Roster
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| 1960–61 Cincinnati Royals season | |
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| Head coach | Charles Wolf |
| Owners | Thomas E. Woods |
| Arena | Cincinnati Gardens |
| Results | |
| Record | 33–46 (.418) |
| Place | Division: 4th (Western) |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | WKRC-TV |
| Radio | WKRC |
The 1960–61 season was the Royals 13th season in the NBA and its fourth in Cincinnati. The season was defined by the debut of Oscar Robertson. He would win the Rookie of the Year by nearly averaging a triple double for the entire season. The Big O averaged 30.5 points per game, 10.1 rebounds per game and 9.7 assists per game. He was also MVP of the 1961 NBA All-Star Game. [1] Robertson's arrival drew considerable publicity to a team on the verge of folding after the last two brutal seasons. Even a year ago, with the Royals playing before sparse crowds, the mantra was ' Robertson will be here next year '. The Royals actually had four key rookies that year arrive. Along with Robertson, previous #1 pick Bob Boozer, guard Ralph Davis, and college scorer Jay Arnette all arrived to boost the roster. Tom Marshall had served as coach the previous two difficult years. While many thought a bigger NBA name like Red Rocha should now take over, kindly small-college coach Charlie Wolf was inexpensively brought on to aid the young roster. Wolf moved Robertson to lead guard, and the team immediately improved. Jack Twyman, Wayne Embry and Arlen Bockhorn were solid starters in support of the new superstar. Robertson brought a brash leadership to the team, helping to organize the team's attack. The infusion of talented youth overall gave the team a real lift. No ordinary rookie, Robertson scored 30.5 points per game, led the NBA in assists by a clear margin, sank the third-highest number of free throws in the league, and was even second on the Royals in rebounding. He was a 6' 5 player unlike any seen before in the NBA. Robertson's debut was against the now-Los Angeles Lakers in their first game since moving from Minneapolis on October 19. It was also the rookie debut of the Lakers' Jerry West. Robertson triple-doubled in his first NBA game and led the Royals to the highest point total since moving to Cincinnati in the 140–123 win before a large Gardens crowd. Robertson produced large turnouts for the Royals all through November. But the team went 4–13 that month, ending their star's honeymoon. Injuries to the hard-worked Embry saw the team go 6–12 in January, souring the team's playoff chances. Star forward Twyman was the chief target of Robertson passes. Twyman's deadly jumper found the net at 25.3 points per game. The Royals would fall 1 game short of a playoff appearance as they finished in last place with a record of 33 wins and 46 losses. [1]
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| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
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| 1 | 1 | Oscar Robertson |  United States | Cincinnati | |
| 2 | 9 | Jay Arnette | United States | Texas | |
Ralph Davis from the University of Cincinnati, a recommended teammate of Robertson, was the team's third pick that year. The team's previous #1 pick from last year, Bob Boozer from Kansas State, reported this year also. He had spent the previous year with the AAU Peoria Caterpillars. Robertson, Boozer and Arnette had all played on the famed 1960 U.S. Olympic team.
| W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Neutral | Div | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x- St. Louis Hawks | 51 | 28 | .646 | – | 29–5 | 15–20 | 7–3 | 25–14 |
| x- Los Angeles Lakers | 36 | 43 | .456 | 15 | 16–12 | 8–20 | 12–11 | 19–20 |
| x- Detroit Pistons | 34 | 45 | .430 | 17 | 20–11 | 3–19 | 11–15 | 18–21 |
| Cincinnati Royals | 33 | 46 | .418 | 18 | 18–13 | 8–19 | 7–14 | 16–23 |
| 1960-61 NBA Records | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | BOS | CIN | DET | LAL | NYK | PHI | STL | SYR |
| Boston | — | 7–3 | 8–2 | 8–2 | 10–3 | 8–5 | 6–4 | 10–3 |
| Cincinnati | 3–7 | — | 2–11 | 8–5 | 8–2 | 2–8 | 6–7 | 4–6 |
| Detroit | 2–8 | 11–2 | — | 4–9 | 5–5 | 5–5 | 3–10 | 4–6 |
| Los Angeles | 2–8 | 5–8 | 9–4 | — | 7–3 | 2–8 | 5–8 | 6–4 |
| New York | 3–10 | 2–8 | 5–5 | 3–7 | — | 2–11 | 1–9 | 5–8 |
| Philadelphia | 5–8 | 8–2 | 5–5 | 8–2 | 11–2 | — | 3–7 | 6–7 |
| St. Louis | 4–6 | 7–6 | 10–3 | 8–5 | 9–1 | 7–3 | — | 6–4 |
| Syracuse | 3–10 | 6–4 | 6–4 | 4–6 | 8–5 | 7–6 | 4–6 | — |
| 1960–61 Game log | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record | |||||
| 1 | October 19 | Los Angeles | 123–140 | Jack Twyman (30) | 1–0 | |||||
| 2 | October 20 | @ New York | 113–105 | Oscar Robertson (28) | 2–0 | |||||
| 3 | October 22 | New York | 117–119 | Phil Jordon (28) | 3–0 | |||||
| 4 | October 23 | St. Louis | 103–114 | Oscar Robertson (32) | 4–0 | |||||
| 5 | October 26 | @ Detroit | 117–131 | Jack Twyman (33) | 4–1 | |||||
| 6 | October 27 | Syracuse | 140–143 (OT) | Oscar Robertson (39) | 5–1 | |||||
| 7 | October 29 | @ St. Louis | 97–113 | Oscar Robertson (17) | 5–2 | |||||
| 8 | November 1 | Philadelphia | 131–113 | Phil Jordon (18) | 5–3 | |||||
| 9 | November 5 | @ Boston | 113–104 | Oscar Robertson (25) | 6–3 | |||||
| 10 | November 8 | Boston | 136–120 | Jack Twyman (32) | 6–4 | |||||
| 11 | November 11 | N Boston | 110–128 | Jack Twyman (29) | 6–5 | |||||
| 12 | November 12 | @ Detroit | 112–116 | Jack Twyman (25) | 6–6 | |||||
| 13 | November 13 | Detroit | 125–113 | Robertson, Twyman (34) | 6–7 | |||||
| 14 | November 15 | Philadelphia | 115–124 | Oscar Robertson (44) | 7–7 | |||||
| 15 | November 16 | @ Syracuse | 87–124 | Jack Twyman (22) | 7–8 | |||||
| 16 | November 18 | St. Louis | 128–129 (OT) | Oscar Robertson (36) | 8–8 | |||||
| 17 | November 19 | @ St. Louis | 120–121 | Oscar Robertson (37) | 8–9 | |||||
| 18 | November 20 | Boston | 120–103 | Oscar Robertson (21) | 8–10 | |||||
| 19 | November 22 | N Los Angeles | 133–118 | Phil Jordon (25) | 8–11 | |||||
| 20 | November 23 | Los Angeles | 118–122 | Oscar Robertson (31) | 9–11 | |||||
| 21 | November 24 | N Los Angeles | 108–100 | Jack Twyman (35) | 9–12 | |||||
| 22 | November 26 | @ Philadelphia | 108–138 | Oscar Robertson (26) | 9–13 | |||||
| 23 | November 27 | New York | 122–118 (OT) | Oscar Robertson (42) | 9–14 | |||||
| 24 | November 29 | N Syracuse | 129–105 | Jack Twyman (31) | 9–15 | |||||
| 25 | December 1 | Syracuse | 137–126 | Oscar Robertson (41) | 9–16 | |||||
| 26 | December 4 | N Detroit | 116–115 | Oscar Robertson (34) | 9–17 | |||||
| 27 | December 6 | @ New York | 117–112 | Jack Twyman (28) | 10–17 | |||||
| 28 | December 7 | Los Angeles | 112–114 | Oscar Robertson (38) | 11–17 | |||||
| 29 | December 8 | N Boston | 118–115 | Robertson, Twyman (36) | 12–17 | |||||
| 30 | December 9 | @ Boston | 123–146 | Jack Twyman (29) | 12–18 | |||||
| 31 | December 13 | N Syracuse | 107–105 | Jack Twyman (37) | 12–19 | |||||
| 32 | December 14 | New York | 114–121 | Arlen Bockhorn (35) | 13–19 | |||||
| 33 | December 16 | Los Angeles | 116–130 | Oscar Robertson (39) | 14–19 | |||||
| 34 | December 18 | Philadelphia | 128–112 | Oscar Robertson (31) | 14–20 | |||||
| 35 | December 20 | N Boston | 112–115 | Jack Twyman (36) | 14–21 | |||||
| 36 | December 25 | Detroit | 119–126 | Oscar Robertson (32) | 15–21 | |||||
| 37 | December 26 | @ Detroit | 132–137 | Oscar Robertson (43) | 15–22 | |||||
| 38 | December 27 | Syracuse | 124–129 | Oscar Robertson (45) | 16–22 | |||||
| 39 | December 28 | N New York | 104–114 | Oscar Robertson (38) | 17–22 | |||||
| 40 | December 29 | @ Philadelphia | 124–128 | Oscar Robertson (36) | 17–23 | |||||
| 41 | December 30 | N Philadelphia | 130–136 | Oscar Robertson (38) | 18–23 | |||||
| 42 | January 1 | St. Louis | 112–114 | Oscar Robertson (28) | 19–23 | |||||
| 43 | January 2 | N Syracuse | 125–126 | Oscar Robertson (42) | 20–23 | |||||
| 44 | January 4 | @ Syracuse | 134–126 | Oscar Robertson (32) | 21–23 | |||||
| 45 | January 5 | Boston | 125–107 | Oscar Robertson (38) | 21–24 | |||||
| 46 | January 10 | @ St. Louis | 110–119 | Oscar Robertson (31) | 21–25 | |||||
| 47 | January 11 | @ Detroit | 122–126 | Oscar Robertson (29) | 21–26 | |||||
| 48 | January 12 | N Detroit | 124–112 | Oscar Robertson (31) | 21–27 | |||||
| 49 | January 14 | @ Los Angeles | 114–123 | Oscar Robertson (45) | 21–28 | |||||
| 50 | January 15 | @ Los Angeles | 109–105 | Jack Twyman (31) | 22–28 | |||||
| 51 | January 18 | N Detroit | 144–128 | Ralph Davis (25) | 22–29 | |||||
| 52 | January 19 | New York | 129–122 | Jack Twyman (34) | 22–30 | |||||
| 53 | January 21 | N Detroit | 130–106 | Jack Twyman (22) | 22–31 | |||||
| 54 | January 22 | St. Louis | 108–115 | Wayne Embry (28) | 23–31 | |||||
| 55 | January 24 | Detroit | 106–104 | Jack Twyman (37) | 23–32 | |||||
| 56 | January 25 | @ Detroit | 125–138 | Jack Twyman (21) | 23–33 | |||||
| 57 | January 27 | Syracuse | 138–126 | Jack Twyman (37) | 23–34 | |||||
| 58 | January 28 | @ St. Louis | 116–136 | Jack Twyman (34) | 23–35 | |||||
| 59 | January 30 | Boston | 88–116 | Jack Twyman (41) | 24–35 | |||||
| 60 | February 2 | @ Philadelphia | 118–133 | Jack Twyman (25) | 24–36 | |||||
| 61 | February 3 | N Philadelphia | 136–135 | Wayne Embry (37) | 24–37 | |||||
| 62 | February 5 | @ Syracuse | 115–129 | Oscar Robertson (38) | 24–38 | |||||
| 63 | February 6 | N Los Angeles | 110–101 | Oscar Robertson (37) | 24–39 | |||||
| 64 | February 9 | N New York | 115–119 | Wayne Embry (23) | 25–39 | |||||
| 65 | February 11 | @ St. Louis | 122–123 | Oscar Robertson (38) | 25–40 | |||||
| 66 | February 12 | @ New York | 105–104 | Oscar Robertson (32) | 26–40 | |||||
| 67 | February 13 | N Los Angeles | 100–104 | Oscar Robertson (40) | 27–40 | |||||
| 68 | February 16 | St. Louis | 107–133 | Oscar Robertson (31) | 28–40 | |||||
| 69 | February 19 | Los Angeles | 106–112 | Oscar Robertson (43) | 29–40 | |||||
| 70 | February 21 | @ St. Louis | 114–126 | Oscar Robertson (36) | 29–41 | |||||
| 71 | February 22 | N Philadelphia | 132–131 | Oscar Robertson (39) | 29–42 | |||||
| 72 | February 25 | Philadelphia | 129–120 | Oscar Robertson (39) | 29–43 | |||||
| 73 | February 26 | St. Louis | 148–122 | Jack Twyman (25) | 29–44 | |||||
| 74 | February 28 | N St. Louis | 105–131 | Jack Twyman (24) | 30–44 | |||||
| 75 | March 1 | Detroit | 122–137 | Oscar Robertson (37) | 31–44 | |||||
| 76 | March 5 | @ New York | 124–118 | Robertson, Twyman (27) | 32–44 | |||||
| 77 | March 7 | N Boston | 121–124 | Oscar Robertson (32) | 32–45 | |||||
| 78 | March 11 | @ Los Angeles | 108–105 | Jack Twyman (23) | 33–45 | |||||
| 79 | March 12 | @ Los Angeles | 122–123 | Oscar Robertson (38) | 33–46 | |||||
| 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 |
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlen Bockhorn | |||||||||||
| Bob Boozer | |||||||||||
| Ralph Davis | |||||||||||
| Wayne Embry | |||||||||||
| Mike Farmer | |||||||||||
| Phil Jordon | |||||||||||
| Hub Reed | |||||||||||
| Oscar Robertson | |||||||||||
| Phil Rollins | |||||||||||
| Larry Staverman | |||||||||||
| Jack Twyman | |||||||||||
| Win Wilfong |
Oscar Palmer Robertson, nicknamed "the Big O", is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Robertson played point guard and was a 12-time All-Star, 11-time member of the All-NBA Team, and one-time winner of the MVP award in 14 seasons. In 1962, he became the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double for a season. In the 1970–71 NBA season, he was a key player on the team that brought the Bucks their first NBA title. His playing career, especially during high school and college, was plagued by racism.
Jerry Ray Lucas is an American former basketball player. He was a nationally awarded high school player, national college star at Ohio State, and 1960 gold medal Olympian and international player before later starring as a professional player in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Maurice Stokes was an American professional basketball player. He played for the Cincinnati/Rochester Royals of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1955 to 1958. Stokes was a three-time NBA All-Star, a three-time All-NBA Second Team member and the 1956 NBA Rookie of the Year. His career – and later his life – was cut short by a debilitating brain injury and paralysis.
Wayne Richard Embry is a retired American basketball player and basketball executive. Embry's 11-year playing career as a center spanned from 1958 to 1969 playing for the Cincinnati Royals, Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks, all of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After his playing career, Embry transitioned to a career as a professional basketball executive, becoming the first African-American general manager and team president in NBA history.
Robert Louis Boozer was an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Boozer won a gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics and won an NBA Championship as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks in 1971. Boozer was a member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic team, which was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a unit in 2010.
The 1968–69 NBA season was the 23rd season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning the NBA Championship, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.
The 1967–68 NBA season was the 22nd season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning the NBA Championship, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals.
The 1966–67 NBA season was the 21st season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Philadelphia 76ers winning the NBA Championship, beating the San Francisco Warriors 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals, ending the Boston Celtics' record title run at 8.
The 1965–66 NBA season was the 20th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning an unprecedented 8th straight NBA Championship, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 3 in the 1966 NBA Finals.
The 1963–64 NBA season was the 18th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning their 6th straight NBA Championship, beating the San Francisco Warriors 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals.
The 1962–63 NBA season was the 17th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning their 5th straight NBA Championship, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals.
The 1961–62 NBA season was the 16th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning their 4th straight NBA title, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.
The 1960–61 NBA season was the 15th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning their 3rd straight NBA title, beating the St. Louis Hawks 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals.
The 1959–60 NBA season was the 14th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning their 2nd straight NBA title, beating the St. Louis Hawks 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.
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, Arlen Bockhorn. In the playoffs, the Royals dealt with injuries and would be defeated by the Detroit Pistons in 4 games.
The 1963–64 season was the Royals 16th season in the NBA and its seventh in Cincinnati. The Royals finished in 2nd place with a 55–25 record, the second best record in the NBA. The team's outstanding roster included Oscar Robertson, Jerry Lucas, Team Captain Wayne Embry, Jack Twyman, Arlen Bockhorn, Bob Boozer, Tom Hawkins, Adrian Smith, Bud Olsen, Larry Staverman and coach Jack McMahon . The team is noteworthy for having both the NBA MVP in Robertson and the NBA Rookie of the Year in Lucas, a rare occurrence in NBA history. The team played most of their home games at Cincinnati Gardens arena, but also hosted home games that season in Dayton, Lima, Columbus at Saint John arena and Cleveland at Cleveland Arena. In the playoffs the Royals defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in a 5-game series, but both Lucas and Olsen would be lost to injury. In the Eastern Conference Final, the Royals were eliminated by the Boston Celtics, who triumphed in 5 games.
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. 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 1958–59 Cincinnati Royal season was the 14th season of the franchise, its 11th season in the NBA and second season in Cincinnati.
The 1966–67 season was the Royals 22nd overall, and their tenth in Cincinnati.
The 1964–65 season was the Royals' 19th season in the NBA and eighth in Cincinnati. By the end of the season, Oscar Robertson's career statistics for the first five years of his career averaged out to a triple double: 30.3 points per game, 10.4 rebounds per game, and 10.6 assists per game. The season began with high hopes as the Royals had played well the previous season against Boston and were improving as a team. In addition to Robertson, second-year big man Jerry Lucas rose to superstar status this season. He averaged 21 points and 20 rebounds over 66 games played. He joined Robertson on the All-NBA First Team named at the season's conclusion. Injuries, though, were a big factor this season. Key guard Arlen Bockhorn was lost to a career-ending injury in November. The other four opening-day starters, Robertson, Lucas, Jack Twyman and Wayne Embry, were each lost for several games or more also. Lucas was named MVP of the 1965 NBA All-Star Game. But the same day's events saw superstar Wilt Chamberlain traded to the rival Philadelphia 76ers. Now Cincinnati had two strong title contenders to deal with in their own division. Philadelphia later defeated the Royals in the 1965 playoffs.
