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The 15 Greatest Players from the 1996 NBA Draft

By YPB Team

From first-overall picks to undrafted grinders, this class produced Hall of Famers, champions, and cult heroes at every position. Who tops the haul? Cast your vote!

  1. Kobe Bryant — ranked #11
    Kobe Bryant
    Five-time NBA champion and 18-time All-Star drafted 13th overall, widely regarded as one of the greatest players ever.
    1000pts
  2. Allen Iverson — ranked #22
    Allen Iverson
    The No. 1 overall pick and 2001 MVP whose crossover and scoring made him a cultural icon.
    756pts
  3. Peja Stojakovic — ranked #33
    Peja Stojakovic
    Three-time All-Star sharpshooter drafted 14th and a 2011 NBA champion with the Mavericks.
    724pts
  4. Jermaine O'Neal — ranked #44
    Jermaine O'Neal
    Six-time All-Star big man drafted 17th straight out of high school who starred for the Pacers.
    596pts
  5. Ben Wallace — ranked #55
    Ben Wallace
    Undrafted four-time Defensive Player of the Year and 2004 champion anchor of the Pistons.
    596pts
  6. Erick Dampier — ranked #66
    Erick Dampier
    Durable defensive center drafted 10th who anchored the paint for the Warriors and Mavericks.
    596pts
  7. Derek Fisher — ranked #77
    Derek Fisher
    Five-time NBA champion point guard drafted 24th, famed for clutch playoff shots with the Lakers.
    517pts
  8. Antoine Walker — ranked #88
    Antoine Walker
    Three-time All-Star forward drafted 6th and a 2006 NBA champion with the Miami Heat.
    423pts
  9. Kerry Kittles — ranked #99
    Kerry Kittles
    Reliable two-way guard drafted 8th who helped lead the Nets to two NBA Finals appearances.
    423pts
  10. Marcus Camby — ranked #1010
    Marcus Camby
    The No. 2 pick and 2007 Defensive Player of the Year known as one of the league's best shot-blockers.
    423pts
  11. Zydrunas Ilgauskas — ranked #1111
    Zydrunas Ilgauskas
    Two-time All-Star center drafted 20th who became the Cavaliers' all-time leader in games played.
    310pts
  12. Shareef Abdur-Rahim — ranked #1212
    Shareef Abdur-Rahim
    All-Star forward taken 3rd overall who averaged over 20 points across his prime seasons.
    310pts
  13. Steve Nash — ranked #1313
    Steve Nash
    Two-time MVP point guard drafted 15th who became one of the greatest playmakers in NBA history.
    0pts
  14. Stephon Marbury — ranked #1414
    Stephon Marbury
    Two-time All-Star scoring point guard drafted 4th who later became a basketball legend in China.
    0pts
  15. Ray Allen — ranked #1515
    Ray Allen
    The NBA's all-time three-point king at retirement and a two-time champion, drafted 5th overall.
    0pts

#90s148#basketball126#players574#nba100

Comments

Todd Fuller went eleventh and Vitaly Potapenko twelfth in 1996; the thirteenth pick was a 17-year-old from Lower Merion: https://youpick.best/articles/kobe-bryant-ranked-many-ways

YP
ypb-team·Aug 21·
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