1962–63 Cincinnati Royals season

1962–63 Cincinnati Royals season
Head coachCharles Wolf
OwnersThomas E. Woods estate
Louis Jacobs
ArenaCincinnati Gardens
Results
Record42–38 (.525)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finishDivision finals
(lost to Celtics 3–4)
Local media
TelevisionWKRC-TV
RadioWKRC

The 1962–63 Cincinnati Royals season was the team's 15th season in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and its sixth in Cincinnati. The Royals were shifted from the Western Division into the Eastern Division before the start of the season because the Philadelphia Warriors had relocated to San Francisco. In their first season in the Eastern Division, the Royals posted a 42–38 record and finished in 3rd place.[1] The season saw the Royals challenged by a rival league, the American Basketball League run by Abe Saperstein, like few NBA teams ever have been. Larry Staverman and Win Wilfong had left the team for the new league. #1 draft picks Larry Siegfried and Jerry Lucas were both also signed away by the ABL. These key losses would later greatly affect the team's playoffs result. Lucas was particularly missed by Cincinnati fans. Oscar Robertson nonetheless led a balanced and solid Royals five that year, supported by Wayne Embry, Jack Twyman, Bob Boozer and Arlen Bockhorn. Draft pick Adrian Smith had arrived and joined Tom Hawkins and Hub Reed at the head of the bench. Robertson posted 28.3 points per game, and his league-leading assists total was twice that of all but one other NBA player. He sank the second-most free throws in the league, and was a strong third on the Royals in rebounds.

The Royals were consistent winners all season long, buoyed by a 10–6 November.

In the playoffs, the Royals would win their first playoff series in 11 years. The Royals upset the second-place Syracuse Nationals with an overtime win on the road in Game 5 on March 26. The two teams had each won their two home games before Robertson led the upset. It was the last NBA game ever hosted by a team in Syracuse, New York.[1] In the Eastern Finals, the Royals faced the defending NBA Champion Boston Celtics and stunned them with two wins at Boston Gardens to seize a 2–1 series lead. Thomas E. Wood, the team's key owner, died in 1961. An ownership dispute between competing groups came to a head in 1963 when Louis Jacobs, who had bought Cincinnati Gardens from the Wood estate, scheduled a circus for the week of the Boston series without telling the Royals. The team was furious and had to host their second home playoff game at Xavier University's small Schmidt Fieldhouse. Despite that fact, and the earlier loss of draft pick Jerry Lucas, Robertson led the team to a third win over the Celtics in Game Six to force a seventh game. The Royals lost Game Seven in Boston on April 10, 142–131. Robertson had 43 points, the Celtics' Sam Jones had 47 in that concluding game. The season marks arguably the closest the Cincinnati Royals ever came to an NBA title, despite the obstacles mentioned above.

Ballyhooed #1 pick Jerry Lucas, two-time NCAA Player of The Year, was signed away by George Steinbrenner of the ABL Cleveland Pipers, a serious blow to this year's team.

  1. 2 pick was 6' 8 Bud Olsen of Louisville, a college star with local ties.

Roster

1962–63 Cincinnati Royals roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
SG 11 Arlen Bockhorn 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1933–07–08 Dayton
PF 13 Bob Boozer 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1937–04–26 Kansas State
PF 21 Joe Buckhalter 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1937–08–01 Tennessee State
C 15 Wayne Embry 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1937–03–26 Miami (OH)
SF 19 Tom Hawkins 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1936–12–22 Notre Dame
PF 16 Bud Olsen 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1940–07–25 Louisville
SF 61 Dave Piontek 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1937–08–27 Xavier
C 51 Hub Reed 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1936–10–04 Oklahoma City
PG 14 Oscar Robertson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1938–11–24 Cincinnati
SG 10 Adrian Smith 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1936–10–05 Kentucky
PG 41 Dan Tieman 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1940–11–30 Thomas More
SF 31 Jack Twyman 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1934–05–11 Cincinnati
Head coach
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Eastern Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
x-Boston Celtics 58 22 .725 – 25–5 21–16 12–1 25–11
x-Syracuse Nationals 48 32 .600 10 23–5 13–19 12–8 21–15
x-Cincinnati Royals 42 38 .525 16 23–10 15–19 4–9 20–16
New York Knicks 21 59 .263 37 12–22 5–28 4–9 6–30

Season schedule

1962–63 game log
# Date Opponent Score High points Record
1 October 20 @ Chicago L 109–113 Oscar Robertson (29) 0–1
2 October 23 Los Angeles W 116–115 Oscar Robertson (32) 1–1
3 October 24 @ St. Louis L 114–121 Oscar Robertson (31) 1–2
4 October 26 St. Louis W 118–102 Oscar Robertson (27) 2–2
5 October 28 San Francisco W 131–130 (OT) Oscar Robertson (36) 3–2
6 November 3 @ Syracuse L 111–130 Robertson, Twyman (22) 3–3
7 November 7 Boston L 105–106 Oscar Robertson (42) 3–4
8 November 8 @ Detroit L 114–116 Oscar Robertson (38) 3–5
9 November 9 @ New York W 122–119 Oscar Robertson (37) 4–5
10 November 10 Detroit W 135–124 Oscar Robertson (32) 5–5
11 November 12 @ Boston L 126–137 Robertson, Twyman (26) 5–6
12 November 13 vs. Detroit W 127–109 Oscar Robertson (31) 6–6
13 November 14 Syracuse W 120–125 Oscar Robertson (33) 7–6
14 November 16 St. Louis W 120–111 Jack Twyman (27) 8–6
15 November 18 San Francisco W 132–120 Robertson, Twyman (32) 9–6
16 November 21 @ San Francisco W 143–139 Oscar Robertson (40) 10–6
17 November 22 @ Los Angeles L 110–134 Oscar Robertson (21) 10–7
18 November 24 @ Los Angeles L 123–129 Wayne Embry (34) 10–8
19 November 25 @ San Francisco W 128–115 Jack Twyman (27) 11–8
20 November 27 @ New York W 139–129 Oscar Robertson (31) 12–8
21 November 30 Syracuse W 130–117 Oscar Robertson (31) 13–8
22 December 1 @ Chicago W 131–121 Oscar Robertson (30) 14–8
23 December 2 Boston L 127–128 (OT) Robertson, Twyman (29) 14–9
24 December 6 New York L 96–99 Jack Twyman (24) 14–10
25 December 8 Los Angeles L 128–131 (OT) Oscar Robertson (42) 14–11
26 December 11 vs. Los Angeles L 121–124 Oscar Robertson (31) 14–12
27 December 12 vs. Chicago L 102–105 Adrian Smith (17) 14–13
28 December 13 vs. Chicago W 142–123 Jack Twyman (32) 15–13
29 December 15 @ Boston W 124–120 Oscar Robertson (26) 16–13
30 December 18 @ New York L 102–103 Oscar Robertson (28) 16–14
31 December 19 Syracuse W 120–129 Oscar Robertson (32) 17–14
32 December 21 Chicago W 129–116 Oscar Robertson (30) 18–14
33 December 25 Detroit W 131–120 Oscar Robertson (35) 19–14
34 December 28 Boston L 113–121 Oscar Robertson (35) 19–15
35 December 29 @ Chicago L 104–108 Wayne Embry (25) 19–16
36 January 1 New York W 112–106 (OT) Oscar Robertson (32) 20–16
37 January 2 @ Detroit L 118–138 Wayne Embry (23) 20–17
38 January 4 San Francisco W 130–129 Jack Twyman (35) 21–17
39 January 5 vs. Syracuse L 117–136 Oscar Robertson (35) 21–18
40 January 6 Los Angeles L 119–120 (OT) Oscar Robertson (33) 21–19
41 January 8 vs. Syracuse L 116–119 Jack Twyman (35) 21–20
42 January 9 @ Syracuse W 116–112 Oscar Robertson (29) 22–20
43 January 10 Boston W 130–121 Oscar Robertson (41) 23–20
44 January 12 @ St. Louis L 109–115 Oscar Robertson (25) 23–21
45 January 13 St. Louis L 104–105 Oscar Robertson (31) 23–22
46 January 18 @ Boston L 114–122 Oscar Robertson (33) 23–23
47 January 19 New York W 114–108 Oscar Robertson (26) 24–23
48 January 20 @ Chicago L 93–113 Embry, Robertson (18) 24–24
49 January 23 Boston W 138–133 Oscar Robertson (43) 25–24
50 January 25 @ New York W 114–112 Jack Twyman (25) 26–24
51 January 26 Chicago W 142–116 Oscar Robertson (24) 27–24
52 January 27 vs. Chicago W 143–126 Oscar Robertson (31) 28–24
53 January 31 vs. Boston L 125–128 Jack Twyman (32) 28–25
54 February 1 vs. San Francisco L 126–133 Oscar Robertson (25) 28–26
55 February 2 vs. Syracuse L 113–117 Jack Twyman (25) 28–27
56 February 3 @ Syracuse W 125–115 Oscar Robertson (26) 29–27
57 February 5 Boston L 96–106 Oscar Robertson (22) 29–28
58 February 7 San Francisco W 134–129 Oscar Robertson (33) 30–28
59 February 8 @ St. Louis W 116–112 Wayne Embry (23) 31–28
60 February 10 Los Angeles W 124–107 Oscar Robertson (29) 32–28
61 February 13 vs. Syracuse W 124–122 Oscar Robertson (34) 33–28
62 February 15 St. Louis L 96–99 Oscar Robertson (23) 33–29
63 February 16 @ Detroit W 110–99 Wayne Embry (27) 34–29
64 February 17 @ New York W 109–98 Jack Twyman (27) 35–29
65 February 19 @ Boston L 126–129 Oscar Robertson (35) 35–30
66 February 20 @ Syracuse 109–128 Jack Twyman (27) 35–31
67 February 21 New York W 115–96 Oscar Robertson (25) 36–31
68 February 23 Detroit L 102–105 Oscar Robertson (24) 36–32
69 February 24 vs. Detroit L 110–119 Oscar Robertson (36) 36–33
70 February 26 @ St. Louis L 107–114 Oscar Robertson (30) 36–34
71 February 27 New York W 119–107 Oscar Robertson (30) 37–34
72 March 1 vs. San Francisco L 125–132 Oscar Robertson (32) 37–35
73 March 3 @ San Francisco L 122–123 Jack Twyman (27) 37–36
74 March 4 @ Los Angeles W 114–111 Jack Twyman (24) 38–36
75 March 6 @ Los Angeles L 97–106 Oscar Robertson (26) 38–37
76 March 10 @ Boston L 117–149 Oscar Robertson (23) 38–38
77 March 12 @ New York W 110–96 Bob Boozer (21) 39–38
78 March 13 Syracuse W 128–114 Oscar Robertson (35) 40–38
79 March 16 @ Chicago W 126–117 Oscar Robertson (24) 41–38
80 March 17 New York W 116–109 Oscar Robertson (34) 42–38

The Royals won five straight to move to 10–6 in November, and followed that with a 6–8 December. They were 9–9 in both January and February, reaching 36–31 on 2–21–63. The Royals won four straight to finish the season 42–38.

Playoffs

1963 playoff game log
Division Semi-finals: 3–2 (home: 2–0; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points Location
Attendance		 Series
1 March 19 @ Syracuse L 120–123 Oscar Robertson (29) Onondaga War Memorial
4,335 		0–1
2 March 21 Syracuse W 133–115 Oscar Robertson (41) Cincinnati Gardens
3,205 		1–1
3 March 23 @ Syracuse L 117–121 Embry, Twyman (24) Onondaga War Memorial
8,007 		1–2
4 March 24 Syracuse W 125–118 Oscar Robertson (29) Cincinnati Gardens
3,331 		2–2
5 March 26 @ Syracuse W 131–127 (OT) Oscar Robertson (32) Onondaga War Memorial
7,418 		3–2
Division finals: 3–4 (home: 1–2; road: 2–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 March 28 @ Boston W 135–132 Oscar Robertson (43) Oscar Robertson (14) Oscar Robertson (10) Boston Garden
13,798 		0–1
2 March 29 Boston L 102–125 Oscar Robertson (28) Wayne Embry (16) — Cincinnati Gardens
11,102 		1–1
3 March 31 @ Boston W 121–116 Oscar Robertson (23) Bob Boozer (14) Oscar Robertson (8) Boston Garden
13,909 		2–1
4 April 3 Boston L 110–128 Oscar Robertson (25) Robertson, Embry (15) — Cincinnati Gardens
3,498 		2–2
5 April 6 @ Boston L 120–125 Oscar Robertson (36) Wayne Embry (14) Oscar Robertson (10) Boston Garden
13,909 		2–3
6 April 7 Boston W 109–99 Oscar Robertson (36) Wayne Embry (22) — Cincinnati Gardens
7,745 		3–3
7 April 10 @ Boston L 131–142 Oscar Robertson (43) Embry, Hawkins (7) Oscar Robertson (6) Boston Garden
13,909 		3–4
1963 schedule

Player statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Arlen Bockhorn
Bob Boozer
Joe Buckhalter
Wayne Embry
Tom Hawkins
Bud Olsen
Dave Piontek
Hub Reed
Oscar Robertson
Adrian Smith
Dan Tieman
Jack Twyman

Playoffs

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Arlen Bockhorn
Bob Boozer
Wayne Embry
Tom Hawkins
Bud Olsen
Dave Piontek
Hub Reed
Oscar Robertson
Adrian Smith
Jack Twyman

Awards and honors

References

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