1966 NBA draft explained

1966 NBA draft
Sport:Basketball
Date:May 11, 1966 (Rounds 1–8)
May 12, 1966 (Rounds 9–19)
Location:New York City, New York
League:NBA
Overall:112
Rounds:19
First:Cazzie Russell, New York Knicks
Prev:1965
Next:1967

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 replaced 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.

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.[3]

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.[4] 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.[5] [6] He was selected to three All-NBA Teams and seven All-Star Games.[7] He became a politician after ending his playing career and won the election to become the mayor of Detroit in 2009.[8]

Russell won the NBA championship with the New York Knicks 1970. He later was named to the All-Star Game in 1972.[9] 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.[10] [11] 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.[12] [13] [14] 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.[15] 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.[16] John Wetzel, the 75th pick, also became a head coach; he coached the Phoenix Suns for one season.[17]

Key

Pos.GFC
PositionGuardForwardCenter

Draft

RoundPickPlayerPos.NationalityTeamSchool/club team
11+G/FNew York KnicksMichigan
12^GDetroit PistonsSyracuse
13+ F/CSan Francisco WarriorsVanderbilt
14^G/FSt. Louis HawksMinnesota
15+ G/FBaltimore BulletsDuke
16CCincinnati RoyalsKansas
17FLos Angeles LakersUtah
18G/FBoston CelticsOregon
19G/FPhiladelphia 76ersSaint Joseph's
110GChicago BullsPurdue
211F/CNew York Knicks
212F/CDetroit PistonsDetroit
213G/FSan Francisco WarriorsSan Francisco
214G/FSt. Louis HawksDavidson
215F/CBaltimore BulletsCreighton
216GCincinnati RoyalsOklahoma City
217CLos Angeles LakersDayton
218FBoston CelticsWyoming
219GPhiladelphia 76ersVillanova
220F/CChicago BullsSan Francisco

Other picks

The following list includes other draft picks who have appeared in at least one NBA game.[18] [19]

RoundPickPlayerPos.NationalityTeamSchool/club team
324GSt. Louis HawksKentucky
326FCincinnati RoyalsOklahoma City
327+F/CLos Angeles LakersUSC
329GPhiladelphia 76ersIllinois
437GLos Angeles LakersMinnesota
438GBoston CelticsBoston College
439FPhiladelphia 76ersCentral State
869FNew York KnicksArmy
873GBaltimore BulletsCincinnati
875G/FLos Angeles LakersVirginia Tech
978FNew York KnicksAkron
1088GCincinnati RoyalsArizona State
1194G/FBaltimore BulletsNYU
1298GNew York KnicksRochester
15106GSt. Louis HawksWake Forest

Notable undrafted players

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

PlayerPos.NationalitySchool/club team
FHillsdale
FNew Mexico Highlands
FArizona State
FTennessee

Early entrants

Other eligible players

Player class=unsortableNote !class=unsortableRef.
Henry AkinLeft Morehead State in 1965; did not play during 1965–66 and had committed to play for William Carey Crusaders in 1966–67 [20]

See also

References

General
Specific

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Evolution of the Draft and Lottery. March 10, 2010. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. https://web.archive.org/web/20100321141751/http://www.nba.com/history/draft_evolution.html. 21 March 2010. dead.
  2. Web site: Let the Ping-Pong Balls Fall. Dengate. Jeff. May 16, 2007. March 10, 2010. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. https://web.archive.org/web/20100321160835/http://www.nba.com/features/inside_lottery_050524.html. 21 March 2010. dead.
  3. Book: Bradley, Robert D.. The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts. 101. 2013. Scarecrow Press. 9780810890695 . January 29, 2022.
  4. Web site: Rookie of the Year. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. March 10, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090307081705/http://www.nba.com/history/awards_rookieofyear.html. 7 March 2009. dead.
  5. Web site: The NBA's 50 Greatest Players. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100405004357/http://www.nba.com/history/50greatest.html. 5 April 2010. dead.
  6. Web site: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees. basketball-reference.com. March 10, 2010.
  7. Web site: Dave Bing Bio. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. March 17, 2009.
  8. Web site: NBA great Dave Bing elected as Detroit mayor. May 6, 2009. March 10, 2010. USA Today.
  9. Web site: Cazzie Russell Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 12, 2010.
  10. Web site: Lou Hudson Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 12, 2010.
  11. Web site: Archie Clark Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 12, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100504100146/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/clarkar01.html. 4 May 2010 . live.
  12. Web site: Clyde Lee Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 12, 2010.
  13. Web site: Jack Marin Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 12, 2010.
  14. Web site: John Block Statistics. basketball-reference.com. April 12, 2010.
  15. Web site: Younger Walton takes third shot at father-son champion club . Chris. Tomasson. June 3, 2009. USA Today. April 12, 2010.
  16. Web site: Matt Guokas Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. April 12, 2010.
  17. Web site: John Wetzel Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. May 18, 2010.
  18. Web site: 1966 NBA Draft - Basketball-Reference.com. Basketball-Reference.com.
  19. Web site: NBA Past Drafts - RealGM. basketball.realgm.com.
  20. Web site: Dondero . Tony . A Seattle SuperSonics' original: Henry Akin . Herald Net . November 30, 2023 . July 24, 2008.