NBA Draft 1996: Players who left their mark on the league

1.Kobe Bryant:

Kobe Bryant lifts the Finals trophy and his Finals MVP trophy in 2010 after beating arch-rivals Boston Celtics in seven games

By some distance and without doubt, Bryant has made the biggest impact in the league. A 15-time All-Star and league MVP in 2007-08, he was drafted 13^th overall by the Charlotte Hornets and traded to the Lakers on the same night for center Vlade Divac.

Often compared to Michael Jordan due to his physique and style of play, Kobe is a five-time champion and two-time NBA finals MVP, achievements which are not even a shadow of the Hall of famer Bulls player.

However the Lakers guard has created his own legacy in the league with his skill to deliver game winning buzzer beaters in the clutch and would definitely feature in anybody’s top 10 all-time guards list. A two-time scoring champion for the season, Kobe jointly holds the record for most All-Star MVP awards winning it four times.

He has played his entire career for the Lakers and stands sure of that fact that he would retire a Laker. He presently stands fourth on the all-time points scoring list, highest among active players.