In 1996, the Philadelphia 76ers selected Allen Iverson, a sophomore at Georgetown, with the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft. Twelve picks later, the Charlotte Hornets selected Kobe Bryant on behalf of Jerry West and the Lakers.

As NBA Commissioner David Stern read those two names, two of the league's greatest scorers - ever - were about to begin splashing nets.

Thirteen years later, both Iverson and Bryant continue their assault up the NBA's all-time scoring list, with only 14 players in the history of the league having racked up more buckets.

Bryant will lead his defending champion Lakers against Iverson and his new team, the Memphis Grizzlies, on Friday night at STAPLES Center, but not before we take a closer look at these two pantheon scorers:

Iverson Opens Assault Early
As a rookie, A.I. began his onslaught immediately, averaging 23.5 points per game while channeling a lightning bolt on the hardwood. He tapered off just a bit in year two at 22.0 per evening, but then scored at least 26 points a game until the 2006-07 season, going for 31.2 per game in Philly before being traded to Denver (where he averaged 24.8 points). He rebounded to average 26.4 points for Denver in 2007-08, but dipped all the way to 17.4 points a game in Detroit in 2008-09 as his minutes and effectiveness declined. Still, A.I. had put up five seasons of 30-plus points, led by his 33.0 output in 2005-06. Not too shabby.

Bryant Builds Steadily
Just 17 when he signed with a team that would revolve around Shaquille O'Neal in the post, Bryant's bucket-making career opened with much less scoring gusto than Iverson, as he posted 7.6 points per game as a rookie playing 15.5 minutes per night before doubling his output to 15.4 points in 26 minutes the next season. Then in 1998-99, Bryant began playing big minutes (37), hitting the 22.5 per game mark that season and never dipping below 24 over his next 11 seasons, including three seasons of at least 30 points a night highlighted by his 35.4 per night burst in 2005-06.

Just 26 To Tie
Iverson's early-career advantage over Bryant eroded steadily last season, as "The Answer" struggled to score 995 points just as Bryant played all 82 games and posted 2,201 points. Furthermore, a red-hot scoring start to the 2009-10 season for Kobe - he has hit the 40-point plateau twice in five games, the 97th and 98th time he's done that - has allowed him to almost catch Iverson.

In fact, with 31 points on November 3rd against the Thunder and 41 on the 4th in Houston, Bryant (23,986) moved within 26 points of A.I. (24,012) for 16th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Bryant had climbed to 17th on the list with his first two free throws on April 10th at Portland last season, passing Charles Barkley (23,757). Last season, Bryant also passed Robert Parish (23,334), Adrian Dantley, Elgin Baylor (23,149), Clyde Drexler (22,195), Gary Payton (21,813) and Larry Bird (21,791). Next on the NBA’s all-time list ahead of Bryant and Iverson are Patrick Ewing (24,815) and West (25,192).

Traditionally, this would be the sort of thing Bryant cares little to nothing about. After all, he seems to measure his worth in championships, not scoring titles.

Yet for fans of basketball, watching two of the world's greatest all-time scorers match up once again on Friday night at STAPLES Center will be a treat, whether Bryant passes his draft class mate on the charts or not.