1964–65 Cincinnati Royals season

1964–65 Cincinnati Royals season
Head coachJack McMahon
OwnersLouis Jacobs
ArenaCincinnati Gardens
Results
Record48–32 (.600)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finishDivision semifinals
(lost to 76ers 1–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWKRC-TV
RadioWLW
< 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

Round Pick Player Position Nationality 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

[2]

Roster

Cincinnati Royals roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
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
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Eastern Division
 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

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

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

References

  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.