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The 1996 NBA Draft, along with 1984 and 2003, is regarded among the greatest draft classes of all time. Not only was it chock full of solid players, but it brought in some of the most culture-shattering players in league history. So with that in mind, let s look back at the historic 1996 NBA Draft.
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Dan Levine, Getty Images Before we get into the actual draft, we need to understand where the league was at when the draft rolled around in June. The Chicago Bulls were coming off a then-record 72-win season and their fourth NBA championship (their first since the un-retirement of Michael Jordan). The Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies completed their expansion seasons. Kevin Garnett also finished his rookie season, setting off a trend of players skipping college and going straight into the NBA. Shaquille O Neal was set to become the biggest free-agent prize in recent memory.
The Philadelphia Sixers won the draft lottery after a dismal 18-64 season.