30 years later, why 1996 NBA Draft class is one of the best ever

The venerable Ernie Johnson opened TV coverage of the 1996 NBA Draft with “Tonight you’ve arrived at a place where childhood dreams will come true with the big city of New York as a backdrop. Some of the best young players in the world stand at the doorstep to the big time – the NBA.” Moments later, then-NBA Commissioner David Stern walked onto the stage at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, N.J, and announced, “With the first pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers select Allen Iverson from Georgetown University.” Recognizable names with solid college basketball resumes…