Rochester Royals
The original NBA champions from Rochester.
The Rochester Royals were a professional basketball team based in Rochester, New York, that competed in the National Basketball League (NBL) from 1945 to 1948 and then in the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and later the National Basketball Association (NBA) until 1957. The team won the NBL championship in its first season (1945–46) and the NBA championship in 1951. The franchise relocated to Cincinnati in 1957 and became the Cincinnati Royals.
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 1945
- Relocation year
- 1957
- League origins
- NBL, BAA, NBA
Lore & Background
The Rochester Royals were founded in 1945 by Lester Harrison and his brother Jack, who purchased an NBL franchise after the semi-professional Rochester Seagrams declined to turn professional. The team quickly became a powerhouse, winning the NBL title in 1945–46 and later the NBA championship in 1951, defeating the New York Knicks 4–3. Despite on-court success, the team struggled financially in the small market of Rochester and moved to Cincinnati in 1957.
Reader's Guide
The Rochester Royals played their home games at Edgerton Park Arena and later at the larger Rochester War Memorial (from 1955). The team featured nine future Hall of Famers, including Bob Davies, Red Holzman, and Maurice Stokes. The franchise's only NBA championship came in 1951.
Foundations in Rochester
The franchise's roots trace back to a semiprofessional team created in 1923 with the Rochester Seagrams. Their professional roots began in 1945 with their arrival in the National Basketball League, where they won the title in their first season. They joined the Basketball Association of America in 1948, with the league soon rebranding itself as the NBA. The Royals won the NBA title in 1951. After reaching the postseason ten times in twelve professional seasons, they moved to Cincinnati in 1957. This period established the team as a consistent contender in the early days of professional basketball.
The Championship Era and Financial Decline
The Royals' championship era peaked with their 1951 NBA title, defeating the New York Knicks. However, after fifteen years of mediocrity following their move to Cincinnati, the franchise relocated again. The team's early success in Rochester—ten postseason appearances in twelve seasons—did not translate into long-term stability in that market. The franchise eventually moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1972, playing games in both Kansas City and Omaha, Nebraska. After thirteen years of mediocrity there, they moved to Sacramento, California in 1986. An attempt to sell the team and move to Seattle failed in 2013, and Vivek Ranadivé purchased the team later that year.
A Franchise Defined by Relocation
The Rochester Royals began a pattern of relocation that defined the franchise. After leaving Rochester for Cincinnati in 1957, the team became the Cincinnati Royals. In 1972, they moved to Kansas City, Missouri, playing games in Kansas City and Omaha, Nebraska, as the Kansas City–Omaha Kings. After three seasons, the name shortened to the Kansas City Kings. In 1986, the team moved to Sacramento, California, where they remain. This journey makes the franchise one of the oldest in the NBA, with roots stretching back to 1945. The team has not reached the NBA Finals in 71 years, a record, and has not won a playoff series in eighteen seasons, tied for a record.
Modern Struggles and Historic Records
Starting in 2006–07 through the 2021–22 season, the Kings set an NBA record with 16 consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance, breaking the old record of 15 set by the Los Angeles Clippers. Every single one of those seasons saw them finish below .500, which is also a record. Since 1945, the team has reached the postseason just 33 times, with 11 in Sacramento and 10 in Rochester. They have not reached the NBA Finals in 71 years (a record), have not reached a Conference finals in twenty seasons (tied for 5th most), and have not won a playoff series in eighteen seasons (tied for a record). As one of the original eight NBA teams, they have the most losses in league history.
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