The 1995 NBA Draft produced a deep group of players led by Kevin
Garnett, Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess, Jerry Stackhouse, Michael
Finley and Theo Ratliff. All six became NBA All-Stars, while Garnett
developed into one of the greatest power forwards in league history.
The draft was historically significant beyond the players selected.
It was the first NBA Draft held outside the United States and the
first draft involving the expansion Toronto Raptors and Vancouver
Grizzlies. Toronto used its first selection on Damon Stoudamire at
No. 7, while Vancouver selected Bryant Reeves at No. 6.
Teams listed below are the teams credited with making each original
selection. Draft-night trades are discussed separately in the notes
so the original draft order remains intact.
Joe Smith: Golden State selected Smith first overall
after two seasons at Maryland. Smith played 16 NBA seasons for 12
franchises and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team following
his rookie season.
Six All-Stars: The 1995 draft produced six eventual
NBA All-Stars: Kevin Garnett, Antonio McDyess, Jerry Stackhouse,
Rasheed Wallace, Theo Ratliff and Michael Finley.
Kevin Garnett: Minnesota selected Garnett fifth
overall directly from Farragut Career Academy in Chicago. He was the
first player in 20 years to be selected in the NBA Draft directly
from high school and helped reopen the path from high school to the
NBA that became increasingly common over the following decade.
Garnett's career: Garnett became a 15-time NBA
All-Star, won the 2003-04 NBA Most Valuable Player Award and was
named NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2007-08. He helped Boston
win the 2008 NBA championship and was inducted into the Basketball
Hall of Fame in 2020.
First draft in Canada: The draft was held at
SkyDome in Toronto, making it the first NBA Draft conducted outside
the United States.
Toronto and Vancouver: The 1995 draft was the first
for the NBA's two new Canadian expansion franchises. Vancouver used
the sixth pick on Oklahoma State center Bryant Reeves, while Toronto
selected Arizona point guard Damon Stoudamire seventh overall.
Stoudamire went on to win the 1995-96 NBA Rookie of the Year Award.
Antonio McDyess: The Los Angeles Clippers selected
McDyess second overall out of Alabama. His draft rights were traded
to Denver, where he began his NBA career. McDyess became an NBA
All-Star in 2001 and played 15 seasons.
Rasheed Wallace: Washington selected Wallace fourth
overall out of North Carolina. Wallace became a four-time NBA
All-Star and later played a major role on the Detroit Pistons'
2004 NBA championship team.
Shawn Respert: Portland held the eighth selection
and chose Michigan State guard Shawn Respert. His rights were
subsequently dealt to Milwaukee. Detroit acquired multiple picks
connected to the transaction, including selections used on Theo
Ratliff and Randolph Childress.
Michael Finley: Phoenix selected Finley 21st overall
out of Wisconsin. He became a two-time NBA All-Star and later won
the 2007 NBA championship as a member of the San Antonio Spurs.
Theo Ratliff: Detroit selected Ratliff 18th overall
out of Wyoming. Ratliff became an NBA All-Star and one of the
league's leading shot blockers, twice leading the NBA in blocks
per game.
Eric Snow: Milwaukee selected Snow with the 43rd
overall pick. He developed into one of the more productive
second-round selections in the class and played 13 NBA seasons,
including starting roles with Seattle, Philadelphia and Cleveland.
Dejan Bodiroga: Sacramento selected Bodiroga 51st
overall. Although he never played in the NBA, he became one of the
most accomplished European players of his era, winning numerous
club and international championships.
International selections: The class included
Dragan Tarlać, Dejan Bodiroga, Constantin Popa and Eurelijus
Žukauskas. George Zídek, selected 22nd by Charlotte after playing
at UCLA, was born in Czechoslovakia and became the first Czech
player to appear in the NBA.
Deep class: Beyond its six All-Stars, the draft
produced numerous longtime NBA contributors, including Damon
Stoudamire, Kurt Thomas, Corliss Williamson, Brent Barry, Bob Sura,
Jason Caffey, Travis Best, Greg Ostertag, Eric Snow, Fred Hoiberg
and others.
