It's a hotly debated subject with NBA fans: Was the 2003 draft better than 1996? The two years are widely considered the best drafts every, but which year had the edge? Here's my analysis:

First, we'll check out the 1996 NBA Draft. Superstars: Allen Iverson, Ray Allen, Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant. Players who have made major impacts: Marcus Camby, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Stephon Marbury, Antoine Walker, Peja Stojakovic, Jermaine O'Neal, Derek Fisher. Players who at least did something: Lorenzen Wright, Kerry Kittles, Samaki Walker, Erick Dampier, Tony Delk, Walter McCarty, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Othella Harrington, Jeff McInnis and Shandon Anderson.

Now, the 2003 NBA Draft: Superstars: LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade. Players who have had major impacts: Chris Bosh, Kirk Hinrich, TJ Ford, David West, Leandro Barbosa, Josh Howard, Mo Williams. Players who at least did something: Chris Kaman, Darko Milicic, Michael Pietrus, Nick Collison, Luke Ridnour, Boris Diaw, Brian Cook, Kendrick Perkins, Jason Kapono, Luke Walton, Steve Blake, James Jones, Kyle Korver, Zaza Pachulia, Keith Bogans, Willie Green.

It's tough to compare since players from the 2003 class could still move up a class, but they could also move down. A few years ago, Marbury might have been considered a superstar and Steve Nash definitely wasn't a superstar five years after he was drafted. Some may argue that Bosh is a superstar, but if I didn't put Jermaine O'Neal on that list, I can't put Bosh.

The superstar quality of the 1996 class is better than 2003. And including Hinrich, Ford, Barbosa and Mo Williams on the major impact list is questionable, but I'm trying to project to five years down the road. Right now, none of them should probably be included, but it's hard to argue with any of the players from 1996 (Abdur-Rahim would be the only one, but his stats were very impressive until the past few years).

The "at least did something" list from 1996 doesn't look good since most of the guys are washed up or out of the league now, but I'm not sure I see any budding stars in the 2003 list either. My vote clearly goes to 1996, especially when you look at the following two paragraphs.

Looking at the list of first rounders, the 1996 draft was loaded with quality selections. You have to go all the way down to No. 11 to find the first bust and that was partly because he died (Todd Fuller) and then it's down to No. 21 with Dontae Jones. There are arguably only seven total busts in the first round. The second round is weak with only three players who made any type of impact, and no I'm not counting Moochie Norris.

The 2003 draft is very different. It already looks like No. 8 Mike Sweetney is a bust and the same with No. 15 (Reece Gaines), No. 16 (Troy Bell), No. 20 (Dahntay Jones), No. 22 (Zoran Planicic) and No. 26 (Ndudi Ebi). It's scary to think this many have already fell on their face and I didn't even count Marcus Banks, who has a little life now in Miami. In fact, after TJ Ford at No. 8, there's only one decent player (David West) until you get to No. 28 (Barbosa). The second round has a couple bright spots with Mo Williams (unless you actually watch him play), Luke Walton, Kyle Korver and Willie Green, but it's not considered strong.