ll miss almost 4 straight years w/ the foot problems.) 7′3″ guys that OWN the offensive glass, block a ton of shots, look like frankenstein, and have a solid jumper out to 20 ft. are VERY hard to find.
June 6th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
Knowing what we know now I’d take Nash over AI in Toronto.
Better team player and 2 time MVP.
Plus, he’s Canadian.
I don’t care if it took him longer to develope.
June 6th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
rob stewart says:
Yall must be crazy! Who would play Stoudemire and Iverson in the backourt together? That’s just plain out ignorant. If Kobe goes to Philly he would have complained that he had no suppoerting cast and been traded within 3 years. Iverson stuck it out and carried his team to the Finals. I doubt Kobe was able or willing to do such a thing.
June 6th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
shake&bake says:
Nash over AI is crazy. Iverson had the better career plus he led his team to the Finals single handedly. Nash never reached the Finals with talent surrounding him.
June 6th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
So because AI had a finals appearance one time he had a better career than Nash?
AI has more talent with the nuggets than he did with the sixers and he can’t get in to the second round.
Besides I just said that Toronto would be a better fit for Nash since he is Canadian and a better team player plus he would be a great pg for Vince when he gets there- knowing what we know now
June 6th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Austin Burton says:
Who was Toronto’s GM at the time?
Isiah. Consider that.
June 6th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
BlazeMcHerbs says:
I think Iverson was an excellent choice for Philly, he took them to the finals before Kobe was ever ready to carry a legit team. And forget, that year, Philly was the only team to get a W over the Lakers that postseason. Philly fucked up with bad management, not by picking the wrong player.
As a A.I. fan, i wonder what his game would be like if he was 6′5″-6′6″, with that warrior attitude and killer instinct? Lets leave the offense at what it is, imagine what that lenght would have done for his defense, his rebounding, his overall presence on the court, etc?
Just to say, Philly didn’t make the wrong choice…
June 6th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
karizmatic says:
I agree Philly did not make the wrong choice. I believe AI is number one in this draft regardless. The problem with AI has always been either his mentality or the lack of a coach to truly challenge him to play point. Larry Brown simply inserted AI into his system and got them to the finals. They had a lot of beef over AI’s style of play. Ah well what if AI had just played point. I know he did along side Stackhouse but he took all the shots anyway.
June 6th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
BxBaller says:
Nash has not had a better career than AI. Steph isn’t garbage, he’s just MAD selfish.
June 6th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
MSkittle says:
Ray Allen over Nash?
June 6th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Reed Ewing Frazier says:
If if and buts were candy and nuts everyday would be Halloween I say that to say nobody can see into future Kobe would not be the same player if he would have went to Philly.
@BxBaller I second that!
KNICKS UP!! all the rest down
June 6th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
tealish says:
#1 and 2 are close. But you guys are ranking Kobe higher because of the rings. That doesn’t happen if he goes to Philly, I can tell you that much. So when I evaluate Iverson versus Bryant, I look at overall performance. We’re not looking at rings, current status, youth, etc.
It boils down to: Who has had the better career in its entirety, excluding championships (because those are team-dependent)? The answer to that isn’t too obvious, now is it?
June 6th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Austin Burton says:
The championships would play a factor to this extent: A team looking into the future at Kobe would see that he was the 2nd-best (arguably 1st-best) player on three championship teams, a guy who would lead the League in scoring, and would win one MVP. By the time he reached his 11th/12th year, he’d be the best player in the League.
With Iverson, they’d see someone who was the best player on a Finals team but otherwise had a postseason resume that was nothing to write home about, a guy who led the League in scoring and wins one MVP. By the time he reached his 11th/12th year, he’d be a Top-10/15 player in the League.
June 6th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Dagomar says:
Austin, nobody would argue Kobe was the best player on those championship Lakers teams. He was only the best player on his team in 2004, and we all know how that went.
This was an incredible draft, but I feel like the 2003 draft was even more loaded from top to bottom. I’ll take Lebron, Melo, Wade and Bosh over Kobe, A.I., Allen and Nash.
That said, this is a good do-over of a very difficult draft to analyze after the top two picks. Nash took so long to develop, Marbury has so many attitude problems, O’Neal has regressed due to injuries, Peja routinely cops out of the playoffs, Camby was one of the most brittle players in the league for years, Antoine never met a shot he didn’t like and, well, Ben Wallace can’t shoot at all. After the top three picks all the other players have serious knocks, many of which can’t be quantified. So it’s a tough draft to do over – but good attempt.
June 6th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
tealish says:
Austin…Kobe was “arguably the best” on that 3peat Laker team? You can’t be serious. Even if you don’t believe that, bringing it up is already disappointing.
June 6th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
tealish says:
Dagomar: I’d take just Kobe and AI over the top 4 in ‘03 combined. And counting Allen and Nash, you might be 3-4 HOFers (Not sure about Nash. Shouldn’t get in, IMO, but you never know). The 03′ draft will have, at the max, 2 HOFers.
June 6th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Austin Burton says:
Depending on how you define best. Kobe was the best all-around basketball player, skills-wise, on those teams, which is why he felt slighted that Shaq got most of the attention.
June 6th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
tealish says:
Well, skillwise, a big man will always lose out to a guard unless we’re talking Dirk vs. Eddie House. Looking at those Laker teams, who was The Man? Who was the guy that dominated on both ends? Who was the guy that the other team feared more than anyone else, and directed all their energy and strategy towards? The answer to all the aforementioned questions is your MVP, your #1 player.
June 7th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Kudabeen says:
@Austin
Iverson, “best player on a Finals team but otherwise had a postseason resume that was nothing to write home about”
Huh?
I don’t know if you dislike AI or not, but that statment doesn’t really match up to AI’s post season exploits. The 50/40 games where he carried his team to victory. The 9 steals game. The 16 assist game. Playing injuried. The clutch baskets. Playing consistently against bigger defenders and still owning his matchups.
Winning is a team accomplishment…AI’s numbers compete with just about any guard not named MJ… Wow. What more could he do individually.
What I’m seeing in Denver is that he isn’t clear on his role. Karl hasn’t coached that team and they don’t even have an offensive or defensive philosphy that works to thier advantage.
Kobe’s cried when he was booed in Philly after being an All-star and getting a Chip. Would he really have handled the losing and horrible management to begin. Pat Croce saved Philly BBall, but then owners found away to F that up, so Philly is where they are. Philly team owners as a whole are not even sports fans, not winners. They are business men who love the status of owning a team. Not a good look for a very arrogant young Kobe that needs to win to be happy. AI’s teammates loved him through it all (accept John Salmons).
Maybe Kobe would have developed faster knowing that from the door he is the Franchise player. I’ll give you all that, but reading Phil Jacksons book, I don’t know if Kobe’s behavior was a matter of atmosphere or just who he was…
AI #1
Kobe #2
June 7th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Austin Burton says:
@Kudabeen — I was talking about Iverson’s postseason winning resume. He’s missed the playoffs 4 times, been knocked out in the first round 4 times, and only got to the conference finals in ‘01, when he went all the way to the Finals. Yeah, he had great individual games, but so did Elgin Baylor and no one talks about his playoff resume because he didn’t win.
June 7th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
jamesinva says:
too many idiots in here posting stupid posts. talking about would kobe have gone to phili as the #1 pick after saying he would only goto LA/ NY? and Nash at #4 ? he wouldnt have been good then. this is a WHAT IF DO-OVER, judging from the talent of TODAY not THEN. IDIOTS.
also i find it very distrubing how players demand they will go and wont go to certain teams. as a young player it is a blessing to be in such a position to have reached your “dreams”. this obviously shows proof that to some players (althought they do have talent and love for them the game) but MONEY is more important. If it was ALL ABOUT THE GAME, then whocares what team you goto. you achieve the dream of getting to the NBA, if your as talented as you say you WILL end up getting paid. but to demand only the big market teams and refusing to goto other teams to me is just wrong. examples: kobe and steve francis
June 7th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
jamesagee says:
Good Job on putting Ben Wallace up there. The people who complain play to much fantasy basketball and stare at the numbers If somebody would have seen that talent early, and helped him hone his game, maybe taught homeboy to at least brick a free throw, he would’ve been more solid. He plays with alot of passion. His ankles may be bad now, but he was rarely injured when he play for the Pistons. I love AI, he’s one of my favorite player of all time. But there is no way in hell I’m picking him over Kobe. Again with the stat line, but how many rings has he won. Kobe is a different type of basketball player, it’s his life he feeds on it, and we’re talking about practice.
June 7th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Fresh says:
U can’t change A.I, he’s the number 1. he never had a good team to play the title…
Kobe is a lucky guy, he have the smartest staff around him…
June 10th, 2008 at 1:52 am
the n@gg@you love to hate says:
You all suck dick this would of could of shit is duumb i agree with the dumbass knick fn R.E.W. if its and buts was candy and nuts every day would be halloween all the points in this post was stupid unless you are God or Jesus Christ how do you know how these players pan out. to the dudes talking about Steve Nash over Iverson you are a dumb dick in the booty ass homo!!!
June 11th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
ITSMR2U says:
Hold on… wait… Ben Wallace @ #6… to Boston? That’s where Dime thinks the four-time Defensive Player of the Year fits in? Hmm… why does that sound familiar. That’s it! Boston DID invite Big Ben to training camp as an undrafted FA. Pitino tried to play him at SHOOTING GUARD! The #6 pick for Wallace would have made great sense… IF Pitino wasn’t the coach at the time! I’m a Pistons fan and I could see that Pitino was setting that franchise back 10 years