1995 NBA draft

{{Infobox sports draft

| name = 1995 NBA draft

| image =

| caption =

| logo =

| logosize =

| sport = Basketball

| date = June 28, 1995

| location = SkyDome
(Toronto, Ontario)

| network = TNT, YTV

| league = NBA

| teams =

| overall = 58

| rounds = 2

| first = Joe Smith (Golden State Warriors)

| hofnum = {{Collapsible list

| title = 1

|1 = PF Kevin Garnett}}

| prev = 1994

| next = 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 eleven 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, 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.{{Cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0706/nba.draft.busts/content.10.html |title=NBA Draft Busts – Joe Smith |access-date=2010-10-29 |archive-date=2014-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302144625/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0706/nba.draft.busts/content.10.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite news| url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_48_224/ai_67683257 | work=The Sporting News | title=Lonewolf | first=John | last=Millea | year=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.{{Cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/news/2001/07/04/sayitaintso_grizzlies/ |title=CNNSI.com: Say It Ain't So – Vancouver Grizzlies |access-date=2010-10-29 |archive-date=2012-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202184758/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/news/2001/07/04/sayitaintso_grizzlies/ |url-status=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.[https://web.archive.org/web/20050627012703/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/2005/06/24/gallery.nbabusts/content.2.html 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.{{Cite web |last=Snyder |first=Kirk |title=The NBA's Biggest Draft Busts of the Last 20 Years |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/178155-the-nbas-biggest-draft-busts-of-the-last-20-years |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Shawn Respert's NBA career was stunted by cancer |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=nba&id=1962444 |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=ESPN.com}}

The Vancouver Grizzlies and the Toronto Raptors were not able to win the NBA draft lottery, due to pre-negotiated rules. This would extend into the 1997–1998 season.

Draft

File: Joe_Smith.jpg was selected first overall by the Golden State Warriors]]

File: Mcdyess free throw.jpg was selected 2nd overall by the Los Angeles Clippers (traded to the Denver Nuggets).]]

File: Jerry Stackhouse 2008.jpg was selected 3rd overall by the Philadelphia 76ers.]]

File: Rasheed Wallace 2.jpg was selected 4th overall by the Washington Bullets.]]

File: Kevin Garnett with the Minnesota Timberwolves dunking, 2007 (cropped).jpg was selected 5th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves.]]

File: Theo Ratliff free throw cropped.jpg was selected 18th overall by the Detroit Pistons.]]

File: Michael Finley 2009.jpg was selected 21st overall by the Phoenix Suns.]]

class=wikitable

| PG

| SG

| F

| SF

| PF

| C

class="wikitable sortable"

! Round

! Pick

! width="20%"| Player

! width="10%"| Position

! width="15%"| Nationality{{refn|group=n|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.}}

! width="30%"| NBA Team

! width="25%"| School/Club team

| 1

| {{sortname|Joe|Smith|Joe Smith (basketball)}}

| PF

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Golden State Warriors

| Maryland (So.)

| 2

| bgcolor="#FBCEB1"| {{sortname|Antonio|McDyess}}*

| PF

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Los Angeles Clippers (traded to Denver){{ref label|Note1|a|a}}

| Alabama (So.)

| 3

| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| {{sortname|Jerry|Stackhouse}}⁺

| SF/SG

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Philadelphia 76ers

| North Carolina (So.)

| 4

| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| {{sortname|Rasheed|Wallace}}⁺

| PF/C

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Washington Bullets

| North Carolina (So.)

| 5

| bgcolor="#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Kevin|Garnett}}^

| PF

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Minnesota Timberwolves

| Farragut Academy HS (Chicago)

| 6

| {{sortname|Bryant|Reeves}}

| C

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Vancouver Grizzlies

| Oklahoma State (Sr.)

| 7

| {{sortname|Damon|Stoudamire}}

| PG

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Toronto Raptors

| Arizona (Sr.)

| 8

| {{sortname|Shawn|Respert}}

| SG

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Portland Trail Blazers (from Detroit, traded to Milwaukee)

| Michigan State (Sr.)

| 9

| {{sortname|Ed|O'Bannon}}

| SF

| {{flagu|United States}}

| New Jersey Nets

| UCLA (Sr.)

| 10

| {{sortname|Kurt|Thomas|Kurt Thomas (basketball)}}

| PF/C

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Miami Heat

| TCU (Sr.)

| 11

| {{sortname|Gary|Trent}}

| PF

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Milwaukee Bucks (traded to Portland)

| Ohio (Jr.)

| 12

| {{sortname|Cherokee|Parks}}

| C

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Dallas Mavericks

| Duke (Sr.)

| 13

| {{sortname|Corliss|Williamson}}

| PF

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Sacramento Kings

| Arkansas (Jr.)

| 14

| {{sortname|Eric|Williams|Eric Williams (basketball, born 1972)}}

| SF

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Boston Celtics

| Providence (Sr.)

| 15

| {{sortname|Brent|Barry}}

| SG

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Denver Nuggets (traded to L.A. Clippers){{ref label|Note1|a|a}}

| Oregon State (Sr.)

| 16

| {{sortname|Alan|Henderson}}

| PF

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Atlanta Hawks

| Indiana (Sr.)

| 17

| {{sortname|Bob|Sura}}

| SG

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Cleveland Cavaliers

| Florida State (Sr.)

| 18

| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| {{sortname|Theo|Ratliff}}⁺

| PF/C

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Detroit Pistons (from Portland)

| Wyoming (Sr.)

| 19

| {{sortname|Randolph|Childress}}

| PG

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Detroit Pistons (from Houston via Portland)

| Wake Forest (Sr.)

| 20

| {{sortname|Jason|Caffey}}

| PF

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Chicago Bulls

| Alabama (Sr.)

| 21

| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| {{sortname|Michael|Finley}}^*

| SF/SG

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Phoenix Suns (from L.A. Lakers)

| Wisconsin (Sr.)

| 22

| {{sortname|George|Zidek}}

| C

| {{CZE}}

| Charlotte Hornets

| UCLA (Sr.)

| 23

| {{sortname|Travis|Best}}

| PG

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Indiana Pacers

| Georgia Tech (Sr.)

| 24

| {{sortname|Loren|Meyer}}

| PF

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Dallas Mavericks (from New York)

| Iowa State (Sr.)

| 25

| {{sortname|David|Vaughn|David Vaughn III}}

| PF/C

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Orlando Magic

| Memphis (Jr.)

| 26

| {{sortname|Sherell|Ford}}

| PF

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Seattle SuperSonics

| UIC (Sr.)

| 27

| {{sortname|Mario|Bennett}}

| PF

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Phoenix Suns

| Arizona State (Jr.)

| 28

| {{sortname|Greg|Ostertag}}

| C

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Utah Jazz

| Kansas (Sr.)

| 29

| {{sortname|Cory|Alexander}}

| PG

| {{flagu|United States}}

| San Antonio Spurs

| Virginia (Jr.)

| 30

| {{sortname|Lou|Roe}}

| F

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Detroit Pistons

| UMass (Sr.)

| 31

| {{sortname|Dragan|Tarlać}}

| C

| {{FR-YUG}}
{{GRC}}

| Chicago Bulls

| Olympiakos (Greece)

| 32

| {{sortname|Terrence|Rencher}}

| G

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Washington Bullets

| Texas (Sr.)

| 33

| {{sortname|Junior|Burrough}}

| F

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Boston Celtics

| Virginia (Sr.)

| 34

| {{sortname|Andrew|DeClercq}}

| PF/C

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Golden State Warriors

| Florida (Sr.)

| 35

| {{sortname|Jimmy|King}}

| G

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Toronto Raptors

| Michigan (Sr.)

| 36

| {{sortname|Lawrence|Moten}}

| G

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Vancouver Grizzlies

| Syracuse (Sr.)

| 37

| {{sortname|Frankie|King}}

| G

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Los Angeles Lakers

| Western Carolina (Sr.)

| 38

| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| {{sortname|Rashard|Griffith}} ^#

| C

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Milwaukee Bucks

| Wisconsin (So.)

| 39

| {{sortname|Donny|Marshall}}

| F

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Cleveland Cavaliers

| Connecticut (Sr.)

| 40

| {{sortname|Dwayne|Whitfield}}

| F

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Golden State Warriors

| Jackson State (Sr.)

| 41

| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| {{sortname|Erik|Meek}}^#

| C

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Houston Rockets

| Duke (Sr.)

| 42

| {{sortname|Donnie|Boyce}}

| G

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Atlanta Hawks

| Colorado (Sr.)

| 43

| {{sortname|Eric|Snow}}

| PG

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Milwaukee Bucks

| Michigan State (Sr.)

| 44

| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| {{sortname|Anthony|Pelle}}^#

| C

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Denver Nuggets

| Fresno State (Sr.)

| 45

| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| {{sortname|Troy|Brown|Troy Brown (basketball, born 1971)}}^#

| F/C

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Atlanta Hawks

| Providence (Sr.)

| 46

|bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| {{sortname|George|Banks|dab=basketball}}^#

| F

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Miami Heat

| UTEP (Sr.)

| 47

| {{sortname|Tyus|Edney}}

| PG

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Sacramento Kings

| UCLA (Sr.)

| 48

| {{sortname|Mark|Davis|Mark Davis (basketball, born 1973)}}

| G/F

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Minnesota Timberwolves

| Texas Tech (Sr.)

| 49

| {{sortname|Jerome|Allen|Jerome Allen (basketball)}}

| G

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Minnesota Timberwolves

| Pennsylvania (Sr.)

| 50

| {{sortname|Martin|Lewis|Martin Lewis (basketball)}}

| F

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Golden State Warriors

| Seward County (So.)

| 51

| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| {{sortname|Dejan|Bodiroga}}^#

| SF

| {{FR-YUG}}

| Sacramento Kings

| Olimpia (Stefanel) Milano (Italy)

| 52

| {{sortname|Fred|Hoiberg}}

| SG

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Indiana Pacers

| Iowa State (Sr.)

| 53

| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|{{sortname|Constantin|Popa}}^#

| C

| {{ROU}}

| Los Angeles Clippers

| Miami (Florida) (Sr.)

| 54

| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| {{sortname|Eurelijus|Žukauskas

Zukauskas, Eurelijus}} ^#

| C

| {{flagcountry|LTU|1988}}

| Seattle SuperSonics

| Neptūnas Klaipėda (Lithuania)

| 55

| {{sortname|Michael|McDonald|Michael McDonald (basketball)}}

| C

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Golden State Warriors

| New Orleans (Sr.)

| 56

| {{sortname|Chris|Carr|Chris Carr (basketball)}}

| G

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Phoenix Suns

| Southern Illinois (Jr.)

| 57

| {{sortname|Cuonzo|Martin}}

| G/F

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Atlanta Hawks

| Purdue (Sr.)

| 58

| {{sortname|Don|Reid|Don Reid (basketball)}}

| F

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Detroit Pistons

| Georgetown (Sr.)

Notable undrafted players

The following players went undrafted in the 1995 NBA Draft, but later played at least one game in the NBA.

class="wikitable sortable"

! width="20%"| Player

! width="1%"| Pos.

! width="20%"| Nationality

! width="25%"| School/Club team

| C

| {{GBR}}

| Penn State (Sr.)

| PG

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Arkansas (Sr.)

| G

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Temple (Sr.)

| C

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Boise State (Sr.)

| SG

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Montevallo (Sr.)

| SF

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Clemson (Sr.)

| PG

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Xavier (Sr.)

| SF

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Nicholls State (Sr.)

| G

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Penn (Sr.)

| SG

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Arkansas (Sr.)

| PG

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Northwest Arkansas CC (Sr.)

| PG/SG

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Weber State (Sr.)

| G

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Connecticut (Sr.)

| PF

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Arizona (Sr.)

| SF

| {{flagu|United States}}

| St. John's (Sr.)

| PF

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Xavier (Sr.)

| SG

| {{flagu|United States}}

| St. Bonaventure (Sr.)

| C

| {{ARG}}

| 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.

{{note label|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.{{cite web |title=1995 Underclassmen |url=https://www.thedraftreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3042:1995-underclassmen&catid=136&Itemid=384 |website=The Draft Review | date=August 4, 2007 |access-date=December 15, 2022}}

{{flagicon|USA}} Cory Alexander – G, Virginia (junior)
{{flagicon|USA}} Mario Bennett – F, Arizona State (junior)
{{flagicon|USA}} Chris Carr – G/F, Southern Illinois (junior)
{{flagicon|USA}} Michael Evans – Norfolk State (junior)
{{flagicon|USA}} Rashard Griffith – C, Wisconsin (sophomore)
{{flagicon|USA}} Martin Lewis – Seward CC (sophomore)
{{flagicon|USA}} Antonio McDyess – F, Alabama (sophomore)
{{flagicon|USA}} Joe Smith – F, Maryland (sophomore)
{{flagicon|USA}} Jerry Stackhouse – G, North Carolina (sophomore)
{{flagicon|USA}} Scotty Thurman – F, Arkansas (junior)
{{flagicon|USA}} Gary Trent – F, Ohio (junior)
{{flagicon|USA}} David Vaughn III – F, Memphis (junior)
{{flagicon|USA}} Rasheed Wallace – F, North Carolina (sophomore)
{{flagicon|USA}} Corliss Williamson – F, Arkansas (junior)
{{flagicon|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.