Best Basketball debate : Better draft class - 1996 or 2003?

Answer 1

Wow what a great question!

My first instinct was 2003, because of Lebron James. I think 50 years from now he'll be considered the best player of either class and that usually tips the scales.

Lets see here 2003- Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Kirk Hinrich, T.J. Ford, Luke Ridnour, David West, Boris Diaw, Leandro Barbosa, Josh Howard. Other notable 1st rounders Chris Kaman and Nick Collison

and look at this 2nd round Jason Kapono, Luke Walton, Steve Blake, Willie Green, Zaza Pachulia, Matt Bonner, Mo Williams, James Jones, Kyle Korver

1996- Allen Iverson, Marcus Camby, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Stephon Marbury, Ray Allen, Erick Dampier, Kobe Bryant, Peja Stojakovic, Steve Nash, Jermaine O'Neal, Derek Fisher. Other First round notables Tony Delk, Antoine Walker, Zydrunas Illgauskas, Jerome Williams, Travis Knight

2nd round Othella Harrington, Jeff McInnis, Malik Rose, Shandon Anderson

looking at all the names in front of me now, I have to give a slight edge to 1996 what a first round!

Answer 2

Sorry you will never see a draft class as good as 1996... but 2003 was definately your best chance.
I know the 2003 class hasn't peaked yet with guys like Lebron, Carmello, Bosh, D-Wade, Hinrich, Ford, Ridnour, Boris Diaw, Josh Howard, and David West
but for everyone one after Lebron, Kobe, Bosh and D-Wade on that list the 1996 draft has someone equal to or better then who you can name from 2003.

1996 included...
Steve Nash
Allen Iverson
Kobe Bryant
Jermaine O'Neal
Ray Allen
Peja
Marbury
Camby
Walker
Abdur Raheem
Big Z


Look out the 2007 should be a very strong draft class as well...
probably not better then 2003 0r 1996 but maybe 3rd best...

Answer 3

If you look at the question of which draft was the best ever, you will find out that you are missing something. True, the 2003 and 1996 draft classes were excellent, but you are forgetting to mention the draft of 1984. That draft had many hall-of-famers. That class had Michael Jordan, John Stockton, and Hakeem Olajuwon to name a few.
If you seek an answer at to what draft was better between '96 an '03, I would have to say 1996 for now. That draft contained many championship-caliber players. Many of them still play up to now.

Answer 4

of course you're all going to say '96, because they have 7 years more experience and have had time to blossom. i disagree. 2003 was a better draft class because of the IMPACT that the players had. lebron put the cavs in the playoffs. carmelo brought the nuggets to prominence and now leads the league in scoring. dwyane wade is last years finals mvp. bosh has the raptors playing like a 2nd tier team in the eastern conference, not to mention a 2-time all star.

now look at the class of '96. nash was third string in phoenix for a long while. kobe didn't come into his own until his fourth year. peja stayed in greece a couple years after he was drafted. iverson was the ONLY one in the class of '96 to instantly contribute to his team, and even then he didn't turn the franchise around as 4 of the top 5 picks in '96 had done (all but milicic)

Answer 5

For me i think the best draft class is the class of 2003 because most of the players that are drafted in 2003 showed impact and change the flow of the NBA. Like Lebron, who's leading the Cavs in an early age and had bacame a superstar at his early years in the league. And other rookies that time that bacome one of the x-factor of the NBA like Dwayne Wade,Carmelo Anthony,Kirk Hinrich,Leandro Barbosa and Chris Bosh

Answer 6

The final legacy of any draft class will not be written until after they all retire.

Obviously, the class of 96 is more accomplished, but this question really won't be able to be answered with any certainty for another 10 years or so.

No question that we're talking about two great drafts though!

Answer 7

1996 vast 3 Bryant Iverson Nash 2003 vast 3 James Wade Anthony at the instant The ninety six Batch is extra effective by skill of A Hair...yet..... The 2003 would be extra effective by skill of three-4 Years From Now..& extra effective by skill of Landslide.....

Answer 8

the marquee players that came out in the 03 draft are damn good, although a number of 96 draftees have rings, Kobe Nash(no D) AI(no D), and O'Neal and Allen are considered superstars...and of course of all the top draft picks only Kobe has rings, (fischer and walker were class of 96 also but far from superstar status) that being said, I like Kobe a lot, but you get LBJ, Wade, Melo , Howard,Bosh and others...not too shabby...

Answer 9

For now its definitly 96
Iverson
Kobe
Nash
Ray Allen
Jermaine O'neal
Peja Stojakavic
Marbury
Marcus Camby
But the 03 class besides
James
Anthony and
Wade is still developing
Bosh
T.J. Ford
Kirk Hinrich
Josh Howard
Brian Cook