SLAM MAGAZINE

[VIDEO] 1997 NBA Rookie Challenge

The 1996 Draft is widely considered to be one of the deepest and most talented NBA drafts in history, with over one-third of the first round picks later becoming NBA All-Stars. The draft class produced three players who won NBA MVP awards (Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Steve Nash), seven other drafted players who became All-Stars (Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Ray Allen, Žydrūnas Ilgauskas, Stephon Marbury, Jermaine O’Neal, Peja Stojaković, Antoine Walker), and one undrafted All-Star (Ben Wallace), for a grand total of 11 All-Stars. 8 players from this draft class have been named to at least one All-NBA Team, the most among any draft. The draft class also produced 3 players who have been named to the NBA’s all-defensive first team: Bryant, Marcus Camby, and Wallace. Camby won the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2007, while Wallace earned the same award in 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2006.

You can probably imagine that the 1997 NBA Rookie Challenge was loaded with future superstars. Just take a look at these insane rosters.

Ray Allen, Marcus Camby, Allen Iverson and Antoine Walker were competing for the Eastern Conference Squad, Kobe Bryant, Shareef Abdul-Rahim, Derek Fisher, Stephon Marbury and Steve Nash were part of the Wester Conference Team.

Check out this vintage footage of the game: