The 1995–96 NBA season was the 26th season for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association. After spending their first 25 years at the Memorial Coliseum, the Blazers began playing at the new Rose Garden Arena this season. The team received the eighth pick in the 1995 NBA draft from the Detroit Pistons, and selected Shawn Respert out of Michigan State, but soon traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks for top draft pick Gary Trent. Rookie center Arvydas Sabonis from Lithuania, who was drafted 24th overall by the Blazers in the 1986 NBA draft, would finally make his debut in the NBA. The Blazers struggled through most of the season playing below .500, posting a 26–34 record as of March 5. However, they would win 18 of their final 22 games to finish the season with a 44–38 record. Fourth in the Pacific Division and sixth in the Western Conference, making their 14th straight trip to the postseason and 19th in 20 years. Clifford Robinson led the team in scoring averaging 21.1 points per game, while Rod Strickland provided the team with 18.7 points and 9.6 assists per game. Sabonis averaged 14.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.