7. Drafted 1st overall in 1996
When looking at the 1996 NBA Draft through a historical lens, Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash will go down as the best players selected. When the Sixers drafted Allen Iverson with the No. 1 overall pick, though, it was a momentous occasion. It’s fair to say he lived up to his end of the bargain.
Even with Bryant and Nash winning more titles and MVPs, Iverson’s personality and style found its own niche in Philadelphia culture. He was the perfect player to rejuvenate a historic franchise coming off some down years. It was, both then and in hindsight, the right pick.
Listed right at the 6-foot mark and weighing 168 pounds, Iverson wasn’t a physical specimen. He was, however, supremely productive, averaging 25 points and 4.7 assists per game in his sophomore season at Georgetown.
A dynamic scorer with numerous aesthetic qualities to his game, Iverson didn’t take long to adjust at the next level. He was the sixth-leading scorer in the NBA as a rookie, a feat seldom accomplished nowadays. We’ve already dedicated a few slides to his youthful brilliance.
Iverson, at the time, was the first No. 1 pick in franchise history. He lived up to the hype and the expectations, setting a new precedent for future Sixers generations. Before Iverson, there was Wilt, Dr. J and Charles Barkley. Iverson is in the same class, with Joel Embiid being the heir apparent.