1995 NBA draft

Basketball player selection August 2023 1995 NBA draft Basketball June 28, 1995 SkyDome (Toronto, Ontario) TNT, YTV NBA 58 2 Joe Smith (Golden State Warriors) 1 PF Kevin Garnett 1994 1996 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.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0706/nba.draft.busts/content.10.html NBA Draft Busts – Joe Smith 2010-10-29 2014-03-02 https://web.archive.org/web/20140302144625/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0706/nba.draft.busts/content.10.html dead http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_48_224/ai_67683257 https://web.archive.org/web/20081008001657/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_48_224/ai_67683257 usurped October 8, 2008 The Sporting News Lonewolf John Millea 48 224 2000 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.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/news/2001/07/04/sayitaintso_grizzlies/ CNNSI.com: Say It Ain't So – Vancouver Grizzlies 2010-10-29 2012-02-02 https://web.archive.org/web/20120202184758/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/news/2001/07/04/sayitaintso_grizzlies/ dead 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.NBA Draft busts, Sports Illustrated 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.Snyder Kirk The NBA's Biggest Draft Busts of the Last 20 Years https://bleacherreport.com/articles/178155-the-nbas-biggest-draft-busts-of-the-last-20-years 2024-08-15 Bleacher Report enShawn Respert's NBA career was stunted by cancer https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=nba&id=1962444 2024-08-15 ESPN.com 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 150px|thumb|upright|Joe Smith was selected first overall by the Golden State Warriors 150px|thumb|upright|Antonio McDyess was selected 2nd overall by the Los Angeles Clippers (traded to the Denver Nuggets). 150px|thumb|upright|Jerry Stackhouse was selected 3rd overall by the Philadelphia 76ers. 150px|thumb|upright|Rasheed Wallace was selected 4th overall by the Washington Bullets. 150px|thumb|upright|Kevin Garnett was selected 5th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves. 150px|thumb|upright|Theo Ratliff was selected 18th overall by the Detroit Pistons. 150px|thumb|upright|Michael Finley was selected 21st overall by the Phoenix Suns. G Guard PG Point guard SG Shooting guard F Forward SF Small forward PF Power forward C Center y y y y y Round Pick Player Position Nationalityn Nationality indicates the player's national team or representative nationality. If a player has not competed at the international level, then the nationality indicates the national team which the player is eligible to represent according to FIBA rules. NBA Team School/Club team 1 1 Joe Smith Joe Smith (basketball) PF United States United States Golden State Warriors Maryland (So.) 1 2 Antonio McDyess* PF United States Los Angeles Clippers (traded to Denver)Note1 a a Alabama (So.) 1 3 Jerry Stackhouse+ SF/SG United States Philadelphia 76ers North Carolina (So.) 1 4 Rasheed Wallace+ PF/C United States Washington Bullets North Carolina (So.) 1 5 Kevin Garnett^ PF United States Minnesota Timberwolves Farragut Academy HS (Chicago) 1 6 Bryant Reeves C United States Vancouver Grizzlies Oklahoma State (Sr.) 1 7 Damon Stoudamire~ PG United States Toronto Raptors Arizona (Sr.) 1 8 Shawn Respert SG United States Portland Trail Blazers (from Detroit, traded to Milwaukee) Michigan State (Sr.) 1 9 Ed O'Bannon SF United States New Jersey Nets UCLA (Sr.) 1 10 Kurt Thomas Kurt Thomas (basketball) PF/C United States Miami Heat TCU (Sr.) 1 11 Gary Trent PF United States Milwaukee Bucks (traded to Portland) Ohio (Jr.) 1 12 Cherokee Parks C United States Dallas Mavericks Duke (Sr.) 1 13 Corliss Williamson PF United States Sacramento Kings Arkansas (Jr.) 1 14 Eric Williams Eric Williams (basketball, born 1972) SF United States Boston Celtics Providence (Sr.) 1 15 Brent Barry SG United States Denver Nuggets (traded to L.A. Clippers)Note1 a a Oregon State (Sr.) 1 16 Alan Henderson PF United States Atlanta Hawks Indiana (Sr.) 1 17 Bob Sura SG United States Cleveland Cavaliers Florida State (Sr.) 1 18 Theo Ratliff+ PF/C United States Detroit Pistons (from Portland) Wyoming (Sr.) 1 19 Randolph Childress PG United States Detroit Pistons (from Houston via Portland) Wake Forest (Sr.) 1 20 Jason Caffey PF United States Chicago Bulls Alabama (Sr.) 1 21 Michael Finley+ SF/SG United States Phoenix Suns (from L.A. Lakers) Wisconsin (Sr.) 1 22 George Zidek C Charlotte Hornets UCLA (Sr.) 1 23 Travis Best PG United States Indiana Pacers Georgia Tech (Sr.) 1 24 Loren Meyer PF United States Dallas Mavericks (from New York) Iowa State (Sr.) 1 25 David Vaughn David Vaughn III PF/C United States Orlando Magic Memphis (Jr.) 1 26 Sherell Ford PF United States Seattle SuperSonics UIC (Sr.) 1 27 Mario Bennett PF United States Phoenix Suns Arizona State (Jr.) 1 28 Greg Ostertag C United States Utah Jazz Kansas (Sr.) 1 29 Cory Alexander PG United States San Antonio Spurs Virginia (Jr.) 2 30 Lou Roe F United States Detroit Pistons UMass (Sr.) 2 31 Dragan Tarlać C Chicago Bulls Olympiakos (Greece) 2 32 Terrence Rencher G United States Washington Bullets Texas (Sr.) 2 33 Junior Burrough F United States Boston Celtics Virginia (Sr.) 2 34 Andrew DeClercq PF/C United States Golden State Warriors Florida (Sr.) 2 35 Jimmy King G United States Toronto Raptors Michigan (Sr.) 2 36 Lawrence Moten G United States Vancouver Grizzlies Syracuse (Sr.) 2 37 Frankie King G United States Los Angeles Lakers Western Carolina (Sr.) 2 38 Rashard Griffith # C United States Milwaukee Bucks Wisconsin (So.) 2 39 Donny Marshall F United States Cleveland Cavaliers Connecticut (Sr.) 2 40 Dwayne Whitfield F United States Golden State Warriors Jackson State (Sr.) 2 41 Erik Meek# C United States Houston Rockets Duke (Sr.) 2 42 Donnie Boyce G United States Atlanta Hawks Colorado (Sr.) 2 43 Eric Snow PG United States Milwaukee Bucks Michigan State (Sr.) 2 44 Anthony Pelle# C United States Denver Nuggets Fresno State (Sr.) 2 45 Troy Brown Troy Brown (basketball, born 1971)# F/C United States Atlanta Hawks Providence (Sr.) 2 46 George Banks basketball# F United States Miami Heat UTEP (Sr.) 2 47 Tyus Edney PG United States Sacramento Kings UCLA (Sr.) 2 48 Mark Davis Mark Davis (basketball, born 1973) G/F United States Minnesota Timberwolves Texas Tech (Sr.) 2 49 Jerome Allen Jerome Allen (basketball) G United States Minnesota Timberwolves Pennsylvania (Sr.) 2 50 Martin Lewis Martin Lewis (basketball) F United States Golden State Warriors Seward County (So.) 2 51 Dejan Bodiroga# SF Sacramento Kings Olimpia (Stefanel) Milano (Italy) 2 52 Fred Hoiberg SG United States Indiana Pacers Iowa State (Sr.) 2 53Constantin Popa# C Los Angeles Clippers Miami (Florida) (Sr.) 2 54 Eurelijus Žukauskas Zukauskas, Eurelijus # C LTU 1988 Seattle SuperSonics Neptūnas Klaipėda (Lithuania) 2 55 Michael McDonald Michael McDonald (basketball) C United States Golden State Warriors New Orleans (Sr.) 2 56 Chris Carr Chris Carr (basketball) G United States Phoenix Suns Southern Illinois (Jr.) 2 57 Cuonzo Martin G/F United States Atlanta Hawks Purdue (Sr.) 2 58 Don Reid Don Reid (basketball) F United States Detroit Pistons Georgetown (Sr.) n Notable undrafted players List of undrafted NBA players 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 John Amaechi C Penn State (Sr.) Corey Beck PG United States Arkansas (Sr.) Rick Brunson G United States Temple (Sr.) John Coker basketball C United States Boise State (Sr.) Nate Driggers SG United States Montevallo (Sr.) Devin Gray SF United States Clemson (Sr.) Michael Hawkins basketball PG United States Xavier (Sr.) Gerard King SF United States Nicholls State (Sr.) Matt Maloney G United States Penn (Sr.) Clint McDaniel SG United States Arkansas (Sr.) Howard Nathan PG United States Northwest Arkansas CC (Sr.) Ruben Nembhard PG/SG United States Weber State (Sr.) Kevin Ollie G United States Connecticut (Sr.) Ray Owes PF United States Arizona (Sr.) James Scott basketball SF United States St. John's (Sr.) Larry Sykes PF United States Xavier (Sr.) David Vanterpool SG United States St. Bonaventure (Sr.) Rubén Wolkowyski C 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. Note1 a 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.1995 Underclassmen https://www.thedraftreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3042:1995-underclassmen&catid=136&Itemid=384 The Draft Review August 4, 2007 December 15, 2022 USA Cory Alexander – G, Virginia (junior) USA Mario Bennett – F, Arizona State (junior) USA Chris Carr – G/F, Southern Illinois (junior) USA Michael Evans – Norfolk State (junior) USA Rashard Griffith – C, Wisconsin (sophomore) USA Martin Lewis – Seward CC (sophomore) USA Antonio McDyess – F, Alabama (sophomore) USA Joe Smith – F, Maryland (sophomore) USA Jerry Stackhouse – G, North Carolina (sophomore) USA Scotty Thurman – F, Arkansas (junior) USA Gary Trent – F, Ohio (junior) USA David Vaughn III – F, Memphis (junior) USA Rasheed Wallace – F, North Carolina (sophomore) USA Corliss Williamson – F, Arkansas (junior) USA 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. USA Kevin Garnett – F, Farragut Academy (Chicago, Illinois) 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, Canada1995 Green Room Invites - the Draft Review December 28, 2025 https://www.thedraftreview.com/historical-draft-events/green-room/1995-green-room-invites ), 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.Maurer Matthew 2024-02-18 Draft Broadcasts - The Draft Review https://www.thedraftreview.com/sundry/sundry-articles/draft-broadcasts 2025-12-28 The Draft Review en-us 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.Green Room - The Draft Review https://www.thedraftreview.com/historical-draft-events/green-room 2025-12-28 The Draft Review en-us 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. USA Michael Finley – SG/SF, Wisconsin USA Sherell Ford – SF/PF, UIC USA Kevin Garnett – PF, Farragut Academy (Chicago, Illinois) USA Alan Henderson – PF, Indiana USA Antonio McDyess – PF, Alabama USA Ed O'Bannon – SF, UCLA USA Cherokee Parks – C, Duke USA Bryant Reeves – C, Oklahoma State USA Shawn Respert – SG, Michigan State USA Joe Smith – PF, Maryland USA Jerry Stackhouse – SG/SF, North Carolina USA Damon Stoudamire – PG, Arizona USA Bob Sura – SG, Florida State USA Kurt Thomas – PF/C, Texas Christian USA Gary Trent – PF, Ohio USA Rasheed Wallace – PF/C, North Carolina USA Corliss Williamson – PF, Arkansas See also List of first overall NBA draft picks References External links 1995 NBA Draft Draft Category:NBA draft NBA draft NBA draft Category:Basketball in Toronto Category:Organized events in Toronto