# 1964–65 Cincinnati Royals season

The 1964–65 season was the Royals' 19th season in the NBA and eighth in Cincinnati. By the end of the season, Oscar Robertson's career statistics for the first five years of his career averaged out to a triple double: 30.3 points per game, 10.4 rebounds per game, and 10.6 assists per game. The season began with high hopes as the Royals had played well the previous season against Boston and were improving as a team. In addition to Robertson, second-year big man Jerry Lucas rose to superstar status this season. He averaged 21 points and 20 rebounds over 66 games played. He joined Robertson on the All-NBA First Team named at the season's conclusion. Injuries, though, were a big factor this season. Key guard Arlen Bockhorn was lost to a career-ending injury in November. The other four opening-day starters, Robertson, Lucas, Jack Twyman and Wayne Embry, were each lost for several games or more also. Lucas was named MVP of the 1965 NBA All-Star Game. But the same day's events saw superstar Wilt Chamberlain traded to the rival Philadelphia 76ers. Now Cincinnati had two strong title contenders to deal with in their own division. Philadelphia later defeated the Royals in the 1965 playoffs.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | School/Club Team |
| 2 | 15 | Bill Chmielewski | United States | University of Dayton |
| 2 | 9 | Steve Courtin | United States | Saint Joseph's University |
| 4 | 33 | Happy Hairston | United States | New York University |
| 5 | 42 | George Kirk | United States | University of Memphis |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Eastern Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Neutral | Div |
| x-Boston Celtics | 62 | 18 | .775 | – | 27–3 | 27–11 | 8–4 | 20–10 |
| x-Cincinnati Royals | 48 | 32 | .600 | 14 | 25–7 | 17–21 | 6–4 | 16–14 |
| x-Philadelphia 76ers | 40 | 40 | .500 | 22 | 13–12 | 9–21 | 18–7 | 14–16 |
| New York Knicks | 31 | 49 | .388 | 31 | 15–20 | 9–21 | 7–8 | 10–20 |

### Record vs. opponents

1964-65 NBA Records :
| Team | BAL | BOS | CIN | DET | LAL | NYK | PHI | SFW | STL |
| Baltimore | — | 3–7 | 6–4 | 6–4 | 4–6 | 2–8 | 4–6 | 7–3 | 5–5 |
| Boston | 7–3 | — | 8–2 | 10–0 | 7–3 | 7–3 | 5–5 | 9–1 | 9–1 |
| Cincinnati | 4–6 | 2–8 | — | 6–4 | 6–4 | 8–2 | 6–4 | 8–2 | 8–2 |
| Detroit | 4–6 | 0–10 | 4–6 | — | 3–7 | 5–5 | 4–6 | 8–2 | 3–7 |
| Los Angeles | 6–4 | 3–7 | 4–6 | 7–3 | — | 10–0 | 7–3 | 8–2 | 4–6 |
| New York | 8–2 | 3–7 | 2–8 | 5–5 | 0–10 | — | 5–5 | 7–3 | 1–9 |
| Philadelphia | 6–4 | 5–5 | 4–6 | 6–4 | 3–7 | 5–5 | — | 6–4 | 5–5 |
| San Francisco | 3–7 | 1–9 | 2–8 | 2–8 | 2–8 | 3–7 | 4–6 | — | 0–10 |
| St. Louis | 5–5 | 1–9 | 2–8 | 7–3 | 6–4 | 9–1 | 5–5 | 10–0 | — |

### Game log
## Playoffs

1965 playoff game log :
Division semifinals: 1–3 (home: 0–2; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
March 24
Philadelphia
L 117–119 (OT)
Jack Twyman (25)
Jerry Lucas (27)
Oscar Robertson (13)
Cincinnati Gardens 6,422
0–1
2
March 26
@ Philadelphia
W 121–120
Oscar Robertson (40)
Jerry Lucas (21)
Oscar Robertson (13)
Municipal Auditorium 5,801
1–1
3
March 28
Philadelphia
L 94–108
Oscar Robertson (27)
Jerry Lucas (17)
Oscar Robertson (12)
Cincinnati Gardens 6,289
1–2
4
March 31
@ Philadelphia
L 112–119
Jerry Lucas (35)
Jerry Lucas (19)
Oscar Robertson (10)
Municipal Auditorium 7,451
1–3 :
1965 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Regular season

* Player
* Jay Arnette
* Arlen Bockhorn
* Wayne Embry
* Happy Hairston
* Tom Hawkins
* Jerry Lucas
* Bud Olsen
* Oscar Robertson
* Adrian Smith
* Tom Thacker
* Jack Twyman
* George Wilson

### Playoffs

* Player
* Jay Arnette
* Wayne Embry
* Happy Hairston
* Tom Hawkins
* Jerry Lucas
* Bud Olsen
* Oscar Robertson
* Adrian Smith
* Tom Thacker
* Jack Twyman
* George Wilson

## Awards and honors

* Oscar Robertson, All-NBA First Team
* Jerry Lucas, All-NBA First Team