View source for 1966 NBA draft

{{short description|Basketball player selection}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox sports draft
| name        = 1966 NBA draft
| image       = 
| caption     = 
| logo        = 
| logosize    = 
| sport       = Basketball
| date        = May 11, 1966 (Rounds 1–8)<br>May 12, 1966 (Rounds 9–19)
| location    = [[Plaza Hotel]] ([[New York City, New York]])<ref>{{cite book|last=Bradley|first=Robert D.|title=The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts|year=2013|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=9780810890695}}, pg. 101</ref>
| network     = 
| league      = NBA
| teams       = 
| overall     = 112
| rounds      = 19
| first       = [[Cazzie Russell]], [[New York Knicks]]
| territorial = 
| hofnum      = {{Collapsible list
| title = 2
|1 = G [[Dave Bing]]
|2 = G [[Lou Hudson]]}}
| prev        = [[1965 NBA draft|1965]]
| next        = [[1967 NBA draft|1967]]
}}
The '''1966 NBA draft''' was the 20th annual [[NBA draft|draft]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA). The draft was held on May 11 and 12, 1966, before the [[1966–67 NBA season|1966–67 season]]. In this [[Draft (sports)|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 flipping|coin flip]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/history/draft_evolution.html|title=Evolution of the Draft and Lottery|access-date=March 10, 2010|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100321141751/http://www.nba.com/history/draft_evolution.html|archive-date=21 March 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[New York Knicks]] won the coin flip and were awarded the [[List of first overall NBA draft picks|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 [[NBA territorial pick|territorial pick]] rule.<ref name="Inside">{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/features/inside_lottery_050524.html|title=Let the Ping-Pong Balls Fall|last=Dengate|first=Jeff|date=May 16, 2007|access-date=March 10, 2010|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100321160835/http://www.nba.com/features/inside_lottery_050524.html|archive-date=21 March 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> The remaining first-round picks and the subsequent rounds were assigned to teams in reverse order of their win–loss record in the [[1965–66 NBA season|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.<ref>{{cite book|first=Robert D.|last=Bradley|title=The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts|page=101|year=2013|publisher=Scarecrow Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m99DCaqGoQ8C&dq=modern%20nba%20draft%201966%20territorial&pg=PA101|isbn=9780810890695 |access-date=January 29, 2022}}</ref>

==Draft selections and draftee career notes==
[[Cazzie Russell]] from the [[Michigan Wolverines men's basketball|University of Michigan]] was selected [[List of first overall NBA draft picks|first overall]] by the New York Knicks. [[Dave Bing]] from [[Syracuse Orange men's basketball|Syracuse University]], who went on to win the [[NBA Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year Award]] in his first season, was drafted second by the [[Detroit Pistons]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/history/awards_rookieofyear.html|title=Rookie of the Year|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc|access-date=March 10, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307081705/http://www.nba.com/history/awards_rookieofyear.html|archive-date=7 March 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/history/50greatest.html|title=The NBA's 50 Greatest Players|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc|access-date=February 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100405004357/http://www.nba.com/history/50greatest.html|archive-date=5 April 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/hof.html|title=Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=March 10, 2010}}</ref> He was selected to three [[All-NBA Team]]s and seven [[List of NBA All-Stars|All-Star Games]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/history/players/bing_bio.html|title=Dave Bing Bio|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc|access-date=March 17, 2009}}</ref> He became a politician after ending his playing career and won the [[Detroit mayoral elections, 2009|election]] to become the [[List of mayors of Detroit|mayor of Detroit]] in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/2009-05-05-Detroit_N.htm|title=NBA great Dave Bing elected as Detroit mayor|date=May 6, 2009|access-date=March 10, 2010|work=USA Today}}</ref>

Russell won the NBA championship with the New York Knicks [[1969–70 NBA season|1970]]. He later was named to the All-Star Game in [[1972 NBA All-Star Game|1972]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/russeca01.html|title=Cazzie Russell Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=April 12, 2010}}</ref> [[Lou Hudson]], the 4th pick, and [[Archie Clark (basketball)|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hudsolo01.html|title=Lou Hudson Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=April 12, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/clarkar01.html|title=Archie Clark Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=April 12, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100504100146/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/clarkar01.html| archive-date= 4 May 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> Three other players from this draft, 3rd pick [[Clyde Lee]], 5th pick [[Jack Marin]] and 27th pick [[John Block (basketball)|John Block]], have also been selected to at least one All-Star Game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/leecl01.html|title=Clyde Lee Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=April 12, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/marinja01.html|title=Jack Marin Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=April 12, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/blockjo01.html|title=John Block Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=April 12, 2010}}</ref> [[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 [[1946–47 BAA season|1947]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2009-06-02-walton_N.htm|title=Younger Walton takes third shot at father-son champion club |first=Chris|last=Tomasson|date=June 3, 2009|work=USA Today|access-date=April 12, 2010}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/guokama02c.html|title=Matt Guokas Coaching Record|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=April 12, 2010}}</ref> [[John Wetzel (basketball)|John Wetzel]], the 75th pick, also became a head coach; he coached the [[Phoenix Suns]] for one season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/wetzejo01c.html|title=John Wetzel Coaching Record|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=May 18, 2010}}</ref>

==Key==
{| class="wikitable"
|width="50"|'''Pos.'''||width="50"|G||width="50"|F||width="50"|C
|-
|[[Basketball position|Position]]||Guard||Forward||Center
|}
{{NBA Draft legend|1=y|2=y|3=y|5=y}}

==Draft==
[[File: Cazzie Russell MVP (cropped).png |upright|thumb|150px|[[Cazzie Russell]] was selected first overall by the [[New York Knicks]]]]
[[File:Dave bing pistons (cropped).JPG|upright|thumb|150px|[[Dave Bing]] was selected second overall by the [[Detroit Pistons]]]]

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! width="1%"| Round
! width="1%"| Pick
! width="19%"| Player
! width="1%"| Pos.
! width="16%"| Nationality
! width="35%"| Team
! width="20%"| School/club team
|-
| align=center|1
| align=center|1
| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| {{sortname|Cazzie|Russell}}<sup>+</sup>
| G/F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[New York Knicks]]
| [[Michigan Wolverines men's basketball|Michigan]]
|-
| align=center|1
| align=center|2
| bgcolor="#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Dave|Bing}}^
| G
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Detroit Pistons]]
| [[Syracuse Orange men's basketball|Syracuse]]
|-
| align=center|1
| align=center|3
| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| {{sortname|Clyde|Lee}}<sup>+</sup> 
| F/C
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[San Francisco Warriors]]
| [[Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball|Vanderbilt]]
|-
| align=center|1
| align=center|4
| bgcolor="#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Lou|Hudson}}^
| G/F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[St. Louis Hawks]]
| [[Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball|Minnesota]]
|-
| align=center|1
| align=center|5
| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| {{sortname|Jack|Marin}}<sup>+</sup> 
| G/F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Baltimore Bullets (1963–73)|Baltimore Bullets]]
| [[Duke Blue Devils men's basketball|Duke]]
|-
| align=center|1
| align=center|6
| {{sortname|Walt|Wesley}} 
| C
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Cincinnati Royals]]
| [[Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball|Kansas]]
|-
| align=center|1
| align=center|7
| {{sortname|Jerry|Chambers}}  
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Los Angeles Lakers]]
| [[Utah Utes men's basketball|Utah]]
|-
| align=center|1
| align=center|8
| {{sortname|Jim|Barnett|Jim Barnett (basketball)}} 
| G/F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Boston Celtics]]
| [[Oregon Ducks men's basketball|Oregon]]
|-
| align=center|1
| align=center|9
| {{sortname|Matt|Guokas}} 
| G/F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Philadelphia 76ers]]
| [[Saint Joseph's Hawks men's basketball|Saint Joseph's]]
|-
| align=center|1
| align=center|10
| {{sortname|Dave|Schellhase}} 
| G
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Chicago Bulls]]
| [[Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball|Purdue]]
|-
| align=center|2
| align=center|11
| {{sortname|Henry|Akin}} 
| F/C
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[New York Knicks]]
| [[Morehead State Eagles men's basketball|Morehead State]] {{small|([[Junior (education year)|Jr.]])}}
|-
| align=center|2
| align=center|12
| {{sortname|Dorie|Murrey}} 
| F/C
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Detroit Pistons]]
| [[Detroit Titans men's basketball|Detroit]]<!--University of Detroit Mercy was called University of Detroit until 1990.-->
|-
| align=center|2
| align=center|13
| {{sortname|Joe|Ellis|Joe Ellis (basketball)}}
| G/F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[San Francisco Warriors]]
| [[San Francisco Dons men's basketball|San Francisco]]
|-
| align=center|2
| align=center|14
| {{sortname|Dick|Snyder}}
| G/F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[St. Louis Hawks]]
| [[Davidson Wildcats men's basketball|Davidson]]
|-
| align=center|2
| align=center|15
| {{sortname|Neil|Johnson|Neil Johnson (basketball)}}
| F/C
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Baltimore Bullets (1963–73)|Baltimore Bullets]]
| [[Creighton Bluejays men's basketball|Creighton]]
|-
| align=center|2
| align=center|16
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| {{sortname|Jerry Lee|Wells}}<sup>#</sup>
| G
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Cincinnati Royals]]
| [[Oklahoma City Stars men's basketball|Oklahoma City]]
|-
| align=center|2
| align=center|17
| {{sortname|Hank|Finkel}}
| C
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Los Angeles Lakers]]
| [[Dayton Flyers men's basketball|Dayton]]
|-
| align=center|2
| align=center|18
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| {{sortname|Leon|Clark|Leon Clark (basketball)}}<sup>#</sup>
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Boston Celtics]]
| [[Wyoming Cowboys basketball|Wyoming]]
|-
| align=center|2
| align=center|19
| {{sortname|Bill|Melchionni}}
| G
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Philadelphia 76ers]]
| [[Villanova Wildcats men's basketball|Villanova]]
|-
| align=center|2
| align=center|20
| {{sortname|Erwin|Mueller}}
| F/C
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Chicago Bulls]]
| [[San Francisco Dons men's basketball|San Francisco]]
|}

==Other picks==
The following list includes other draft picks who have appeared in at least one NBA game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1966.html|title=1966 NBA Draft - Basketball-Reference.com|website=Basketball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/past_drafts/1966|title=NBA Past Drafts - RealGM|website=basketball.realgm.com}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! width="1%"| Round
! width="1%"| Pick
! width="19%"| Player
! width="1%"| Pos.
! width="16%"| Nationality
! width="35%"| Team
! width="20%"| School/club team
|-
| align=center|3
| align=center|24
| {{sortname|Tommy|Kron}}
| G
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[St. Louis Hawks]]
| [[Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball|Kentucky]]
|-
| align=center|3
| align=center|26
| {{sortname|Jim|Ware|Jim Ware (basketball)}}
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Cincinnati Royals]]
| [[Oklahoma City Stars men's basketball|Oklahoma City]]
|-
| align=center|3
| align=center|27
| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| {{sortname|John|Block|John Block (basketball)}}<sup>+</sup>
| F/C
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Los Angeles Lakers]]
| [[USC Trojans men's basketball|USC]]
|-
| align=center|3
| align=center|29
| {{sortname|Donnie|Freeman|dab=basketball, born 1944}}
| G
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Philadelphia 76ers]]
| [[Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball|Illinois]]
|-
| align=center|4
| align=center|37
| bgcolor="#FBCEB1"|{{sortname|Archie|Clark|Archie Clark (basketball)}}*
| G
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Los Angeles Lakers]]
| [[Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball|Minnesota]]
|-
| align=center|4
| align=center|38
| {{sortname|Johnny|Austin|John Austin (basketball)}}
| G
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Boston Celtics]]
| [[Boston College Eagles men's basketball|Boston College]]
|-
| align=center|4
| align=center|39
| {{sortname|Ken|Wilburn}}
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Philadelphia 76ers]]
| [[Central State University|Central State]]
|-
| align=center|8
| align=center|69
| {{sortname|Mike|Silliman}}
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[New York Knicks]]
| [[Army Black Knights men's basketball|Army]]
|-
| align=center|8
| align=center|73
| {{sortname|Roland|West|Roland West (basketball)}}
| G
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Baltimore Bullets (1963–73)|Baltimore Bullets]]
| [[Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball|Cincinnati]]
|-
| align=center|8
| align=center|75
| {{sortname|John|Wetzel|John Wetzel (basketball)}}
| G/F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Los Angeles Lakers]]
| [[Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball|Virginia Tech]]
|-
| align=center|9
| align=center|78
| {{sortname|Bill|Turner|Bill Turner (basketball)}}
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[New York Knicks]]
| [[Akron Zips men's basketball|Akron]]
|-
| align=center|10
| align=center|88
| {{sortname|Freddie|Lewis}}
| G
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Cincinnati Royals]]
| [[Arizona State Sun Devils|Arizona State]]
|-
| align=center|11
| align=center|94
| {{sortname|Stan|McKenzie|dab=basketball}}
| G/F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Baltimore Bullets (1963–73)|Baltimore Bullets]]
| [[NYU Violets|NYU]]
|-
| align=center|12
| align=center|98
| {{sortname|Dave|Deutsch}}
| G
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[New York Knicks]]
| [[University of Rochester|Rochester]]
|-
| align=center|15
| align=center|106
| {{sortname|Paul|Long}}
| G
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[St. Louis Hawks]]
| [[Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball|Wake Forest]]
|}

==Notable undrafted players==
{{further|List of undrafted NBA players}}
These players were not selected in the 1966 draft but played at least one game in the NBA.
{| class="wikitable sortable sortable"
|-
!style="width:19%;"| Player
!style="width:1%;"| Pos.
!style="width:16%;"| Nationality
!style="width:20%;"| School/club team
|-
| {{sortname|Bud|Acton}}
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Hillsdale Chargers men's basketball|Hillsdale]]
|-
| {{sortname|Bill|Dinwiddie}}
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[New Mexico Highlands Cowboys basketball|New Mexico Highlands]]
|-
| {{sortname|Dennis|Hamilton}}
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Arizona State Sun Devils men's basketball|Arizona State]]
|-
| {{sortname|Bob|Hogsett}}
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Tennessee Volunteers basketball|Tennessee]]
|}

==See also==
* [[List of first overall NBA draft picks]]


==References==
;General
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/history/draft_round1_1960s.html|title=Complete First Round Results 1960–69|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc|access-date=March 10, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100321192355/http://www.nba.com/history/draft_round1_1960s.html| archive-date= 21 March 2010 | url-status= live}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1966.html|title=1966 NBA Draft|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=March 10, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100313161822/http://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1966.html| archive-date= 13 March 2010 | url-status= live}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.apbr.org/6266drft.html|title=1962–1966 NBA Drafts|publisher=The Association for Professional Basketball Research|access-date=March 10, 2010}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.thedraftreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2590&Itemid=103|title=1966 NBA Draft|work=The Draft Review|access-date=March 10, 2010}}
{{refend}}

;Specific
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.nba.com/ NBA.com]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090315112610/http://www.nba.com/history/draft_index.html NBA.com: NBA Draft History]

{{NBA Drafts}}
{{NBA Draft history by team}}
{{1966 NBA draft}}
{{1966–67 NBA season by team}}

[[Category:1966–67 NBA season|Draft]]
[[Category:NBA draft]]
[[Category:May 1966 sports events in the United States|NBA draft]]
[[Category:1966 in sports in New York City|NBA draft]]
[[Category:Basketball in New York City]]
[[Category:Sporting events in New York City]]