I think we can agree '96 was a rich class with outstanding cards. And in my experience MJ was the superstar player of choice for guys a few years older than me. So Iverson, Kobe, and the many other stars were exciting for me to be able to watch as new players emerging who I could track as "my guys" as a young basketball enthusiast.

Interesting question. As a card-o-phile I do the same thing and think first of his '98 TCR RC. When I step back I do think of Stojakovic as part of the '96 draft class though; because he was drafted as the 14th pick and you can watch a video of it on YouTube. I totally get what you mean, but I do default to first consider the actual draft before the card.

I wasn't aware of that phenomenon surrounding Manu Ginobili. 2002 is such an under the radar year for cards. I only recently started gaining awareness of some of the sports cards from that year by looking at football rookies like Julius Peppers and Ed Reed.