June 26, 1996. That is the date everything in the NBA changed. If you were watching the draft that night at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey, you saw a 6-foot-tall (on a good day) guard from Georgetown walk across the stage to shake Commissioner David Stern’s hand.
People were skeptical. Honestly, they were more than skeptical—they were worried. Back then, the league was a land of giants. You didn't just take a "tiny" guard with the first overall pick. It didn't happen. But the Philadelphia 76ers saw something different.
When Was Allen Iverson Drafted and Why It Mattered
So, the short answer is that Allen Iverson was drafted in 1996 as the number one overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers.
But "when" he was drafted matters less than "how" it went down. Iverson became the shortest player ever to be taken with the top pick. Think about that for a second. In a league that had spent decades obsessing over centers like Shaq and Hakeem Olajuwon, Philly put their entire future on a guy who weighed about 165 pounds.
He had just finished two electric years at Georgetown under the legendary John Thompson. Iverson wasn't just a scorer there; he was a defensive menace, winning the Big East Defensive Player of the Year twice. Still, the NBA was a different beast.
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The 1996 Draft Class Context
To understand the weight of the 1996 draft, you've gotta look at who else was in that room. This wasn't some weak year where the 76ers had no other options. This class is widely considered one of the three greatest in basketball history.
- Ray Allen went 5th.
- Kobe Bryant went 13th.
- Steve Nash went 15th.
Philly could have had any of them. Instead, they took "The Answer."
The 76ers were coming off a brutal 18-64 season. They were irrelevant. They needed a culture shock, and Iverson provided it from the moment he put on that oversized jersey. He wasn't just a basketball player; he was a walking, talking shift in how the sport was marketed and played.
Breaking the Rookie Records
Once the season started, Iverson didn't waste any time proving he belonged. In his very first game against the Milwaukee Bucks, he dropped 30 points. Basically, he announced to the world that he couldn't be guarded.
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His rookie year was stuff of legend. He broke Wilt Chamberlain’s rookie record by scoring 40 or more points in five consecutive games. One of those games included a 50-point masterpiece against Cleveland. Most people remember his rookie season for one specific play, though: the crossover on Michael Jordan.
It was a "passing of the torch" moment that happened way sooner than anyone expected. Jordan was at the height of his powers, and this kid from Hampton, Virginia, put him on skates.
The Long-Term Impact of the 1996 Draft
When was Allen Iverson drafted? It was the start of the "Post-Jordan" era, even while Jordan was still playing. AI brought hip-hop culture, tattoos, and cornrows to the forefront of the league.
He didn't just change the Sixers' win-loss column; he changed the dress code. He changed how kids practiced their ball-handling. If you grew up in the late 90s, you weren't trying to be a 7-foot center. You were in the driveway trying to perfect the Iverson crossover.
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The Sixers eventually built a team around him that reached the 2001 NBA Finals. He won the MVP that year, cementing the fact that Philadelphia’s gamble in 1996 was the right move.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re a fan of basketball history or just curious about how the modern "positionless" NBA started, you should check out the full 1996 draft board. Seeing where stars like Peja Stojaković or Stephon Marbury landed compared to Iverson gives you a real sense of how much talent was on the board.
For those looking to dive deeper into his career, I'd suggest watching his 2016 Hall of Fame induction speech. It’s raw, it’s emotional, and it explains much better than any stat sheet why "The Answer" remains one of the most beloved figures in sports history.
Go back and watch the 1996 draft highlights on YouTube. Seeing the baggy suits and the look of pure determination on a young AI's face tells you everything you need to know about that era.