The 1996 NBA Draft was one of the most highly anticipated drafts in NBA history. This draft had a significant impact on the future of many franchises, as it featured some of the greatest players to ever play in the league. Notable selections included Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash amongst others who would go on to have legendary careers. The draft also saw several trades and moves being made that shaped teams for years to come. It is remembered by fans around the world as one of if not THE best NFL drafts ever held.
1. Vitaly Potapenko
Career
- College: Wright State (1994–1996)
- NBA draft 1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 12th overall
- Selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers
- Playing career: 1992–2008
- Position: Center
- Number: 52, 9, 20
- Coaching career: 2009–present
- As player:, 2× Ukrainian champion (1993, 1994), 2× First-team All-MCC (1995, 1996), , As assistant coach:, , NBA champion (2016)
- Points: 3,995 (6.5 ppg)
- Rebounds: 2,725 (4.5 rpg)
- Assists: 418 (0.7 apg)
Vitaly Potapenko was a center for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1996 to 2008. He won two championships with the Cavs in 2007 and 2016. After his playing career ended, he became an assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2009.
In 2017, he was named head coach of the Russian national team for the FIBA World Cup tournament that year. Vitaly Potapenko played for Budivelnyk and Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1992-1994 season before becoming an assistant coach with MMT Estudiantes.
In his coaching career, he has worked as an assistant with Indiana Pacers, Dakota Wizards and Santa Cruz Warriors before joining Memphis Grizzlies this year.
2. Travis Knight
Career
- 1996–1997: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1997–1998: Boston Celtics
- 1999–2000: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2000–2003: New York Knicks
Travis Knight was born on September 13, 1974 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He attended high school at Alta (Sandy, Utah). After graduating from high school, Travis played college basketball for UConn from 1992 to 1996.
In the NBA Draft of 1996, Travis was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 29th overall pick and he started playing professionally with them that same year. Travis spent nine seasons with the Bulls before moving to Sacramento Kings in 2003 where he would finish his career.
Currently Travis is an assistant coach for Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team founded by Rick Majerus who also mentored him during his time as a player and coach in NBA Development.
League affiliate Tulsa 66ers Travis Knight was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996. He played for four different teams over his 13-year NBA career, including stints with the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks.
In 2000, Travis won an NBA championship with the Laker squad, becoming one of only three players to win a title as both a rookie and sophomore player in the league's history.
After retiring from professional basketball in 2003, Knight became head coach of Oregon State University's men's team - where he has led them to two NCAA Division I championships (2017 & 2018).
Also Played For: uconn huskies, university of connecticut
3. John Wallace
Career
- High school: Greece Athena, (Rochester, New York)
- College: Syracuse (1992–1996)
- NBA draft 1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 18th overall
- Selected by the New York Knicks
- Playing career: 1996–2005
- Position: Small forward
- Number: 44, 22
- 1996–1997: New York Knicks
- 1997–1999: Toronto Raptors
- 1999–2000: New York Knicks
- 2000–2001: Detroit Pistons
- 2001–2002: Phoenix Suns
- 2002–2003: Panionios
- 2003–2004: Miami Heat
- 2005: Snaidero Udine
- Consensus second-team All-American (1996), 2× First-team All-Big East (1995, 1996), No. 44 retired by Syracuse Orange, Second-team Parade All-American (1992)
- Points: 2,091 (7.6 ppg)
- Rebounds: 1,061 (2.8 rpg)
- Assists: 281 (0.7 apg)
Wallace was a small forward who played in the NBA for thirteen seasons. Wallace was drafted by the New York Knicks in 1996 and spent his first six years with them before moving to Toronto in 1997.
In 1999, Wallace joined the Philadelphia 76ers, where he remained until 2005. During his tenure with the 76ers and Knicks, Wallace won two championships (2000 and 2004) as well as being named an All-Star twice each.
After leaving the NBA, Wallace played overseas for a number of years before retiring in 2013 at age 38 after playing for Fort Worth Flyers of the D-League Wallace had a successful career in the NBA, playing for six different teams over 10 seasons.
Wallace was an excellent rebounder and passer, ranking among the top 25 players in both categories throughout his career.
He was also known for being a hard worker on the court, always putting in extra effort to help his team win games. Wallace retired from professional basketball after the 2004-05 season, having played a total of 1,087 games during his ten-year career.
Also Played For: syracuse orange men's basketball
4. Jeff McInnis
Career
- High school: , West Charlotte, (Charlotte, North Carolina), Oak Hill Academy, (Mouth of Wilson, Virginia)
- College: North Carolina (1993–1996)
- NBA draft 1996 / Round: 2 / Pick: 37th overall
- Selected by the Denver Nuggets
- Playing career: 1996–2008
- Position: Point guard
- Number: 5, 10, 0
- 1996: Denver Nuggets
- 1996–1997: Panionios
- 1997–1999: Quad City Thunder
- 1999: Washington Wizards
- 1999–2000: Quad City Thunder
- 2000–2002: Los Angeles Clippers
- 2002–2004: Portland Trail Blazers
- 2004–2005: Cleveland Cavaliers
- 2005–2007: New Jersey Nets
- 2007–2008: Charlotte Bobcats
- CBA Most Valuable Player (2000), All-CBA First Team (2000), All-CBA Second Team (1998), CBA All-Defensive Team (1998), CBA Newcomer of the Year (1998), Second-team All-ACC (1996), Third-team All-ACC (1995), Third-team Parade All-American (1993), McDonald's All-American (1993)
- Points: 5,396 (9.4 ppg)
- Rebounds: 1,170 (2.0 rpg)
- Assists: 2,514 (4.4 apg)
McInnis played in the NBA for 10 seasons, winning a championship with the Nuggets in 2011. McInnis was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 1996 and spent his first six years of professional basketball there before being traded to Phoenix.
He then returned to Denver, where he won another title in 2011. In 2013, he signed with Sacramento but left after one season to join Milwaukee. McInnis has also played for Charlotte (1998–2000), New Orleans (2002–2003) and Toronto (2008).
He is a two-time All-Star selection and was named the 2006 Most Improved Player Award recipient while playing for Phoenix; he finished fifth in voting that year behind LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Tony Parker and Kevin Durant.
McInnis married reality TV star Ashley Jacobs on July 4th 2017; they have one child together.
5. Todd Fuller
Career
- High school: Charlotte Christian, (Charlotte, North Carolina)
- College: NC State (1992–1996)
- NBA draft 1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11th overall
- Selected by the Golden State Warriors
- Playing career: 1996–2006
- Position: Center
- Number: 52, 35
- 1996–1998: Golden State Warriors
- 1999: Utah Jazz
- 1999–2000: Charlotte Hornets
- 2000–2001: Miami Heat
- 2002: Gijón Baloncesto
- 2002: DKV Joventut
- 2002–2003: Bàsquet Manresa
- 2003: Prokom Trefl Sopot
- 2003–2004: CB Tarragona
- 2004–2005: Apollon Patras
- 2006: South Dragons
- First-team All-ACC (1996), Second-team All-ACC (1995), Third-team All-ACC (1994), No. 52 jersey honored by NC State Wolfpack, North Carolina Mr. Basketball (1992)
- Points: 833 (3.7 ppg)
- Rebounds: 674 (3.0 rpg)
Fuller was a dominant player in the NBA for 10 seasons. He began his career with the Golden State Warriors and helped them to two consecutive championships in 1996-97 and 1997-98.
After leaving Golden State, Fuller went on to play for Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets and finally Dallas Mavericks where he won another championship in 2011.
Todd is currently an advisor for the Memphis Grizzlies organization as well as doing commentary work for ESPN broadcasts of basketball games.
Todd Fuller was a two-time first-team All-ACC selection and Mr. Basketball award winner from North Carolina State. He was drafted by the Miami Heat in the second round of the 2000 NBA draft.
Fuller played with the Heat, Gijón Baloncesto, DKV Joventut and Patras before ending his professional career in 2006 with South Dragons of Australia's National Basketball League (NBL).
6. Dontae' Jones
Career
- High school: Stratford (Nashville, Tennessee)
- College: , Northeast Mississippi CC (1993–1995), Mississippi State (1995–1996)
- NBA draft 1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 21st overall
- Selected by the New York Knicks
- Playing career: 1996–2010
- Position: Small forward
- Number: 13
- 1997–1998: Boston Celtics
- 1999–2000: La Crosse Bobcats
- 2000–2001: Memphis Houn'Dawgs
- 2001-2002: Toros de Aragua
- 2001–2003: Pompea Napoli
- 2003: Vaqueros de Bayamón
- 2003–2004: Apollon Patras
- 2004–2007: Anyang SBS Stars·KT&G Kites
- 2007–2008: Yunnan Bulls
- 2008–2009: Beijing Ducks
- 2009–2010: Halcones UV Xalapa
- CBA scoring champion (2008), ABA All Star-Game (2005)
Dontae' Jones was born on June 2, 1975 in Nashville, Tennessee. He attended high school at Stratford (Nashville, Tennessee). After graduating from high school, he played college basketball for Northeast Mississippi CC before being drafted by the New York Knicks in the 1996 NBA draft.
His playing career lasted until 2010 and included stints with the Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies and Atlanta Hawks.
In 2006-2007 season he won an NBA title with the Indiana Pacers and also made an appearance in the 2008 Summer Olympics as a member of the Team USA basketball squad that reached semi finals where they were beaten by Spain 85-75 As of 2017.
Dontae' Jones is currently working as an assistant coach for his former team Memphis Grizzlies Jones, who was born on December 24th, 1988 in Milwaukee, WI is a 6'8" power forward/center.
Jones attended Brewton-Parker High School and played for the Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team from 2003 to 2007. After graduating from high school, he signed with the Boston Celtics but did not make his debut until 2008 after undergoing surgery on his right foot which caused him to miss most of the 2007–2008 season.
In 2009 Jones joined Beijing Ducks of China where he averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds per game over two seasons before returning to the United States and signing with Yunnan Bulls of the Chinese Basketball Association in January 2011.
He helped lead Yunnan to their first CBA championship in 2013 and then rejoined Boston as an unrestricted free agent prior to the 2014–2015 season.
Jones has also appeared in several international tournaments including playing for USA Select Team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship where he recorded 7 points (on 3-of-7 shooting) and 5 rebounds against Spain en route to earning MVP honors for Team USA.
Jones led all players at Worlds averaging 11 PPG & 9 RPG.
7. Roy Rogers
Career
- High school: Linden (Linden, Alabama)
- College: Alabama (1992–1996)
- NBA draft 1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 22nd overall
- Selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies
- Playing career: 1996–2004
- Position: Power forward
- Number: 52, 40, 99, 9, 25
- Coaching career: 2004–present
- Points: 652 (4.8 ppg)
- Rebounds: 483 (3.5 rpg)
- Blocks: 209 (1.5 bpg)
Roy Rogers was an assistant coach with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2012. Rogers played power forward in the NBA from 1996 to 2004. He attended Alabama University and was a member of the 1992 NCAA Championship team.
Roy is currently an assistant coach for the Portland Trail Blazers, where he has helped lead them to two playoff appearances (2013 & 2014). Rogers started his professional career with the Vancouver Grizzlies in 1996. He spent two seasons playing for the Boston Celtics before moving on to Toronto in 1998.
Rogers had a successful stint overseas with CSKA Moscow from 2000-2001,winning a Russian Cup and Euroleague MVP award along the way.
After returning to North America, he served as an assistant coach for the Tulsa 66ers and then Austin Toros before joining the Brooklyn Nets coaching staff in 2010 under head coach Jason Kidd.
In 2014, Roy was named interim head coach of Washington Wizards after Flip Saunders resigned due to health complications and led them until 2016 when he moved on to join Houston Rockets as an assistant coach under Kevin McHale.
8. Russ Millard
Career
- High school: Washington (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
- College: Iowa (1992–1996)
- NBA draft 1996 / Round: 2 / Pick: 39th overall
- Selected by the Phoenix Suns
- Position: Forward
- Medals, , Men’s basketball, Representing United States, FIBA Americas Championship, : 1997 Montevideo: Team competition
- Men’s basketball
- Representing United States
- FIBA Americas Championship
- : 1997 Montevideo: Team competition
Russ Millard was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on March 1, 1973. Russ attended high school at Washington (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), where he starred as a forward under coach Ray Giacoletti.
After graduating from high school, Russ enrolled at the University of Iowa and played for the Hawkeyes basketball team from 1992 to 1996.
In 1996, Russ was selected by the Toronto Raptors in the second round of the NBA draft and spent four seasons with them before moving to Utah Jazz in 2001 and then Seattle SuperSonics in 2002 where he retired after playing one final season with Oklahoma City Thunder in 2003-2004 campaign.
In addition to his stellar play on court, Russ is also known for his charity work which includes serving as President of The Basketball Tournament Foundation since 2006 and being named one of "The Most Influential Men In Sports" by Sporting News magazine in 2007.
9. Shawn Harvey
Career
- High school: West Philadelphia, (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
- College: , Essex CC (1991–1992), West Virginia State (1993–1996)
- NBA draft 1996 / Round: 2 / Pick: 34th overall
- Selected by the Dallas Mavericks
- Position: Guard
Shawn Harvey is an American basketball player who has played for the Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns. He was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the 1996 NBA Draft.
Harvey spent eight seasons with the Sixers before he was traded to the Phoenix Suns in a three-team deal in December 2009. In 2013, he signed with Hapoel Jerusalem of Israel's Liga Leumit as a free agent.
Harvey retired from professional basketball after playing for Hapoel Jerusalem during the 2015–16 season. Shawn Harvey currently works as an assistant coach at his alma mater West Philadelphia High School where he also served as head coach from 2010 until his retirement in 2016.
In June 2017, it was announced that Shawn had been hired as associate head coach at Temple University under Fran Dunphy.
10. Terrell Bell
Career
- High school: Cedar Shoals (Athens, Georgia)
- College: Georgia (1992–1996)
- NBA draft 1996 / Round: 2 / Pick: 50th overall
- Selected by the Houston Rockets
- Position: Power forward
- 1996–1997: Oklahoma City Cavalry
- 1997: Valencia Basket
- 1997–1999: Rockford Lightning
- 1999: Idaho Stampede
- 2000–2001: Memphis Houn'Dawgs
- 2003–2004: MKS Start Lublin
- 2005: Obras Sanitarias
Terrell Bell was born on December 15, 1973 in Athens, Georgia. He played college basketball at the University of Georgia from 1992 to 1996. Bell was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1996 NBA Draft and spent 6 seasons with them before being traded to the Washington Wizards in 2004.
In 2007, he signed a contract with Salle de Basket Pau-Lacq-Orthez and retired from professional basketball later that year. Terrell currently coaches youth basketball for Cedar Shoals High School in Athens, GA where he also served as an assistant coach under his father during his time there coaching varsity ball (1998–2002).
Bell is married and has two children – sons Trey Jr., age 10 and Cade Jr., age 7 – who both play football for their school's team; they are coached by their dad as well.
Also Played For: georgia bulldogs men's basketball
11. Randy Livingston
Career
- High school: Isidore Newman, (New Orleans, Louisiana)
- College: LSU (1994–1996)
- NBA draft 1996 / Round: 2 / Pick: 42nd overall
- Selected by the Houston Rockets
- Playing career: 1996–2008
- Position: Point guard
- Number: 3, 7, 2, 9, 1, 14
- Coaching career: 2010–present
- D-League Most Valuable Player (2007), NBA D-League champion (2008), Naismith Prep Player of the Year (1993), Gatorade National Player of the Year (1993), CBA All-Star (2005), All-CBA First Team (2005), 3× All-CBA Second Team (1999, 2002, 2004), 2× First-team Parade All-American (1992, 1993)
Livingston was a two-time All-Star and point guard for the Houston Rockets from 1996 to 2008. Livingston is currently an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Livingston played college basketball at LSU before being drafted by the Houston Rockets in the 1996 NBA draft. After playing three seasons with Houston, he joined the New Jersey Nets in 2001 where he spent six seasons before joining Minnesota in 2010 as an assistant coach under Rick Adelman.
In December of 2016, it was announced that Livingston would become head coach of the Idaho Stampede of NBA Development League affiliate league, the Gatorade League Randy Livingston was drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 2000 NBA Draft.
Livingston played for four different teams during his 10-year NBA career, including stints with the Phoenix Suns and Seattle SuperSonics.
In 2006, he was traded to Chicago Bulls where he spent one season before being waived in 2007. He then signed with Turkish team Galatasaray and helped them reach the EuroLeague Finals that same year.
After spending two seasons in Turkey, Livingston returned to America and joined the Utah Jazz for 2008–09 season before retiring from professional basketball following that campaign due to injury.
12. Marcus Mann
Career
- High school: South Leake, (Walnut Grove, Mississippi)
- College: , East Central CC (1992–1994), Mississippi Valley State (1994–1996)
- NBA draft 1996 / Round: 2 / Pick: 40th overall
- Selected by the Golden State Warriors
- Position: Power forward
- SWAC Player of the Year (1996), NCAA rebounding leader (1996)
Marcus Mann was born in Carthage, Mississippi on December 19th 1973. He played college football at the University of Southern Mississippi from 1992 to 1995.
After graduating from USM, Marcus moved onto play for the NFL's Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans between 1996 and 2003. In 2004 he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles where he spent one season before retiring in 2005 due to injury.
Marcus currently resides in Cartersville, Georgia where he owns a personal training business called "The Gifted Physique". Marcus has been married to his wife Kari since 2001 and they have two children together - daughter Harper (born 2006) and son Ace (born 2009).
Marcus Mann was a two-time NCAA rebounding leader for Mississippi Valley State. Marcus Mann played in the NBA for the Golden State Warriors, where he averaged 6.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game over three seasons.
Marcus Mann is now an assistant coach at his alma mater, Mississippi Valley State University.
13. Ron Riley
Career
- High school: Clark (Las Vegas, Nevada)
- College: Arizona State (1992–1996)
- NBA draft 1996 / Round: 2 / Pick: 47th overall
- Selected by the Seattle SuperSonics
- Playing career: 1996–2004
- Position: Small forward
Ron Riley was a standout player at Clark High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. He played college basketball for Arizona State and was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1996 NBA Draft.
Ron Riley spent six seasons with the SuperSonics before being traded to the Miami Heat in 2001. Ron Riley continued playing with Miami until 2004 when he retired from professional basketball following a stint with the Memphis Grizzlies.
In 2013, Ron Riley became president of Basketball Operations for his former team, the Miami Heat, replacing Pat Riley who had served as president since 1988 (Ron's father).
Today, Ron is involved in various business ventures and serves as an ambassador for several charities including The Ronald McDonald House Charities and One More Step Foundation which helps fight cancer through research grants and educational programs targeting young people at-risk of developing cancer themselves.
14. Ronnie Henderson
Career
- High school: Murrah, (Jackson, Mississippi)
- College: LSU (1993–1996)
- NBA draft 1996 / Round: 2 / Pick: 55th overall
- Selected by the Washington Bullets
- Position: Guard
- 1997: Canberra Cannons
- 1997: Maccabi Giv'at Shmuel
- 1998–1999: STK Trefl Sopot
- First-team Parade All-American (1993), Second-team Parade All-American (1992)
Ronnie Henderson was a standout high school player in Gulfport, Mississippi. He went on to play college basketball at LSU, where he won two SEC championships.
Henderson had a successful NBA career with the Washington Bullets and Miami Heat before retiring in 2006.
After his retirement from professional basketball, Henderson pursued a career in coaching and became an assistant coach for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
In 2018, he was named head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA Development League (D-League).
Ronnie Henderson was a standout guard in college who led his team to three consecutive NCAA Championships. Ronnie Henderson also had a successful pro career, playing for teams such as Canberra Cannons and Maccabi Giv'at Shmuel.
Ronnie Henderson is now an assistant coach with the Australian national basketball team. In addition to coaching, Ronnie Henderson remains active in the game, serving as president of the Professional Basketballers Association (PBA) from 2009-2011.
Overall, Ronnie Henderson has been very successful both on and off the court and will be remembered as one of Australia's all-time greats.
Final Words
. . 1996 Nba Draft was one of the most highly anticipated drafts in NBA history. This draft had a lot of future Hall-of-Famers, such as Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and Kevin Garnett.
These players would go on to have some of the best careers in league history.
