1963 NBA ALL-STAR GAME
East 115 - West 108
Eastern All-Stars defeat Western All-Stars
MVP: Bill Russell - Boston Celtics
Russell: 19 points, 24 rebounds, 5 assists
1963 NBA All-Star Game Summary
| Game | 13th NBA All-Star Game |
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| Date | Wednesday, January 16, 1963 |
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| Location | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California |
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| Winning Team | Eastern All-Stars |
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| Final Score | East 115, West 108 |
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| Margin of Victory | 7 points |
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| Most Valuable Player | Bill Russell, Boston Celtics |
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| MVP Statistics | 19 points, 24 rebounds, 5 assists |
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| East Head Coach | Red Auerbach, Boston Celtics |
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| West Head Coach | Fred Schaus, Los Angeles Lakers |
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| Referees | Sid Borgia and Earl Strom |
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| Attendance | 14,838 |
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| Historical Distinction | Bill Russell wins his first and only All-Star MVP award; Wilt Chamberlain represents the Western team after the Warriors' move to San Francisco |
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1963 NBA All-Star Game Recap
The thirteenth NBA All-Star Game was played on January 16, 1963, at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California. The Eastern All-Stars defeated the Western All-Stars 115-108 in a competitive game highlighted by Boston Celtics center Bill Russell's dominant performance on the boards.
Russell earned the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player award after finishing with 19 points, 24 rebounds and five assists. He made eight of 14 field-goal attempts and three of four free throws in 37 minutes. His rebounding helped the East overcome a Western roster featuring Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Pettit and Elgin Baylor.
Cincinnati Royals guard Oscar Robertson led the Eastern team in scoring with 21 points and added six assists. Boston Celtics forward Tom Heinsohn contributed 15 points, while New York Knicks forward Johnny Green scored 13. Jack Twyman of Cincinnati and Lee Shaffer of the Syracuse Nationals each added 12 points.
Bob Pettit of the St. Louis Hawks led all scorers with 25 points and collected 13 rebounds for the West. Elgin Baylor added 17 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists, while Wilt Chamberlain contributed 17 points and a team-high 19 rebounds. Los Angeles Lakers guard Jerry West scored 13 points and handed out five assists.
The East opened the game with a 32-25 advantage and maintained a six-point lead at halftime. Both teams scored 35 points in the fourth quarter, allowing the Eastern All-Stars to preserve their seven-point victory.
The game was particularly notable because it marked the first All-Star appearance for Wilt Chamberlain as a member of the San Francisco Warriors following the franchise's relocation from Philadelphia in 1962. It was also the final NBA All-Star Game appearance of legendary Boston Celtics guard Bob Cousy, who retired at the end of the 1962-63 season.
1963 NBA All-Star Game Scoring by Quarter
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total |
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| East |
32 | 24 | 24 |
35 | 115 |
| West |
25 | 25 | 23 |
35 | 108 |
The Eastern All-Stars established an early advantage by outscoring the West 32-25 in the opening quarter. Their seven-point lead would ultimately equal the final margin of victory.
The West responded with a narrow 25-24 advantage in the second period, cutting the Eastern lead to 56-50 at halftime.
In the third quarter, the East regained the scoring advantage, outscoring the West 24-23 and taking an 80-73 lead into the final period.
Both teams scored 35 points in the fourth quarter. The Western team was unable to reduce the deficit, and the East secured a 115-108 victory.
The two teams combined for 223 points, a considerably lower total than the 280 points scored in the previous year's All-Star Game.
Eastern All-Stars Box Score - 115 Points
Head Coach: Red Auerbach, Boston Celtics
Most Valuable Player: Bill Russell, 19 points and 24 rebounds
Leading Scorer: Oscar Robertson, 21 points
Leading Rebounder: Bill Russell, 24 rebounds
Leading Assists: Oscar Robertson and Bob Cousy, 6 each
| Player | Team | MIN | FGM | FGA |
FTM | FTA | REB | AST | PTS |
| Jack Twyman | Cincinnati Royals | 16 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 12 |
| Tom Heinsohn | Boston Celtics | 21 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 15 |
| Bill Russell (MVP) | Boston Celtics | 37 | 8 | 14 | 3 | 4 | 24 | 5 | 19 |
| Oscar Robertson | Cincinnati Royals | 37 | 9 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 21 |
| Bob Cousy | Boston Celtics | 25 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
| Johnny Kerr | Syracuse Nationals | 11 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Lee Shaffer | Syracuse Nationals | 19 | 6 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
| Johnny Green | New York Knicks | 27 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 13 |
| Tom Gola | New York Knicks | 18 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Hal Greer | Syracuse Nationals | 15 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| Richie Guerin | New York Knicks | 14 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| TOTALS | 240 | 51 | 101 | 13 | 18 | 51 | 25 | 115 |
Injury Note: Wayne Embry of the Cincinnati Royals was selected for the Eastern All-Stars but did not participate because of injury. No replacement was named.
Western All-Stars Box Score - 108 Points
Head Coach: Fred Schaus, Los Angeles Lakers
Leading Scorer: Bob Pettit, 25 points
Leading Rebounder: Wilt Chamberlain, 19 rebounds
Leading Assists: Elgin Baylor, 7 assists
| Player | Team | MIN | FGM | FGA |
FTM | FTA | REB | AST | PTS |
| Walt Bellamy | Chicago Zephyrs | 14 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Bob Pettit | St. Louis Hawks | 32 | 7 | 16 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 0 | 25 |
| Wilt Chamberlain | San Francisco Warriors | 35 | 7 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 19 | 0 | 17 |
| Jerry West | Los Angeles Lakers | 32 | 5 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 13 |
| Elgin Baylor | Los Angeles Lakers | 36 | 4 | 15 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 17 |
| Tom Meschery | San Francisco Warriors | 8 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Don Ohl | Detroit Pistons | 12 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Lenny Wilkens | St. Louis Hawks | 25 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Bailey Howell | Detroit Pistons | 11 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Rudy LaRusso | Los Angeles Lakers | 11 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Terry Dischinger | Chicago Zephyrs | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Guy Rodgers | San Francisco Warriors | 17 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| TOTALS | 240 | 39 | 90 | 30 | 45 | 62 | 27 | 108 |
Statistical abbreviations: MIN = Minutes Played; FGM = Field Goals Made; FGA = Field Goals Attempted; FTM = Free Throws Made; FTA = Free Throws Attempted; REB = Rebounds; AST = Assists; PTS = Points.
The NBA did not have a three-point line in 1963. Steals and blocked shots were not yet officially recorded.
Bill Russell Wins His Only NBA All-Star MVP Award
Bill Russell was already one of the most accomplished players in NBA history when he arrived in Los Angeles for the 1963 NBA All-Star Game. The Boston Celtics center had established himself as the foundation of the league's most successful dynasty, using his extraordinary rebounding, shot-blocking and defensive instincts to lead Boston to multiple championships.
In the 1963 All-Star Game, Russell delivered an outstanding all-around performance. He scored 19 points, collected 24 rebounds and distributed five assists in 37 minutes. Russell made eight of 14 field-goal attempts, shooting 57.1 percent, and helped the Eastern team control the game.
His 24 rebounds were the highest total by any player in the contest, exceeding Wilt Chamberlain's 19 and Elgin Baylor's 14 for the West.
Russell's dominance on the boards was especially important against a Western team that featured Chamberlain and Bob Pettit, two of the greatest rebounders of the era.
The MVP award was the only All-Star Game MVP honor of Russell's career, despite his extraordinary regular-season and postseason achievements. He would finish his playing career with 11 NBA championships and five regular-season MVP awards.
The 1963 performance remains a reminder that Russell's influence extended far beyond scoring. His defense, rebounding and passing were essential to his teams' success, even in an exhibition featuring many of the league's greatest offensive players.
Wilt Chamberlain Moves to the Western All-Stars
One of the most significant changes in the 1963 NBA All-Star Game was Wilt Chamberlain's appearance on the Western roster rather than the Eastern team.
Chamberlain had spent his first three NBA seasons with the Philadelphia Warriors, representing the East in the 1960, 1961 and 1962 All-Star Games. However, the Warriors relocated from Philadelphia to San Francisco before the 1962-63 season, moving the franchise into the Western Division.
As a result, Chamberlain joined the Western All-Stars in 1963, competing against his longtime rival Bill Russell rather than alongside him.
Chamberlain scored 17 points and grabbed 19 rebounds in 35 minutes. He made seven of 11 field-goal attempts but converted only three of seven free throws.
Although Chamberlain led the West in rebounding, Russell's 24 rebounds helped the East secure the victory and the MVP award.
The 1963 game was another chapter in the rivalry between the two centers, whose contrasting playing styles and extraordinary accomplishments helped define NBA basketball during the 1960s.
Bob Cousy's Final NBA All-Star Game
The 1963 NBA All-Star Game marked the final All-Star appearance of Boston Celtics guard Bob Cousy, one of the most influential playmakers in basketball history.
Cousy had been a central figure in the Celtics' rise to prominence during the 1950s. Known for his exceptional passing, ballhandling and creativity, he helped transform the point guard position and became one of the league's most recognizable stars.
In his final All-Star appearance, Cousy scored eight points, collected four rebounds and distributed six assists in 25 minutes. He made four of 11 field-goal attempts and helped direct the Eastern offense.
Cousy retired at the conclusion of the 1962-63 NBA season after helping Boston win another NBA championship. His departure marked the end of an era for the Celtics, although the franchise's dynasty continued under Bill Russell and coach Red Auerbach.
Cousy's final All-Star Game brought together three major Celtics figures: Cousy, Russell and Tom Heinsohn. Their presence reflected Boston's dominance during one of the most successful periods in professional sports history.
Oscar Robertson Leads the East in Scoring
Cincinnati Royals guard Oscar Robertson continued his outstanding All-Star career by leading the Eastern team with 21 points. Robertson made nine of 15 field-goal attempts and added three rebounds and six assists in 37 minutes.
Robertson had won All-Star MVP as a rookie in 1961 and had followed that performance with 26 points and 13 assists in the 1962 game.
By 1963, he was firmly established as one of the NBA's most versatile players. His ability to score, rebound and distribute the ball made him a difficult matchup for opposing guards.
Robertson's 21 points were the highest total for the East, while his six assists tied Bob Cousy for the team lead.
The Royals also had Jack Twyman on the Eastern roster. Twyman contributed 12 points in 16 minutes, making six of 12 field-goal attempts.
The contributions of Robertson and Twyman helped provide the scoring balance necessary for the East to overcome the Western team's rebounding advantage.
Bob Pettit Leads All Scorers with 25 Points
St. Louis Hawks forward Bob Pettit continued his remarkable All-Star career by leading all players with 25 points in the 1963 contest.
Pettit made seven of 16 field-goal attempts and converted 11 of 12 free throws while collecting 13 rebounds in 32 minutes.
His performance came one year after he won his fourth All-Star MVP award in 1962, when he recorded 25 points and 27 rebounds in St. Louis.
Although Pettit again provided strong scoring and rebounding, the Western All-Stars could not overcome the East's early advantage.
Pettit was joined by Hawks teammate Lenny Wilkens, who scored four points and contributed three assists in 25 minutes.
Pettit's 1963 performance added another impressive entry to one of the greatest All-Star careers of the league's early decades.
The Chicago Zephyrs and the NBA's Changing Geography
The 1963 NBA All-Star Game featured two players from the Chicago Zephyrs: Walt Bellamy and Terry Dischinger.
The franchise had entered the NBA as the Chicago Packers in 1961 before changing its name to the Zephyrs for the 1962-63 season.
Bellamy, the 1962 NBA Rookie of the Year, was already one of the league's most productive young centers. He scored two points and collected one rebound in 14 minutes during the All-Star Game.
Dischinger was in his rookie season and made an efficient contribution, scoring seven points in seven minutes while making all three of his field-goal attempts.
Following the 1962-63 season, the franchise relocated to Baltimore and became the Baltimore Bullets. The organization would eventually become the Washington Wizards.
The appearance of Bellamy and Dischinger in the 1963 game preserves an important piece of the history of the Chicago Zephyrs, a franchise name that existed for only one NBA season.
The NBA All-Star Game Comes to Los Angeles
The 1963 NBA All-Star Game was held at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, one of the city's most important basketball venues during the early years of the Lakers' presence in Southern California.
The Lakers had relocated from Minneapolis to Los Angeles in 1960, bringing professional basketball to a rapidly growing West Coast market.
The game attracted 14,838 fans and featured several Lakers players, including Elgin Baylor, Jerry West and Rudy LaRusso.
Baylor contributed 17 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists, while West added 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists. LaRusso scored six points without missing a field-goal attempt.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach Fred Schaus led the Western All-Stars, while Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach directed the Eastern team.
The matchup between Auerbach and Schaus also reflected the growing rivalry between the Celtics and Lakers, who had faced each other in the 1962 NBA Finals and would meet again in the 1963 championship series.
1963 NBA All-Star Game Statistical Leaders
| Category | Player / Team | Statistic |
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| Most Points | Bob Pettit, West | 25 |
| Most Points, East | Oscar Robertson | 21 |
| Most Rebounds | Bill Russell, East | 24 |
| Most Rebounds, West | Wilt Chamberlain | 19 |
| Most Assists | Elgin Baylor, West | 7 |
| Most Assists, East | Oscar Robertson and Bob Cousy | 6 each |
| Most Field Goals Made | Oscar Robertson, East | 9 |
| Most Free Throws Made | Bob Pettit, West | 11 |
| Most Minutes Played | Bill Russell and Oscar Robertson | 37 |
| Most Team Rebounds | Western All-Stars | 62 |
| Highest-Scoring Quarter | Both Teams | 35, fourth quarter |
| Combined Points | Both Teams | 223 |
| Winning Margin | Eastern All-Stars | 7 points |
| Attendance | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena | 14,838 |
Historical Significance of the 1963 NBA All-Star Game
The 1963 NBA All-Star Game was an important event in the league's early history, bringing together many of the greatest players of the 1950s and 1960s.
Bill Russell earned his only All-Star MVP award with 19 points and 24 rebounds, demonstrating the defensive and rebounding skills that made him the foundation of the Boston Celtics dynasty.
The game also marked the final All-Star appearance of Bob Cousy, one of the NBA's most influential early guards.
Wilt Chamberlain represented the Western team for the first time following the Warriors' relocation from Philadelphia to San Francisco, creating another All-Star matchup between Chamberlain and Russell.
Oscar Robertson led the East in scoring with 21 points, while Bob Pettit led all players with 25 points for the West.
The game also featured two players from the Chicago Zephyrs, Walt Bellamy and Terry Dischinger, preserving an important moment in the history of a short-lived NBA franchise name.
With the Celtics and Lakers represented by several of their greatest stars, the 1963 All-Star Game reflected the rivalries and changing geography that helped shape professional basketball during the 1960s.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 1963 NBA All-Star Game?
The Eastern All-Stars defeated the Western All-Stars 115-108 in Los Angeles, California.
Who was the 1963 NBA All-Star Game MVP?
Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics won MVP honors after scoring 19 points, grabbing 24 rebounds and recording five assists.
How many All-Star MVP awards did Bill Russell win?
Russell won one NBA All-Star Game MVP award, in 1963.
When was the 1963 NBA All-Star Game played?
The game took place on January 16, 1963.
Where was the 1963 NBA All-Star Game held?
The game was played at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California.
Who scored the most points?
Bob Pettit of the St. Louis Hawks led all players with 25 points. Oscar Robertson led the East with 21.
Who had the most rebounds?
Bill Russell collected a game-high 24 rebounds. Wilt Chamberlain led the West with 19.
How many points did Wilt Chamberlain score?
Chamberlain scored 17 points and collected 19 rebounds for the Western All-Stars.
Why did Wilt Chamberlain play for the West in 1963?
Chamberlain's Warriors relocated from Philadelphia to San Francisco before the 1962-63 season, moving the franchise into the Western Division.
Was 1963 Bob Cousy's final NBA All-Star Game?
Yes. Cousy made his final All-Star appearance in 1963 before retiring at the end of the season.
Who coached the teams?
Red Auerbach of the Boston Celtics coached the East, while Fred Schaus of the Los Angeles Lakers coached the West.
How many fans attended the game?
The recorded attendance was 14,838.
Which player missed the game because of injury?
Wayne Embry of the Cincinnati Royals was selected for the East but did not play because of injury. No replacement was named.
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