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1957–58  Cincinnati Royals season
Head coach Bobby Wanzer
OwnersJack Harrison
Les Harrison
Arena Cincinnati Gardens
Results
Record33–39 (.458)
PlaceDivision: 3rd ( Western)
Playoff finish West Division Semifinals
(Eliminated 0–2)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television WKRC-TV
Radio WKRC
< 1956–57 1958–59 >

The 1957–58 season was the Royals first season in Cincinnati, following its relocation from Rochester during the offseason. Interest in the team was created by a draft deal that brought Lakers All-Star Clyde Lovellette to the team. The team then lured guard George King, the former Syracuse starter back from college coaching. Both additions added talent and veteran leadership to a still young squad.

The roster included star shooter Jack Twyman, Dick Ricketts (who also pitched in the major leagues), and star swing man Tom Marshall. In their first year in Cincinnati, the Royals ended a two-year playoff drought by finishing in third place after tie-breakers in the NBA's West Division. [1] The Royals finished with a record of 33–39. One of the team leaders was Maurice Stokes, who finished second in rebounding with 18.1 rebounds per game. [1] The 6'8 240-pound Stokes, arguably the NBA's first black superstar, also amazed by rating third in the NBA in assists.

Lovellette was fourth in the NBA in scoring, while Twyman led the NBA in shooting accuracy. The entire frontline of Stokes, Lovellette and Twyman were named NBA All-Stars that first season. The team had the makings of a real contender, but the backcourt was debilitated by injuries to Marhsall and King, plus promising Si Green and Johnny McCarthy had been lost to mandatory military service. The team's first-year promise took a tragic turn in mid-March. In the final game of the regular season, played on March 12, Stokes suffered an injury when his head hit the hardwood floor in a game versus the Minneapolis Lakers. Despite being knocked unconscious, Stokes would play in the playoffs against the Detroit Pistons. On the flight home after losing to the Pistons, Stokes suddenly fell ill and was rushed to the hospital upon landing. [1] As the Pistons swept the Royals, Stokes lapsed into a coma. It was revealed that Stokes suffered encephalopathy, a traumatic brain injury that damaged his motor control center. The injury would leave Maurice Stokes as a quadriplegic without the ability to speak. [1] Teammate Jack Twyman would serve as Stokes legal guardian until his death in 1970. The Stokes tragedy would ultimately decimate the team, with six other players not returning for next season. The team was also suddenly sold to local Cincinnati buyers, and coach Bobby Wanzer would also later be replaced. This first year, therefore, stands out from all the Cincinnati teams.

Draft picks

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 1 Rod Hundley   United States West Virginia

The Royals made the deal of the NBA draft with the first overall pick. They selected high-touted Rod Hundley, and then sent him along with two reserves to the Lakers for All-Star Clyde Lovellette and solid reserve Jim Paxson, who had been a college star at nearby Dayton. The Royals then tried to shore up their backcourt with selections Dick Duckett( 2 ), Gerry Paulson( 3 ),John Maglio ( 6 ) and Chet Forte ( 7 ). Forte was later the Director of ABC's Monday Night Football. As the season ended, local stars Oscar Robertson and Jerry Lucas were tabbed as territorial draft picks. Each would be selected by the team after the college senior seasons.

Regular season

Season standings

Western Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
x- St. Louis Hawks 41 31 .569 - 23-8 8-19 10-4 24-12
x- Detroit Pistons 33 39 .458 8 14-14 13-17 6-8 18-18
x- Cincinnati Royals 33 39 .458 8 17-12 10-19 6-8 17-19
Minneapolis Lakers 19 53 .264 22 10-15 4-21 5-17 13-23

Record vs. opponents

1957-58 NBA Records
Team BOS CIN DET MIN NYK PHI STL SYR
Boston — 7–2 8–1 9–0 7–5 6–6 5–4 7–5
Cincinnati 2–7 — 6–6 8–4 4–5 6–3 3–9 4–5
Detroit 1–8 6–6 — 6–6 4–5 5–4 6–6 5–4
Minneapolis 0–9 4–8 6–6 — 1–8 3–6 3–9 2–7
New York 5–7 5–4 5–4 8–1 — 4–8 3–6 5–7
Philadelphia 6–6 3–6 4–5 6–3 8–4 — 7–2 3–9
St. Louis 4–5 9–3 6–6 9–3 6–3 2–7 — 5–4
Syracuse 5–7 5–4 4–5 7–2 7–5 9–3 4–5 —

Game log

1957–58 Game log
# Date Opponent Score High points Record
1 October 26 Syracuse 100–110 Jack Twyman (32) 1–0
2 November 1 St. Louis 92–99 Clyde Lovellette (26) 2–0
3 November 2 @ St. Louis 93–102 Stokes, Twyman (17) 2–1
4 November 3 Detroit 94–88 Regan, Stokes (15) 2–2
5 November 8 Boston 122–110 (OT) Lovellette, Stokes (22) 2–3
6 November 10 Philadelphia 106–101 Jack Twyman (24) 2–4
7 November 15 New York 99–101 Clyde Lovellette (33) 3–4
8 November 17 St. Louis 98–97 Jack Twyman (23) 3–5
9 November 19 N Detroit 75–92 Clyde Lovellette (25) 4–5
10 November 20 @ Philadelphia 99–89 Clyde Lovellette (30) 5–5
11 November 22 @ Syracuse 102–98 Clyde Lovellette (30) 6–5
12 November 27 N Minneapolis 106–107 Clyde Lovellette (22) 7–5
13 November 28 @ St. Louis 96–112 Jack Twyman (19) 7–6
14 November 29 Detroit 96–99 (OT) Maurice Stokes (20) 8–6
15 November 30 @ Detroit 96–100 Clyde Lovellette (30) 8–7
16 December 1 Minneapolis 89–90 Clyde Lovellette (23) 9–7
17 December 3 @ New York 104–110 Clyde Lovellette (27) 9–8
18 December 5 N Detroit 99–109 Maurice Stokes (22) 10–8
19 December 6 New York 112–97 Lovellette, Stokes (21) 10–9
20 December 7 @ Detroit 105–109 Clyde Lovellette (31) 10–10
21 December 8 Philadelphia 88–99 Jack Twyman (24) 11–10
22 December 10 N St. Louis 102–90 Clyde Lovellette (30) 11–11
23 December 11 @ Boston 104–116 Clyde Lovellette (26) 11–12
24 December 14 N Syracuse 104–100 Clyde Lovellette (31) 11–13
25 December 15 @ Syracuse 83–109 Clyde Lovellette (23) 11–14
26 December 20 Syracuse 122–113 Jack Twyman (26) 11–15
27 December 21 @ Detroit 101–112 Clyde Lovellette (28) 11–16
28 December 22 Boston 115–98 Lovellette, Twyman (26) 11–17
29 December 26 N Syracuse 104–100 Clyde Lovellette (32) 11–18
30 December 27 St. Louis 97–96 Jack Twyman (25) 11–19
31 December 28 @ Minneapolis 112–101 Jack Twyman (33) 12–19
32 December 29 Minneapolis 111–103 Jack Twyman (33) 12–20
33 December 31 Detroit 96–130 Jack Twyman (30) 13–20
34 January 3 Philadelphia 94–106 Jack Twyman (28) 14–20
35 January 5 @ New York 101–100 Maurice Stokes (27) 15–20
36 January 7 N Detroit 99–114 Jack Twyman (26) 16–20
37 January 8 N New York 123–105 Maurice Stokes (26) 16–21
38 January 10 New York 104–107 Clyde Lovellette (34) 17–21
39 January 11 Syracuse 100–105 Dick Ricketts (22) 18–21
40 January 12 Boston 97–115 Jack Twyman (26) 19–21
41 January 14 N New York 111–117 Jack Twyman (34) 20–21
42 January 16 Minneapolis 108–124 Clyde Lovellette (30) 21–21
43 January 17 @ Detroit 94–115 Clyde Lovellette (23) 21–22
44 January 19 @ St. Louis 90–108 Clyde Lovellette (26) 21–23
45 January 22 @ Syracuse 115–109 Clyde Lovellette (27) 22–23
46 January 24 Philadelphia 102–92 Jim Paxson (24) 22–24
47 January 26 Detroit 103–107 Clyde Lovellette (25) 23–24
48 January 30 @ Minneapolis 104–105 Jack Twyman (25) 23–25
49 January 31 St. Louis 92–100 Clyde Lovellette (25) 24–25
50 February 1 @ St. Louis 88–127 Piontek, Regan (16) 24–26
51 February 2 @ Minneapolis 95–106 Dave Piontek (21) 24–27
52 February 4 N Boston 87–107 Clyde Lovellette (20) 24–28
53 February 5 @ Boston 89–116 Clyde Lovellette (16) 24–29
54 February 7 @ Philadelphia 103–100 Clyde Lovellette (26) 25–29
55 February 8 N Boston 91–109 Maurice Stokes (25) 25–30
56 February 9 Minneapolis 104–121 Clyde Lovellette (34) 26–30
57 February 11 N Minneapolis 103–106 Maurice Stokes (23) 27–30
58 February 14 New York 103–92 Jack Twyman (22) 27–31
59 February 15 @ New York 97–99 Clyde Lovellette (24) 27–32
60 February 16 @ Syracuse 105–113 Clyde Lovellette (30) 27–33
61 February 20 @ Boston 92–94 Maurice Stokes (28) 27–34
62 February 21 Detroit 109–107 Jack Twyman (24) 27–35
63 February 22 @ Minneapolis 81–100 Dave Piontek (14) 27–36
64 February 23 Minneapolis 93–111 Clyde Lovellette (25) 28–36
65 February 26 N St. Louis 105–103 Clyde Lovellette (27) 28–37
66 March 1 @ Philadelphia 101–88 Clyde Lovellette (29) 29–37
67 March 2 @ St. Louis 93–103 Maurice Stokes (23) 29–38
68 March 4 N Philadelphia 97–91 Clyde Lovellette (29) 29–39
69 March 6 @ Philadelphia 110–108 Clyde Lovellette (37) 30–39
70 March 9 @ Boston 121–107 Jack Twyman (30) 31–39
71 March 10 St. Louis 84–122 Lovellette, Twyman (23) 32–39
72 March 12 @ Minneapolis 96–89 Maurice Stokes (24) 33–39

The first Cincinnati Royals game ever was a home game against Syracuse, 26 October 1957, a 110–100 win behind local star Jack Twyman. The team opened to good crowds with home games in their first ten. Nov 7–7, Dec 5–13 with injuries and extra road games, January 11–5, Feb 4–12 with a season-ending injury to Marshall, March 5–2, plus two playoff losses to Detroit, due to the permanent loss of Stokes.

Playoffs

1958 playoff game log
Division Semifinals: 0–2 (home: 0–1; road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points Location Series
1 March 15 @ Detroit L 83–100 Clyde Lovellette (15) Detroit Olympia 0–1
2 March 16 Detroit L 104–124 Jack Twyman (24) Cincinnati Gardens 0–2
1958 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
Dick Duckett
George King
Clyde Lovellette
Tom Marshall
Monk Meineke
Jerry Paulson
Jim Paxson
Dave Piontek
Richie Regan
Dick Ricketts
Maurice Stokes
Jack Twyman

Playoffs

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
George King
Clyde Lovellette
Tom Marshall
Monk Meineke
Jim Paxson
Dave Piontek
Richie Regan
Dick Ricketts
Maurice Stokes
Jack Twyman

Awards and honors

  • Maurice Stokes, 2nd in rebounds, 3rd in assists, Second Team All-NBA.
  • Clyde Lovellette, 1st in field goals made, 4th in scoring, 4th in shooting accuracy, Second Team All-NBA.
  • Jack Twyman, 1st in shooting accuracy, NBA All-Star.
  • George King, among top ten in NBA assists.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Cincinnati Royals (1957–1972)
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