• A video showing former NBA Commissioner David Stern introducing himself to the 1996 NBA Draft prospects is going viral
• The 1996 Draft is considered among the greatest in history
• Stern is seen interacting with the likes of Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen, Allen Iverson, Steve Nash, Stephon Marbury, and others
The old NBA Commissioner David Stern was very hands-on and was the first Commissioner that recognized the power the players hold in making the league popular. He pushed Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird, but little did he know that the 1996 NBA Draft Class would introduce him to more game-changing talents.
A video of Stern walking up and shaking the hands of the 1996 Draft Class has surfaced.
He starts with Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash, who introduce themselves to Stern. Going down the list, Ray Allen, Peja Stojakovic, Antoine Walker, Stephon Marbury, and more also shake hands with Stern and introduce themselves. Nobody knew at the time that this would be one of the most influential draft classes in league history.
The players in the 1996 NBA Draft combined for 19 championships, 4 MVPs, 37 All-NBA appearances, and 64 All-Star teams. That is the most amount of All-Star appearances from a Draft Class, as the 1996 Draft included players that changed the game as we know it.
The 1996 Draft Class Changed The NBA
The two most influential players from this class have to Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson. Both players weren’t just MVPs on the court but massively impacted the culture of the NBA, becoming faces of the league. Steve Nash wasn’t far behind with his 2 MVP trophies, while Ray Allen won multiple titles and established himself as the greatest shooter in league history until Stephen Curry showed up.
It’s hard to call them the best Draft Class given the strength of the 2003 and 1984 classes, but it’s definitely up there. Modern draft classes like 2018 will also challenge the status of the other classes as the ‘best of all time’. What’s inarguable is that the 1996 Class definitely deserves a mention as one of the top three in league history, if not the best.
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