The 1996 NBA draft was the 50th draft in the National Basketball Association (NBA). It was held on June 26, 1996, at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. In this draft, NBA teams took turns selecting college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from high schools and non-North American leagues. The Vancouver Grizzlies had the highest probability to win the NBA draft lottery, but since they were an expansion team along with the Toronto Raptors, they were not allowed to select first in this draft. The team with the second-highest probability, the Philadelphia 76ers, won the lottery and obtained the first selection. The Toronto Raptors and the Vancouver Grizzlies were second and third, respectively. The Raptors won the first overall pick in 1996, but they had to give that up due to the expansion agreement with the league.
It is widely considered to be one of the deepest and most talented NBA drafts in history, with one-third of the first-round picks later becoming NBA All-Stars. The draft class produced three players who won a combined four NBA MVP awards (Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Steve Nash), seven other drafted players who became All-Stars (Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Ray Allen, Žydrūnas Ilgauskas, Stephon Marbury, Jermaine O'Neal, Peja Stojaković, Antoine Walker), and one undrafted All-Star (Ben Wallace), for a grand total of 11 All-Stars. Moreover, eight players from this draft class have been named to at least one All-NBA Team, the most among any draft. The draft class also produced three players who have been named to the NBA's all-defensive first team: Bryant, Marcus Camby, and Wallace. Camby won the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2007, while Wallace earned the same award in 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2006. Five-time NBA champion Derek Fisher was also selected in the draft.
The 76ers selected two future Major League Baseball players, Mark Hendrickson and Ryan Minor, with their second-round picks.
Most experts rate it along with the 1984 NBA draft and the 2003 NBA draft as one of the best drafts in history. Sports Illustrated named it the second-best, behind the 1984 draft, which included a draft class of Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Alvin Robertson, and John Stockton.
Key
{|class=wikitable
|-
| PG||Point guard
| SG||Shooting guard
| SF||Small forward
| PF||Power forward
| C||Center
|}
Draft selections
thumb|upright|[[Allen Iverson was selected 1st overall by the Philadelphia 76ers.]]
thumb|upright|[[Marcus Camby was selected 2nd overall by the Toronto Raptors.]]
thumb|upright|[[Shareef Abdur-Rahim was selected 3rd overall by the Vancouver Grizzlies.]]
thumb|upright|[[Stephon Marbury was selected 4th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks (traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves).]]
thumb|upright|[[Ray Allen was selected 5th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves (traded to the Milwaukee Bucks).]]
thumb|upright|[[Antoine Walker was selected 6th overall by the Boston Celtics.]]
right|thumb|upright|[[Kobe Bryant was selected 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets (traded to the Los Angeles Lakers).]]
thumb|upright|[[Peja Stojaković was selected 14th overall by the Sacramento Kings.]]
thumb|upright|[[Steve Nash was selected 15th overall by the Phoenix Suns.]]
thumb|upright|[[Jermaine O'Neal was selected 17th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers.]]
thumb|upright|[[Žydrūnas Ilgauskas was selected 20th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers.]]
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! width="1%"| Round
! width="1%"| Pick
! width="20%"| Player
! width="1%"| Pos.
! width="20%"| Nationality
! width="35%"| NBA team
! width="25%"| School/Club team
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1
| bgcolor="#FFFF99"| ^~
| SG/PG
|
| Philadelphia 76ers
| Georgetown <small>(So.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2
|
| C
|
| Toronto Raptors
| Massachusetts <small>(Jr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3
| bgcolor="#FFCC00"|<sup>+</sup>
| F
|
| Vancouver Grizzlies
| California <small>(Fr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 4
| bgcolor="#FBCEB1"| *
| G
|
| Milwaukee Bucks <small>(traded to Minnesota)</small>
| Georgia Tech <small>(Fr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 5
| bgcolor="#FFFF99"| ^
| SG
|
| Minnesota Timberwolves <small>(traded to Milwaukee)</small>
|Kentucky <small>(So.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 7
|
| C
|
| Los Angeles Clippers
| Memphis <small>(So.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 8
|
| SG
|
| New Jersey Nets
| Villanova <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 9
|
| F
|
| Dallas Mavericks <small>(from Boston)</small>
| Mississippi State <small>(Jr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 11
|
| C
|
| Golden State Warriors <small>(from Golden State via Orlando</small> <small>and Washington)</small>
| NC State <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 12
|
| C
|
| Cleveland Cavaliers <small>(from Washington)</small>
| Wright State <small>(Jr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 13
| bgcolor="#FFFF99"| ^
| SG
|
| Charlotte Hornets <small>(traded to L.A. Lakers)</small>
| Lower Merion HS <small>(Lower Merion, Pennsylvania)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 14
| bgcolor="#FBCEB1"| *
| F
|
| Sacramento Kings
| P.A.O.K. <small>(Greece)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 15
| bgcolor="#FFFF99"| ^
| PG
|
| Phoenix Suns
| Santa Clara <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 16
|
| G
|
| Charlotte Hornets <small>(from Miami)</small>
| Kentucky <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 17
| bgcolor="#FBCEB1"| *
| F/C
|
| Portland Trail Blazers
| Eau Claire High School <small>(Columbia, South Carolina)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 18
|
| F
|
| New York Knicks <small>(from Detroit</small> <small>via San Antonio)</small>
| Syracuse <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 19
|
| F
|
| New York Knicks <small>(from Atlanta</small> <small>via Miami)</small>
| Kentucky <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 20
| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| <sup>+</sup>
| C
|
| Cleveland Cavaliers
| Atletas Kaunas <small>(Lithuania)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 21
|
| F
|
| New York Knicks
| Mississippi State <small>(Jr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 22
|
| F
|
| Vancouver Grizzlies <small>(from Houston)</small>
| Alabama <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 23
|
| C
|
| Denver Nuggets <small>(from Indiana)</small>
| Kalev <small>(Estonia)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 26
|
| F
|
| Detroit Pistons <small>(from San Antonio)</small>
| Peristeri <small>(Greece)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 29
|
| C
|
| Chicago Bulls
| Connecticut <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 30
|
| F/C
|
| Houston Rockets <small>(from Vancouver)</small>
| Oklahoma <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 33
|
| G
|
| Milwaukee Bucks
| West Florida <small>(So.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 34
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| G
|
| Dallas Mavericks
| West Virginia State <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 35
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| C
|
| Seattle SuperSonics <small>(from Minnesota)</small>
| Arizona <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 36
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| G
|
| Los Angeles Clippers
| Connecticut <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 37
|
| G
|
| Denver Nuggets <small>(from New Jersey</small> <small>via Sacramento)</small>
| North Carolina <small>(Jr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 38
|
| C
|
| Boston Celtics
| Tennessee <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 39
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| F
|
| Phoenix Suns <small>(from Denver,</small> <small>via L.A. Clippers and Detroit)</small>
| Iowa <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 40
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| F
|
| Golden State Warriors
| Mississippi Valley State <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 41
|
| F
|
| Sacramento Kings
| Texas Tech <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 42
|
| G
|
| Houston Rockets <small>(from Vancouver</small>
| LSU <small>(So.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 43
|
| F
|
| Phoenix Suns
| Arizona <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 44
|
| F
|
| Charlotte Hornets
| Drexel <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 45
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| C
|
| Seattle SuperSonics <small>(from Miami</small>
| Michigan State <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 49
|
| C
|
| Orlando Magic <small>(from New York via Minnesota and Vancouver)</small>
| Marquette <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 50
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| C
|
| Houston Rockets <small>(from Cleveland)</small>
| Georgia <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 51
|
| G
|
| Vancouver Grizzlies <small>(from Houston)</small>
| Milwaukee Bucks <small>(from L.A. Lakers</small> <small>via Seattle)</small>
| Wisconsin–Green Bay <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 54
|
| F
|
| Utah Jazz
| Georgia <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 55
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| G
|
| Washington Bullets <small>(from San Antonio</small> via Charlotte)
| LSU <small>(Jr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 56
|
| G
|
| Cleveland Cavaliers <small>(from Orlando)</small>
| Arizona <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 57
|
| G
|
| Seattle SuperSonics
| Georgia Tech <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 58
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| F
|
| Dallas Mavericks <small>(from Chicago)</small>
| Arkansas <small>(Jr.)</small>
|}
Notable undrafted players
thumb|upright|[[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace, 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.]]
The following are undrafted players of the 1996 NBA Draft but later played in the NBA.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! width="20%"| Player
! width="1%"| Pos.
! width="20%"| Nationality
! width="25%"| School/Club team
|-
|
| G
|
| South Florida <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| G
|
| Penn <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| C
|
| Temple <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| F/G
|
| Seton Hall <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| F
|
| Texas Tech <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| C
|
| Western Michigan <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| F
|
| Long Beach State <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| F/C
|
| Thomas More <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| G
|
| Fenerbahçe <small>(Turkey)</small>
|-
|
| G
|
| Wake Forest <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| C
|
| Grand Canyon <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| F
|
| Cincinnati <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| F
|
| Little Rock <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| G
|
| Nebraska <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
| bgcolor="#FFFF99"| ^
| C/F
|
| Virginia Union <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
| G/F
|
| Davidson <small>(Sr.)</small>
|}
Early entrants
College underclassmen
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 also sticking 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.
- Shareef Abdur-Rahim – F, California (freshman)
- Ray Allen – G, Connecticut (junior)
- Marcus Camby – C, Massachusetts (junior)
- Erick Dampier – C, Mississippi State (junior)
- Randy Edney – C, Mount St. Mary's (junior)
- Eric Gingold – C, Williams (junior)
- LeMarcus Golden – G, Memphis (junior)
- Ronnie Henderson – G, LSU (junior)
- Allen Iverson – G, Georgetown (sophomore)
- Willie Jackson – F, Lawson CC (freshman)
- Dontae' Jones – F, Mississippi State (junior)
- Chris Kingsbury – G, Iowa (junior)
- Idris Lee – G, Mount Senario (junior)
- Randy Livingston – G, LSU (sophomore)
- Michael Lloyd – G, Auburn Montgomery (junior)
- Stephon Marbury – G, Georgia Tech (freshman)
- Richard Matienzo – F, Miami Dade (freshman)
- Dut Mayar Madut – C, Frank Phillips (freshman)
- Jeff McInnis – G, North Carolina (junior)
- Chris Nurse – F, Delaware State (junior)
- Jason Osborne – F, Louisville (junior)
- Jessie Pate – G, Arkansas (junior)
- Vitaly Potapenko – F/C, Wright State (junior)
- Darnell Robinson – F/C, Arkansas (junior)
- Greg Simpson – G, West Virginia (junior)
- Kevin Simpson – G, Dixie (sophomore)
- Antoine Walker – F, Kentucky (sophomore)
- Samaki Walker – F, Louisville (sophomore)
- Lorenzen Wright – F, Memphis (sophomore)
High school players
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.
|}
Invited attendees
The 1996 NBA draft is considered to be the nineteenth 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 Continental Airlines Arena), 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. 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 19 prospects at the time. Despite the high number of invites and successful draft prospects involved for this year's draft, there would still be some notable absences to not be invited for this year's draft in Shareef Abdur-Rahim from the University of California, Jermaine O'Neal from Eau Claire High School in South Carolina, and arguably Ben Wallace from Virginia Union University. With that in mind, the following players were invited to attend this year's draft festivities live and in person.