1966–67 Cincinnati Royals season

{{short description|NBA professional basketball team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{NBA season

| team = Cincinnati Royals

| end_year = 1967

| wins = 39

| losses = 42

| division = Eastern

| division_place = 3

| coach = Jack McMahon

| owners = Louis Jacobs

| arena = Cincinnati Gardens

| television = WKRC-TV

| radio = WLW

| playoffs = Division semifinals
(lost to 76ers 1–3)

| bbr_team = CIN

}}

The 1966–67 season was the Royals 22nd overall, and their tenth in Cincinnati.[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CIN/1967.html 1966–67 Cincinnati Royals]

The season opened in the glare of their disappointing loss to Boston in the previous season's playoffs. It was considered a rebuilding season with some key roster changes. Long-time stars Jack Twyman and Wayne Embry had both retired, both unhappy with their roles on the team the previous year. Tom Hawkins had rejoined the contending Los Angeles Lakers.

Local college star Conrad 'Connie' Dierking was promoted to starting center, with promising rookie Walt Wesley his backup. First Team All-Pros Jerry Lucas and Oscar Robertson were again the focus of the team. Happy Hairston and Bobby Love saw minutes at forward next to Lucas, while Adrian Smith and Flynn Robinson saw minutes at guard next to Robertson.

Clearly rebuilding, the Royals had little hope of matching rivals Boston and Philadelphia this season, as they had a season ago. The team finished third in the NBA's Eastern Division.

Individual performances and off-court activities by Robertson and Lucas marked the season. Robertson was head of the NBA's Player Union and fought for the advancement of players' rights on a number of issues. He also posted another Hall Of Fame-caliber season as a scorer, accurate shooter, passer and free thrower. Lucas was involved in several off-court business ventures, including his own fast-food chain, Jerry Lucas Beef-N-Shakes. While injuries affected him this season, he remained one of the best rebounders in NBA history. He also continued to see time at center for the team as well as at forward. Both he and Robertson continued to play huge minutes for the team, rarely leaving the court during games.

Art Modell, head of the NFL Cleveland Browns, agreed to sponsor nine home games at the Cleveland Arena over the course of the season. The Cleveland crowds were consistently among the largest the Royals were cheered by that season.

The Royals made the playoffs for their last time while based in Cincinnati. They drew 68–13 record-setting Philadelphia as their opponent. With a victory on their own court in Game One, the Royals were then routed over the remaining games of the series to conclude their transitional season.

Roster

{{NBA roster header|team=Cincinnati Royals|season=1966–67}}

{{player2 | num = 17 | first = Len | last = Chappell | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 240 | college = Wake Forest | DOB = 1941–01–31}}

{{player2 | num = 24 | first = Connie | last = Dierking | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 222 | college = Cincinnati | DOB = 1936–10–02}}

{{player2 | num = 22 | first = Happy | last = Hairston | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 225 | college = NYU | DOB = 1942–05–31}}

{{player2 | num = 19 | first = Freddie | last = Lewis | pos = PG | ft = 6 | in = 0 | lbs = 175 | college = Arizona State | DOB = 1943–07–01}}

{{player2 | num = 21 | first = Bob | last = Love | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 215 | college = Southern | DOB = 1942–12–08}}

{{player2 | num = 16 | first = Jerry | last = Lucas | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 230 | college = Ohio State | DOB = 1940–03–30}}

{{player2 | num = 11 | first = Jon | last = McGlocklin | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 5 | lbs = 205 | college = Indiana | DOB = 1943–06–10}}

{{player2 | num = 14 | first = Oscar | last = Robertson | pos = PG | ft = 6 | in = 5 | lbs = 205 | college = Cincinnati | DOB = 1938–11–24}}

{{player2 | num = 20 | first = Flynn | last = Robinson | pos = PG | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 185 | college = Wyoming | DOB = 1941–04–28}}

{{player2 | num = 10 | first = Adrian | last = Smith | dab=basketball | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 180 | college = Kentucky | DOB = 1936–10–05}}

{{player2 | num = 18 | first = Jim | last = Ware |dab=basketball | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 210 | college = Oklahoma City | DOB = 1944–05–02}}

{{player2 | num = 13 | first = Walt | last = Wesley | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 220 | college = Kansas | DOB = 1945–01–25}}

{{player2 | num = 17 | first = George | last = Wilson |dab=basketball, born 1942| pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 225 | college = Cincinnati | DOB = 1942–05–09}}

{{NBA roster footer

| head_coach =*Jack McMahon

| asst_coach =

| roster_url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CIN/1967.html

| transaction_url =

| accessdate =

}}

Regular season

=Season standings=

{{1966–67 NBA East standings|team=CIN}}

=Record vs. opponents=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
colspan=11|1966-67 NBA Records
width=100|Team

!style="background:#002854;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|BAL

!style="background:#006400;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|BOS

!style="background:#BA0C2F;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|CHI

!style="background:#012F6B;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|CIN

!style="background:#012F6B;color:#D40032;width=35"|DET

!style="background:#004B87;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|LAL

!style="background:#003EA4;color:#FF8C00;width=35"|NYK

!style="background:#012268;color:#C60D28;width=35"|PHI

!style="background:#FFC62C;color:#012F6B;width=35"|SFW

!style="background:#69B3E6;color:#C70F2E;width=35"|STL

style="text-align:left;" | Baltimore1–83–63–62–72–72–71–82–74–5
style="text-align:left;" | Boston8–18–18–16–35–49–05–46–35–4
style="text-align:left;" | Chicago6–31–85–44–56–33–61–83–64–5
style="text-align:left;" | Cincinnati6–31–84–57–23–66–31–85–46–3
style="text-align:left;" | Detroit7–23–65–42–75–44–50–92–72–7
style="text-align:left;" | Los Angeles7–24–53–66–34–54–51–83–64–5
style="text-align:left;" | New York7–20–96–33–65–45–41–85–44–5
style="text-align:left;" | Philadelphia8–14–58–18–19–08–18–17–28–1
style="text-align:left;" | San Francisco7–23–66–34–57–26–34–52–75–4
style="text-align:left;" | St. Louis5–44–55–43–67–25–45–41–84–5

=Game log=

class="toccolours collapsible" width=50% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center"
colspan=11 style="background:#0046AD; color:white;" | 1966–67 game log
align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd"

| #

DateOpponentScoreHigh pointsRecord
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 1

October 15Detroit99–103Oscar Robertson (37)1–0
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 2

October 18@ Detroit112–114Oscar Robertson (28)1–1
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 3

October 22@ St. Louis123–133 (OT)Oscar Robertson (30)1–2
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 4

October 26@ Baltimore116–122Oscar Robertson (37)1–3
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 5

October 27St. Louis118–121Oscar Robertson (22)2–3
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 6

October 29San Francisco127–115Adrian Smith (27)2–4
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 7

November 2New York129–131Jerry Lucas (35)3–4
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 8

November 4@ Detroit120–115Oscar Robertson (36)4–4
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 9

November 5Chicago113–99Oscar Robertson (33)4–5
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 10

November 10Boston113–112 (OT)Oscar Robertson (48)4–6
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 11

November 11@ Baltimore119–104Oscar Robertson (39)5–6
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 12

November 12Philadelphia112–98Oscar Robertson (22)5–7
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 13

November 16N Los Angeles124–112Hairston, Robertson (24)5–8
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 14

November 19@ Philadelphia110–134Oscar Robertson (25)5–9
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 15

November 20Baltimore123–125Oscar Robertson (40)6–9
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 16

November 22@ New York121–118Oscar Robertson (34)7–9
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 17

November 23Philadelphia106–111Oscar Robertson (28)8–9
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 18

November 25N New York109–115Oscar Robertson (27)9–9
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 19

November 26@ Boston87–118Adrian Smith (15)9–10
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 20

November 30New York119–115Oscar Robertson (26)9–11
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 21

December 3Los Angeles130–118Adrian Smith (28)9–12
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 22

December 7@ Boston91–119Flynn Robinson (22)9–13
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 23

December 9Boston117–99Oscar Robertson (22)9–14
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 24

December 10@ San Francisco120–123 (OT)Dierking, Love (26)9–15
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 25

December 11@ Los Angeles118–119Oscar Robertson (33)9–16
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 26

December 13@ San Francisco126–112Oscar Robertson (36)10–16
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 27

December 14@ Los Angeles126–124Jerry Lucas (29)11–16
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 28

December 16N Chicago120–128Oscar Robertson (23)11–17
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 29

December 18Baltimore114–138Happy Hairston (30)12–17
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 30

December 25San Francisco124–112Oscar Robertson (38)12–18
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 31

December 26@ Philadelphia118–134Hairston, Robertson (24)12–19
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 32

December 27Detroit123–131Oscar Robertson (33)13–19
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 33

December 29Los Angeles125–114Oscar Robertson (30)13–20
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 34

December 30N San Francisco107–102Oscar Robertson (25)13–21
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 35

December 31@ New York103–107Oscar Robertson (32)13–22
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 36

January 3@ Chicago111–116Oscar Robertson (40)13–23
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 37

January 7Chicago112–125Oscar Robertson (43)14–23
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 38

January 8@ Baltimore126–94Happy Hairston (22)15–23
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 39

January 11@ Chicago106–102Oscar Robertson (36)16–23
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 40

January 13N Los Angeles115–125Oscar Robertson (41)17–23
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 41

January 14St. Louis105–116Oscar Robertson (27)18–23
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 42

January 18Boston119–106Oscar Robertson (36)18–24
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 43

January 19@ Baltimore118–122Oscar Robertson (36)18–25
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 44

January 21Detroit108–122Oscar Robertson (35)19–25
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 45

January 24@ New York126–118Oscar Robertson (37)20–25
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 46

January 25New York125–132Oscar Robertson (37)21–25
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 47

January 26N Detroit118–110Oscar Robertson (35)21–26
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 48

January 27@ Philadelphia107–110Oscar Robertson (39)21–27
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 49

January 28St. Louis112–113Oscar Robertson (30)22–27
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 50

January 29San Francisco118–121Oscar Robertson (35)23–27
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 51

February 2N Baltimore131–125Adrian Smith (29)24–27
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 52

February 3@ Chicago113–118Oscar Robertson (35)24–28
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 53

February 4@ Baltimore99–109Oscar Robertson (34)24–29
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 54

February 5@ Boston121–137Lucas, McGlocklin, Smith (19)24–30
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 55

February 7N Boston123–138Oscar Robertson (35)24–31
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 56

February 8Philadelphia118–106Jerry Lucas (25)24–32
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 57

February 10Detroit104–133Oscar Robertson (28)25–32
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 58

February 11@ Detroit132–117Jerry Lucas (31)26–32
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 59

February 12@ St. Louis115–118Oscar Robertson (36)26–33
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 60

February 13@ Philadelphia123–131Jerry Lucas (29)26–34
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 61

February 15New York118–127Oscar Robertson (46)27–34
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 62

February 16N Detroit110–122Oscar Robertson (34)28–34
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 63

February 17N Philadelphia127–118Oscar Robertson (27)28–35
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 64

February 18@ New York123–124Happy Hairston (33)28–36
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 65

February 20N St. Louis104–112Oscar Robertson (36)29–36
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 66

February 22@ Los Angeles102–103Flynn Robinson (29)29–37
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 67

February 24@ San Francisco137–122Oscar Robertson (35)30–37
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 68

February 25@ San Francisco129–116Oscar Robertson (36)31–37
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 69

February 26@ Los Angeles127–141Oscar Robertson (40)31–38
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 70

February 28N Philadelphia127–107Oscar Robertson (24)31–39
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 71

March 1Los Angeles116–122Oscar Robertson (25)32–39
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 72

March 3@ Boston104–111Oscar Robertson (26)32–40
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 73

March 4Baltimore102–109Oscar Robertson (43)33–40
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 74

March 5@ Chicago106–113Oscar Robertson (37)33–41
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 75

March 6N St. Louis122–129Oscar Robertson (27)34–41
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 76

March 11Chicago119–147Happy Hairston (30)35–41
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 77

March 12@ St. Louis119–120Oscar Robertson (30)35–42
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 78

March 13@ Chicago133–117Oscar Robertson (43)36–42
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 79

March 15Boston108–112Oscar Robertson (31)37–42
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 80

March 16N St. Louis111–114Oscar Robertson (32)38–42
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 81

March 18San Francisco112–127Adrian Smith (23)39–42

Playoffs

{{NBA game log start|Cincinnati Royals|end_year=1967|playoffs=yes}}

{{NBA game log section|Cincinnati Royals|Division semifinals|playoffs=yes|first=yes|show=no

| home_wins = 0

| home_losses = 2

| road_wins = 1

| road_losses = 1

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 1

| March 21

| @ Philadelphia

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196703210PHI.html W 120–116]

| Oscar Robertson (33)

| Dierking, Lucas (18)

| Oscar Robertson (16)

| Philadelphia Convention Hall
5,097

| 1–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 2

| March 22

| Philadelphia

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196703220CIN.html L 102–123]

| Oscar Robertson (29)

| Connie Dierking (17)

| Oscar Robertson (9)

| Cincinnati Gardens
5,276

| 1–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 3

| March 24

| @ Philadelphia

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196703240PHI.html L 106–121]

| Oscar Robertson (25)

| Jerry Lucas (23)

| Oscar Robertson (13)

| Philadelphia Convention Hall
8,987

| 1–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 4

| March 25

| Philadelphia

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196703250CIN.html L 94–112]

| Happy Hairston (26)

| Jerry Lucas (25)

| Oscar Robertson (7)

| Cincinnati Gardens
2,624

| 1–3

|-

{{NBA game log end|bbr_team=CIN|playoffs=yes|end_year=1967}}

Player statistics

{{NBA roster statistics legend}}

=Season=

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%"
style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="10%" | Player

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | GP

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | GS

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | MPG

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | FG%

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | 3FG%

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | FT%

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | RPG

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | APG

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | SPG

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | BPG

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | PPG

{{sort|Chappell, Len|Len Chappell}}

|

{{sort|Dierking, Connie|Connie Dierking}}

|

{{sort|Hairston, Happy|Happy Hairston}}

|

{{sort|Lewis, Freddie|Freddie Lewis}}

|

{{sort|Love, Bob|Bob Love}}

|

{{sort|Lucas, Jerry|Jerry Lucas}}

|

{{sort|McGlocklin, Jon|Jon McGlocklin}}

|

{{sort|Robertson, Oscar|Oscar Robertson}}

|

{{sort|Robinson, Flynn|Flynn Robinson}}

|

{{sort|Smith, Adrian|Adrian Smith}}

|

{{sort|Ware, Jim|Jim Ware}}

|

{{sort|Wesley, Walt|Walt Wesley}}

|

{{sort|Wilson, George|George Wilson}}

|

=Playoffs=

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%"
style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="10%" | Player

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | GP

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | GS

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | MPG

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | FG%

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | 3FG%

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | FT%

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | RPG

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | APG

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | SPG

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | BPG

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | PPG

{{sort|Chappell, Len|Len Chappell}}

|

{{sort|Dierking, Connie|Connie Dierking}}

|

{{sort|Hairston, Happy|Happy Hairston}}

|

{{sort|Lewis, Freddie|Freddie Lewis}}

|

{{sort|Lucas, Jerry|Jerry Lucas}}

|

{{sort|Robertson, Oscar|Oscar Robertson}}

|

{{sort|Robinson, Flynn|Flynn Robinson}}

|

{{sort|Smith, Adrian|Adrian Smith}}

|

{{sort|Ware, Jim|Jim Ware}}

|

{{sort|Wesley, Walt|Walt Wesley}}

|

Awards and records

References

{{reflist}}

{{1966–67 NBA season by team}}

{{Cincinnati Royals seasons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1966-67 Cincinnati Royals season}}

Category:Sacramento Kings seasons

Cincinnati

Cincinnati

Cincinnati