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1966 NBA draft

Basketball player selection

Field	Value
name	1966 NBA draft
sport	Basketball
date	May 11, 1966 (Rounds 1–8)
May 12, 1966 (Rounds 9–19)
location	Plaza Hotel (New York City, New York)
league	NBA
overall	112
rounds	19
first	Cazzie Russell, New York Knicks
hofnum	{{Collapsible list
title	2
1	G Dave Bing
2	G Lou Hudson}}
prev	[1965](1965-nba-draft)
next	[1967](1967-nba-draft)

May 12, 1966 (Rounds 9–19) The 1966 NBA draft was the 20th annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on May 11 and 12, 1966, before the 1966–67 season. In this draft, 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 a coin flip. The New York Knicks won the coin flip and were awarded the first overall pick, while the Detroit Pistons were awarded the second pick. This draft was the first to use the coin flip method, which replaced the territorial pick rule. The remaining first-round picks and the subsequent rounds were assigned to teams in reverse order of their win–loss record in the previous season. An expansion franchise, the Chicago 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.

Draft selections and draftee career notes

Cazzie Russell from the University of Michigan was selected first overall by the New York Knicks. Dave Bing from Syracuse University, who went on to win the Rookie of the Year Award in his first season, was drafted second by the Detroit Pistons. He was named in the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list announced at the league's 50th anniversary in 1996 and has also been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame. He was selected to three All-NBA Teams and seven All-Star Games. He became a politician after ending his playing career and won the election to become the mayor of Detroit in 2009.

Russell won the NBA championship with the New York Knicks 1970. He later was named to the All-Star Game in 1972. Lou Hudson, the 4th pick, and Archie 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. Three other players from this draft, 3rd pick Clyde Lee, 5th pick Jack Marin and 27th pick John Block, have also been selected to at least one All-Star Game. Matt Guokas, the 9th pick, won the NBA championship with the Philadelphia 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 the Philadelphia Warriors in 1947. The younger Guokas became a head coach after ending his playing career. He coached the 76ers for three seasons and the Orlando Magic for four seasons. John Wetzel, the 75th pick, also became a head coach; he coached the Phoenix Suns for one season.

Key

Position	Guard	Forward	Center

Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Nationality	Team	School/club team
1	1	+	G/F	United States	New York Knicks	Michigan
1	2	^	G	United States	Detroit Pistons	Syracuse
1	3	+	F/C	United States	San Francisco Warriors	Vanderbilt
1	4	^	G/F	United States	St. Louis Hawks	Minnesota
1	5	+	G/F	United States	Baltimore Bullets	Duke
1	6		C	United States	Cincinnati Royals	Kansas
1	7		F	United States	Los Angeles Lakers	Utah
1	8		G/F	United States	Boston Celtics	Oregon
1	9		G/F	United States	Philadelphia 76ers	Saint Joseph's
1	10		G	United States	Chicago Bulls	Purdue
2	11		F/C	United States	New York Knicks	Morehead State (Jr.)
2	12		F/C	United States	Detroit Pistons	Detroit
2	13		G/F	United States	San Francisco Warriors	San Francisco
2	14		G/F	United States	St. Louis Hawks	Davidson
2	15		F/C	United States	Baltimore Bullets	Creighton
2	16	#	G	United States	Cincinnati Royals	Oklahoma City
2	17		C	United States	Los Angeles Lakers	Dayton
2	18	#	F	United States	Boston Celtics	Wyoming
2	19		G	United States	Philadelphia 76ers	Villanova
2	20		F/C	United States	Chicago Bulls	San Francisco

Other picks

The following list includes other draft picks who have appeared in at least one NBA game.

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Nationality	Team	School/club team
3	24		G	United States	St. Louis Hawks	Kentucky
3	26		F	United States	Cincinnati Royals	Oklahoma City
3	27	+	F/C	United States	Los Angeles Lakers	USC
3	29		G	United States	Philadelphia 76ers	Illinois
4	37	*	G	United States	Los Angeles Lakers	Minnesota
4	38		G	United States	Boston Celtics	Boston College
4	39		F	United States	Philadelphia 76ers	Central State
8	69		F	United States	New York Knicks	Army
8	73		G	United States	Baltimore Bullets	Cincinnati
8	75		G/F	United States	Los Angeles Lakers	Virginia Tech
9	78		F	United States	New York Knicks	Akron
10	88		G	United States	Cincinnati Royals	Arizona State
11	94		G/F	United States	Baltimore Bullets	NYU
12	98		G	United States	New York Knicks	Rochester
15	106		G	United States	St. Louis Hawks	Wake Forest

Notable undrafted players

These players were not selected in the 1966 draft but played at least one game in the NBA.

Pos.	Nationality	School/club team
F	United States	Hillsdale
F	United States	New Mexico Highlands
F	United States	Arizona State
F	United States	Tennessee

References

;General

;Specific

References

Bradley, Robert D.. (2013). "The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts". Scarecrow Press.
"Evolution of the Draft and Lottery". Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
Dengate, Jeff. (May 16, 2007). "Let the Ping-Pong Balls Fall". Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
Bradley, Robert D.. (2013). "The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts". Scarecrow Press.
"Rookie of the Year". Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
"The NBA's 50 Greatest Players". Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
"Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees". basketball-reference.com.
"Dave Bing Bio". Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
(May 6, 2009). "NBA great Dave Bing elected as Detroit mayor". USA Today.
"Cazzie Russell Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
"Lou Hudson Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
"Archie Clark Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
"Clyde Lee Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
"Jack Marin Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
"John Block Statistics". basketball-reference.com.
Tomasson, Chris. (June 3, 2009). "Younger Walton takes third shot at father-son champion club". USA Today.
"Matt Guokas Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com.
"John Wetzel Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com.
"1966 NBA Draft - Basketball-Reference.com".
"NBA Past Drafts - RealGM".

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