Sacramento Kings
1960–1970: The Oscar Robertson era
### 1960–1970: The Oscar Robertson era

[thumb\|Robertson averaged over 30 points per game in six seasons and won six NBA assist titles while with the Royals.](/wiki/File:Oscar_Robertson_1966.jpeg "Oscar Robertson 1966.jpeg")
In 1960, the team was able to land local superstar [Oscar Robertson](/wiki/Oscar_Robertson "Oscar Robertson"). Robertson led a team that included Twyman, [Wayne Embry](/wiki/Wayne_Embry "Wayne Embry"), [Bob Boozer](/wiki/Bob_Boozer "Bob Boozer"), [Bucky Bockhorn](/wiki/Bucky_Bockhorn "Bucky Bockhorn"), [Tom Hawkins](/wiki/Tom_Hawkins_%28basketball%29 "Tom Hawkins (basketball)") and [Adrian Smith](/wiki/Adrian_Smith_%28basketball%29 "Adrian Smith (basketball)") over the next three seasons. The Royals reversed their fortunes with Robertson and rose to title contender. An ownership dispute in early 1963 scuttled the team's playoff chances when new owner [Louis Jacobs](/wiki/Louis_Jacobs_%28businessman%29 "Louis Jacobs (businessman)") booked a circus for Cincinnati Gardens for the week of the playoff series versus the champion [Boston Celtics](/wiki/Boston_Celtics "Boston Celtics"). The Royals' home games were at [Xavier University](/wiki/Xavier_University "Xavier University")'s [Schmidt Field House](/wiki/Schmidt_Field_House "Schmidt Field House").

In late 1963, another local superstar, [Jerry Lucas](/wiki/Jerry_Lucas "Jerry Lucas"), joined the team. The Royals rose to the second\-best record in the NBA. From 1963 to 1966, the Royals contended strongly against Boston and the [Philadelphia 76ers](/wiki/Philadelphia_76ers "Philadelphia 76ers"), but won no titles. In the [1964 NBA draft](/wiki/1964_NBA_draft "1964 NBA draft") the Royals drafted rookies [George Wilson](/wiki/George_Wilson_%28basketball%2C_born_1942%29 "George Wilson (basketball, born 1942)"), [Bill Chmielewski](/wiki/Bill_Chmielewski "Bill Chmielewski"), [Steve Courtin](/wiki/Steve_Courtin "Steve Courtin") (later traded to 76ers), and [Happy Hairston](/wiki/Happy_Hairston "Happy Hairston"). The team's star players throughout the 1960s were [Oscar Robertson](/wiki/Oscar_Robertson "Oscar Robertson") and Jerry Lucas. Robertson met with individual success, averaging a triple\-double in [1961–62](/wiki/1961%E2%80%9362_NBA_season "1961–62 NBA season") and winning the Most Valuable Player award in [1964](/wiki/1963%E2%80%9364_NBA_season "1963–64 NBA season"). Robertson was a league\-leading scorer and passer each season. Lucas was Rookie Of the Year in 1964, led the league in shooting, and later averaged 20 rebounds per game over four seasons. Both were All\-NBA First Team selections multiple times. The team failed to keep some promising players, though, and played in the tough NBA East division, dominated by the Boston Celtics, even as a Baltimore team played in the West Division for three years, denying the team likely visits to the NBA Finals.

During the [1966–67 season](/wiki/1966%E2%80%9367_NBA_season "1966–67 NBA season"), the Royals began playing some of their home games in neutral sites such as [Cleveland](/wiki/Cleveland "Cleveland") (until the [Cavaliers](/wiki/Cleveland_Cavaliers "Cleveland Cavaliers") began play in 1970\), [Dayton](/wiki/Dayton%2C_Ohio "Dayton, Ohio") and [Columbus](/wiki/Columbus%2C_Ohio "Columbus, Ohio"). This did wound their local fan base in Cincinnati, though, and fortunes for the team continued to steadily decline. That year, they would host the [1966 NBA All\-Star Game](/wiki/1966_NBA_All-Star_Game "1966 NBA All-Star Game"), with Smith scoring 24 points to be named All\-Star MVP. As of 2021, it is the last time that the franchise has hosted an All\-Star Game. In the summer of 1968, Owner Louis Jacobs died and ownership went to his sons [Jeremy](/wiki/Jeremy_Jacobs "Jeremy Jacobs") and Max Jacobs.

New coach [Bob Cousy](/wiki/Bob_Cousy "Bob Cousy") traded Lucas in 1969\. Robertson was traded to [Milwaukee](/wiki/Milwaukee_Bucks "Milwaukee Bucks") in 1970, where he immediately won an NBA title. Both transactions were unpopular with the fan base, resulting in a home attendance decline and eventually the franchise's move to [Kansas City](/wiki/Kansas_City%2C_Missouri "Kansas City, Missouri") which was announced on March 14, 1972\.["Kansas City to Get Cincinnati Royals," *The Associated Press* (AP), Tuesday, March 14, 1972\.](https://www.nytimes.com/1972/03/15/archives/kansas-city-to-get-cincinnati-royals.html)  Retrieved March 12, 2022\. The NBA Board of Governors voted 16–1 to permit the transfer nine days later on March 23\. Before a crowd of 4,022, the Royals defeated the [Baltimore Bullets](/wiki/Washington_Wizards "Washington Wizards") 132–114 in its final home game at [Cincinnati Gardens](/wiki/Cincinnati_Gardens "Cincinnati Gardens") the following night on March 24\. The team represented Cincinnati for one last time in a 135–122 win over the [Cleveland Cavaliers](/wiki/Cleveland_Cavaliers "Cleveland Cavaliers") witnessed by 10,289 at the [Cleveland Arena](/wiki/Cleveland_Arena "Cleveland Arena") two nights later on March 26\.[Dyer, Mike. "The interesting intersection of Cleveland Cavaliers, Cincinnati Royals," *The Cincinnati Enquirer*, Monday, October 5, 2015\.](https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/2015/10/05/the-interesting-intersection-of-the-cincinnati-royals-and-cleveland-cavaliers/73392842/)  Retrieved March 12, 2022\.


How did the team's fortunes continue after 1968?