It was June 1996 and the Nets were prepared to make some NBA history...and at the Meadowlands no less. The next night, NBA teams would gather at the arena to make their picks from what would be the deepest, richest pool of talent ever. The Nets had decided to take a 17-year-old swingman from Lower Merion, Pennsylvania, with their lottery pick. Nets brass sat down with Kobe Bryant and family to give them the happy news. Former Nets' GM John Nash takes it from there.
- Best ever? - AP