1995 NBA draft

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.

[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.

[5][6] The Vancouver Grizzlies and the Toronto Raptors were not able to win the NBA draft lottery, due to pre-negotiated rules.

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.

Joe Smith was selected first overall by the Golden State Warriors
Antonio McDyess was selected 2nd overall by the Los Angeles Clippers (traded to the Denver Nuggets ).
Jerry Stackhouse was selected 3rd overall by the Philadelphia 76ers .
Rasheed Wallace was selected 4th overall by the Washington Bullets .
Kevin Garnett was selected 5th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves .
Theo Ratliff was selected 18th overall by the Detroit Pistons .
Michael Finley was selected 21st overall by the Phoenix Suns .