1961–62 Cincinnati Royals season

1961–62 Cincinnati Royals season
Head coach	Charles Wolf
Owners	Thomas E. Woods
Arena	Cincinnati Gardens
Results
Record	43–37 (.538)
Place	Division: 2nd (Western)
Playoff finish	Division Semifinals (Lost to Pistons 1–3)
Local media
Television	WKRC-TV
Radio	WKRC

The 1961/62 season was the Royals 14th season in the NBA and its fifth in Cincinnati. Oscar Robertson had a career season as he averaged a triple double on the season. All 5 starters on the Royals averaged double digits points per games as the team ended a 4-year playoff drought. The Royals had a record of 43–37 and the improving team finished in 2nd place. Despite that, the NBA team had real local competition for fans in The Queen City due to remarkably successful college teams there. The starting five of the team had improved, with Bob Boozer improving to join solid holdovers Oscar Robertson, Jack Twyman, Wayne Embry, Bucky Bockhorn. In the playoffs, the Royals dealt with injuries and would be defeated by the Detroit Pistons in 4 games.

Roster

1961–62 Cincinnati Royals roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From SG 11 Bockhorn, Bucky 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) C 61 Nordmann, Bevo 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1939–12–11 Saint Louis 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 SF 31 Twyman, Jack 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1934–05–11 Cincinnati SF 71 Wiesenhahn, Bob 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1938–12–22 Cincinnati PG 18 Zeller, Dave 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1939–06–08 Miami (OH)

Head coach Charles Wolf Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Western Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Neutral	Div
x-Los Angeles Lakers	54	26	.675	–	26–5	18–13	10–8	33–13
x-Cincinnati Royals	43	37	.538	11	18–13	14–16	11–8	29–17
x-Detroit Pistons	37	43	.463	17	16–14	8–17	13–12	24–22
St. Louis Hawks	29	51	.363	25	19–16	7–27	3–8	16–30
Chicago Packers	18	62	.225	36	15-23	3-39	0–0	10–30

Record vs. opponents

1961-62 NBA Records
Team	BOS	CHI	CIN	DET	LAL	NYK	PHI	STL	SYR
Boston	—	9–1	7–1	5–3	6–3	8–4	8–4	7–2	10–2
Chicago	1–9	—	1–9	3–7	2–8	6–4	0–10	4–6	1–9
Cincinnati	1–7	9–1	—	6–6	5–7	5–4	3–5	9–3	5–4
Detroit	3–5	7–3	6–6	—	4–8	5–4	1–7	7–5	4–5
Los Angeles	3–6	8–2	7–5	8–4	—	6–2	6–3	10–2	6–2
New York	4–8	4–6	4–5	4–5	2–6	—	4–8	4–4	3–9
Philadelphia	4–8	10–0	5–3	7–1	3–6	8–4	—	6–3	6–6
St. Louis	2–7	6–4	3–9	5–7	2–10	4–4	3–6	—	4–4
Syracuse	2–10	9–1	4–5	5–4	2–6	9–3	6–6	4–4	—

Playoffs

(2) Cincinnati Royals vs. (3) Detroit Pistons: Pistons win series 3-1

• Game 1 @ Detroit: Detroit 123, Cincinnati 122
• Game 2 @ Cincinnati: Cincinnati 129, Detroit 107
• Game 3 @ Detroit: Detroit 118, Cincinnati 107
• Game 4 @ Cincinnati: Detroit 112, Cincinnati 111

Last Playoffs meeting: 1958 Eastern Division Semifinals (Detroit won 2–0).

Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Bucky Bockhorn
Bob Boozer
Joe Buckhalter
Wayne Embry
Bevo Nordmann
Hub Reed
Oscar Robertson
Adrian Smith
Jack Twyman
Bob Wiesenhahn
Dave Zeller

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Bucky Bockhorn
Bob Boozer
Joe Buckhalter
Wayne Embry
Bevo Nordmann
Hub Reed
Oscar Robertson
Adrian Smith
Jack Twyman
Bob Wiesenhahn
Dave Zeller

Awards and honors

• Oscar Robertson, All-NBA First Team
• Oscar Robertson, NBA Leader, Assists, 899

References

• Royals on Basketball Reference