Established
1923
City
Rochester – Cincinnati – Kansas City – Sacramento
League History
1949 – Present / National Basketball Association
1948 – 1949 / Basketball Association of America
1945 – 1948 / National Basketball League
1923 – 1945 / Various Unknown Leagues
Team History
1985 – Present / Sacramento Kings
1975 – 1985 / Kansas City Kings
1972 – 1975 / Kansas City-Omaha Kings
1957 – 1972 / Cincinnati Royals
1923 – 1957 / Rochester Royals
Nickname
Royals – The Cincinnati Royals are a long-standing NBA team that has existed since the 1940s. The team's original name was the Rochester Royals, but after moving to Cincinnati in 1957, they adopted their current moniker. But where did this nickname come from?
It turns out that there is quite an interesting story behind it! When the franchise first began playing in 1945 as part of the National Basketball League (NBL), they were known as "The Rochester Seagrams," named after their sponsor at the time - Seagram Distillers Company. However, when NBL merged with BAA and formed what we know today as NBA, owners changed their name to reflect more regal origins - hence "Cincinnati Royals."
Interestingly enough, though, this wasn't just due to some random choice by ownership; it was because of a special connection between one particular owner and royalty itself! That man was Les Harrison, who had once served on the board of directors for the British Royal Family’s racing stable called “Royal Stables Ltd,” which he believed gave him the right to use the term “royals" for his basketball team. Thus began an era where fans could proudly cheer on The Cincinnati Royals each season!
Today however, much has changed about both teams' names and locations; despite all these changes over the years, one thing remains the same – love for the history behind them still burns strong among diehard sports fanatics everywhere! So next time you're watching your favorite game or cheering along with other supporters at the stadium, don't forget to take a moment to appreciate how far back roots go...all way back to King George VI himself, perhaps?
Championship
NBA Championships 0
1951
Arena
2016 – Present / Golden 1 Center
2012 – 2016 / Sleep Train Arena
2011 – 2012 / Power Balance Pavilion
1888 – 2010 / ARCO Arena II
1985 – 1988 / ARCO Arena I
*Kansas City*
1974 – 1985 / Kemper Arena
1972 – 1978 / Omaha Civic Auditorium
1972 – 1974 / Kansas City Municipal Auditorium
*Cincinnati*
1957 – 1972 / Cincinnati Gardens
*Rochester*
1955 – 1957 / Rochester War Memorial
1949 – 1954 / Edgerton Park Arena
1923 – 1948 / Unknown Arena
Owner
2013 – Present / Vivek Ranadive
1999 – 2013 / George, Joe and Gavin Maloof
1992 – 1999 / Jim Thomas
1985 – 1992 / Gregg Lukenbill and Joe Benvenuti
1959 – 1985 / Thomas Woods
1923 – 1959 / Les and Jack Harrison
- 1957
- 1960
- 1966
-
Move to Cincinnati
In April 1957, the Harrison brothers moved the Royals to Cincinnati. This move followed a well-received regular-season game played at Cincinnati Gardens on February 1, 1957. The change of venue had been said to have been suggested by Jack Twyman and Dave Piontek, who were two of several roster players on the new Royals from that region. Cincinnati, which had ... -
Oscar Robertson era
In 1960, the team was able to land local superstar Oscar Robertson. Robertson led a team that included Twyman, Wayne Embry, Bob Boozer, Bucky Bockhorn, Tom Hawkins, and Adrian Smith over the next three seasons. The Royals reversed their fortunes with Robertson and rose to title contender. An ownership dispute in early 1963 scuttled the team’s playoff chances when new ... -
New Owners Jacobs
In 1966, the team was sold to Max and Jeremy Jacobs. That same season, the Royals began playing some of their home games in neutral sites such as Cleveland (until the Cavaliers began to play in 1970), Dayton, and Columbus, Ohio which was the norm for the rest of the Royals tenure in the Queen City. New coach Bob Cousy ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Royals
The Cincinnati Royals, previously known as the Rochester Royals, a long-standing NBA team that existed from the 1940s to 1972, played a significant role in the city's basketball history. The team's original name was the Rochester Royals, and after moving to Cincinnati in 1957, they adopted their current moniker. The franchise began playing in 1945 as part of the National Basketball League (NBL) and was initially known as "The Rochester Seagrams," named after their sponsor at the time, the Seagram Distillers Company.
During their time in Cincinnati, the Royals experienced both successes and challenges. They never won an NBA Finals, with their closest appearances being in 1963 and 1964, when they lost the Eastern Division Finals. The franchise's only NBA Finals victory occurred in 1951 as the Rochester Royals.
The team featured notable players such as Oscar Robertson, who made the All-Star team in each of his three NBA seasons with the Royals. The franchise's history also saw significant changes, including ownership shifts and the team's relocation to Kansas City in 1972.
The Cincinnati Royals left a lasting legacy in the NBA, and their impact on the league's history is remembered as a significant part of Cincinnati's sports heritage.
Sports Fan Products
Retired Number
1 / Nate Archibald
2 / Mitch Richmond
4 / Chris Webber
6 / Sacramento Fans “The Sixth Man”
11 / Bob Davies
12 / Maurice Stokes
14 / Oscar Robertson
16 / Peja Stojakovic
21 / Vlade Divac
27 / Jack Twyman
44 / Sam Lacey
*Blue is this team’s history