1962–63 Cincinnati Royals season

{{short description|NBA professional basketball team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{NBA season

| logo =

| team = Cincinnati Royals

| end_year = 1963

| wins = 42

| losses = 38

| division = Eastern

| division_place = 3

| coach = Charles Wolf

| owners = Thomas E. Woods estate
Louis Jacobs

| arena = Cincinnati Gardens

| television = WKRC-TV

| radio = WKRC

| playoffs = Division finals
(lost to Celtics 3–4)

}}

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.[http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/cincy/cincyroyals.html Cincinnati Royals (1957–1972)]

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. 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

{{NBA roster header|team=Cincinnati Royals|season=1962–63}}

{{player2 | num = 11 | first = Arlen | last = Bockhorn | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 200 | college = Dayton | DOB = 1933–07–08}}

{{player2 | num = 13 | first = Bob | last = Boozer | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 215 | college = Kansas State | DOB = 1937–04–26}}

{{player2 | num = 21 | first = Joe | last = Buckhalter | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 210 | college = Tennessee State | DOB = 1937–08–01}}

{{player2 | num = 15 | first = Wayne | last = Embry | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 240 | college = Miami (OH) | DOB = 1937–03–26}}

{{player2 | num = 19 | first = Tom | last = Hawkins |dab=basketball | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 5 | lbs = 210 | college = Notre Dame | DOB = 1936–12–22}}

{{player2 | num = 16 | first = Bud | last = Olsen | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 220 | college = Louisville | DOB = 1940–07–25}}

{{player2 | num = 61 | first = Dave | last = Piontek | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 230 | college = Xavier | DOB = 1937–08–27}}

{{player2 | num = 51 | first = Hub | last = Reed | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 215 | college = Oklahoma City | DOB = 1936–10–04}}

{{player2 | num = 14 | first = Oscar | last = Robertson | pos = PG | ft = 6 | in = 5 | lbs = 205 | college = Cincinnati | DOB = 1938–11–24}}

{{player2 | num = 10 | first = Adrian | last = Smith | dab=basketball | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 180 | college = Kentucky | DOB = 1936–10–05}}

{{player2 | num = 41 | first = Dan | last = Tieman | pos = PG | ft = 6 | in = 0 | lbs = 185 | college = Thomas More | DOB = 1940–11–30}}

{{player2 | num = 31 | first = Jack | last = Twyman | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 210 | college = Cincinnati | DOB = 1934–05–11}}

{{NBA roster footer

| head_coach =*Charles Wolf

| asst_coach =

| roster_url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CIN/1963.html

| transaction_url =

| accessdate =

}}

Regular season

=Season standings=

{{1962–63 NBA East standings|team=CIN}}

=Record vs. opponents=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
colspan=10|1962-63 NBA Records
width=100|Team

!style="background:#006400;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|BOS

!style="background:#052A61;color:#979757;width=35"|CHI

!style="background:#012F6B;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|CIN

!style="background:#012F6B;color:#D40032;width=35"|DET

!style="background:#004B87;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|LAL

!style="background:#003EA4;color:#FF8C00;width=35"|NYK

!style="background:#FFC62C;color:#012D6C;width=35"|SFW

!style="background:#C90F2E;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|STL

!style="background:#D40032;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|SYR

style="text-align:left;" | Boston8–29–38–04–510–28–15–36–6
style="text-align:left;" | Chicago2–84–63–73–74–64–63–72–8
style="text-align:left;" | Cincinnati3–96–44–43–610–26–33–57–5
style="text-align:left;" | Detroit0–87–34–41–118–17–54–83–6
style="text-align:left;" | Los Angeles5–47–36–311–15–38–47–54–4
style="text-align:left;" | New York2–106–42–101–83–52–63–62–10
style="text-align:left;" | San Francisco1–86–43–65–74–86–23–93–5
style="text-align:left;" | St. Louis3–57–35–38–45–76–39–35–4
style="text-align:left;" | Syracuse6–68–25–76–34–410–25–34–5

=Season schedule=

class="toccolours collapsible" width=50% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center"
colspan=11 style="background:#0046AD; color:white;" | 1962–63 game log
align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd"

| #

DateOpponentScoreHigh pointsRecord
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 1

October 20@ Chicago109–113Oscar Robertson (29)0–1
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 2

October 23Los Angeles115–116Oscar Robertson (32)1–1
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 3

October 24@ St. Louis114–121Oscar Robertson (31)1–2
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 4

October 26St. Louis102–118Oscar Robertson (27)2–2
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 5

October 28San Francisco130–131 (OT)Oscar Robertson (36)3–2
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 6

November 3@ Syracuse111–130Robertson, Twyman (22)3–3
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 7

November 7Boston106–105Oscar Robertson (42)3–4
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 8

November 8@ Detroit114–116Oscar Robertson (38)3–5
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 9

November 9@ New York122–119Oscar Robertson (37)4–5
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 10

November 10Detroit124–135Oscar Robertson (32)5–5
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 11

November 12@ Boston126–137Robertson, Twyman (26)5–6
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 12

November 13N Detroit109–127Oscar Robertson (31)6–6
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 13

November 14Syracuse120–125Oscar Robertson (33)7–6
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 14

November 16St. Louis111–120Jack Twyman (27)8–6
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 15

November 18San Francisco120–132Robertson, Twyman (32)9–6
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 16

November 21@ San Francisco143–139Oscar Robertson (40)10–6
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 17

November 22@ Los Angeles110–134Oscar Robertson (21)10–7
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 18

November 24@ Los Angeles123–129Wayne Embry (34)10–8
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 19

November 25@ San Francisco128–115Jack Twyman (27)11–8
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 20

November 27@ New York139–129Oscar Robertson (31)12–8
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 21

November 30Syracuse117–130Oscar Robertson (31)13–8
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 22

December 1@ Chicago131–121Oscar Robertson (30)14–8
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 23

December 2Boston128–127 (OT)Robertson, Twyman (29)14–9
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 24

December 6New York99–96Jack Twyman (24)14–10
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 25

December 8Los Angeles131–128 (OT)Oscar Robertson (42)14–11
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 26

December 11N Los Angeles124–121Oscar Robertson (31)14–12
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 27

December 12N Chicago102–105Adrian Smith (17)14–13
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 28

December 13N Chicago142–123Jack Twyman (32)15–13
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 29

December 15@ Boston124–120Oscar Robertson (26)16–13
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 30

December 18@ New York102–103Oscar Robertson (28)16–14
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 31

December 19Syracuse120–129Oscar Robertson (32)17–14
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 32

December 21Chicago116–129Oscar Robertson (30)18–14
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 33

December 25Detroit120–131Oscar Robertson (35)19–14
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 34

December 28Boston121–113Oscar Robertson (35)19–15
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 35

December 29@ Chicago104–108Wayne Embry (25)19–16
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 36

January 1New York106–112 (OT)Oscar Robertson (32)20–16
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 37

January 2@ Detroit118–138Wayne Embry (23)20–17
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 38

January 4San Francisco129–130Jack Twyman (35)21–17
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 39

January 5N Syracuse136–117Oscar Robertson (35)21–18
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 40

January 6Los Angeles120–119 (OT)Oscar Robertson (33)21–19
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 41

January 8N Syracuse119–116Jack Twyman (35)21–20
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 42

January 9@ Syracuse116–112Oscar Robertson (29)22–20
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 43

January 10Boston121–130Oscar Robertson (41)23–20
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 44

January 12@ St. Louis109–115Oscar Robertson (25)23–21
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 45

January 13St. Louis105–104Oscar Robertson (31)23–22
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 46

January 18@ Boston114–122Oscar Robertson (33)23–23
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 47

January 19New York108–114Oscar Robertson (26)24–23
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 48

January 20@ Chicago93–113Embry, Robertson (18)24–24
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 49

January 23Boston133–138Oscar Robertson (43)25–24
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 50

January 25@ New York114–112Jack Twyman (25)26–24
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 51

January 26Chicago116–142Oscar Robertson (24)27–24
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 52

January 27N Chicago143–126Oscar Robertson (31)28–24
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 53

January 31N Boston125–128Jack Twyman (32)28–25
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 54

February 1N San Francisco133–126Oscar Robertson (25)28–26
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 55

February 2N Syracuse117–113Jack Twyman (25)28–27
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 56

February 3@ Syracuse125–115Oscar Robertson (26)29–27
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 57

February 5Boston106–96Oscar Robertson (22)29–28
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 58

February 7San Francisco129–134Oscar Robertson (33)30–28
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 59

February 8@ St. Louis116–112Wayne Embry (23)31–28
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 60

February 10Los Angeles107–124Oscar Robertson (29)32–28
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 61

February 13N Syracuse122–124Oscar Robertson (34)33–28
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 62

February 15St. Louis99–96Oscar Robertson (23)33–29
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 63

February 16@ Detroit110–99Wayne Embry (27)34–29
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 64

February 17@ New York109–98Jack Twyman (27)35–29
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 65

February 19@ Boston126–129Oscar Robertson (35)35–30
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 66

February 20@ Syracuse109–128Jack Twyman (27)35–31
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 67

February 21New York96–115Oscar Robertson (25)36–31
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 68

February 23Detroit105–102Oscar Robertson (24)36–32
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 69

February 24N Detroit119–110Oscar Robertson (36)36–33
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 70

February 26@ St. Louis107–114Oscar Robertson (30)36–34
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 71

February 27New York107–119Oscar Robertson (30)37–34
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 72

March 1N San Francisco132–125Oscar Robertson (32)37–35
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 73

March 3@ San Francisco122–123Jack Twyman (27)37–36
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 74

March 4@ Los Angeles114–111Jack Twyman (24)38–36
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 75

March 6@ Los Angeles97–106Oscar Robertson (26)38–37
align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"

| 76

March 10@ Boston117–149Oscar Robertson (23)38–38
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 77

March 12@ New York110–96Bob Boozer (21)39–38
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 78

March 13Syracuse114–128Oscar Robertson (35)40–38
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 79

March 16@ Chicago126–117Oscar Robertson (24)41–38
align="center" bgcolor="ccffcc"

| 80

March 17New York109–116Oscar 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

{{NBA game log start|Cincinnati Royals|end_year=1963|playoffs=yes}}

{{NBA game log section|Cincinnati Royals|Division Semi-finals|playoffs=yes|first=yes|show=no

| home_wins = 2

| home_losses = 0

| road_wins = 1

| road_losses = 2

| hide_rebounds = yes

| hide_assists = yes

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 1

| March 19

| @ Syracuse

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196303190SYR.html L 120–123]

| Oscar Robertson (29)

| Onondaga War Memorial
4,335

| 0–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 2

| March 21

| Syracuse

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196303210CIN.html W 133–115]

| Oscar Robertson (41)

| Cincinnati Gardens
3,205

| 1–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 3

| March 23

| @ Syracuse

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196303230SYR.html L 117–121]

| Embry, Twyman (24)

| Onondaga War Memorial
8,007

| 1–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 4

| March 24

| Syracuse

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196303240CIN.html W 125–118]

| Oscar Robertson (29)

| Cincinnati Gardens
3,331

| 2–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 5

| March 26

| @ Syracuse

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196303260SYR.html W 131–127 (OT)]

| Oscar Robertson (32)

| Onondaga War Memorial
7,418

| 3–2

|-

{{NBA game log section|Cincinnati Royals|Division finals|playoffs=yes|show=no

| home_wins = 1

| home_losses = 2

| road_wins = 2

| road_losses = 2

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 1

| March 28

| @ Boston

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196303280BOS.html W 135–132]

| Oscar Robertson (43)

| Oscar Robertson (14)

| Oscar Robertson (10)

| Boston Garden
13,798

| 0–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 2

| March 29

| Boston

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196303290CIN.html L 102–125]

| Oscar Robertson (28)

| Wayne Embry (16)

| —

| Cincinnati Gardens
11,102

| 1–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 3

| March 31

| @ Boston

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196303310BOS.html W 121–116]

| Oscar Robertson (23)

| Bob Boozer (14)

| Oscar Robertson (8)

| Boston Garden
13,909

| 2–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 4

| April 3

| Boston

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196304030CIN.html L 110–128]

| Oscar Robertson (25)

| Robertson, Embry (15)

| —

| Cincinnati Gardens
3,498

| 2–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 5

| April 6

| @ Boston

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196304060BOS.html L 120–125]

| Oscar Robertson (36)

| Wayne Embry (14)

| Oscar Robertson (10)

| Boston Garden
13,909

| 2–3

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 6

| April 7

| Boston

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196304070CIN.html W 109–99]

| Oscar Robertson (36)

| Wayne Embry (22)

| —

| Cincinnati Gardens
7,745

| 3–3

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 7

| April 10

| @ Boston

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196304100BOS.html L 131–142]

| Oscar Robertson (43)

| Embry, Hawkins (7)

| Oscar Robertson (6)

| Boston Garden
13,909

| 3–4

|-

{{NBA game log end|bbr_team=CIN|playoffs=yes|end_year=1963}}

Player statistics

{{NBA roster statistics legend}}

=Season=

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%"
style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="10%" | Player

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | GP

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | GS

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | MPG

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | FG%

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | 3FG%

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | FT%

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | RPG

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | APG

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | SPG

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | BPG

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | PPG

{{sort|Bockhorn, Arlen|Arlen Bockhorn}}

|

{{sort|Boozer, Bob|Bob Boozer}}

|

{{sort|Buckhalter, Joe|Joe Buckhalter}}

|

{{sort|Embry, Wayne|Wayne Embry}}

|

{{sort|Hawkins, Tom|Tom Hawkins}}

|

{{sort|Olsen, Bud|Bud Olsen}}

|

{{sort|Piontek, Dave|Dave Piontek}}

|

{{sort|Reed, Hub|Hub Reed}}

|

{{sort|Robertson, Oscar|Oscar Robertson}}

|

{{sort|Smith, Adrian|Adrian Smith}}

|

{{sort|Tieman, Dan|Dan Tieman}}

|

{{sort|Twyman, Jack|Jack Twyman}}

|

=Playoffs=

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%"
style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="10%" | Player

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | GP

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | GS

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | MPG

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | FG%

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | 3FG%

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | FT%

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | RPG

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | APG

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | SPG

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | BPG

! style="background:#393997;color:#c5ced4;" width="6%" | PPG

{{sort|Bockhorn, Arlen|Arlen Bockhorn}}

|

{{sort|Boozer, Bob|Bob Boozer}}

|

{{sort|Embry, Wayne|Wayne Embry}}

|

{{sort|Hawkins, Tom|Tom Hawkins}}

|

{{sort|Olsen, Bud|Bud Olsen}}

|

{{sort|Piontek, Dave|Dave Piontek}}

|

{{sort|Reed, Hub|Hub Reed}}

|

{{sort|Robertson, Oscar|Oscar Robertson}}

|

{{sort|Smith, Adrian|Adrian Smith}}

|

{{sort|Twyman, Jack|Jack Twyman}}

|

Awards and honors

References

{{reflist}}

  • [https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CIN/1963.html Royals on Basketball Reference]

{{1962-63 NBA season by team}}

{{Cincinnati Royals seasons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1962-63 Cincinnati Royals season}}

Category:Sacramento Kings seasons

Cincinnati

Cincinnati

Cincinnati