1966–67 Cincinnati Royals season

The 1966–67 season was the Royals 22nd overall, and their tenth in Cincinnati.[1]

1966–67 Cincinnati Royals season
Head coachJack McMahon
OwnersLouis Jacobs
ArenaCincinnati Gardens
Results
Record39–42 (.481)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finishDivision semifinals
(lost to 76ers 1–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWKRC-TV
RadioWLW

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
1966–67 Cincinnati Royals roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
C 17 Chappell, Len 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1941–01–31 Wake Forest
C 24 Dierking, Connie 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 222 lb (101 kg) 1936–10–02 Cincinnati
SF 22 Hairston, Happy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1942–05–31 NYU
PG 19 Lewis, Freddie 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1943–07–01 Arizona State
PF 21 Love, Bob 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1942–12–08 Southern
PF 16 Lucas, Jerry 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1940–03–30 Ohio State
SF 11 McGlocklin, Jon 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1943–06–10 Indiana
PG 14 Robertson, Oscar 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1938–11–24 Cincinnati
PG 20 Robinson, Flynn 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1941–04–28 Wyoming
SG 10 Smith, Adrian 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1936–10–05 Kentucky
PF 18 Ware, Jim 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1944–05–02 Oklahoma City
C 13 Wesley, Walt 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1945–01–25 Kansas
C 17 Wilson, George 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1942–05–09 Cincinnati
Head coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster

Regular season

Season standings
Eastern Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
x-Philadelphia 76ers 6813.840–28–226–814–328–8
x-Boston Celtics 6021.741827–425–118–630–6
x-Cincinnati Royals 3942.4812920–1112–247–714–22
x-New York Knicks 3645.4443220–159–247–611–25
Baltimore Bullets 2061.2474812–203–305–117–29

Record vs. opponents
1966-67 NBA Records
Team BAL BOS CHI CIN DET LAL NYK PHI SFW STL
Baltimore —1–83–63–62–72–72–71–82–74–5
Boston 8–1—8–18–16–35–49–05–46–35–4
Chicago 6–31–8—5–44–56–33–61–83–64–5
Cincinnati 6–31–84–5—7–23–66–31–85–46–3
Detroit 7–23–65–42–7—5–44–50–92–72–7
Los Angeles 7–24–53–66–34–5—4–51–83–64–5
New York 7–20–96–33–65–45–4—1–85–44–5
Philadelphia 8–14–58–18–19–08–18–1—7–28–1
San Francisco 7–23–66–34–57–26–34–52–7—5–4
St. Louis 5–44–55–43–67–25–45–41–84–5—

Game log
1966–67 game log
#DateOpponentScoreHigh pointsRecord
1October 15Detroit99–103Oscar Robertson (37)1–0
2October 18@ Detroit112–114Oscar Robertson (28)1–1
3October 22@ St. Louis123–133 (OT)Oscar Robertson (30)1–2
4October 26@ Baltimore116–122Oscar Robertson (37)1–3
5October 27St. Louis118–121Oscar Robertson (22)2–3
6October 29San Francisco127–115Adrian Smith (27)2–4
7November 2New York129–131Jerry Lucas (35)3–4
8November 4@ Detroit120–115Oscar Robertson (36)4–4
9November 5Chicago113–99Oscar Robertson (33)4–5
10November 10Boston113–112 (OT)Oscar Robertson (48)4–6
11November 11@ Baltimore119–104Oscar Robertson (39)5–6
12November 12Philadelphia112–98Oscar Robertson (22)5–7
13November 16N Los Angeles124–112Hairston, Robertson (24)5–8
14November 19@ Philadelphia110–134Oscar Robertson (25)5–9
15November 20Baltimore123–125Oscar Robertson (40)6–9
16November 22@ New York121–118Oscar Robertson (34)7–9
17November 23Philadelphia106–111Oscar Robertson (28)8–9
18November 25N New York109–115Oscar Robertson (27)9–9
19November 26@ Boston87–118Adrian Smith (15)9–10
20November 30New York119–115Oscar Robertson (26)9–11
21December 3Los Angeles130–118Adrian Smith (28)9–12
22December 7@ Boston91–119Flynn Robinson (22)9–13
23December 9Boston117–99Oscar Robertson (22)9–14
24December 10@ San Francisco120–123 (OT)Dierking, Love (26)9–15
25December 11@ Los Angeles118–119Oscar Robertson (33)9–16
26December 13@ San Francisco126–112Oscar Robertson (36)10–16
27December 14@ Los Angeles126–124Jerry Lucas (29)11–16
28December 16N Chicago120–128Oscar Robertson (23)11–17
29December 18Baltimore114–138Happy Hairston (30)12–17
30December 25San Francisco124–112Oscar Robertson (38)12–18
31December 26@ Philadelphia118–134Hairston, Robertson (24)12–19
32December 27Detroit123–131Oscar Robertson (33)13–19
33December 29Los Angeles125–114Oscar Robertson (30)13–20
34December 30N San Francisco107–102Oscar Robertson (25)13–21
35December 31@ New York103–107Oscar Robertson (32)13–22
36January 3@ Chicago111–116Oscar Robertson (40)13–23
37January 7Chicago112–125Oscar Robertson (43)14–23
38January 8@ Baltimore126–94Happy Hairston (22)15–23
39January 11@ Chicago106–102Oscar Robertson (36)16–23
40January 13N Los Angeles115–125Oscar Robertson (41)17–23
41January 14St. Louis105–116Oscar Robertson (27)18–23
42January 18Boston119–106Oscar Robertson (36)18–24
43January 19@ Baltimore118–122Oscar Robertson (36)18–25
44January 21Detroit108–122Oscar Robertson (35)19–25
45January 24@ New York126–118Oscar Robertson (37)20–25
46January 25New York125–132Oscar Robertson (37)21–25
47January 26N Detroit118–110Oscar Robertson (35)21–26
48January 27@ Philadelphia107–110Oscar Robertson (39)21–27
49January 28St. Louis112–113Oscar Robertson (30)22–27
50January 29San Francisco118–121Oscar Robertson (35)23–27
51February 2N Baltimore131–125Adrian Smith (29)24–27
52February 3@ Chicago113–118Oscar Robertson (35)24–28
53February 4@ Baltimore99–109Oscar Robertson (34)24–29
54February 5@ Boston121–137Lucas, McGlocklin, Smith (19)24–30
55February 7N Boston123–138Oscar Robertson (35)24–31
56February 8Philadelphia118–106Jerry Lucas (25)24–32
57February 10Detroit104–133Oscar Robertson (28)25–32
58February 11@ Detroit132–117Jerry Lucas (31)26–32
59February 12@ St. Louis115–118Oscar Robertson (36)26–33
60February 13@ Philadelphia123–131Jerry Lucas (29)26–34
61February 15New York118–127Oscar Robertson (46)27–34
62February 16N Detroit110–122Oscar Robertson (34)28–34
63February 17N Philadelphia127–118Oscar Robertson (27)28–35
64February 18@ New York123–124Happy Hairston (33)28–36
65February 20N St. Louis104–112Oscar Robertson (36)29–36
66February 22@ Los Angeles102–103Flynn Robinson (29)29–37
67February 24@ San Francisco137–122Oscar Robertson (35)30–37
68February 25@ San Francisco129–116Oscar Robertson (36)31–37
69February 26@ Los Angeles127–141Oscar Robertson (40)31–38
70February 28N Philadelphia127–107Oscar Robertson (24)31–39
71March 1Los Angeles116–122Oscar Robertson (25)32–39
72March 3@ Boston104–111Oscar Robertson (26)32–40
73March 4Baltimore102–109Oscar Robertson (43)33–40
74March 5@ Chicago106–113Oscar Robertson (37)33–41
75March 6N St. Louis122–129Oscar Robertson (27)34–41
76March 11Chicago119–147Happy Hairston (30)35–41
77March 12@ St. Louis119–120Oscar Robertson (30)35–42
78March 13@ Chicago133–117Oscar Robertson (43)36–42
79March 15Boston108–112Oscar Robertson (31)37–42
80March 16N St. Louis111–114Oscar Robertson (32)38–42
81March 18San Francisco112–127Adrian Smith (23)39–42

Playoffs
1967 playoff game log
Division semifinals: 1–3 (home: 0–2; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 March 21 @ Philadelphia W 120–116 Oscar Robertson (33) Dierking, Lucas (18) Oscar Robertson (16) Philadelphia Convention Hall
5,097		 1–0
2 March 22 Philadelphia L 102–123 Oscar Robertson (29) Connie Dierking (17) Oscar Robertson (9) Cincinnati Gardens
5,276		 1–1
3 March 24 @ Philadelphia L 106–121 Oscar Robertson (25) Jerry Lucas (23) Oscar Robertson (13) Philadelphia Convention Hall
8,987		 1–2
4 March 25 Philadelphia L 94–112 Happy Hairston (26) Jerry Lucas (25) Oscar Robertson (7) Cincinnati Gardens
2,624		 1–3
1967 schedule

Player statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Len Chappell
Connie Dierking
Happy Hairston
Freddie Lewis
Bob Love
Jerry Lucas
Jon McGlocklin
Oscar Robertson
Flynn Robinson
Adrian Smith
Jim Ware
Walt Wesley
George Wilson

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Len Chappell
Connie Dierking
Happy Hairston
Freddie Lewis
Jerry Lucas
Oscar Robertson
Flynn Robinson
Adrian Smith
Jim Ware
Walt Wesley

Awards and records

References
  1. 1966–67 Cincinnati Royals
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