On this day: Sixers select Allen Iverson No. 1 in 1996 NBA draft
On June 26, 1996, the Philadelphia 76ers held the No. 1 pick in a pretty stacked draft class that included Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Marcus Camby, Stephon Marbury, Peja Stojakovic, Jermaine O’Neal and Allen Iverson.
With that No. 1 pick, the Sixers chose the 6-foot, scrawny guard out of Georgetown. What Iverson brought to the floor was scintillating at times; he put the Sixers back on the NBA map.
Iverson won Rookie of the Year in the 1996-97 season while averaging 23.5 points and 7.5 assists with 4.1 rebounds. He went on to lead the league in scoring four times while a member of the Sixers. He won the MVP honor in 2001 when he averaged 31.1 points, 4.6 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.5 steals and led the Sixers to the NBA Finals.
Iverson made a big impact on the league on his way to a Hall of Fame career with the Sixers and the Denver Nuggets, with whom he teamed with Carmelo Anthony. His No. 3 jersey hangs in the rafters at the Wells Fargo Center.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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