The 1996 NBA Draft Class: Where Are They Now?

It’s been over 20 years since the 1996 NBA draft Class was first introduced to the world. Where are they now?

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The 1996 NBA Draft Class

The 1996 NBA Draft Class is considered one of the best in history. It featured five players who went on to be named All-Stars, including two who are still active today: Kobe Bryant and Ray Allen But what ever happened to the rest of the class? Here’s a look at where they are now.

(Active players in bold)

Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers): After 20 seasons with the Lakers, Bryant retired in 2016 as the NBA’s third All-time leading scorer. He won five championships and was named an All-Star 18 times. He now runs his own production company.

Ray Allen (Retired): Allen played 18 seasons in the NBA and is the league’s all-time leader in three-pointers made He won two championships, one with the Boston Celtics and one with the Miami Heat He also appeared in 10 All-Star Games. Since retiring, he has appeared in several movies and launched a health food company.

Allen Iverson (Retired): Iverson played 14 seasons in the NBA and was one of the most popular players of his generation. He was a four-time scoring champion and was named MVP in 2001. After retiring from basketball, he launched his own clothing line and became a business partner with Reebok.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Retired): Abdur-Rahim played 12 seasons in the NBA before injuries forced him to retire prematurely. He was a two-time All-Star and averaged 20 points per game for his career. Since retiring, he has worked as a basketball analyst for ESPN and served as president of the NBA players Association from 2005 to 2008.

Stephon Marbury (Retired): Marbury had a successful 13-year career in the NBA, but it was marred by controversy and infamy as much as it was excellence on the court. After retiring from basketball, he became a cultural icon in China, where he now owns his own line of shoes and has a statue built in his honor.

Where Are They Now?

It’s been more than 20 years since the 1996 NBA draft took place. So, where are all those players now?

Some, like Kobe Bryant and Ray Allen went on to have illustrious careers, winning multiple championships and cementing their legacies as some of the greatest players of all time. Others, like Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury had ups and downs but still managed to make significant contributions to the game.

And then there are those who never quite lived up to their potential or simply faded into obscurity. Whatever their story, all of these players share one thing in common: they were all drafted in 1996.

So where are they now? Here’s a look at what happened to the top 10 picks in the 1996 NBA draft

What Happened to Them?

The 1996 NBA Draft was one of the most star-studded and anticipated draft classes in NBA history It featured future MVPs and NBA champions as well as a number of role players who would go on to have long and successful careers. Nearly 20 years later, let’s take a look at where these players are now and what they’re doing.

Allan Houston – After a successful 12-year career with the Knicks, Houston retired in 2005 due to persistent injuries. He briefly came out of retirement to play for the Detroit Pistons in 2007-08, but was forced to retire again after just nine games. He now serves as an assistant General Manager for the Knicks.

Ben Wallace – Wallace played 18 seasons in the NBA, winning Defensive Player of the Year four times and becoming one of the best Defensive Players in league history. He won an NBA Championship with the Pistons in 2004 and also played for the Chicago Bulls Cleveland Cavaliers Phoenix Suns and Atlanta Hawks He announced his retirement in 2012 and now runs a youth Basketball Camp in Alabama.

Kobe Bryant – Bryant is widely considered one of the greatest players in NBA history He played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers winning five NBA championships and becoming the Lakers’ all-time leading scorer. He retired in 2016 and is now focusing on his business ventures, which include investing in sports drink start-up BodyArmor.

Michael Jordan – Like Kobe Bryant Jordan is widely considered one of the greatest players in NBA history He won six NBA Championships with the Chicago Bulls and was named MVP five times. After briefly retirement to pursue a career in baseball, he returned to basketball with the Washington Wizards before finally retiring for good in 2003. Jordan is now majority owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets

Where Are They Now: Part 2

In 1996, the NBA Draft class was loaded with talent. From Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson to Steve Nash and Ray Allen many of the game’s greatest players came from that class. Now, more than 20 years later, most of those players have retired. But what are they doing now?

Kobe Bryant: After retiring from the NBA in 2016, Kobe Bryant has been busy. He’s started a production company, secured a deal with ESPN, and written a children’s book. He’s also been working on his body, losing over 30 pounds.

Allen Iverson: After a brief stint in retirement, Allen Iverson returned to the NBA as a player-coach for 3’s Company in the BIG3 league. He’s also been working on his clothing line and recently released a documentary about his life.

Steve Nash: Steve Nash is currently working as a player development consultant for the Golden State Warriors He’s also been doing some broadcasting work for Turner Sports

Ray Allen: Since retiring from the NBA in 2016, Ray Allen has kept busy. He’s launched a production company, 17 Sudbury Productions, and has been working on several projects, including a documentary about his life.

What Happened to Them: Part 2

In part two of our series on the 1996 NBA Draft class, we take a look at what happened to some of the more high-profile members of that class. In particular, we focus on those who were drafted in the lottery and became household names. For some of them, their careers panned out as expected. Others had more tumultuous experiences, including injuries and off-court issues. And still others fell out of the league entirely, struggling to find a way back in.

What happened to them? Let’s take a look:

Shawn Respert: The eighth overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1996, Shawn Respert enjoyed a solid rookie season, averaging 10 points per game But his career quickly fizzled out after that; he played just two more seasons in the NBA before heading overseas to play in Greece and Turkey. He eventually retired from basketball altogether in 2006.

Allen Iverson: The first overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1996, Allen Iverson went on to have one of the most decorated careers in NBA history He was a four-time scoring champion, an 11-time All-Star, and the MVP of the league in 2001. He also had his share of off-court problems, including several brushes with the law. After retiring from basketball in 2013, he has since attempted a career in rap music.

Marcus Camby: The second overall pick by the Toronto Raptors in 1996, Marcus Camby enjoyed a long and successful NBA career, playing for six different teams over 18 seasons. He was named Defensive Player of the Year twice and was a four-time member of the All-Defensive First Team. He retired from basketball in 2015 and is now an athlete ambassador for UNICEF USA

Where Are They Now: Part 3

In part three of our series, we check in on the members of the 1996 NBA draft class to see where their careers have taken them since they left the league.

Among the 1996 draftees, few have had as successful a post-NBA Career as Kobe Bryant After retiring from the league in 2016, Bryant has gone on to become one of the most recognizablestudio analysts and broadcasters in the NBA. He currently serves as an analyst for ESPN’s Los Angeles Lakers coverage.

Bryant isn’t the only 1996 draftee to have found success outside of basketball. Steve Nash, who was drafted 15th overall by the Phoenix Suns has carved out a successful career as a broadcaster and analyst. Nash currently serves as a studio analyst for Turner Sports’ NBA coverage

Other 1996 draftees have taken different paths since their playing days ended. Allen Iverson for example, has dealt with a number of personal struggles since he left the NBA in 2013. Iverson was recently inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame but he has also been open about his battles with alcoholism and depression.

Looking at the whole class, it’s clear that many 1996 draftees have had successful careers – both on and off the court. As we continue to check in on where they are now, we will be sure to update this article with new information.

What Happened to Them: Part 3

The 1996 NBA draft class was one of the most talented and successful in recent memory. Fifteen years later, many of those players are still going strong in the league. But what about the others? Here’s a look at what happened to them:

Part 3: The Rest of the First-Rounders

10. Roy Rogers C, Memphis Grizzlies – Rogers had a solid career as a backup center, playing for five different teams over 11 seasons. He averaged 5.4 points and 4 rebounds per game in his career. He last played in the NBA in 2007 and is now retired.

11. John Wallace, SF, New York Knicks – Wallace was a journeyman player who bounced around the league for 10 seasons, playing for six different teams. He had his best season in 2000-01 with the Toronto Raptors averaging 14 points per game He last played in the NBA in 2005-06 and is now retired.

12. Predrag Stojakovic, SF, Sacramento Kings – Stojakovic had a very successful NBA career playing 14 seasons for four different teams. He was a three-time All-Star and won an NBA Championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. He retired from the NBA in 2012 and is now a minority owner of the Kings.

13. Kerry Kittles, SG, New Jersey Nets – Kittles had a decent eight-year career with the Nets, averaging 13 points per game He was plagued by injuries throughout his career and retired from the NBA in 2004 at age 29. He is now an Assistant Coach at his alma mater, Villanova University

Where Are They Now: Part 4

In the fourth installment of our “Where Are They Now” series, we take a look at the 1996 NBA Draft class.

This was a loaded Draft Class that featured two future Hall of Famers in Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson Other notable names include Steve Nash, Ray Allen, Stephon Marbury, and Peja Stojakovic.

What ever happened to these stars? Let’s take a look:

Kobe Bryant: After spending 20 years with the Los Angeles Lakers Kobe retired in 2016 as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. He is now an entrepreneur and investor.

Allen Iverson: After playing for several teams during his career, AI retired in 2013. He is now an analyst for TNT’s “Inside The NBA ”

Steve Nash: Nash announced his retirement from the NBA in 2015 after dealing with injuries for several years. He is now a player development consultant for the Golden State Warriors

Ray Allen: After winning two championships with the Miami Heat Allen retired in 2016. He is now an actor and has appeared in several movies, including “He Got Game” and “Soul Food.”

Stephon Marbury: Marbury played professionally in China from 2010 to 2018. He is now a coach and owner of the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

Peja Stojakovic: After winning a championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, Stojakovic retired from the NBA in 2014. He is now an assistant general manager for the Sacramento Kings

What Happened to Them: Part 4

It has been over 20 years since the 1996 NBA Draft class took the league by storm. Some of the Top Picks from that class include Kobe Bryant Allen Iverson and Steve Nash. Many of these players had successful careers in the NBA, but what happened to them after they retired?

Kobe Bryant retired in 2016 after 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers He is widely considered one of the greatest players in NBA history After retiring, he became a venture capitalist and invest in startups. He is also a ambassador for the sport of basketball.

Allen Iverson was drafted first overall by the Philadelphia ers in 1996. He played 14 seasons in the NBA and was an 11-time All-Star. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. After retiring from basketball, Iverson struggled with alcoholism and went through a very public divorce. In 2012, he declared bankruptcy despite earning over $200 million during his basketball career

Steve Nash was drafted 15th overall by the Phoenix Suns in 1996. He played 18 seasons in the NBA and was a two-time MVP. After retiring, Nash became a player development consultant for the Golden State Warriors In 2018, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Where Are They Now: Part 5

The 1996 NBA Draft is considered one of the best in draft history and produced some Great players that have gone on to have fantastic careers. However, every player’s career is different. Some have benefited from great coaching, while others have struggled with injuries. In this series, we will take a look at where each player from the 1996 NBA Draft is now and what they are doing.

In Part 5 of this series, we will take a look at the latter half of the first round of the 1996 NBA Draft and see where those players are now.