With the 2013 NBA Draft set to take place on Thursday, the yearly argument about which draft class is the best in NBA history is in full swing.
The three draft classes that have a say in the argument are from 1984, 1996 and 2003 as several All-Star and Hall-of-Fame players heard their names called during these years.
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With two Lakers, Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash, from the 1996 class, we asked Lakers Nation who they thought was the best draft class in NBA history:
Not surprisingly, 76 percent of the vote was for the 1996 draft class that saw Allen Iverson, Ray Allen, Nash, Peja Stojakovic and yes, Kobe drafted in the class.
Role players such as former Laker Derek Fisher, Kerry Kittles and Tony Delk all had successful careers as Fisher won five NBA championships with the Lakers.
Jordan went on to become arguably the greatest player in NBA history, while Barkley and Olajuwon had star-studded careers. Notably, the most memorable part of the draft was the Portland Trail Blazers taking Kentucky forward Sam Bowie over Jordan, and it would go on and haunt the Trail Blazers for years to come.
Coming in last place was the 2003 draft class that saw LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh get drafted. Notably, David West and Mo Williams who have turned out to be solid NBA pros were drafted in the middle of the first and second round.
Regardless, all three draft classes provided incredible NBA talent; it just comes down to which players people prefer over the other and which draft class they fit into.
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