1964–65 Cincinnati Royals season

NBA professional basketball team season

NBA professional basketball team season

1964–65 Cincinnati Royals season

Head coach| Jack McMahon
Owners| Louis Jacobs
Arena| Cincinnati Gardens
Results
Record| 48-32 (.600)
Place| Division: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finish| Division semifinals
(lost to 76ers 1–3)

* * *

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television| WKRC-TV
Radio| WLW
| < 1963–64  | 1965–66 >

|

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.[1] 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[edit]

Round  | Pick  | Player  | Position  | Nationality  | School/Club Team

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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

[2]

## Roster[edit]

Cincinnati Royals roster

* v
* t
* e

Players  | Coaches

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| Pos. | No. | Name  | Height  | Weight  | DOB  | From

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G | 21 | Arnette, Jay | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)  | 175 lb (79 kg)  |  | Texas
G | 11 | Bockhorn, Arlen | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)  | 200 lb (91 kg)  |  | Dayton
C | 15 | Embry, Wayne | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)  | 240 lb (109 kg)  |  | Miami (OH)
F | 22 | Hairston, Happy | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)  | 225 lb (102 kg)  |  | NYU
F | 20 | Hawkins, Tom | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)  | 210 lb (95 kg)  |  | Notre Dame
F/C | 16 | Lucas, Jerry | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)  | 230 lb (104 kg)  |  | Ohio State
F | 34 | Olsen, Bud | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)  | 220 lb (100 kg)  |  | Louisville
PG | 14 | Robertson, Oscar | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)  | 205 lb (93 kg)  |  | Cincinnati
G | 10 | Smith, Adrian | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)  | 180 lb (82 kg)  |  | Kentucky
G | 25 | Thacker, Tom | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)  | 170 lb (77 kg)  |  | Cincinnati
F | 27 | Twyman, Jack | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)  | 210 lb (95 kg)  |  | Cincinnati
C | 17 | Wilson, George | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)  | 225 lb (102 kg)  |  | Cincinnati

Head coach

* Jack McMahon

* * *

Legend

* (DP) Unsigned draft pick
* (FA) Free agent
* (S) Suspended
* Injured

## Regular season[edit]

### Season standings[edit]

Eastern Division

* v
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* e

|  W  |  L  |  PCT  |  GB  |  Home  |  Road  |  Neutral  |  Div

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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[edit]

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[edit]

1964–65 game log

# | Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record
1 | October 17 | @ St. Louis | 91–94 | Oscar Robertson (27) | 0–1
2 | October 18 | San Francisco | 108–117 | Jack Twyman (31) | 1–1
3 | October 20 | Los Angeles | 113–121 | Oscar Robertson (31) | 2–1
4 | October 25 | Philadelphia | 107–109 | Jerry Lucas (32) | 3–1
5 | October 30 | St. Louis | 118–119 | Oscar Robertson (39) | 4–1
6 | October 31 | @ Boston | 94–122 | Oscar Robertson (24) | 4–2
7 | November 1 | Detroit | 101–114 | Oscar Robertson (22) | 5–2
8 | November 6 | Baltimore | 111–106 | Adrian Smith (26) | 5–3
9 | November 7 | @ Philadelphia | 103–105 | Jerry Lucas (21) | 5–4
10 | November 8 | Boston | 106–103 | Jerry Lucas (37) | 5–5
11 | November 11 | @ St. Louis | 118–116 | Jerry Lucas (26) | 6–5
12 | November 13 | St. Louis | 106–123 | Jerry Lucas (30) | 7–5
13 | November 14 | @ New York | 111–110 | Oscar Robertson (27) | 8–5
14 | November 15 | San Francisco | 122–106 | Oscar Robertson (22) | 8–6
15 | November 17 | @ San Francisco | 114–108 | Oscar Robertson (33) | 9–6
16 | November 18 | @ Los Angeles | 92–90 | Oscar Robertson (32) | 10–6
17 | November 20 | @ Los Angeles | 121–131 | Oscar Robertson (32) | 10–7
18 | November 21 | @ San Francisco | 111–104 | Jerry Lucas (29) | 11–7
19 | November 25 | @ Baltimore | 116–125 | Oscar Robertson (40) | 11–8
20 | November 27 | Philadelphia | 112–133 | Oscar Robertson (27) | 12–8
21 | November 28 | @ Boston | 98–129 | Oscar Robertson (23) | 12–9
22 | November 29 | New York | 95–105 | Robertson, Smith (20) | 13–9
23 | December 1 | N Detroit | 107–129 | Oscar Robertson (25) | 14–9
24 | December 2 | @ Detroit | 115–125 | Jerry Lucas (31) | 14–10
25 | December 4 | Los Angeles | 90–104 | Oscar Robertson (33) | 15–10
26 | December 6 | N Baltimore | 124–113 | Oscar Robertson (32) | 16–10
27 | December 9 | @ Detroit | 122–114 | Oscar Robertson (32) | 17–10
28 | December 10 | Boston | 116–101 | Oscar Robertson (31) | 17–11
29 | December 12 | @ St. Louis | 115–109 | Oscar Robertson (22) | 18–11
30 | December 18 | Los Angeles | 107–111 | Oscar Robertson (56) | 19–11
31 | December 19 | @ New York | 133–105 | Oscar Robertson (30) | 20–11
32 | December 25 | St. Louis | 125–130 (OT) | Oscar Robertson (38) | 21–11
33 | December 26 | @ Philadelphia | 135–125 | Oscar Robertson (38) | 22–11
34 | December 27 | @ Baltimore | 119–126 | Oscar Robertson (48) | 22–12
35 | December 28 | San Francisco | 108–113 | Oscar Robertson (35) | 23–12
36 | January 1 | N Baltimore | 140–124 | Oscar Robertson (39) | 24–12
37 | January 3 | Boston | 89–85 | Oscar Robertson (35) | 24–13
38 | January 5 | @ New York | 125–116 (OT) | Oscar Robertson (37) | 25–13
39 | January 6 | New York | 102–116 | Oscar Robertson (28) | 26–13
40 | January 8 | N Philadelphia | 107–114 | Oscar Robertson (26) | 27–13
41 | January 9 | @ Baltimore | 128–119 | Oscar Robertson (42) | 28–13
42 | January 10 | Detroit | 114–140 | Lucas, Twyman (24) | 29–13
43 | January 15 | Los Angeles | 106–124 | Jerry Lucas (29) | 30–13
44 | January 17 | @ Boston | 98–101 | Lucas, Robertson (23) | 30–14
45 | January 19 | St. Louis | 99–103 | Oscar Robertson (40) | 31–14
46 | January 20 | @ Detroit | 102–90 | Jack Twyman (21) | 32–14
47 | January 23 | Detroit | 105–102 | Oscar Robertson (35) | 32–15
48 | January 24 | San Francisco | 103–124 | Robertson, Twyman (24) | 33–15
49 | January 26 | @ San Francisco | 115–107 | Adrian Smith (32) | 34–15
50 | January 27 | @ Los Angeles | 112–119 | Oscar Robertson (34) | 34–16
51 | January 28 | @ San Francisco | 90–105 | Jerry Lucas (27) | 34–17
52 | January 29 | @ Los Angeles | 133–137 (2OT) | Oscar Robertson (36) | 34–18
53 | January 31 | @ Philadelphia | 122–127 | Oscar Robertson (35) | 34–19
54 | February 3 | Los Angeles | 99–130 | Oscar Robertson (44) | 35–19
55 | February 5 | @ Boston | 113–114 | Oscar Robertson (38) | 35–20
56 | February 6 | N Philadelphia | 127–122 | Oscar Robertson (50) | 35–21
57 | February 9 | Boston | 121–134 | Oscar Robertson (42) | 36–21
58 | February 10 | N New York | 115–112 (OT) | Oscar Robertson (37) | 36–22
59 | February 11 | N Detroit | 109–130 | Oscar Robertson (28) | 37–22
60 | February 13 | Philadelphia | 106–108 | Oscar Robertson (37) | 38–22
61 | February 14 | @ St. Louis | 99–92 | Oscar Robertson (30) | 39–22
62 | February 16 | St. Louis | 103–111 | Oscar Robertson (35) | 40–22
63 | February 17 | @ Baltimore | 114–125 | Oscar Robertson (35) | 40–23
64 | February 21 | @ New York | 104–109 | Oscar Robertson (40) | 40–24
65 | February 23 | N Baltimore | 127–131 | Oscar Robertson (39) | 40–25
66 | February 27 | @ Detroit | 115–117 | Oscar Robertson (35) | 40–26
67 | February 28 | N New York | 117–126 | Adrian Smith (32) | 41–26
68 | March 1 | N Detroit | 130–110 | Lucas, Robertson (20) | 41–27
69 | March 2 | San Francisco | 105–121 | Oscar Robertson (28) | 42–27
70 | March 3 | @ Baltimore | 108–151 | Lucas, Robertson (20) | 42–28
71 | March 5 | Philadelphia | 110–109 | Oscar Robertson (36) | 42–29
72 | March 6 | @ San Francisco | 97–93 | Robertson, Smith (26) | 43–29
73 | March 7 | @ Los Angeles | 104–106 | Adrian Smith (25) | 43–30
74 | March 10 | @ St. Louis | 113–137 | Jerry Lucas (25) | 43–31
75 | March 12 | Boston | 108–118 | Oscar Robertson (37) | 44–31
76 | March 14 | @ New York | 113–103 | Oscar Robertson (24) | 45–31
77 | March 16 | New York | 102–111 | Lucas, Robertson (30) | 46–31
78 | March 18 | Baltimore | 110–113 | Oscar Robertson (30) | 47–31
79 | March 20 | @ Philadelphia | 125–122 | Jerry Lucas (34) | 48–31
80 | March 21 | @ Boston | 99–116 | Jerry Lucas (26) | 48–32

## Playoffs[edit]

1965 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

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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[edit]

### Regular season[edit]

Player  | GP  | GS  | MPG  | FG%  | 3FG%  | FT%  | RPG  | APG  | SPG  | BPG  | PPG

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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[edit]

Player  | GP  | GS  | MPG  | FG%  | 3FG%  | FT%  | RPG  | APG  | SPG  | BPG  | PPG

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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[edit]

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

## References[edit]

1. ^ Ferraro, Michael X.; Veneziano, John (2007). Numbelievable!. Chicago: Triumph Books. p. 32\. ISBN 978-1-57243-990-0.
2. ^ "1964 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2021.

## External links[edit]

* 1964–65 Royals on Basketball Reference

* v
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* e

1964–65 NBA season by team

* 1964 NBA draft
* All-Star Game
* Playoffs
* Finals
* Transactions

Eastern|

* Boston
* Cincinnati
* New York
* Philadelphia

Western|

* Baltimore
* Detroit
* Los Angeles
* San Francisco
* St. Louis

* v
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Sacramento Kings seasons

* Franchise
* Seasons

1940s|

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  1945–46 |  1946–47 |  1947–48 |  1948–49

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1950s|

|  1949–50 |  1950–51 |  1951–52 |  1952–53 |  1953–54 |  1954–55 |  1955–56 |  1956–57 |  1957–58 |  1958–59

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1960s|

|  1959–60 |  1960–61 |  1961–62 |  1962–63 |  1963–64 |  1964–65 |  1965–66 |  1966–67 |  1967–68 |  1968–69

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1970s|

|  1969–70 |  1970–71 |  1971–72 |  1972–73 |  1973–74 |  1974–75 |  1975–76 |  1976–77 |  1977–78 |  1978–79

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1980s|

|  1979–80 |  1980–81 |  1981–82 |  1982–83 |  1983–84 |  1984–85 |  1985–86 |  1986–87 |  1987–88 |  1988–89

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1990s|

|  1989–90 |  1990–91 |  1991–92 |  1992–93 |  1993–94 |  1994–95 |  1995–96 |  1996–97 |  1997–98 |  1998–99

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2000s|

|  1999–00 |  2000–01 |  2001–02 |  2002–03 |  2003–04 |  2004–05 |  2005–06 |  2006–07 |  2007–08 |  2008–09

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2010s|

|  2009–10 |  2010–11 |  2011–12 |  2012–13 |  2013–14 |  2014–15 |  2015–16 |  2016–17 |  2017–18 |  2018–19

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2020s|

|  2019–20 |  2020–21 |  2021–22 |  2022–23 |  2023–24 |  2024–25 |  |  |  |

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Bold indicates NBA Finals victory
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Pos.]: Position
*[No.]: Number
*[ W ]: Games won
*[ L ]: Games lost
*[ PCT ]: Winning percentage
*[ GB ]: Games behind
*[ Home ]: Home record
*[ Road ]: Road record
*[ Neutral ]: Neutral record
*[ Div ]: Division record