1996 NBA Draft
The Best Draft Class Ever (And Kobe Almost Went to New Jersey)
The Scenario
Allen Iverson went #1. Kobe Bryant was traded on draft night from Charlotte to LA for Vlade Divac. Steve Nash went #15. Ray Allen went #5. This draft produced 4 Hall of Famers and changed basketball forever — but Kobe's destination was everything.
Allen Iverson
#1 • 76ers
Kobe Bryant
#13 • Lakers
Ray Allen
#5 • Bucks
Steve Nash
#15 • Suns
Kobe Bryant → Los Angeles Lakers (#13)
Team Context (1996)
| Factor | Rating | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| HC (Del Harris → Phil Jackson) | 95/100 | 15% | 14.3 |
| Teammate (Shaq incoming) | 98/100 | 20% | 19.6 |
| Development Path | 90/100 | 15% | 13.5 |
| Market (LA) | 95/100 | 10% | 9.5 |
| Franchise Legacy | 95/100 | 15% | 14.3 |
| Ownership (Buss) | 90/100 | 15% | 13.5 |
| Draft Pressure (#13) | 85/100 | 10% | 8.5 |
| TOTAL FIT SCORE | 92.4 | ||
What Happened
Jerry West orchestrated the trade knowing Shaq was coming. Phil Jackson arrived. Kobe learned from the triangle offense, had time to develop as a raw 17-year-old, and eventually became the alpha. 5 championships, 18 All-Star selections, global icon status.The Lakers were the only place this version of Kobe could exist.
Kobe Bryant → New Jersey Nets (#8)
The Alternate Timeline
The Nets were a disaster in 1996 — bad ownership, no direction, trading picks for nothing. Kobe at 17 with no mentor, no Shaq, no triangle, no LA spotlight? He'd still be great (the talent was real) but the legend? The Mamba Mentality marketed globally? 5 rings? None of that happens in New Jersey.
| Factor | Rating | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| HC (John Calipari) | 35/100 | 15% | 5.3 |
| Roster Quality | 30/100 | 20% | 6.0 |
| Development | 40/100 | 15% | 6.0 |
| Market (NJ in 90s) | 35/100 | 10% | 3.5 |
| Franchise Stability | 25/100 | 15% | 3.8 |
| Ownership | 30/100 | 15% | 4.5 |
| Draft Pressure (#8) | 70/100 | 10% | 7.0 |
| TOTAL FIT SCORE | 40.8 | ||
Allen Iverson → Philadelphia 76ers (#1)
| Factor | Rating | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| HC (Larry Brown) | 85/100 | 15% | 12.8 |
| System Fit | 70/100 | 20% | 14.0 |
| Market (Philly attitude) | 90/100 | 10% | 9.0 |
| Roster Support | 50/100 | 20% | 10.0 |
| Culture Match | 85/100 | 15% | 12.8 |
| Ownership | 60/100 | 10% | 6.0 |
| Draft Pressure (#1) | 50/100 | 10% | 5.0 |
| TOTAL FIT SCORE | 74.5 | ||
What Happened
AI and Philly were meant for each other — the toughness, the swagger, the us-against-the-world mentality. Larry Brown gave him freedom. The 2001 Finals run (carrying scrubs to face the Shaq-Kobe Lakers) is legendary. MVP, scoring titles, cultural icon.No championship, but perfect marriage of player and city.
Steve Nash → Phoenix Suns (#15)
| Factor | Rating | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| HC (Cotton Fitzsimmons) | 60/100 | 15% | 9.0 |
| System Fit (run and gun) | 85/100 | 20% | 17.0 |
| Development Path | 75/100 | 15% | 11.3 |
| Market | 60/100 | 10% | 6.0 |
| Roster Patience | 55/100 | 15% | 8.3 |
| Future Coach (D'Antoni) | 95/100 | 15% | 14.3 |
| Draft Pressure (#15) | 90/100 | 10% | 9.0 |
| TOTAL FIT SCORE | 67.5 | ||
What Happened
Nash bounced to Dallas, became a star, then returned to Phoenix where Mike D'Antoni's "Seven Seconds or Less" system made him a back-to-back MVP. The Suns revolutionized basketball with pace and space. No rings (thanks, Horry hip check), but Nash's style became the NBA's future template.
The Draft Class Comparison
Kobe (LA)
5 rings, legend
AI (PHI)
MVP, cultural icon
Nash (PHX)
2x MVP, no ring
Kobe (NJ)
Hypothetical: good, not great
Point swing for Kobe: Lakers vs. Nets
The Verdict
Traditional Re-Draft Says:
"Kobe #1, AI #2, Nash and Ray Allen later"
Contextual Re-Draft Says:
"Kobe at #1 to Vancouver = maybe 2 All-Star games. AI needed Philly's edge. Nash needed D'Antoni."
The greatest draft class ever succeeded because players landed in situations that matched their personalities and potential. Kobe's trade to LA wasn't luck — it was Jerry West seeing what a 17-year-old could become with the right foundation.