The NBA History Season by Season 1962 to 1963

Season by Season
1962 to 1963

Celtics Triumph Again as Cousy Bids Adieu

Bill Russell slammed down another MVP year.

Significant changes took place prior to the season. The Warriors, who had the league's top gate attraction in Wilt Chamberlain, moved to San Francisco and the Western Division. To compensate, Cincinnati, with Oscar Robertson, was moved to the East. The Chicago franchise changed its name from Packers to Zephyrs. Bob Cousy, now 34, announced before the season that it would be his final one. Exciting rookies like Zelmo Beatty, John Havlicek and Dave DeBusschere came into the league.

But some things didn't change. The Celtics didn't have a 20 ppg scorer and yet won 58 games and another Eastern title. The Lakers won 53 games and a second straight Western title. Chamberlain won another scoring title with 44.8 ppg, and also averaged 24.3 rpg. The Division Finals almost upstaged the NBA Finals, each going to a deciding seventh game. Boston belted Cincinnati 142-131 in the East's Game 7, while the Lakers held off a revived St. Louis team 115-100 to advance to the Finals. The Celtics helped Cousy go out on a high note by taking leads of 2-0 and 3-1 in the series before closing out the Lakers in six games, with the clincher coming in Los Angeles.

AUERBACH "IGNITES" OPPONENTS IRE

Red Auerbach was all about winning, and the Celtics did little else during the early 1960s. But Auerbach was never the most popular coach with opposing coaches and players, due in part to his sideline manners and victory cigars.

"Any time you're winning, you get criticism," Auerbach said. "Nothing instigates jealousy like winning."

One opposing player who didn't mind Auerbach's theatrics was Jerry West. "Red was outspoken," West said. "His sideline antics were funny. I happened to like him very much. When you talk to his ex-players, they all have great respect for him. I don't know many players who would tell you that about their former coaches."