NBA Draft: Redrafting the 1996 NBA draft class

With the 8th overall pick, the New Jersey Nets select Stephon Marbury

Stephon Marbury being guarded by Kobe Bryant

'Starbury' was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 4th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft and traded on draft night to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Marbury made 2 All-Star teams through the course of his career (2001, 2003) and was also named to the All-NBA Third Team twice (2000, 2003).

He spent 3 seasons each with the Timberwolves and the Phoenix Suns, 2 with the New Jersey Nets and signed a 5-year contract with the New York Knicks in 2004. Following the end of that contract, he left the league to play in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), which he dominated for several years before retirement.

Although the lingering image of Marbury's NBA career will always be his failure to take the Knicks to the playoffs, at his best, he was easily one of the top 10 players of his draft class. His NBA career averages of 19.3 points, 7.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 3.0 rebounds per game speak volumes about the same.