Everyone knows the name. Kobe Bryant. Five rings, 18 All-Star appearances, and a legacy that basically defines the "Mamba Mentality." But if you go back to 1996, the league wasn't exactly sold on a skinny kid from Lower Merion High School.
People always ask: what pick was kobe?
The short answer is 13th.
But the long answer is way more interesting. It involves a "rigged" pre-draft plan, a grumpy center threatening to retire, and a room full of GMs who were terrified of drafting a teenager. Honestly, looking back, it's wild to think that 12 teams had a chance to snag one of the top three scorers in NBA history and said, "Nah, we’re good."
The 1996 NBA Draft: A Loaded Class
To be fair to those 12 teams, the 1996 draft wasn't some weak crop. It's widely considered one of the best ever. You had Allen Iverson going #1 to Philly. You had Ray Allen, Stephon Marbury, and Steve Nash all waiting in the wings.
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But Kobe was different. He was the first guard to ever make the jump straight from high school to the pros. Kevin Garnett had done it the year before as a big man, but a 17-year-old kid trying to handle NBA veterans at the shooting guard spot? That felt like a massive gamble.
The "Dirty Dozen" Who Passed
Here is the list of teams and players that went before Kobe. Some of these guys had great careers, but none of them are Kobe.
- Philadelphia 76ers (#1): Allen Iverson. No one blames them here. AI was a culture-shifter.
- Toronto Raptors (#2): Marcus Camby. A defensive beast, but not a franchise savior.
- Vancouver Grizzlies (#3): Shareef Abdur-Rahim.
- Milwaukee Bucks (#4): Stephon Marbury (traded to Minnesota for Ray Allen).
- Ray Allen (#5): Technically drafted by the Timberwolves then flipped.
- Boston Celtics (#6): Antoine Walker.
- LA Clippers (#7): Lorenzen Wright.
- New Jersey Nets (#8): Kerry Kittles. This one hurts. John Calipari really wanted Kobe, but the Nets got cold feet.
- Dallas Mavericks (#9): Samaki Walker.
- Indiana Pacers (#10): Erick Dampier.
- Golden State Warriors (#11): Todd Fuller. This is usually cited as the biggest "what were they thinking?" pick of the bunch.
- Cleveland Cavaliers (#12): Vitaly Potapenko.
How the Lakers Finessed the Charlotte Hornets
So, what pick was kobe officially? He was selected 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets. But he never intended to play a single second for them.
The Lakers’ GM at the time, the legendary Jerry West, had seen Kobe workout and basically lost his mind. He knew this kid was the future. But the Lakers didn't have a high pick; they had the 24th. West had to get creative. He cut a deal with Charlotte: "You draft Kobe at 13, and we'll give you our starting center, Vlade Divac."
Charlotte needed a big man. They didn't think a high school kid would help them win now. So they agreed.
But there was a hiccup. Vlade Divac was devastated. He loved LA and literally threatened to retire rather than move to Charlotte. If Vlade retired, the trade would crumble. The deal actually sat in limbo for a couple of weeks after the draft. Eventually, Vlade came around, the trade went through, and the Lakers cleared the cap space they needed to sign another guy you might have heard of: Shaquille O'Neal.
Why Did He Slide to 13?
It wasn't just about talent. Kobe's agent, Arn Tellem, and Jerry West played a bit of a shell game. They limited Kobe’s workouts for other teams. They reportedly told the New Jersey Nets that Kobe would go play in Italy if they drafted him.
They wanted him in Los Angeles.
Also, the scouting reports back then were hilarious in hindsight. Some scouts thought he didn't have the ball-handling skills to be an elite guard. Others said he was "too cocky."
Kobe took those slights personally. He famously remembered the names of every player drafted ahead of him. When the Hornets coach Dave Cowens told him on draft night that they didn't really need him anyway, Kobe tucked that away as fuel for the next 20 years.
The Legacy of the 13th Pick
What's crazy is how that one draft slot changed the entire history of the NBA. If Kobe goes to the Nets at #8, maybe Shaq never signs with the Lakers because they don't have the same "star power" lure or the cap room from moving Vlade.
If the Hornets keep him, maybe the franchise never moves to New Orleans.
Instead, the 13th pick became a Laker for life. He turned "13" into a number that GMs still lose sleep over. Every time a high-upside player slides down the board now, commentators start whispering about "the next Kobe."
Actionable Takeaways from the Kobe Draft Story
- Value Potential Over "Safe" Bets: Teams like the Warriors and Cavs took "safe" college centers (Fuller and Potapenko) and got role players. The Lakers took the "risky" teenager and got a dynasty.
- Workouts Aren't Everything: Kobe's workouts with the Lakers were legendary because Jerry West saw his competitive drive, not just his jump shot.
- The Power of Leverage: Kobe's camp knew what they wanted (LA) and used every bit of leverage to get there. It’s a masterclass in career positioning.
If you're ever looking at old draft boards, just remember that the "experts" are often wrong. Being the 13th pick didn't define Kobe Bryant; he defined what that pick could become.
Check out the official NBA retirement ceremonies for jerseys 8 and 24 to see how that 13th pick eventually took over the rafters at Staples Center.
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Next Steps: You can look up the 1996 "re-draft" articles online to see where experts would place Kobe today (spoilers: he's usually #1). Or, if you're interested in more draft history, research the 2003 class to see how it compares to Kobe’s year.