The 1996 NBA Draft class is often hailed as one of the greatest in basketball history. With 47 out of 58 players making it to the league and 23 enjoying careers of at least a decade, this group has left an indelible mark on the sport. Stars like Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, and Allen Iverson headline a list that includes several other notable players, making this draft a benchmark for future classes.
Among the first-round picks, a remarkable one-third became NBA All-Stars, demonstrating the talent that emerged from this year. Moreover, it produced an undrafted All-Star in Ben Wallace, showcasing that greatness can come from unexpected places. Additionally, multiple players earned accolades such as Defensive Player of the Year, with the '96 class gifting us two five-time champions: Bryant and Derek Fisher.
It’s no surprise that this talented draft class made a significant financial impact in the NBA. Of the top ten picks, nine players accumulated career earnings of at least $55 million. Remarkably, two of the biggest stars—Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash—were selected later in the first round, highlighting the unpredictability of talent evaluation in the draft.
Kobe Bryant was selected 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets but was quickly traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac, a move that would change the landscape of basketball forever. In a dramatic twist, the trade nearly fell apart when Divac threatened to retire rather than leave Los Angeles. Ultimately, the deal went through, leading Bryant to a storied career filled with five championships and Hall of Fame recognition.
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Steve Nash, who played for Santa Clara University, was picked 15th by the Phoenix Suns and would later join forces with Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas before returning to Phoenix. His career culminated in playing alongside Bryant at the Lakers, further solidifying his legacy.
As we dive deeper into the financial success of this class, it’s astounding to realize that Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen, Jermaine O'Neal, Allen Iverson, and Stephon Marbury combined to earn nearly a billion dollars over their careers—specifically, around $987 million across 83 seasons of play. This staggering figure shines a light on the lucrative nature of professional basketball and the immense talent that emerged from this iconic draft.
The total career earnings of All-Stars from the 1996 draft class reached an impressive $1,648,188,756—nearly $1.65 billion! Below, we break down the individual earnings of some of the standout players:
| Player | Career Earnings |
|---|---|
| Kobe Bryant | $328,238,062 |
| Ray Allen | $184,356,410 |
| Jermaine O'Neal | $168,794,021 |
| Allen Iverson | $154,494,445 |
| Stephon Marbury | $151,115,945 |
| Steve Nash | $146,936,620 |
| Zydrunas Ilgauskas | $124,487,723 |
| Antoine Walker | $108,142,015 |
| Peja Stojakovic | $97,956,720 |
| Shareef Abdur-Rahim | $95,866,000 |
| Ben Wallace (undrafted) | $87,800,795 |
