The Phoenix Suns composed Steve Nash with the 15th total pick in the initial round of the 1996 NBA Draft. What if the Indiana Pacers had picked the existing Brooklyn Nets head coach?The 1996 NBA Draft was one of the very best drafts
in NBA history. Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Allen Iverson, Ray Allen
as well as much more excellent NBA players became part of the unique class. In that draft, the Indiana Pacers were coming off of a season where they went 52-30, yet shed in the preliminary of the NBA Playoffs to the Atlanta Hawks. They had the tenth total pick in the draft many thanks to a prior trade
. At the time, they were led by shooting guard Reggie Miller that balanced
21.1 points per video game in 1995-96. Their beginning factor guard was Mark Jackson, who averaged 7.8 assists per video game in 1995-96
. Consequently, the Pacers selected a big-man in Erick Dampier. During his 16-year NBA occupation, Dampier just played one period (his rookie year in 1996-97)in Indiana. After his novice season, he was sent to the Golden State Warriors in a deal that landed the Pacers Chris Mullin. Looking back, the draft choice was not a very excellent one by the Pacers when they could
have chosen Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash as well as others. Suppose the Pacers had drafted Nash?At the time, the Pacers had a starting factor guard in Jackson
, so they did not need a point player. Nevertheless, the complying with season the Phoenix az Suns traded for Jason Kidd( after choosing Nash 15th total )and also while they had Nash, they had
a super star in Kidd as the starting point guard. Nash just played 10.5 minutes per video game during his newbie season. He might have done the exact same thing in Indiana.
The Pacers had actually been coming off of a 50 +win season,
so they had advantage to draft for a demand rather than someone
based on potential who would certainly play moderately at a setting they currently had loaded. Nevertheless, the concept of Nash and also Miller in a backcourt is a frightening one. Nash did not have his breakout season up until the 2000-01
season on the Dallas Mavericks when he averaged 15.6 points as well as 7.3 helps per
game.That exact same season, Miller was 35 years old, yet still balanced 18.9 points per game. The season prior to that?The Pacers had made it all the way to the NBA Finals where they shed to Bryant as well as the Lakers. Their point player that season was a 34 years of age Jackson who averaged 8.1
points as well as 8.0 helps per video game.
Nash just had standards of 8.6 factors as well as 4.9 helps per game that period, yet he was additionally
only 25 years old. Possibly if a more youthful Nash had been provided the keys to the Pacers crime, he would have had his breakout period even earlier than when he had it on the Mavericks in 2001. Nash and also Miller in a backcourt might have been really interesting.