Likely No. 1 overall pick Allen Iverson loves his NBA Draft comparison (SN Archive — 1996)

This article, 'Charging of the Guard' by David Moore, originally appeared in the June 24, 1996 issue of The Sporting News.

Tell Allen Iverson he shouldn't be the first pick in the draft.

That his hand, a deadly quick extension of his 165-pound electrifying frame, shouldn't be the first to meet David Stern's.

That guards, especially ones with his 6-foot frame, never are taken with the top pick. But he won't buy it. It belongs to him. "I deserve to be No. 1," he says.

Iverson is ready to be the first pick, which is owned by the 76ers, and next Wednesday, after 18 years, the NBA may be ready for a player like him to be just that. Only five guards have been taken with the first overall selection in the last 30 years. The last was Magic Johnson with the Lakers in 1979.

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"It means a lot to me to go No. 1," Iverson says. "I've been through so many things in my life, so many obstacles. If I'm not, that's something I will deal with. Whatever team picks me is going to get the same thing. I'm going to play hard... play every game like it's my last."

The fact that Iverson plays a definable position weighs in his favor. Marcus Camby has fine all-around skills, but team executives aren't sure exactly what his true position is. Iverson and Georgia Tech's Stephon Marbury are projected to be among the first four players selected. That makes point guard the impact position in this draft.

"I think it's a pretty good draft for the point," says Dick Van Arsdale, vice president of player personnel for the Suns. "You've got a chance for two guys to be star-type players," says Bob Bass, the Hornets' vice president of basketball operations.

Iverson averaged 25 points and 4.7 assists for Georgetown last season. An explosive player, he reminds some scouts of a young Isiah Thomas. "I wish I could be as good as Isiah someday," Iverson says. "His past speaks for itself. Just for someone to say my name in the same sentence as Isiah is a compliment. I would hope to do some of the things Isiah has done. I bring a lot of attention to me on the court, and that opens it up so much for other people. In the NBA I think I will be a lot better at that. If I'm playing my game like I want to, that will open everything up."

"I wish I could be as good as Isiah someday."

- Georgetown's Allen Iverson

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Marbury, meanwhile, doesn't score as much as Iverson, but he does a better job of distributing the ball.

"I know I make every player around me better," Marbury says. "I come to the game and show people what they want to see. I'm not too flashy, but I can be flashy if I want to be. I can be flashy when it's necessary. I have a lot of pride and I love scoring."

Some of the most talented young players to enter the league in the 1990s play the point. The Magic's Anfernee Hardaway, the Mavericks' Jason Kidd, the SuperSonics' Gary Payton, the Hornets' Kenny Anderson and the Raptors' Damon Stoudamire all have been drafted in the past six years.

"It's a new era," Iverson says. "It's time for point guards to step it up. I feel comfortable with that."

Finally, so does the league.

SN

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: JUNE 24, 1996

• Rick Pitino feels right at home in Kentucky
• Michael Jordan just won his 4th ring, but how long will he keep this going?
• NFL coaches on the hot seat entering 1996
• SuperSonics face costly decisions after reaching Finals

1996 NBA Draft team needs

Atlanta. Coach Lenny Wilkens needs to upgrade his talent on the front line. The Hawks, however, don't have a first-round pick (they have the 16th and 18th picks in the second round) and have limited funds to pursue a quality free agent A trade appears to be the only option available to address the needs.

Boston. Overloaded with guards and small forwards, the Celtics will be able to improve their lack of size by taking a power forward or center with the ninth pick, but any player available here won't have an immediate impact on the team's fortunes.

Charlotte. In addition to size up front, the Hornets need to find a point guard—Kenny Anderson is a free agent and Muggsy Bogues is coming off knee surgery—and a small forward because of Scott Burrell's injury problems. The 13th and 16th picks will help fulfill two of those three needs.

Chicago. What do you get for the team that has everything? Perhaps the Bulls' only weakness is they are an older team. The final pick of the first round (No. 29) might provide a quality player for the future. But the Bulls have been looking this late for a few years now, with little to show for it.

Cleveland. The Cavaliers have a lot of players who do an outstanding job of understanding their roles, but the talent level is limited. The Cavs can fill in one of those gaps—either center or power forward—with the 12th pick and can take another big body or scorer at No. 20.

Dallas. The Mavericks must plug at least one or two veterans into the rotation at power forward and center and improve defensively. The sixth pick could yield the big body they desire, but the pick could also be traded to add a quality player to the mix.

Denver. Coach Bernie Bickerstaff already has begun to remake this team with deals that added Mark Jackson, Ricky Pierce and Sarunas Marciulionis to the roster. The 23rd pick will be the next step in the process. Shooters should be a priority.

Detroit. The Pistons need to find a good, young point guard to take over for Joe Dumars and add some beef up front. The team has the money to make a big free-agent push for a front-line player and can use the 26th pick on a guard.

Golden State. The Warriors are a good offensive team that lacks the defensive intensity and chemistry they need to be anything other than mediocre. The 11th pick should add a nice role player up front.

Houston. The Rockets need to start developing talent at power forward and shooting guard. There should be some interesting prospects at power forward when they pick at No. 22.

Indiana. The Pacers are an outstanding team that falls short of Chicago and Orlando in the Eastern Conference. Getting the 10th pick from Denver in the Jackson-Jalen Rose trade could net them rebounding help, which could be desperately needed if Dale Davis or Antonio Davis leaves in free agency.

Los Angeles Clippers. What they need most is a new owner. Because there are no strong candidates for that position at No. 6— and because the Clippers are likely to lose starting center Brian Williams to free agency—look for them to go big.

Los Angeles Lakers. General manager Jerry West has an outstanding eye for talent and could find someone to eventually contribute to the rotation with the 24th pick. But what the Lakers should look for is another impact player up front, and that should come from the huge chunk of change the team will be able to spend on the free-agent market.

Miami. Coach Pat Riley rarely invests time in rookies, which works out because the Heat don't have a first-round pick—in fact, they don't have a pick at all. What they do have is up to $11 million to spend on free agency, which should allow them to find a shooting guard and small forward to complement center Alonzo Mourning.

Milwaukee. One of the most talented, young front lines in the league needs a point guard to help the big men realize their potential. If the Bucks are unable to use the No. 4 pick on a point guard, that is, if Marbury'sgone, they may take Ray Allen.

Minnesota. The evolution of rookie Kevin Garnett helped take the chill out of those cold, Minnesota nights. The Timberwolves are set at forward but are looking for someone to run the team. Because Iverson and Marbury should be gone by the fifth pick, this will be difficult. Antoine Walker or Erick Dampier are the best bets here.

New Jersey. The Nets have a name coach in John Calapari. Now, they can use the No. 8 pick to add a name player to a team thin on talent. Backcourt help is needed, but they are likely to settle for a big man.

New York. The Knicks have three picks in the first round—the 18th, 19th and 21st. This is an older team that needs an infusion of youth at guard and forward. It's also a team that must generate more points. A backup center, a shooting forward and a point guard would help. The three picks—whether kept or packaged in a deal—will help the depth, but the major additions will come from the $10 million the Knicks can spend in free agency.

Orlando. The Magic have arguably the best starting five in the league. What the playoff loss to Chicago underlined is that the team must improve its scoring off the bench, at any position, a difficult task at No. 27.

Philadelphia. The 76ers are a volatile team that is weak at center and point guard and undersized up front. The No. 1 pick is a coup and will alleviate a major concern, but they have a way to go before they can be considered a playoff contender.

Phoenix. A veteran team that began to break down last season due to age and injury, the Suns have developed a knack for spotting a diamond in the rough, and at No. 15, the team is picking higher than it has been in quite some time. They need to look big-center and power forward.

Portland. The Trail Blazers need to upgrade their talent at shooting guard and small forward and become more athletic. The No. 17 pick should allow Portland to address one of those needs.

Sacramento. Despite Tyus Edney's performance in the playoffs, point guard is the team's most glaring question mark. Number 14 is an ideal spot in this draft for the Kings to improve at that position.

San Antonio. The Spurs traded out of the first round with the deal that landed forward Charles Smith. Another team without any pick this year, they will have to look to free agency to improve a weak rebounding team that could also stand to upgrade its talent level in the backcourt.

Seattle. A talented, athletic team, the Sonics need to plug another body into the front-line rotation since center Ervin Johnson and backup forward/center Sam Perkins are free agents. This help is unlikely to come from the No. 28 spot.

Toronto. The Raptors have one player-point guard Damon Stoudamire—that is a key part of their future. The No. 2 pick will be the next piece to the puzzle. If the Sixers take Camby, Toronto may trade down.

Utah. At some point, the Jazz must begin to develop the players who will replace Karl Malone and John Stockton. The 25th pick is not the place to mine that sort of talent, so they may look for more scoring help on the wings.

Vancouver. The Grizzlies used their first pick last year to select center Bryant Reeves. The No. 3 pick in this draft will be spent to upgrade the backcourt.

Washington. The Bullets have no first round pick in this draft. With the 25th pick in the second round, they may look for a dependable backcourt reserve. Their main priority is to re-sign free-agent forward Juwan Howard and keep the nucleus of this young team intact .