1966 NBA draft


The 1966 NBA draft was the 20th annual draft of the National Basketball Association. 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 replace 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.
Beginning in 1966, the territorial selection allowed in previous drafts was eliminated.

Draft selections and draftee career notes

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

Draft

RoundPickPlayerPos.NationalityTeamSchool/club team
11+G/FUnited StatesNew York KnicksMichigan
12^GUnited StatesDetroit PistonsSyracuse
13+F/CUnited StatesSan Francisco WarriorsVanderbilt
14*G/FUnited StatesSt. Louis HawksMinnesota
15+G/FUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsDuke
16CUnited StatesCincinnati RoyalsKansas
17FUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersUtah
18G/FUnited StatesBoston CelticsOregon
19G/FUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersSaint Joseph's
110GUnited StatesChicago BullsPurdue
211F/CUnited StatesNew York KnicksMorehead State
212F/CUnited StatesDetroit PistonsDetroit
213G/FUnited StatesSan Francisco WarriorsSan Francisco
214G/FUnited StatesSt. Louis HawksDavidson
215F/CUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsCreighton
216#GUnited StatesCincinnati RoyalsOklahoma City
217CUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersDayton
218#FUnited StatesBoston CelticsWyoming
219GUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersVillanova
220F/CUnited StatesChicago BullsSan Francisco

Other picks

The following list includes other draft picks who have appeared in at least one NBA game.
RoundPickPlayerPos.NationalityTeamSchool/club team
324GUnited StatesSt. Louis HawksKentucky
326FUnited StatesCincinnati RoyalsOklahoma City
327+F/CUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersUSC
329GUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersIllinois
437*GUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersMinnesota
438GUnited StatesBoston CelticsBoston College
439FUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ersCentral State
869FUnited StatesNew York KnicksArmy
873GUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsCincinnati
875G/FUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersVirginia Tech
978FUnited StatesNew York KnicksAkron
1088GUnited StatesCincinnati RoyalsArizona State
1194G/FUnited StatesBaltimore BulletsNYU
1298GUnited StatesNew York KnicksRochester
15106GUnited StatesSt. Louis HawksWake Forest