Slam's '96 NBA Draft Class Poster...Who's Your Top 5?

[Kil]

I came across this old Slam poster with the 96 draft class (AI missed the shoot but had the cover of the issue) on it while I was in Philly this weekend and during a studio session this poster turned into a 4 hour argument over who's the top 5 players from this draft. I had Kobe #1, Nash #2, Iverson #3, Ray Allen #4 and Marbury #5. The biggest argument was that Iverson should've been ahead of Nash but I feel like Steve has had abetter career then AI. The 2nd biggest argument was that Iverson should've been ahead of Kobe (I obviously was in the studio with some crack heads) and the 3rd argument was that Camby should've had the 5th spot over Marbury...what ya'll think? Here's the link to the poster and some footage of the rookie game from that year:

http://www.willmakebeatsforfood.com/2011/04/ill-flicks-draft-class-of-96.html

96 Draft
#1 Allen Iverson
#2 Marcus Camby
#3 Shareef_Abdur-Rahim
#4 Stepohon Marbury
#5 Ray Allen
#6 Antoine Walker
#7 Lorenzen Wright
#8 Kerry Kittles
#9 Samaki Walker
#10 Erick Dampier
#11 Todd Fuller
#12 Vitaly Potapenko
#13 Kobe Bryant
#14 Peja Stojakovic
#15 Steve Nash
#16 Tony Delk
#17 Jermaine O'Neal
#18 John_Wallace
#19 Walter McCarty
#20 Zydranus Ilgauskas

[NorCal]

I came across this old Slam poster with the 96 draft class (AI missed the shoot but had the cover of the issue) on it while I was in Philly this weekend and during a studio session this poster turned into a 4 hour argument over who's the top 5 players from this draft. I had Kobe #1, Nash #2, Iverson #3, Ray Allen #4 and Marbury #5. The biggest argument was that Iverson should've been ahead of Nash but I feel like Steve has had abetter career then AI. The 2nd biggest argument was that Iverson should've been ahead of Kobe (I obviously was in the studio with some crack heads) and the 3rd argument was that Camby should've had the 5th spot over Marbury...what ya'll think? Here's the link to the poster and some footage of the rookie game from that year:

http://www.willmakebeatsforfood.com/2011/04/ill-flicks-draft-class-of-96.html

96 Draft
#1 Allen Iverson
#2 Marcus Camby
#3 Shareef_Abdur-Rahim
#4 Stepohon Marbury
#5 Ray Allen
#6 Antoine Walker
#7 Lorenzen Wright
#8 Kerry Kittles
#9 Samaki Walker
#10 Erick Dampier
#11 Todd Fuller
#12 Vitaly Potapenko
#13 Kobe Bryant
#14 Peja Stojakovic
#15 Steve Nash
#16 Tony Delk
#17 Jermaine O'Neal
#18 John_Wallace
#19 Walter McCarty
#20 Zydranus Ilgauskas

I'd go:

1) Kobe
2) Iverson
3) Nash- he's done a lot since the mid 2000s but Iverson was an all star level player from the mid to late 90s to the mid 2000s so I'd give him the edge
4) Allen

I think those are the clear top 4 and really only a case can be made to switch Nash and Iverson. After that, for the 5th spot I'd go either Jermaine O'Neal or Marcus Camby. I believe both of them were highly underrated in their primes, and Camby is still underrated. They were both dominant on the defensive end which usually doesn't get as much recognition as offensively dominant players.

[NorCal]

I'd go:

1) Kobe
2) Iverson
3) Nash- he's done a lot since the mid 2000s but Iverson was an all star level player from the mid to late 90s to the mid 2000s so I'd give him the edge
4) Allen

I think those are the clear top 4 and really only a case can be made to switch Nash and Iverson. After that, for the 5th spot I'd go either Jermaine O'Neal or Marcus Camby. I believe both of them were highly underrated in their primes, and Camby is still underrated. They were both dominant on the defensive end which usually doesn't get as much recognition as offensively dominant players.

Oh, dangit. I forgot Peja. Wow. Well, I think a case can be made for O'Neal, Camby or Peja in that fifth spot. I can't decide.

[Silent Killer]

Top 5 in 96 class
1. Kobe Bryant
2. Allen Iverson
3. Ray Allen
4. Steve Nash
5. Marcus Camby

[Mojado]

I go with 1) Fuller 2) Wallace 3) McCarty 4) Potapenko and 5) Walker.

[rocketstar47]

top 5
1.Kobe Bryant
5 NBA Championships
2008 NBA MVP
2009 & 2010 NBA Finals MVP
13× NBA All-Star (1998, 2000–2011)
2× NBA scoring champion (2006–2007)
8× All-NBA First Team (2002–2004, 2006–2010)
2× All-NBA Second Team (2000–2001)
2× All-NBA Third Team (1999, 2005)
8× All-Defensive First Team (2000, 2003–2004, 2006–2010)
2× All-Defensive Second Team (2001–2002)
NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1997)
4× NBA All-Star Game MVP (2002, 2007, 2009, 2011)

2.Steve Nash
2x NBA MVP 2005 & 2006
7× NBA All-Star (2002–2003, 2005–2008, 2010)
3× All-NBA First Team (2005–2007)
2× All-NBA Second Team (2008, 2010)
2× All-NBA Third Team (2002–2003)


3.Allen Iverson
2001 NBA MVP
1997 ROY
1 NBA Finals Appearance
NBA scoring champion during the 1998–99, 2000–01, 2001–02 and 2004–05
11× NBA All-Star (2000–2010)

4.Ray Allen
NBA Champion (2008)
10× NBA All-Star (2000–2002, 2004–2009, 2011)
All-NBA Second Team (2005)
All-NBA Third Team (2001)
NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1997)
NBA Three-Point Shootout champion (2001)
NBA Sportsmanship Award (2003)

5.Marcus Camby
NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2007)
2× All-Defensive First Team (2007–2008)
2× All-Defensive Second Team (2005–2006)
NBA All-Rookie First Team (1997)

[CKR13]

CKR13's Top Ten

1. Kobe Bryant
2. Steve Nash
3. Allen Iverson
4. Jermaine O'neal
5. Ray Allen
6. Peja Stojakovic
7. Shareef Abdur Rahim
8. Stephon Marbury
9. Marcus Camby
10. Zydraunas Ilgauskas

[Khalid80]

My top 5:

1) Kobe Bryant
2) Steve Nash
3) Ray Allen
4) Allen Iverson (I put Iverson this low since his career has been on a serious downfall over the last couple of years)
5) Peja Stojakovic

[guilherme.rcf]

What a class.

I am a big fan of Nash and I used to hate Iverson but I have to pick Iverson over Nash.

Kobe
Iverson
Nash
Allen
Peja

And Im sorry for leaving Camby as the 6th choice.

[pohani komarac]

kobe
allen
iverson
nash
peja

[Beastly]

I have that issue it's well writen(Of course it's Slam one of the most expensive mag haha) Ill try to find it And they did have a point in AI was the best I think that was written like 04, 05 or 06 not sure?

[Saskibaloia]

My Choices....

1. Kobe Bryant
2. Steve Nash
3. Allen Iverson
4.Ray Allen
5. Stephon Marbury
6. Antoine Walker
7. Marcus Camby
8. Peja Stojakovic
9. Zydranus Ilgauskas
10. Shareef Abdur Rahim
11. Jermaine O'Neal
12. Eric Dampier


Btw, an interesting fact is that Todd Fuller, 4 years ago played here in Australia for the South Dragons in the Australian National Basketball League.
The club was initially coached by former NBA All Star Mark Price, however, he got the sack due to a slow start and the internal politics of the organisation.

[seigle42]

Top performances:

1) Kobe Bryant
5 NBA Championships
2008 NBA MVP
2009 & 2010 NBA Finals MVP
13× NBA All-Star (1998, 2000–2011)
2× NBA scoring champion (2006–2007)
8× All-NBA First Team (2002–2004, 2006–2010)
2× All-NBA Second Team (2000–2001)
2× All-NBA Third Team (1999, 2005)
8× All-Defensive First Team (2000, 2003–2004, 2006–2010)
2× All-Defensive Second Team (2001–2002)
NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1997)
4× NBA All-Star Game MVP (2002, 2007, 2009, 2011)

2) Ray Allen
NBA Champion (2008)
10× NBA All-Star (2000–2002, 2004–2009, 2011)
All-NBA Second Team (2005)
All-NBA Third Team (2001)
NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1997)
NBA Three-Point Shootout champion (2001)
NBA Sportsmanship Award (2003)
Most 3pt made of all-time

3) Allen Iverson
2001 NBA MVP
1997 ROY
1 NBA Finals Appearance
NBA scoring champion during the 1998–99, 2000–01, 2001–02 and 2004–05
11× NBA All-Star (2000–2010)

4) Jermaine O'neal
2001-02 NBA Most Improved Player
6 time NBA All-star (2002,2003,2004,2005,2006 and 2007)
2003-2004 2nd All-NBA team
2002-2003 3rd All-NBA team
2001-2002 3rd All-NBA team

5) Antoine Walker
NBA Champion (2006)
3 time All-star (1998,2002,2003)
1996-97 1st All-Rookie team

6) Marcus Camby
NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2007)
2× All-Defensive First Team (2007–2008)
2× All-Defensive Second Team (2005–2006)
NBA All-Rookie First Team (1997)

7) Steve Nash
2x NBA MVP 2005 & 2006
7× NBA All-Star (2002–2003, 2005–2008, 2010)
3× All-NBA First Team (2005–2007)
2× All-NBA Second Team (2008, 2010)
2× All-NBA Third Team (2002–2003)