The 1962-63 New York Knicks season was a challenging period for the franchise, as they struggled to find success in the NBA. The team finished the season with a disappointing record of 21 wins and 59 losses, placing them last in the Eastern Division. This marked a continuation of the Knicks’ difficulties during the early 1960s, as they were unable to establish themselves as a competitive force in the league.
Under the guidance of coach Eddie Donovan, the Knicks faced numerous obstacles, including a lack of consistency and depth in their roster. Richie Guerin was a standout performer for the team, averaging 21.5 points per game, showcasing his scoring ability despite the team’s struggles. Willie Naulls also contributed significantly, averaging 19.1 points per game and providing a strong presence on the court. However, their efforts were insufficient to lift the team out of the bottom of the standings.
Throughout the season, the Knicks’ defense was a significant weakness, as they allowed opponents to score an average of 120.9 points per game, one of the highest in the league. This defensive frailty compounded their offensive issues, making it difficult for them to compete effectively against stronger teams. The 1962-63 season highlighted the need for a strategic overhaul and an infusion of talent for the Knicks to improve in subsequent seasons. Despite their struggles, this period laid the groundwork for future rebuilding efforts that eventually led to greater success later in the decade.
- Regular Season Record: 21-59
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
New York Knicks Roster and Stats for 1962-63 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Richie Guerin | 79 | 21.5 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Johnny Green | 80 | 18.0 | 8.1 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Willie Naulls | 23 | 16.9 | 5.4 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Tom Gola | 52 | 12.0 | 4.1 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Gene Shue | 77 | 11.9 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Bevo Nordmann | 26 | 10.7 | 5.6 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Al Butler | 74 | 10.0 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Dave Budd | 78 | 9.5 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Gene Conley | 70 | 9.0 | 3.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Paul Hogue | 50 | 7.7 | 4.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Donnie Butcher | 67 | 7.1 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Kenny Sears | 23 | 5.3 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| John Rudometkin | 55 | 5.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Jack Foley | 6 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Tom Stith | 25 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Cleveland Buckner | 6 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
New York Knicks 1962-63 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1962-63 season for the New York Knicks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 16, 1962 | vs. Chicago Zephyrs | W 121-119 | |
| Oct 19, 1962 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 116-105 | |
| Oct 20, 1962 | @ Boston Celtics | L 149-116 | |
| Oct 23, 1962 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 123-119 | |
| Oct 26, 1962 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 133-108 | |
| Oct 27, 1962 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 115-109 | |
| Oct 30, 1962 | @ San Francisco Warriors | L 125-106 | |
| Oct 31, 1962 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 115-95 | |
| Nov 02, 1962 | @ San Francisco Warriors | L 143-121 | |
| Nov 04, 1962 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 125-106 | |
| Nov 07, 1962 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 122-112 | |
| Nov 09, 1962 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 122-119 | |
| Nov 11, 1962 | @ Boston Celtics | L 117-98 | |
| Nov 13, 1962 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 116-102 | |
| Nov 15, 1962 | @ Chicago Zephyrs | L 95-92 | |
| Nov 16, 1962 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | L 127-111 | |
| Nov 17, 1962 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 121-113 | |
| Nov 20, 1962 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 103-95 | |
| Nov 21, 1962 | @ Chicago Zephyrs | W 137-108 | |
| Nov 23, 1962 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 116-110 | |
| Nov 24, 1962 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 137-126 | |
| Nov 27, 1962 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 139-129 | |
| Nov 28, 1962 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 143-101 | |
| Dec 01, 1962 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 117-115 | |
| Dec 04, 1962 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 132-112 | |
| Dec 05, 1962 | @ Chicago Zephyrs | W 133-117 | |
| Dec 06, 1962 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 99-96 | |
| Dec 08, 1962 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 87-78 | |
| Dec 11, 1962 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 95-87 | |
| Dec 12, 1962 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 115-106 | |
| Dec 15, 1962 | @ Chicago Zephyrs | L 142-101 | |
| Dec 16, 1962 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 115-108 | |
| Dec 18, 1962 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 103-102 | |
| Dec 22, 1962 | @ Boston Celtics | W 120-106 | |
| Dec 25, 1962 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 123-111 | |
| Dec 27, 1962 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 128-92 | |
| Dec 29, 1962 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | L 114-109 | |
| Jan 01, 1963 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 112-106 | |
| Jan 03, 1963 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 123-115 | |
| Jan 04, 1963 | vs. Chicago Zephyrs | W 129-108 | |
| Jan 06, 1963 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 103-102 | |
| Jan 08, 1963 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 109-93 | |
| Jan 09, 1963 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 110-95 | |
| Jan 12, 1963 | @ Chicago Zephyrs | L 130-97 | |
| Jan 13, 1963 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 108-102 | |
| Jan 14, 1963 | @ San Francisco Warriors | L 142-134 | |
| Jan 17, 1963 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 113-100 | |
| Jan 19, 1963 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 114-108 | |
| Jan 22, 1963 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 124-100 | |
| Jan 25, 1963 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 114-112 | |
| Jan 27, 1963 | @ Boston Celtics | L 123-110 | |
| Jan 29, 1963 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | L 123-103 | |
| Jan 30, 1963 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 116-115 | |
| Jan 31, 1963 | @ Chicago Zephyrs | L 116-101 | |
| Feb 03, 1963 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 122-95 | |
| Feb 05, 1963 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 120-100 | |
| Feb 08, 1963 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 129-97 | |
| Feb 09, 1963 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 122-116 | |
| Feb 10, 1963 | @ Boston Celtics | L 129-123 | |
| Feb 13, 1963 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 103-102 | |
| Feb 14, 1963 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 123-113 | |
| Feb 15, 1963 | @ Chicago Zephyrs | W 135-131 | |
| Feb 17, 1963 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 109-98 | |
| Feb 19, 1963 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 121-112 | |
| Feb 21, 1963 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 115-96 | |
| Feb 22, 1963 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 106-93 | |
| Feb 24, 1963 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 143-126 | |
| Feb 26, 1963 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 125-116 | |
| Feb 27, 1963 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 119-107 | |
| Feb 28, 1963 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 132-124 | |
| Mar 02, 1963 | @ Boston Celtics | L 122-117 | |
| Mar 03, 1963 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 102-95 | |
| Mar 05, 1963 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 131-121 | |
| Mar 07, 1963 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 129-118 | |
| Mar 08, 1963 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 129-124 | |
| Mar 10, 1963 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 132-120 | |
| Mar 12, 1963 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 110-96 | |
| Mar 13, 1963 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 112-89 | |
| Mar 15, 1963 | vs. Chicago Zephyrs | W 116-111 | |
| Mar 17, 1963 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 116-109 |