What If The 76ers Drafted Tim Duncan In 1997?
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Just how much luck plays a part in sports?
A lot.
In 1996, the Philadelphia 76ers drafted Allen Iverson. That year, they went 22-60, earning themselves the fifth best chance at the No. 1 overall pick in the 1997 draft.
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The Sixers ended up winning the No. 2 pick, while the San Antonio Spurs -- who finished 2.0 games better than the Sixers in '96 -- won the No. 1 pick. With that pick they selected Tim Duncan. The Sixers drafted Keith Van Horn and then immediately traded him for nothing Tim Thomas and Anthony Parker and player contracts of Jim Jackson and Eric Montross.
And the rest is history, literally.
Duncan went on to play 19 seasons, all with the Spurs, racking up two MVP awards, 15 all-star game appearances, and five NBA championships. The Sixers went on to reach one NBA Finals with Iverson, losing in 2001 to the Shaq-Kobe Lakers.
Duncan, 40, was honored on Sunday night by the Spurs, who retired his jersey.
Just imagine if the Sixers got that lucky ping pong ball and were able to pair Duncan with Iverson. Just imagine.
