1966 NBA draft

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.^[1] 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.^[2] 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.

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.^[3] 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.^[4][5] He was selected to three All-NBA Teams and seven All-Star Games.^[6] He became a politician after ending his playing career and won the election to become the mayor of Detroit in 2009.^[7]

Russell won the NBA championship with the New York Knicks 1970. He later was named to the All-Star Game in 1972.^[8] 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.^[9][10] 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.^[11][12][13] 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.^[14] 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.^[15] John Wetzel, the 75th pick, also became a head coach; he coached the Phoenix Suns for one season.^[16]

Key

Draft

Dave Bing was selected second overall by the Detroit Pistons.

Jim Barnett was selected eighth overall by the Boston Celtics.

Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Nationality	Team	School/club team
1	1	Russell, CazzieCazzie Russell+	G/F	United States	New York Knicks	Michigan
1	2	Bing, DaveDave Bing^	G	United States	Detroit Pistons	Syracuse
1	3	Lee, ClydeClyde Lee+	F/C	United States	San Francisco Warriors	Vanderbilt
1	4	Hudson, LouLou Hudson*	G/F	United States	St. Louis Hawks	Minnesota
1	5	Marin, JackJack Marin+	G/F	United States	Baltimore Bullets	Duke
1	6	Wesley, WaltWalt Wesley	C	United States	Cincinnati Royals	Kansas
1	7	Chambers, JerryJerry Chambers	F	United States	Los Angeles Lakers	Utah
1	8	Barnett, JimJim Barnett	G/F	United States	Boston Celtics	Oregon
1	9	Guokas, MattMatt Guokas	G/F	United States	Philadelphia 76ers	Saint Joseph's
1	10	Schellhase, DaveDave Schellhase	G	United States	Chicago Bulls	Purdue
2	11	Akin, HenryHenry Akin	F/C	United States	New York Knicks	Morehead State[17]
2	12	Murrey, DorieDorie Murrey	F/C	United States	Detroit Pistons	Detroit
2	13	Ellis, JoeJoe Ellis	G/F	United States	San Francisco Warriors	San Francisco
2	14	Snyder, DickDick Snyder	G/F	United States	St. Louis Hawks	Davidson
2	15	Johnson, NeilNeil Johnson	F/C	United States	Baltimore Bullets	Creighton
2	16	Wells, Jerry LeeJerry Lee Wells#	G	United States	Cincinnati Royals	Oklahoma City
2	17	Finkel, HankHank Finkel	C	United States	Los Angeles Lakers	Dayton
2	18	Clark, LeonLeon Clark#	F	United States	Boston Celtics	Wyoming
2	19	Melchionni, BillBill Melchionni	G	United States	Philadelphia 76ers	Villanova
2	20	Mueller, ErwinErwin Mueller	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	Kron, TommyTommy Kron	G	United States	St. Louis Hawks	Kentucky
3	26	Ware, JimJim Ware	F	United States	Cincinnati Royals	Oklahoma City
3	27	Block, JohnJohn Block+	F/C	United States	Los Angeles Lakers	USC
3	29	Freeman, DonnieDonnie Freeman	G	United States	Philadelphia 76ers	Illinois
4	37	Clark, ArchieArchie Clark*	G	United States	Los Angeles Lakers	Minnesota
4	38	Austin, JohnnyJohnny Austin	G	United States	Boston Celtics	Boston College
4	39	Wilburn, KenKen Wilburn	F	United States	Philadelphia 76ers	Central State
8	69	Silliman, MikeMike Silliman	F	United States	New York Knicks	Army
8	73	West, RolandRoland West	G	United States	Baltimore Bullets	Cincinnati
8	75	Wetzel, JohnJohn Wetzel	G/F	United States	Los Angeles Lakers	Virginia Tech
9	78	Turner, BillBill Turner	F	United States	New York Knicks	Akron
10	88	Lewis, FreddieFreddie Lewis	G	United States	Cincinnati Royals	Arizona State
11	94	McKenzie, StanStan McKenzie	G/F	United States	Baltimore Bullets	NYU
12	98	Deutsch, DaveDave Deutsch	G	United States	New York Knicks	Rochester
15	106	Long, PaulPaul Long	G	United States	St. Louis Hawks	Wake Forest

References

General

Specific

External links

• NBA.com
• NBA.com: NBA Draft History