Rochester Royals (1945-1957)

Historical Moments:
NBL Years:
1945/46: With a roster that included future coaching legend Red Holzman, legendary pro quarterback Otto Graham, major league catcher Del Rice, and Chuck Connors, who would go on to greater fame as The Rifleman the Rochester Royals owned and Coached by Les Harrison posted a solid 24-10 record in their inaugural season in the National Basketball League. In the playoffs the 2nd place Royals would stun the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons in 4 games to reach the NBL Finals. In the finals the Royals would sweep the Sheboygan Red Skins in 3 straight to claim the NBL Championship.

1946/47: With Dolly King the first black player in the NBL the Royals win the Eastern Division with a solid record of 31-13. In the playoffs the Royals would knock off the Syracuse Nationals in 4 games. They would go on to reach the NBL Finals again by beating the Fort Wayne Zollner Piston in a3-game series. However in the finals the Royals would be crowned by the Chicago American Gears in 4 games.

1947/48: The Royals would win their 2nd straight division title by posting a record of 44-16. In the playoffs the Royals would beat the Fort Wayne Zollner Piston in 4 games, before beating the Anderson Packers in a 3-game series to reach the NBL Finals for the 3rd year in a row. However, once again the Royals would be tripped up as they fall to the Minneapolis Lakers in 4 games. Following the season Royals Owner/Coach Les Harrison would lead the way for a merger between the 2 major professional basketball leagues the NBL and BAA. The Royals along with the Lakers, Pistons, and Indianapolis Kautskys would join the BAA for the 1948/49, with more moves panned a year later.

NBA Years:
1948/49: Joining the 3rd year Basketball Association of America the Royals would capture the Western Division beating out 3 other former NBL teams with a record of 45-15. In the playoffs the Royals would beat the St Louis Hawks in 2 straight before suffering a let down in the Western Finals as they lost 2 straight to the Minneapolis Lakers. Following the season Les Harrison's dream of a full merger would be completed as the NBL folds with the remaining teams joining the BAA, forming a new league known as the National Basketball Association.

1949/50: Lacking a powerful offensive threat with top scorer Bob Davies who averaged only 14 ppg, the Royals used a stifling defense that average only 74.6 ppg, to post a 51-17 record, losing the division title in a tiebreaker game against the Minneapolis Lakers. In the playoffs the Royals would be swept by the Fort Wayne Piston in 2 straight.

1950/51: Led by a roster that included Bob Davies, Bobby Wanzer, and Arnie Risen the Royals post a solid 41-27 record finishing in 2nd place in the Western Division. The regular season included a pair of notable marathon contests. On January 6th the Royals were edged by the Indianapolis Olympians in a game that lasted through 6 overtime periods and which still stands as the longest game in NBA history. Seventeen days later the Royals and the New York Knickerbockers battled through 4 overtimes before Rochester finally nailed down the win. In the playoff the Royals would beat the Fort Wayne Pistons in 2 straight before beating finally beating the Minneapolis Lakers in 4 games to reach the NBA Finals. In the Finals the Royals would be matched up with the New York Knickerbockers in an all-Empire State battle. The Royals would jump out to a 3-0 series lead grabbing the first games at home before winning Game 3 at home. However, the Knicks would rally to force a 7th game at Rochester's Edgerton Park Sports Arena. Tied at 75 with 40 seconds left Bob Davies nailed 2 clutch free throws to give the Royals a lead. The rules at that time mandated a jump ball after successful free throws during the final 3 minutes of a game; Rochester controlled the tip, and a Jack Coleman's lay-up sealed the victory 79-75. Davies, Risen, and Wanzer combined for 57 of the Royals 79 points, and the trio pulled down 27 rebounds to land the Rochester Royals the NBA Championship.

1951/52: Coming of their NBA Championship the Royals beat out the Minneapolis Lakers by one game to capture the Western Division with a 41-25 record. In the playoffs the Royals would sweep the Fort Wayne Pistons in 2 straight. However, in the semifinals the Royals would be beaten by the Lakers in 4 games.

1952/53: With their trio of all-stars Bob Davies, Bobby Wanzer, and Arnie Risen the Royals would post a 44-26 record to finish in 2nd place. However in the playoffs the Royals would be stunned by the Fort Wayne Pistons in a 3-game series.

1953/54: The Royals remained one of the top teams in the NBA posting a record of 44-28, which was good enough for 2nd place. The NBA would experiment with a round robin first round as the Royals survived by splitting their 4 games against the Minneapolis Lakers and Fort Wayne Pistons. However, in the Western Finals the Royals would be beaten by the Lakers in a 3-game series.

1954/55: The Royals would fell the negative effect of the new 24-second NBA shot clock, more then any other team, as they were no longer able to play their slow defensive posting a losing record for the first time in franchise history at 29-43. Despite their poor record the Royals would make the playoffs by finishing in 3rd place, where they would be beaten by the Minneapolis Lakers in a 3-game series. Following the season Owner Les Harrison would step down as Coach, handing the reigns over to Bobby Wanzer, while the Royals other 2 stars Bob Davies would retire and Arnie Risen was traded to the Boston Celtics.

1955/56: Under player-coach Bobby Wanzer the Royals had a different look with 3 rookies in the starting forwards Maurice Stokes, Jack Twyman, and guard Ed Fleming. Stokes would be star of the group earning the Rookie of the Year award while averring 16 points and rebounds per game. However, it was not enough to lift the Royals into the playoffs as they finished in last place with a record of 31-41.

1956/57: With Maurice Stokes setting a new single season record with 1,256 rebounds the Royals battle all season in a 4-way scramble for the 3-playoff spots in the Western Division. However, the Royals would end up with shortened of the stick as they finished in last place just 3 games out of a 3-way tie for the Division title with a record of 31-41. Following the season the Royals would leave the small town of Rochester, New York behind for the much larger city of Cincinnati, Ohio.