1995 NBA draft
Template:Short description Template:DMCA
Page Module:Infobox/styles.css has no content.
| 1995 NBA draft | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Sport | Basketball |
| DateTemplate:Pluralize from text | June 28, 1995 |
| Location | SkyDome (Toronto, Ontario) |
| NetworkTemplate:Pluralize from text | TNT, YTV |
| Overview | |
| 58 total selections in 2 rounds | |
| League | NBA |
| First selection | Joe Smith (Golden State Warriors) |
| Hall of Famers | 1 |
| Template:Succession links | |
Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".
The 1995 NBA draft took place on June 28, 1995, at SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It marked the first NBA draft to be held outside the United States and was the first draft for the two Canadian expansion teams that were added for 1995–96 season, the Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies (who relocated to Memphis in 2001). Kevin Garnett, who was taken fifth in this draft, is notable for being the first player in two decades to be selected straight out of high school (which would become more common over the next ten drafts until the age requirement was increased to 19 years old in 2005 creating the one-and-done player). Garnett ultimately gathered fifteen All Star selections (Garnett was the first Minnesota Timberwolf to play in an NBA All-Star Game), nine All-NBA selections (four of those being First-Teams), one NBA MVP award, and multiple other accolades. Rasheed Wallace and Jerry Stackhouse also had successful careers, being four-time and two-time All-Stars respectively. Wallace won an NBA championship in 2004 with the Detroit Pistons, while Stackhouse scored the most total points in the league in 2000, also with the Pistons.
The other remaining top selections had relatively productive careers, but were considered to have never reached their full potential. Joe Smith put up solid, but unspectacular numbers throughout his career and is generally considered a disappointment for a first overall selection. He was also involved in a salary cap scandal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.[1][2] Antonio McDyess was a one-time All-Star, but serious and continuing knee injuries decreased much of his effectiveness in the prime of his career. Damon Stoudamire was the 1995–96 NBA Rookie of the Year and had a solid career although he was arrested, suspended and fined several times for marijuana possession. Bryant Reeves impressed early in his career but a season after being granted a six-year, $61.8 million contract extension, his numbers went down due to weight and back problems and he retired after only playing six NBA seasons, all with the Vancouver Grizzlies.[3]
This draft was also notable for two storied NCAA players who failed to meet lofty expectations in the NBA, Ed O'Bannon and Shawn Respert.[4] O'Bannon had received national accolades for leading the UCLA Bruins to the NCAA Championship, but only played two years in the NBA. Respert played only four seasons in the NBA, while secretly hiding that he was suffering from stomach cancer.[5][6]
The Vancouver Grizzlies and the Toronto Raptors were not able to win the NBA draft lottery, due to pre-negotiated rules. This was extended into the 1997–1998 season.
Draft
.jpg)
.jpg)
| G | Guard | PG | Point guard | SG | Shooting guard | F | Forward | SF | Small forward | PF | Power forward | C | Center |
| ^ | Denotes player who has been inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
| * | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game and All-NBA Team |
| + | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game |
| # | Denotes player who has never appeared in an NBA regular-season or playoff game |
| ~ | Denotes player who has been selected as Rookie of the Year |
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality[n 1] | NBA Team | School/Club team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF |  United States
|
Golden State Warriors | Maryland (So.) |
| 1 | 2 | Script error: No such module "Sort".* | PF | United States
|
Los Angeles Clippers (traded to Denver)Page Template:Citation/styles.css has no content.[a] | Alabama (So.) |
| 1 | 3 | Script error: No such module "Sort".+ | SF/SG | United States
|
Philadelphia 76ers | North Carolina (So.) |
| 1 | 4 | Script error: No such module "Sort".+ | PF/C | United States
|
Washington Bullets | North Carolina (So.) |
| 1 | 5 | Script error: No such module "Sort".^ | PF | United States
|
Minnesota Timberwolves | Farragut Academy HS (Chicago) |
| 1 | 6 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | C | United States
|
Vancouver Grizzlies | Oklahoma State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 7 | Script error: No such module "Sort".~ | PG | United States
|
Toronto Raptors | Arizona (Sr.) |
| 1 | 8 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG | United States
|
Portland Trail Blazers (from Detroit, traded to Milwaukee) | Michigan State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 9 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SF | United States
|
New Jersey Nets | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 1 | 10 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF/C | United States
|
Miami Heat | TCU (Sr.) |
| 1 | 11 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks (traded to Portland) | Ohio (Jr.) |
| 1 | 12 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | C | United States
|
Dallas Mavericks | Duke (Sr.) |
| 1 | 13 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF | United States
|
Sacramento Kings | Arkansas (Jr.) |
| 1 | 14 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SF | United States
|
Boston Celtics | Providence (Sr.) |
| 1 | 15 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG | United States
|
Denver Nuggets (traded to L.A. Clippers)Page Template:Citation/styles.css has no content.[a] | Oregon State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 16 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks | Indiana (Sr.) |
| 1 | 17 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers | Florida State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 18 | Script error: No such module "Sort".+ | PF/C | United States
|
Detroit Pistons (from Portland) | Wyoming (Sr.) |
| 1 | 19 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PG | United States
|
Detroit Pistons (from Houston via Portland) | Wake Forest (Sr.) |
| 1 | 20 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF | United States
|
Chicago Bulls | Alabama (Sr.) |
| 1 | 21 | Script error: No such module "Sort".+ | SF/SG | United States
|
Phoenix Suns (from L.A. Lakers) | Wisconsin (Sr.) |
| 1 | 22 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | C | Script error: No such module "flag". | Charlotte Hornets | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 1 | 23 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PG | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | Georgia Tech (Sr.) |
| 1 | 24 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF | United States
|
Dallas Mavericks (from New York) | Iowa State (Sr.) |
| 1 | 25 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF/C | United States
|
Orlando Magic | Memphis (Jr.) |
| 1 | 26 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF | United States
|
Seattle SuperSonics | UIC (Sr.) |
| 1 | 27 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | Arizona State (Jr.) |
| 1 | 28 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | C | United States
|
Utah Jazz | Kansas (Sr.) |
| 1 | 29 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PG | United States
|
San Antonio Spurs | Virginia (Jr.) |
| 2 | 30 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | F | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | UMass (Sr.) |
| 2 | 31 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | C | Script error: No such module "flag". Script error: No such module "flag". |
Chicago Bulls | Olympiakos (Greece) |
| 2 | 32 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | G | United States
|
Washington Bullets | Texas (Sr.) |
| 2 | 33 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | F | United States
|
Boston Celtics | Virginia (Sr.) |
| 2 | 34 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF/C | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | Florida (Sr.) |
| 2 | 35 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | G | United States
|
Toronto Raptors | Michigan (Sr.) |
| 2 | 36 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | G | United States
|
Vancouver Grizzlies | Syracuse (Sr.) |
| 2 | 37 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | G | United States
|
Los Angeles Lakers | Western Carolina (Sr.) |
| 2 | 38 | Script error: No such module "Sort". # | C | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | Wisconsin (So.) |
| 2 | 39 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | F | United States
|
Cleveland Cavaliers | Connecticut (Sr.) |
| 2 | 40 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | F | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | Jackson State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 41 | Script error: No such module "Sort".# | C | United States
|
Houston Rockets | Duke (Sr.) |
| 2 | 42 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | G | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks | Colorado (Sr.) |
| 2 | 43 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PG | United States
|
Milwaukee Bucks | Michigan State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 44 | Script error: No such module "Sort".# | C | United States
|
Denver Nuggets | Fresno State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 45 | Script error: No such module "Sort".# | F/C | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks | Providence (Sr.) |
| 2 | 46 | Script error: No such module "Sort".# | F | United States
|
Miami Heat | UTEP (Sr.) |
| 2 | 47 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PG | United States
|
Sacramento Kings | UCLA (Sr.) |
| 2 | 48 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | G/F | United States
|
Minnesota Timberwolves | Texas Tech (Sr.) |
| 2 | 49 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | G | United States
|
Minnesota Timberwolves | Pennsylvania (Sr.) |
| 2 | 50 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | F | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | Seward County (So.) |
| 2 | 51 | Script error: No such module "Sort".# | SF | Script error: No such module "flag". | Sacramento Kings | Olimpia (Stefanel) Milano (Italy) |
| 2 | 52 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG | United States
|
Indiana Pacers | Iowa State (Sr.) |
| 2 | 53 | Script error: No such module "Sort".# | C | Script error: No such module "flag". | Los Angeles Clippers | Miami (Florida) (Sr.) |
| 2 | 54 | Script error: No such module "Sort". # | C | Template:Flagcountry | Seattle SuperSonics | Neptūnas Klaipėda (Lithuania) |
| 2 | 55 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | C | United States
|
Golden State Warriors | New Orleans (Sr.) |
| 2 | 56 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | G | United States
|
Phoenix Suns | Southern Illinois (Jr.) |
| 2 | 57 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | G/F | United States
|
Atlanta Hawks | Purdue (Sr.) |
| 2 | 58 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | F | United States
|
Detroit Pistons | Georgetown (Sr.) |
Page Template:Reflist/styles.css has no content.
Notable undrafted players
Script error: No such module "labelled list hatnote". The following players went undrafted in the 1995 NBA Draft, but later played at least one game in the NBA.
| Player | Pos. | Nationality | School/Club team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | C | Script error: No such module "flag". | Penn State (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | PG | United States
|
Arkansas (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | G | United States
|
Temple (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | C | United States
|
Boise State (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG | United States
|
Montevallo (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | SF | United States
|
Clemson (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | PG | United States
|
Xavier (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | SF | United States
|
Nicholls State (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | G | United States
|
Penn (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG | United States
|
Arkansas (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | PG | United States
|
Northwest Arkansas CC (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | PG/SG | United States
|
Weber State (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | G | United States
|
Connecticut (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF | United States
|
Arizona (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | SF | United States
|
St. John's (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | PF | United States
|
Xavier (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | SG | United States
|
St. Bonaventure (Sr.) |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | C | Script error: No such module "flag". | Estudiantes de Olavarría (Argentina) |
Trades involving Draft picks
Draft-day trades
The following trades involving drafted players were made on the day of the draft.
- Page Template:Citation/styles.css has no content.a The Los Angeles Clippers traded Randy Woods and the draft rights of Antonio McDyess to the Denver Nuggets for Rodney Rogers and the draft rights to Brent Barry.
Early entrants
College underclassmen
For the first time since 1982, the NBA would officially see college underclassmen players withdraw their entry into the NBA draft. Originally, nineteen underclassmen (including one player that was playing overseas at the time and one high schooler) had declared their entry for this year's draft, but the Lithuanian born Zydrunas Ilgauskas from Lithuania's Atletas Kaunas alongside Rodrick Rhodes from the University of Kentucky and John Wallace from the University of Syracuse would all officially withdraw their names from this year's draft before it began, which left only fifteen total underclassmen directly from college. However, this year would also be the first time since 1975 where high schoolers would be declared as eligible underclassmen for the NBA. As such, the official underclassmen count would increase from fifteen to sixteen total players with the inclusion of Farragut Academy standout phenom power forward Kevin Garnett, which started an eleven-year long trend of high school players declaring their eligibility for the NBA. Even so, the following college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.[7]
Page Template:Div col/styles.css has no content.
- Template:Flagicon Cory Alexander – G, Virginia (junior)
- Template:Flagicon Mario Bennett – F, Arizona State (junior)
- Template:Flagicon Chris Carr – G/F, Southern Illinois (junior)
- Template:Flagicon Michael Evans – Norfolk State (junior)
- Template:Flagicon Rashard Griffith – C, Wisconsin (sophomore)
- Template:Flagicon Martin Lewis – Seward CC (sophomore)
- Template:Flagicon Antonio McDyess – F, Alabama (sophomore)
- Template:Flagicon Joe Smith – F, Maryland (sophomore)
- Template:Flagicon Jerry Stackhouse – G, North Carolina (sophomore)
- Template:Flagicon Scotty Thurman – F, Arkansas (junior)
- Template:Flagicon Gary Trent – F, Ohio (junior)
- Template:Flagicon David Vaughn III – F, Memphis (junior)
- Template:Flagicon Rasheed Wallace – F, North Carolina (sophomore)
- Template:Flagicon Corliss Williamson – F, Arkansas (junior)
- Template:Flagicon Darroll Wright – G, Missouri Western (junior)
High school players
This year marked the first year since 1975 where high school players would be allowed entry into the NBA directly from high school. However, only one player during this year would go and take that route for this year. The following high school player successfully applied for early draft entrance.[7]
Invited attendees
The 1995 NBA draft is considered to be the eighteenth NBA draft to have utilized what's properly considered the "green room" experience for NBA prospects. The NBA's green room is a staging area where anticipated draftees often sit with their families and representatives, waiting for their names to be called on draft night. Often being positioned either in front of or to the side of the podium (in this case, being positioned somewhere within the SkyDome in Toronto, Canada[8]), once a player heard his name, he would walk to the podium to shake hands and take promotional photos with the NBA commissioner. From there, the players often conducted interviews with various media outlets while backstage. From there, the players often conducted interviews with various media outlets while backstage. However, once the NBA draft started to air nationally on TV starting with the 1980 NBA draft, the green room evolved from players waiting to hear their name called and then shaking hands with these select players who were often called to the hotel to take promotional pictures with the NBA commissioner a day or two after the draft concluded to having players in real-time waiting to hear their names called up and then shaking hands with David Stern, the NBA's commissioner at the time.[9] The NBA compiled its list of green room invites through collective voting by the NBA's team presidents and general managers alike, which in this year's case belonged to only what they believed were the top 17 prospects at the time.[10] Despite the high number of invites, the only notable absence for this year's draft was Theo Ratliff from the University of Wyoming. Even so, the following players were invited to attend this year's draft festivities live and in person.[8]
Page Template:Div col/styles.css has no content.
- Template:Flagicon Michael Finley – SG/SF, Wisconsin
- Template:Flagicon Sherell Ford – SF/PF, UIC
- Template:Flagicon Kevin Garnett – PF, Farragut Academy (Chicago, Illinois)
- Template:Flagicon Alan Henderson – PF, Indiana
- Template:Flagicon Antonio McDyess – PF, Alabama
- Template:Flagicon Ed O'Bannon – SF, UCLA
- Template:Flagicon Cherokee Parks – C, Duke
- Template:Flagicon Bryant Reeves – C, Oklahoma State
- Template:Flagicon Shawn Respert – SG, Michigan State
- Template:Flagicon Joe Smith – PF, Maryland
- Template:Flagicon Jerry Stackhouse – SG/SF, North Carolina
- Template:Flagicon Damon Stoudamire – PG, Arizona
- Template:Flagicon Bob Sura – SG, Florida State
- Template:Flagicon Kurt Thomas – PF/C, Texas Christian
- Template:Flagicon Gary Trent – PF, Ohio
- Template:Flagicon Rasheed Wallace – PF/C, North Carolina
- Template:Flagicon Corliss Williamson – PF, Arkansas
See also
References
Page Template:Reflist/styles.css has no content.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."NBA Draft Busts – Joe Smith". Archived from the original on March 2, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Millea, John (2000). "Lonewolf". The Sporting News.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."CNNSI.com: Say It Ain't So – Vancouver Grizzlies". Archived from the original on February 2, 2012. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
- ^ NBA Draft busts, Sports Illustrated
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Snyder, Kirk. "The NBA's Biggest Draft Busts of the Last 20 Years". Bleacher Report. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Shawn Respert's NBA career was stunted by cancer". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."1995 Underclassmen". The Draft Review. August 4, 2007. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."1995 Green Room Invites - the Draft Review". Retrieved December 28, 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Maurer, Matthew (February 18, 2024). "Draft Broadcasts - The Draft Review". The Draft Review. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Green Room - The Draft Review". The Draft Review. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
External links
Template:NBA Drafts Template:NBA Draft history by team Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Navbox/configuration' not found. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Navbox/configuration' not found. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Navbox/configuration' not found. Template:NBA Radio Network
