With the NBA's most wide-open offense, the Royals were again directed by now-legendary Oscar Robertson, who fed shooters Jerry Lucas, Jack Twyman and Adrian Smith when not scoring himself.
Forwards Happy Hairston and Tom Hawkins also saw court time, with Lucas sliding into the center spot.
The team's outstanding 1965 draft class, one of the NBA's best ever, netted four promising young stars in Nate Bowman, Flynn Robinson, Jon McGlocklin and Bob Love.
Love, a future NBA all-star and Hall of Fame inductee, was cut by coach Jack McMahon.
Robertson again led the NBA in assists while scoring near the 30-point-per game mark and canning his usual pile of free throws at opponents expense.