1996 vs 2018

[EvanZ]

Curious how people are viewing 2018. I think it could go down as the best ever.

[babyjax13]

I would have:
Doncic > Kobe
Trae < Nash (so far, could see this changing)
SGA < Iverson (so far, could see this changing)
Ayton < Allen
Mikal Bridges < Peja
JJJ < O'neal
MPJ > Rahim/Walker
R Williams/Robinson < Camby
Sexton > Marbury

But again, a lot of this could change. I'd take 96 right now, but I wouldn't be surprised if 10 years from now the answer was different.

[EMG518]

96 for sure. You had 3 different players win MVP from that class. 2018 wound up being way better than people anticipated. Strong draft. It's not 96.

[monalotry]

I think 96 has the best player, top end and depth, but its still very very early.

[EvanZ]

96 for sure. You had 3 different players win MVP from that class. 2018 wound up being way better than people anticipated. Strong draft. It's not 96.

2018 is not way better than people anticipated. Many of us thought it was an extremely good draft at the time.

[EMG518]

96 for sure. You had 3 different players win MVP from that class. 2018 wound up being way better than people anticipated. Strong draft. It's not 96.

2018 is not way better than people anticipated. Many of us thought it was an extremely good draft at the time.

That's really not true. People were saying there is no #1 pick or franchise player. Luka went 3 and Trae went 5. They wound up even better than expected and early on as well. SGA wound up better than expected. 2017 received way more hype than 2018. People were talking about Fultz, Jackson, Tatum, Fox, Smith Jr, Lonzo, etc way more.

[nolang1]

96 for sure. You had 3 different players win MVP from that class. 2018 wound up being way better than people anticipated. Strong draft. It's not 96.

2018 is not way better than people anticipated. Many of us thought it was an extremely good draft at the time.

That's really not true. People were saying there is no #1 pick or franchise player. Luka went 3 and Trae went 5. They wound up even better than expected and early on as well. SGA wound up better than expected. 2017 received way more hype than 2018. People were talking about Fultz, Jackson, Tatum, Fox, Smith Jr, Lonzo, etc way more.

No, 2018 was considered a better draft for sure and had people talking about how it compared to 1984 and 1996 and 2003 very early on. It's easy to resort to hindsight now that Bagley's gotten hurt, but he reclassified into an already very good class at the last minute and had a better year at Duke than Tatum did, and at the end of year 1 it was the first year the top 5 picks were 1st team all-rookie in a very long time (since '84, I believe). It's just hard to compare it to 1996 because even if you say Luka is better than Kobe at this age (which I certainly would), obviously Kobe had great longevity you can't just assume about anyone and it's similarly asking a lot to say the class is going to have that kind of depth where there are going to be other MVP contenders.

[EvanZ]

96 for sure. You had 3 different players win MVP from that class. 2018 wound up being way better than people anticipated. Strong draft. It's not 96.

2018 is not way better than people anticipated. Many of us thought it was an extremely good draft at the time.

That's really not true. People were saying there is no #1 pick or franchise player. Luka went 3 and Trae went 5. They wound up even better than expected and early on as well. SGA wound up better than expected. 2017 received way more hype than 2018. People were talking about Fultz, Jackson, Tatum, Fox, Smith Jr, Lonzo, etc way more.

This is literally not true. Lol

[BostonCouchGM]

It’s 1996 and not even worth discussing they’re so far apart

[EMG518]

2018 is not way better than people anticipated. Many of us thought it was an extremely good draft at the time.

That's really not true. People were saying there is no #1 pick or franchise player. Luka went 3 and Trae went 5. They wound up even better than expected and early on as well. SGA wound up better than expected. 2017 received way more hype than 2018. People were talking about Fultz, Jackson, Tatum, Fox, Smith Jr, Lonzo, etc way more.

This is literally not true. Lol

It's 100% true. People were skeptical of Luka translating his game with his athleticism , thats why he went 3. Trae had his size and defense questioned and went 5. Ayton was the guy who went 1 who you were hoping became a franchise big, got better defensively and continued to improve offensively. JJJ people thought he could be a good 3 and d big, Bagley not sure, alot of people didnt like him. In no way was this draft very hyped or as hyped as 2017 come draft time.

[EMG518]

2018 is not way better than people anticipated. Many of us thought it was an extremely good draft at the time.

That's really not true. People were saying there is no #1 pick or franchise player. Luka went 3 and Trae went 5. They wound up even better than expected and early on as well. SGA wound up better than expected. 2017 received way more hype than 2018. People were talking about Fultz, Jackson, Tatum, Fox, Smith Jr, Lonzo, etc way more.

No, 2018 was considered a better draft for sure and had people talking about how it compared to 1984 and 1996 and 2003 very early on. It's easy to resort to hindsight now that Bagley's gotten hurt, but he reclassified into an already very good class at the last minute and had a better year at Duke than Tatum did, and at the end of year 1 it was the first year the top 5 picks were 1st team all-rookie in a very long time (since '84, I believe). It's just hard to compare it to 1996 because even if you say Luka is better than Kobe at this age (which I certainly would), obviously Kobe had great longevity you can't just assume about anyone and it's similarly asking a lot to say the class is going to have that kind of depth where there are going to be other MVP contenders.

By the time the draft came around Lukas athleticism translating to the NBA was questioned, Traes size and defense questioned, Aytons defense and being a bit raw still questioned, alot of people didnt even lile Bagley. Everyone liked JJJ but limited upside. Nobody thought this was an elite all time year.

[EvanZ]

That's really not true. People were saying there is no #1 pick or franchise player. Luka went 3 and Trae went 5. They wound up even better than expected and early on as well. SGA wound up better than expected. 2017 received way more hype than 2018. People were talking about Fultz, Jackson, Tatum, Fox, Smith Jr, Lonzo, etc way more.

No, 2018 was considered a better draft for sure and had people talking about how it compared to 1984 and 1996 and 2003 very early on. It's easy to resort to hindsight now that Bagley's gotten hurt, but he reclassified into an already very good class at the last minute and had a better year at Duke than Tatum did, and at the end of year 1 it was the first year the top 5 picks were 1st team all-rookie in a very long time (since '84, I believe). It's just hard to compare it to 1996 because even if you say Luka is better than Kobe at this age (which I certainly would), obviously Kobe had great longevity you can't just assume about anyone and it's similarly asking a lot to say the class is going to have that kind of depth where there are going to be other MVP contenders.

By the time the draft came around Lukas athleticism translating to the NBA was questioned, Traes size and defense questioned, Aytons defense and being a bit raw still questioned, alot of people didnt even lile Bagley. Everyone liked JJJ but limited upside. Nobody thought this was an elite all time year.

You didn't think it was elite. Plenty of us did.

Don't lump everyone in with your bad take lol.

[EMG518]

No, 2018 was considered a better draft for sure and had people talking about how it compared to 1984 and 1996 and 2003 very early on. It's easy to resort to hindsight now that Bagley's gotten hurt, but he reclassified into an already very good class at the last minute and had a better year at Duke than Tatum did, and at the end of year 1 it was the first year the top 5 picks were 1st team all-rookie in a very long time (since '84, I believe). It's just hard to compare it to 1996 because even if you say Luka is better than Kobe at this age (which I certainly would), obviously Kobe had great longevity you can't just assume about anyone and it's similarly asking a lot to say the class is going to have that kind of depth where there are going to be other MVP contenders.

By the time the draft came around Lukas athleticism translating to the NBA was questioned, Traes size and defense questioned, Aytons defense and being a bit raw still questioned, alot of people didnt even lile Bagley. Everyone liked JJJ but limited upside. Nobody thought this was an elite all time year.

You didn't think it was elite. Plenty of us did.

Don't lump everyone in with your bad take lol.

I'm not saying everyone lol, just many and going off of the sentiment and what was posted here in the forums. I for sure called that draft wrong.