| 1966 NBA draft | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Dates | May 11, 1966 (Rounds 1–8) May 12, 1966 (Rounds 9–19) |
| Location | Plaza Hotel (New York City, New York)[1] |
| Overview | |
| 112 total selections in19 rounds | |
| League | NBA |
| First selection | Cazzie Russell,New York Knicks |
| Hall of Famers | |
The1966 NBA draft was the 20th annualdraft of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on May 11 and 12, 1966, before the1966–67 season. In thisdraft, ten NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S.college basketball players. A player who had finished his four-year college eligibility was eligible for selection. If a player left college early, he would not be eligible for selection until his college class graduated. The first two picks in the draft belonged to the teams that finished last in each division, with the order determined by acoin flip.[2] TheNew York Knicks won the coin flip and were awarded thefirst overall pick, while theDetroit Pistons were awarded the second pick. This draft was the first to use the coin flip method, which replaced theterritorial pick rule.[3] The remaining first-round picks and the subsequent rounds were assigned to teams in reverse order of their win–loss record in theprevious season. An expansion franchise, theChicago Bulls, took part in the NBA Draft for the first time and were assigned the last pick of each round. The draft consisted of 19 rounds comprising 112 players selected.
With the elimination of territorial picks and incorporation of a coin flip for the No. 1 overall pick, 1966 is considered the first modern NBA draft.[4]
Cazzie Russell from theUniversity of Michigan was selectedfirst overall by the New York Knicks.Dave Bing fromSyracuse University, who went on to win theRookie of the Year Award in his first season, was drafted second by theDetroit Pistons.[5] He was named in the50 Greatest Players in NBA History list announced at the league's 50th anniversary in 1996 and has also been inducted to theBasketball Hall of Fame.[6][7] He was selected to threeAll-NBA Teams and sevenAll-Star Games.[8] He became a politician after ending his playing career and won theelection to become themayor of Detroit in 2009.[9]
Russell won the NBA championship with the New York Knicks1970. He later was named to the All-Star Game in1972.[10]Lou Hudson, the 4th pick, andArchie Clark, the 37th pick, have also been selected to both All-NBA Team and All-Star Game. Hudson was selected to six All-Star Games and one All-NBA Team while Clark was selected to two All-Star Games and one All-NBA Team.[11][12] Three other players from this draft, 3rd pickClyde Lee, 5th pickJack Marin and 27th pickJohn Block, have also been selected to at least one All-Star Game.[13][14][15]Matt Guokas, the 9th pick, won the NBA championship with thePhiladelphia 76ers in his rookie season. He and his father,Matt Guokas, Sr., became the first father and son duo to win the NBA championships. Matt Guokas, Sr. won the inaugural championship with thePhiladelphia Warriors in1947.[16] The younger Guokas became a head coach after ending his playing career. He coached the 76ers for three seasons and theOrlando Magic for four seasons.[17]John Wetzel, the 75th pick, also became a head coach; he coached thePhoenix Suns for one season.[18]
| Pos. | G | F | C |
| Position | Guard | Forward | Center |
| ^ | Denotes player who has been inducted to theNaismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
| * | Denotes player who has been selected for at least oneAll-Star Game andAll-NBA Team |
| + | Denotes player who has been selected for at least oneAll-Star Game |
| # | Denotes player who has never appeared in an NBA regular-season or playoff game |
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The following list includes other draft picks who have appeared in at least one NBA game.[19][20]
| Round | Pick | Player | Pos. | Nationality | Team | School/club team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 24 | Tommy Kron | G |  United States | St. Louis Hawks | Kentucky |
| 3 | 26 | Jim Ware | F | United States | Cincinnati Royals | Oklahoma City |
| 3 | 27 | John Block+ | F/C | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | USC |
| 3 | 29 | Donnie Freeman | G | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Illinois |
| 4 | 37 | Archie Clark* | G | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | Minnesota |
| 4 | 38 | Johnny Austin | G | United States | Boston Celtics | Boston College |
| 4 | 39 | Ken Wilburn | F | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Central State |
| 8 | 69 | Mike Silliman | F | United States | New York Knicks | Army |
| 8 | 73 | Roland West | G | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Cincinnati |
| 8 | 75 | John Wetzel | G/F | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | Virginia Tech |
| 9 | 78 | Bill Turner | F | United States | New York Knicks | Akron |
| 10 | 88 | Freddie Lewis | G | United States | Cincinnati Royals | Arizona State |
| 11 | 94 | Stan McKenzie | G/F | United States | Baltimore Bullets | NYU |
| 12 | 98 | Dave Deutsch | G | United States | New York Knicks | Rochester |
| 15 | 106 | Paul Long | G | United States | St. Louis Hawks | Wake Forest |
These players were not selected in the 1966 draft but played at least one game in the NBA.
| Player | Pos. | Nationality | School/club team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bud Acton | F | United States | Hillsdale |
| Bill Dinwiddie | F | United States | New Mexico Highlands |
| Dennis Hamilton | F | United States | Arizona State |
| Bob Hogsett | F | United States | Tennessee |