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1962–63  Cincinnati Royals season
Head coach Charles Wolf
OwnersThomas E. Woods estate
Louis Jacobs
Arena Cincinnati Gardens
Results
Record42–38 (.525)
PlaceDivision: 3rd ( Eastern)
Playoff finish Division finals
(lost to Celtics 3–4)
Local media
Television WKRC-TV
Radio WKRC
< 1961–62 1963–64 >

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. Name Height Weight DOB From
SG 11 Bockhorn, Arlen 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1933–07–08 Dayton
PF 13 Boozer, Bob 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1937–04–26 Kansas State
PF 21 Buckhalter, Joe 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1937–08–01 Tennessee State
C 15 Embry, Wayne 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1937–03–26 Miami (OH)
SF 19 Hawkins, Tom 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1936–12–22 Notre Dame
PF 16 Olsen, Bud 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1940–07–25 Louisville
SF 61 Piontek, Dave 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1937–08–27 Xavier
C 51 Reed, Hub 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1936–10–04 Oklahoma City
PG 14 Robertson, Oscar 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1938–11–24 Cincinnati
SG 10 Smith, Adrian 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1936–10–05 Kentucky
PG 41 Tieman, Dan 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1940–11–30 Thomas More
SF 31 Twyman, Jack 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1934–05–11 Cincinnati
Head coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured 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

Record vs. opponents

1962-63 NBA Records
Team BOS CHI CIN DET LAL NYK SFW STL SYR
Boston – 8–2 9–3 8–0 4–5 10–2 8–1 5–3 6–6
Chicago 2–8 – 4–6 3–7 3–7 4–6 4–6 3–7 2–8
Cincinnati 3–9 6–4 – 4–4 3–6 10–2 6–3 3–5 7–5
Detroit 0–8 7–3 4–4 – 1–11 8–1 7–5 4–8 3–6
Los Angeles 5–4 7–3 6–3 11–1 – 5–3 8–4 7–5 4–4
New York 2–10 6–4 2–10 1–8 3–5 – 2–6 3–6 2–10
San Francisco 1–8 6–4 3–6 5–7 4–8 6–2 – 3–9 3–5
St. Louis 3–5 7–3 5–3 8–4 5–7 6–3 9–3 – 5–4
Syracuse 6–6 8–2 5–7 6–3 4–4 10–2 5–3 4–5 —

Season schedule

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

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