EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- When the Philadelphia 76ers last had the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft a decade ago, they dealt the pick in what turned out to be one of the worst blunders in franchise history. There were no deals last night, as the team addressed its strong need for a point guard.
And that point guard turned out to be Allen Iverson, who became the first point guard selected with the top pick since the Los Angeles Lakers took Magic Johnson in 1979. The Sixers did so after fielding some offers for the pick, including one in which the Washington Bullets offered a package that included Philadelphia native Rasheed Wallace.
Marcus Camby went to the Toronto Raptors with the second pick, and he was followed by Shareef Abdur-Rahim (third, to the Vancouver Grizzlies), Stephon Marbury (fourth to the Milwaukee Bucks) and Ray Allen (fifth to the Minnesota Timberwolves). Marbury, less than a half-hour later, was dealt to Minnesota for Allen and a future first-round pick.
A big question going into last night was who would take a chance on the two high school players in the draft, Kobe Bryant and Jermaine O'Neal. Bryant was chosen 13th by the Charlotte Hornets and O'Neal was selected with the 17th pick by the Portland Trail Blazers.
But this was a night where everyone took a back seat to the 6-foot Iverson, who just over two years ago was in prison, convicted of assault after an altercation at a bowling alley
in his native Virginia. Iverson was eventually pardoned, and went on to play two solid seasons at Georgetown, leading the Hoyas to the East Regional final last season.
He goes to a Philadelphia team that, the last time it had the top pick, in 1986, traded it to the Cleveland Cavaliers -- who took Brad Daugherty -- for Roy Hinson and cash. It was one of the most lopsided trades in franchise history, and one the team is hoping to live down with the selection of Iverson.
"I think I can do a lot for this team," said Iverson, who averaged 25.0 points a game and was named a first-team All-America as a sophomore. "I hope I'm the missing piece to the puzzle. [Jerry] Stackhouse is a great player. [Clarence] Weatherspoon is great, and so is Derrick Coleman. I'm looking forward to playing with them."
Coach Johnny Davis was very enthusiastic about a guard tandem of Iverson and Stackhouse. "It should be one of the best backcourts in the league," he said. "It's a dynamic backcourt of the future."
