WEST 153, EAST 131, Onondaga County War Memorial Coliseum (Syracuse)
ATTENDANCE: 8,016
MVP: Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati Royals
Just like in 1960 with Wilt Chamberlain, the 1961 All-Star Game featured that season’s Rookie of the Year winner, Oscar Robertson, taking home All-Star Game MVP honors. Robertson was one assist shy of a triple-double, tallying 23 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists in the West’s 153-131 win.
The West opened with a flurry, outscoring the East 47-19 in the first quarter and led 84-62 at halftime. Bob Pettit (29 points, nine rebounds), Clyde Lovellette (21 points, 10 rebounds) and Elgin Baylor (15 points, 10 rebounds) all seemed to benefit from Robertson’s play and helped key the West’s blowout victory.
For the East, future rivals Bill Russell (24 points, 11 rebounds) and Wilt Chamberlain (12 points, 18 rebounds) provided most of the punch on the scoreboard. Jerry West, also a rookie for the West team, scored nine points and had four assists.
All-Star Game rosters
Eastern Conference
Dolph Schayes (Syracuse Nationals)
Tom Heinsohn (Boston Celtics)
Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors)
Bob Cousy (Boston Celtics)
Richie Guerin (New York Knicks)
Willie Naulls (New York Knicks)
Paul Arizin (Philadelphia Warriors)
Tom Gola (Philadelphia Warriors)
Hal Greer (Syracuse Nationals)
Larry Costello (Syracuse Nationals)
Bill Russell (Boston Celtics)
Coach: Red Auerbach (Boston Celtics)
Western Conference
Bob Pettit (St. Louis Hawks)
Elgin Baylor (Los Angeles Lakers)
Clyde Lovellette (St. Louis Hawks)
Oscar Robertson (Cincinnati Royals)
Gene Shue (Detroit Pistons)
Walter Dukes (Detroit Pistons)
Bailey Howell (Detroit Pistons)
Jerry West (Los Angeles Lakers)
Hot Rod Hundley (Los Angeles Lakers)
Cliff Hagan (St. Louis Hawks)
Wayne Embry (Cincinnati Royals)
Coach: Paul Seymour (St. Louis Hawks)
