1996 NBA draft

{{NBA Draft legend|1=y|2=y|3=y|4=y|5=y}}

File:Allen Iverson Lipofsky.jpg was selected 1st overall by the Philadelphia 76ers.]]

File:Marcus Camby Clippers cropped2.jpg was selected 2nd overall by the Toronto Raptors.]]

File:Shareef Abdur-Rahim 12-2006.jpg was selected 3rd overall by the Vancouver Grizzlies.]]

File:Stephon Marbury.jpg was selected 4th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks (traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves).]]

File:Ray Allen 2008-01-13.jpg was selected 5th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves (traded to the Milwaukee Bucks).]]

File:Antoine Walker Miami Heat.jpg was selected 6th overall by the Boston Celtics.]]

File:Lipofsky Kobe.jpg was selected 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets (traded to the Los Angeles Lakers).]]

File:Peja_Stojakovic_Mavs_cropped.jpg was selected 14th overall by the Sacramento Kings.]]

File:Steve Nash 2.jpg was selected 15th overall by the Phoenix Suns.]]

File:J O'Neal - Wizards vs Heat 2009-04-04.jpg was selected 17th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers.]]

File:Žydrūnas Ilgauskas 2007.jpg was selected 20th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers.]]

| F

| {{Flagu|FR Yugoslavia}}

| Sacramento Kings

| PAOK (Greece)

|-

|align=center| 1

|align=center| 15

| bgcolor="#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Steve|Nash}}^

| PG

| {{Flagu|Canada}}

| Phoenix Suns

| Santa Clara (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 1

|align=center| 16

| {{sortname|Tony|Delk}}

| G

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Charlotte Hornets (from Miami)The Heat traded No. 16 pick along with Glen Rice, Khalid Reeves, and Matt Geiger for Alonzo Mourning, Pete Myers and LeRon Ellis on November 3, 1995.
{{cite news |first=David |last=Nielsen |title=Heat get Mourning from the Hornets |work=The Washington Times | page = D1 |date=November 4, 1995}}

| Kentucky (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 1

|align=center| 17

| bgcolor="#FBCEB1"| {{sortname|Jermaine|O'Neal}}*

| F/C

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Portland Trail Blazers

| Eau Claire HS (Columbia, South Carolina)

|-

|align=center| 1

|align=center| 18

| {{sortname|John|Wallace|dab=basketball}}

| F

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| New York Knicks (from DetroitThe Pistons traded the No. 18 pick along with Dennis Rodman to the Spurs for the No. 26 pick along with Sean Elliott and David Wood on October 1, 1993.{{cite news |first=Alan L. |last=Adler |title=Sports News |agency=Associated Press |date=October 2, 1993}} via San Antonio)The Spurs traded No. 18 pick along with J.R. Reid and Brad Lohaus to the Knicks for Charles Smith and Monty Williams on February 8, 1996.
{{cite news |first=Graig |last=Daniels |title=Spurs put boots to deal |work=Financial Post | page = 43 |date=February 9, 1996}}

| Syracuse (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 1

|align=center| 19

| {{sortname|Walter|McCarty}}

| F

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| New York Knicks (from AtlantaThe Hawks traded No. 19 pick along with Kevin Willis to the Heat for No. 45 pick along with Steve Smith and Grant Long on November 7, 1994.{{cite news |title=Atlanta trades Willis to Heat |work=Financial Post |page=53 |date=November 8, 1994}} via Miami)The Heat sent No. 19 pick and $1 million to the Knicks for a right to pursue hiring Pat Riley on September 1, 1995.
{{cite news |title=Knicks, Heat arrange deal in Riley case |work=Toronto Star | page = F8 |date=September 2, 1995}}

| Kentucky (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 1

|align=center| 20

| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| {{sortname|Žydrūnas|Ilgauskas|Zydrunas Ilgauskas}}⁺

| C

| {{flagcountry|LTU|1988}}

| Cleveland Cavaliers

| Atletas Kaunas (Lithuania)

|-

|align=center| 1

|align=center| 21

| {{sortname|Dontae'|Jones}}

| F

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| New York Knicks

| Mississippi State (Jr.)

|-

|align=center| 1

|align=center| 22

| {{sortname|Roy|Rogers|dab=basketball}}

| F

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Vancouver Grizzlies (from Houston)The Rockets traded No. 22 and No. 51 picks along with Pete Chilcutt, Tim Breaux and the No. 53 pick in the 1997 NBA draft to the Grizzlies for No. 30 and No. 42 picks along with No. 30 pick in the 1997 NBA Draft on June 19, 1996.
{{cite news |first=Bill |last=Harris |title=Grizzlies Deal For Another First-round Pick |work=The Toronto Sun | page = 115 |date=June 20, 1996}}

| Alabama (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 1

|align=center| 23

| {{sortname|Efthimios|Rentzias}}

| C

| {{Flagu|Greece}}

| Denver Nuggets (from Indiana)

| PAOK (Greece)

|-

|align=center| 1

|align=center| 24

| {{sortname|Derek|Fisher}}

| G

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Los Angeles Lakers

| Arkansas-Little Rock (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 1

|align=center| 25

| {{sortname|Martin|Müürsepp}}

| F

| {{Flagu|Estonia}}

| Utah Jazz (traded to Miami)The Jazz traded the draft rights of Martin Müürsepp to the Heat for a future draft pick (#23 in 2000 NBA draft) on June 26, 1996.
{{cite news |first=Barry |last=Jackson |title=Riley Finds New Forward in Estonia |work=The Miami Herald |date=June 27, 1996}}

| Kalev (Estonia)

|-

|align=center| 1

|align=center| 26

| {{sortname|Jerome|Williams|dab=basketball}}

| F

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Detroit Pistons (from San Antonio)

| Georgetown (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 1

|align=center| 27

| {{sortname|Brian|Evans|dab=basketball}}

| F

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Orlando Magic

| Indiana (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 1

|align=center| 28

| {{sortname|Priest|Lauderdale}}

| C

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Atlanta Hawks (from Seattle)The Hawks traded No. 45 and No. 47 picks to the Supersonics for No. 28 pick on June 25, 1996.
{{cite news |title=Hawks Regain First-Round Draft Pick in Sonics Trade |agency=Associated Press | page = D1 |date=June 25, 1996}}

| Peristeri (Greece)

|-

|align=center| 1

|align=center| 29

| {{sortname|Travis|Knight|dab=basketball}}

| C

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Chicago BullsThe Chicago Bulls renounced the draft rights to Travis Knight on July 12, 1996.

| Connecticut (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 30

| {{sortname|Othella|Harrington}}

| F/C

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Houston Rockets (from Vancouver)

| Georgetown (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 31

| {{sortname|Mark|Hendrickson}}

| G

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Philadelphia 76ers

| Washington State (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 32

| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| {{sortname|Ryan|Minor}}^#

| G

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Philadelphia 76ers (from Toronto)The Raptors traded No. 32 pick along with No. 37 pick in the 1997 NBA Draft, Tony Massenburg and Ed Pinckney to the 76ers for Sharone Wright on February 22, 1996.
{{cite news |title=Raptors swing deal with Philly |work=Financial Post |page=64 |date=February 23, 1996}}

| Oklahoma (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 33

| {{sortname|Moochie|Norris}}

| G

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Milwaukee Bucks

| West Florida (So.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 34

| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| {{sortname|Shawn|Harvey|dab=basketball}}^#

| G

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Dallas Mavericks

| West Virginia State (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 35

| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| {{sortname|Joseph|Blair}}^#

| C

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Seattle SuperSonics (from Minnesota)The Timberwolves traded No. 35 pick to the SuperSonics for Željko Rebrača on June 29, 1994.
{{cite news |first=Jim |last=Cour |title=The Associated Press report |agency=Associated Press |date=June 30, 1994}}

| Arizona (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 36

| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| {{sortname|Doron|Sheffer}}^#

| G

| {{Flagu|Israel}}

| Los Angeles Clippers

| Connecticut (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 37

| {{sortname|Jeff|McInnis}}

| G

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Denver Nuggets (from New JerseyThe Nets traded No. 37 pick along with No. 31 pick in the 1991 NBA draft to the Kings for Mike McGee on October 31, 1988.
{{cite news |title=Nets Acquire Kings' McGee |work=The New York Times |page=D30 |date=November 1, 1988}} via Sacramento)The Kings traded No. 37 pick along with Šarūnas Marčiulionis to the Nuggets for Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf on June 13, 1996.
{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Farine |title=Nuggets trade Abdul-Rauf to Kings |work=The Washington Times |page=B3 |date=June 14, 1996}}

| North Carolina (Jr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 38

| {{sortname|Steve|Hamer}}

| C

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Boston Celtics

| Tennessee (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 39

| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| {{sortname|Russ|Millard}}^#

| F

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Phoenix Suns (from Denver,The Nuggets traded No. 39 pick to the Clippers for Winston Garland on June 26, 1991.
{{cite news |title=Clippers pull off two trades |work=St. Petersburg Times |page=3C |date=June 27, 1991}} via L.A. ClippersThe Clippers traded No. 39 pick along with No. 41 pick in the 1997 NBA draft and Olden Polynice to the Pistons for William Bedford and draft rights to Don MacLean on June 24, 1992.
{{cite news |title=Knicks get Blackman in top NBA trade |work=The Washington Times |page=D3 |date=June 25, 1992}} and Detroit)The Pistons traded No. 39 pick along with a No. 49 pick in the 1999 NBA draft to the Suns for Mark West on August 1, 1994.
{{cite news |title=SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL |work=The New York Times |page=B8 |date=August 2, 1994}}

| Iowa (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 40

| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| {{sortname|Marcus|Mann|dab=basketball}}^#

| F

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Golden State Warriors

| Mississippi Valley State (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 41

| {{sortname|Jason|Sasser}}

| F

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Sacramento Kings

| Texas Tech (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 42

| {{sortname|Randy|Livingston}}

| G

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Houston Rockets (from Vancouver via Washington and Orlando)The Magic traded No. 42 pick along with Kenny Gattison to the Grizzlies for Jeff Turner on February 22, 1996.
{{cite news |title=Gattison, Turner Swapped |agency=Associated Press |date=February 22, 1996}}

| LSU (So.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 43

| {{sortname|Ben|Davis|dab=basketball}}

| F

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Phoenix Suns

| Arizona (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 44

| {{sortname|Malik|Rose}}

| F

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Charlotte Hornets

| Drexel (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 45

| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| {{sortname|Joe|Vogel|dab=basketball}}^#

| C

| {{Flagu|United States}}Vogel represented Lebanon in international competitions later in his career.

| Seattle SuperSonics (from Miami via Atlanta)

| Colorado State (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 46

| {{sortname|Marcus|Brown}}

| G

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Portland Trail Blazers

| Murray State (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 47

| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| {{sortname|Ron|Riley|dab=basketball, born 1973}}^#

| G/F

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Seattle SuperSonics (from Atlanta)

| Arizona State (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 48

| {{sortname|Jamie|Feick}}

| F

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Philadelphia 76ers (from Detroit)The Pistons traded No. 48 pick to the 76ers for Eric Leckner on July 25, 1994.
{{cite news |title=TRANSACTIONS |work=The New York Times |page=B12 |date=July 26, 1994}}

| Michigan State (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 49

| {{sortname|Amal|McCaskill}}

| C

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Orlando Magic (from New York via Minnesota and Vancouver)

| Marquette (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 50

| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| {{sortname|Terrell|Bell}}^#

| C

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Houston Rockets (from Cleveland)The Cavaliers traded No. 50 pick to the Rockets for Keith Hughes on June 26, 1991.
{{cite news |title=PICKS BY TEAM |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=B6 |date= June 27, 1991}}

| Georgia (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 51

| {{sortname|Chris|Robinson|dab=basketball}}

| G

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Vancouver Grizzlies (from Houston)

| Western Kentucky (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 52

| {{sortname|Mark|Pope}}

| F

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Indiana Pacers

| Kentucky (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 53

| {{sortname|Jeff|Nordgaard}}

| F

| {{Flagu|United States}}Nordgaard would later represent Poland in international competitions.

| Milwaukee Bucks (from L.A. LakersThe Lakers traded No. 53 pick along with No. 37 pick in the 1994 NBA draft and No. 50 pick in the 1995 NBA draft to the SuperSonics for Sedale Threatt on October 2, 1991.
{{cite news |title=Lakers Get Threatt From Seattle |work=The New York Times |page=B10 |date=October 3, 1991}} via Seattle)The SuperSonics traded No. 53 pick along with Eurelijus Žukauskas to the Bucks for Eric Snow on June 28, 1995.
{{cite news |title=Wednesday's Sports Transactions |agency=Associated Press |date=June 29, 1995}}

| Wisconsin–Green Bay (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 54

| {{sortname|Shandon|Anderson}}

| F

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Utah Jazz

| Georgia (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 55

| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| {{sortname|Ronnie|Henderson}}^#

| G

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Washington Bullets (from San AntonioThe Hornets traded J.R. Reid to the Spurs for Sidney Green, a 1993 first-round pick (#20 overall), and a 1996 second-round pick (#55 overall) on December 9, 1992.
{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/media/hornets/0708mediaguide_Team%20History.pdf |title=2007–08 Media Guide: All-time Transactions |work=New Orleans Hornets |publisher=NBA |page=129 |access-date=April 11, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081225104708/http://www.nba.com/media/hornets/0708mediaguide_Team%20History.pdf |archive-date=December 25, 2008 }} via Charlotte)The Hornets traded a 1996 second-round pick (#55 overall), and a 1997 second-round pick (#48 overall) to the Wizards for Michael Adams on August 2, 1994.
{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/drobnpr01.html|title=Predrag Drobnjak |work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=April 11, 2011}}

| LSU (Jr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 56

| {{sortname|Reggie|Geary}}

| G

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Cleveland Cavaliers (from Orlando)The Magic traded No. 56 pick to the Cavaliers for Steve Kerr on December 3, 1992.
{{cite news |title=PEOPLE TRANSACTIONS |work=The Gazette |page=C4 |date=December 4, 1992}}

| Arizona (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 57

| {{sortname|Drew|Barry}}

| G

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Seattle SuperSonics

| Georgia Tech (Sr.)

|-

|align=center| 2

|align=center| 58

| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| {{sortname|Darnell|Robinson}}^#

| F

| {{Flagu|United States}}

| Dallas Mavericks (from Chicago)The Mavericks traded Rodney McCray in a 3-team trade with the Bulls and the Warriors for a No. 19 pick in the 1994 draft, No. 58 pick in the 1996 draft on September 18, 1992.
{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/houstby01.html|title=Byron Houston |work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=April 13, 2011}}

| Arkansas (Jr.)

|}

{{reflist|group=n}}

File:BenWallaceCloseup (cropped).jpg, not selected in the draft, had a successful career including 4 All-Star selections, and became the first undrafted NBA player of the modern era to be elected to the Hall of Fame.]]

{{further|List of undrafted NBA players}}

The following are undrafted players of the 1996 NBA Draft but later played in the NBA.

This year would officially see a steep climb up of the number of underclassmen declaring their entry into the NBA. While previous years starting in 1971 would see a relatively small amount of college underclassmen alongside overseas and even high school players not only officially declare their entry to the draft, but stick with it, this year saw an official total of 42 different players that qualified as underclassmen see an initial entry into the NBA draft. However, six of these players (those being the Nigerian born Sunday Adebayo from the University of Arkansas, Carlos Knox from IUPUI, Terquin Mott from Coppin State University, Mark Sanford from the University of Washington, Jess Settles from the University of Iowa, and Kebu Stewart from Cal State Bakersfield) would ultimately withdraw their initial entry into this year's NBA draft, leaving 29 players that declared for the NBA draft as proper college underclassmen, three high school players (including Kobe Bryant and Jermaine O'Neal) entering the NBA draft as high school seniors, three proper international players (including the first two teammates from the same team) entering directly from overseas play, and one player named Priest Lauderdale previously leaving Central State University to play for the Peristeri B.C. in Greece for a grand total of 36 players that would qualify as underclassmen. That being said, the following college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.{{cite web |title=1996 Underclassmen |url=https://www.thedraftreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3043:1996-underclassmen&catid=136&Itemid=384 |website=The Draft Review | date=August 4, 2007 |access-date=December 15, 2022}}

{{div col}}

• {{flagicon|USA}} Shareef Abdur-Rahim – F, California (freshman)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Ray Allen – G, Connecticut (junior)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Marcus Camby – C, Massachusetts (junior)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Erick Dampier – C, Mississippi State (junior)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Randy Edney – C, Mount St. Mary's (junior)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Eric Gingold – C, Williams (junior)
• {{flagicon|USA}} LeMarcus Golden – G, Memphis (junior)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Ronnie Henderson – G, LSU (junior)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Allen Iverson – G, Georgetown (sophomore)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Willie Jackson – F, Lawson CC (freshman)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Dontae' Jones – F, Mississippi State (junior)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Chris Kingsbury – G, Iowa (junior)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Idris Lee – G, Mount Senario (junior)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Randy Livingston – G, LSU (sophomore)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Michael Lloyd – G, Auburn Montgomery (junior)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Stephon Marbury – G, Georgia Tech (freshman)
• {{flagicon|CUB}} Richard Matienzo – F, Miami Dade (freshman)
• {{flagicon|SUD}} Dut Mayar Madut – C, Frank Phillips (freshman)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Jeff McInnis – G, North Carolina (junior)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Chris Nurse – F, Delaware State (junior)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Jason Osborne – F, Louisville (junior)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Jessie Pate – G, Arkansas (junior)
• {{flagicon|UKR}} Vitaly Potapenko – F/C, Wright State (sophomore)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Darnell Robinson – F/C, Arkansas (junior)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Greg Simpson – G, West Virginia (junior)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Kevin Simpson – G, Dixie (sophomore)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Antoine Walker – F, Kentucky (sophomore)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Samaki Walker – F, Louisville (sophomore)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Lorenzen Wright – F, Memphis (sophomore)

{{div col end}}

This year marked the second year in a row where high school players would be allowed entry into the NBA directly from high school after previously not allowing high schoolers to enter the NBA draft directly since 1975. The following high school players successfully applied for early draft entrance.

{{div col}}

• {{flagicon|USA}} Kobe Bryant – G, Lower Merion HS (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Taj McDavid – G, Palmetto HS (Williamston, South Carolina)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Jermaine O'Neal – F, Eau Claire HS (Columbia, South Carolina)

{{div col end}}

This year marked the first time that international teammates would declare their entry into the NBA draft simultaneously. The following international players successfully applied for early draft entrance.

{{div col}}

• {{flagicon|LIT}} Zydrunas Ilgauskas – C, Atletas Kaunas (Lithuania)
• {{flagicon|GRE}} Efthimios Rentzias – F/C, PAOK B.C. (Greece)
• {{flagicon|FRY}} Peja Stojaković – F, PAOK B.C. (Greece)

{{div col end}}

• List of first overall NBA draft picks

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• {{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/draft/ |title=Official site |website=NBA.com |access-date=2013-12-13 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961026212833/http://www.nba.com/draft/ |archive-date=October 26, 1996 |df=mdy }}
• [https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1996.html 1996 NBA Draft] at Basketball-reference.com

{{NBA Drafts}}

{{NBA Draft history by team}}

{{1996 NBA draft}}

{{1996–97 NBA season by team}}

{{NBA on TNT}}

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