1966–67 Cincinnati Royals season

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

1966–67 Cincinnati Royals season
Head coach	Jack McMahon
Owners	Louis Jacobs
Arena	Cincinnati Gardens
Results
Record	39–42 (.481)
Place	Division: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Division semifinals (lost to 76ers 1–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	WKRC-TV
Radio	WLW

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. Name Height Weight DOB From 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 Jack McMahon Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Eastern Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Neutral	Div
x-Philadelphia 76ers	68	13	.840	–	28–2	26–8	14–3	28–8
x-Boston Celtics	60	21	.741	8	27–4	25–11	8–6	30–6
x-Cincinnati Royals	39	42	.481	29	20–11	12–24	7–7	14–22
x-New York Knicks	36	45	.444	32	20–15	9–24	7–6	11–25
Baltimore Bullets	20	61	.247	48	12–20	3–30	5–11	7–29

Record vs. opponents

1966-67 NBA Records
Team	BAL	BOS	CHI	CIN	DET	LAL	NYK	PHI	SFW	STL
Baltimore	—	1–8	3–6	3–6	2–7	2–7	2–7	1–8	2–7	4–5
Boston	8–1	—	8–1	8–1	6–3	5–4	9–0	5–4	6–3	5–4
Chicago	6–3	1–8	—	5–4	4–5	6–3	3–6	1–8	3–6	4–5
Cincinnati	6–3	1–8	4–5	—	7–2	3–6	6–3	1–8	5–4	6–3
Detroit	7–2	3–6	5–4	2–7	—	5–4	4–5	0–9	2–7	2–7
Los Angeles	7–2	4–5	3–6	6–3	4–5	—	4–5	1–8	3–6	4–5
New York	7–2	0–9	6–3	3–6	5–4	5–4	—	1–8	5–4	4–5
Philadelphia	8–1	4–5	8–1	8–1	9–0	8–1	8–1	—	7–2	8–1
San Francisco	7–2	3–6	6–3	4–5	7–2	6–3	4–5	2–7	—	5–4
St. Louis	5–4	4–5	5–4	3–6	7–2	5–4	5–4	1–8	4–5	—

Game log

1966–67 game log
#	Date	Opponent	Score	High points	Record
1	October 15	Detroit	99–103	Oscar Robertson (37)	1–0
2	October 18	@ Detroit	112–114	Oscar Robertson (28)	1–1
3	October 22	@ St. Louis	123–133 (OT)	Oscar Robertson (30)	1–2
4	October 26	@ Baltimore	116–122	Oscar Robertson (37)	1–3
5	October 27	St. Louis	118–121	Oscar Robertson (22)	2–3
6	October 29	San Francisco	127–115	Adrian Smith (27)	2–4
7	November 2	New York	129–131	Jerry Lucas (35)	3–4
8	November 4	@ Detroit	120–115	Oscar Robertson (36)	4–4
9	November 5	Chicago	113–99	Oscar Robertson (33)	4–5
10	November 10	Boston	113–112 (OT)	Oscar Robertson (48)	4–6
11	November 11	@ Baltimore	119–104	Oscar Robertson (39)	5–6
12	November 12	Philadelphia	112–98	Oscar Robertson (22)	5–7
13	November 16	N Los Angeles	124–112	Hairston, Robertson (24)	5–8
14	November 19	@ Philadelphia	110–134	Oscar Robertson (25)	5–9
15	November 20	Baltimore	123–125	Oscar Robertson (40)	6–9
16	November 22	@ New York	121–118	Oscar Robertson (34)	7–9
17	November 23	Philadelphia	106–111	Oscar Robertson (28)	8–9
18	November 25	N New York	109–115	Oscar Robertson (27)	9–9
19	November 26	@ Boston	87–118	Adrian Smith (15)	9–10
20	November 30	New York	119–115	Oscar Robertson (26)	9–11
21	December 3	Los Angeles	130–118	Adrian Smith (28)	9–12
22	December 7	@ Boston	91–119	Flynn Robinson (22)	9–13
23	December 9	Boston	117–99	Oscar Robertson (22)	9–14
24	December 10	@ San Francisco	120–123 (OT)	Dierking, Love (26)	9–15
25	December 11	@ Los Angeles	118–119	Oscar Robertson (33)	9–16
26	December 13	@ San Francisco	126–112	Oscar Robertson (36)	10–16
27	December 14	@ Los Angeles	126–124	Jerry Lucas (29)	11–16
28	December 16	N Chicago	120–128	Oscar Robertson (23)	11–17
29	December 18	Baltimore	114–138	Happy Hairston (30)	12–17
30	December 25	San Francisco	124–112	Oscar Robertson (38)	12–18
31	December 26	@ Philadelphia	118–134	Hairston, Robertson (24)	12–19
32	December 27	Detroit	123–131	Oscar Robertson (33)	13–19
33	December 29	Los Angeles	125–114	Oscar Robertson (30)	13–20
34	December 30	N San Francisco	107–102	Oscar Robertson (25)	13–21
35	December 31	@ New York	103–107	Oscar Robertson (32)	13–22
36	January 3	@ Chicago	111–116	Oscar Robertson (40)	13–23
37	January 7	Chicago	112–125	Oscar Robertson (43)	14–23
38	January 8	@ Baltimore	126–94	Happy Hairston (22)	15–23
39	January 11	@ Chicago	106–102	Oscar Robertson (36)	16–23
40	January 13	N Los Angeles	115–125	Oscar Robertson (41)	17–23
41	January 14	St. Louis	105–116	Oscar Robertson (27)	18–23
42	January 18	Boston	119–106	Oscar Robertson (36)	18–24
43	January 19	@ Baltimore	118–122	Oscar Robertson (36)	18–25
44	January 21	Detroit	108–122	Oscar Robertson (35)	19–25
45	January 24	@ New York	126–118	Oscar Robertson (37)	20–25
46	January 25	New York	125–132	Oscar Robertson (37)	21–25
47	January 26	N Detroit	118–110	Oscar Robertson (35)	21–26
48	January 27	@ Philadelphia	107–110	Oscar Robertson (39)	21–27
49	January 28	St. Louis	112–113	Oscar Robertson (30)	22–27
50	January 29	San Francisco	118–121	Oscar Robertson (35)	23–27
51	February 2	N Baltimore	131–125	Adrian Smith (29)	24–27
52	February 3	@ Chicago	113–118	Oscar Robertson (35)	24–28
53	February 4	@ Baltimore	99–109	Oscar Robertson (34)	24–29
54	February 5	@ Boston	121–137	Lucas, McGlocklin, Smith (19)	24–30
55	February 7	N Boston	123–138	Oscar Robertson (35)	24–31
56	February 8	Philadelphia	118–106	Jerry Lucas (25)	24–32
57	February 10	Detroit	104–133	Oscar Robertson (28)	25–32
58	February 11	@ Detroit	132–117	Jerry Lucas (31)	26–32
59	February 12	@ St. Louis	115–118	Oscar Robertson (36)	26–33
60	February 13	@ Philadelphia	123–131	Jerry Lucas (29)	26–34
61	February 15	New York	118–127	Oscar Robertson (46)	27–34
62	February 16	N Detroit	110–122	Oscar Robertson (34)	28–34
63	February 17	N Philadelphia	127–118	Oscar Robertson (27)	28–35
64	February 18	@ New York	123–124	Happy Hairston (33)	28–36
65	February 20	N St. Louis	104–112	Oscar Robertson (36)	29–36
66	February 22	@ Los Angeles	102–103	Flynn Robinson (29)	29–37
67	February 24	@ San Francisco	137–122	Oscar Robertson (35)	30–37
68	February 25	@ San Francisco	129–116	Oscar Robertson (36)	31–37
69	February 26	@ Los Angeles	127–141	Oscar Robertson (40)	31–38
70	February 28	N Philadelphia	127–107	Oscar Robertson (24)	31–39
71	March 1	Los Angeles	116–122	Oscar Robertson (25)	32–39
72	March 3	@ Boston	104–111	Oscar Robertson (26)	32–40
73	March 4	Baltimore	102–109	Oscar Robertson (43)	33–40
74	March 5	@ Chicago	106–113	Oscar Robertson (37)	33–41
75	March 6	N St. Louis	122–129	Oscar Robertson (27)	34–41
76	March 11	Chicago	119–147	Happy Hairston (30)	35–41
77	March 12	@ St. Louis	119–120	Oscar Robertson (30)	35–42
78	March 13	@ Chicago	133–117	Oscar Robertson (43)	36–42
79	March 15	Boston	108–112	Oscar Robertson (31)	37–42
80	March 16	N St. Louis	111–114	Oscar Robertson (32)	38–42
81	March 18	San Francisco	112–127	Adrian Smith (23)	39–42

Playoffs

1967 playoff game log
Division semifinals: 1–3 (home: 0–2; road: 1–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location 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

• Oscar Robertson, All-NBA First Team
• Jerry Lucas, All-NBA Second Team