# 1966–67 Cincinnati Royals season

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

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Eastern Divisionvte | 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
## Playoffs

1967 playoff game log :
Division semifinals: 1–3 (home: 0–2; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
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
### Season

* Player
* 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
* 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