2. 1996
Key Players: Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Ray Allen, Stephon Marbury, Steve Nash
The 1996 NBA Draft introduced the world to a wave of young talent that would dominate the NBA for a majority of the 2000s. Allen Iverson became the face of a generation and the feet of Reebok, winning Rookie of the Year and MVP honors over the course of his career in one of the longest signature lines ever created. Kobe Bryant would contend with legends past and present for his place in the hoops hierarchy, doing so in some of the most progressive models from adidas and later Nike – also rocking a host of heat between sponsorships. Stephon Marbury dazzled fans as the first endorser of AND1 in his early days, eventually wearing Nikes and later launching his own Stabury line. Ray Allen resides as the game’s 3-point king and Jordan Brand’s PE champ, while the likes of Steve Nash and Jermaine O’Neal served as early endorsers of low-top hoop shoes and Nike Shox, respectively.
