Rochester Royals history stands as a vital part of early NBA success. Formed in 1945, the team quickly rose to prominence and won the 1951 NBA championship. As the Rochester Royals basketball franchise, they featured standout players and exciting gameplay, creating a foundation that later shaped the Cincinnati Royals and the future Sacramento Kings.
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 Rochester Royals, a former NBA franchise from 1945 to 1957, were one of the original members of the Basketball Association of America. The team was initially based in Rochester, New York, and is now known as the Sacramento Kings. But how did they get their nickname?
Rochester Royals Origin
It all started with an ambitious owner named Les Harrison, who wanted to bring professional basketball to his hometown in upstate New York. He chose “Rochester Royals” for its historical significance as it had been home to many revolutionary figures such as Frederick Douglass and Susan B Anthony. As for “Royals” – he thought it sounded regal enough for a professional sports team!
Harrison also believed that having royalty associated with his team would help generate greater interest among fans and sponsors alike - which certainly worked out well considering their success over those 12 years! Other teams soon followed suit by adopting similar nicknames, including The Minneapolis Lakers (now Los Angeles Lakers), Syracuse Nationals (now Philadelphia 76ers), and Fort Wayne Pistons (now Detroit Pistons).
So there you have it – while not precisely royal bloodlines or blue-blooded ancestry, this is where the name "Rochester Royals" came from back when they first took flight on the court during World War II era America!
Championship
NBA Championships 1
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
- 1923 - 1945
- 1951
- 1957
-
Rochester Team in Different Leagues
The Royals defected to the NBL’s rival, the Basketball Association of America, in 1948. In 1949, as a result of that year’s absorption of the NBL by the BAA, the Royals became members of the newly formed NBA along with the Fort Wayne Pistons, Minneapolis Lakers, and Indianapolis (Kautskys) Jets. A year later, the BAA absorbed the remaining NBL teams ... -
NBA Finals Winner 1951
NBA Finals – 1951 The 1951 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1951 NBA Playoffs, which concluded the National Basketball Association 1950 – 1951 season. Western Division champion Rochester faced Eastern Division champion New York in a best-of-seven series with Rochester having a home-court advantage. Rochester won the first three games, two at home, but New York won ... -
Leave Rochester for Cincinnati
The Royals moved to the larger, brand-new Rochester War Memorial for the 1955-56 season and hosted the sixth NBA All-Star Game in 1956. But their time in the Flower City was drawing to a close; the team moved to Cincinnati and later to Kansas City-Omaha before winding up as the Sacramento Kings. The Rochester team remains the only one in ...
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.
Rochester Royals History
Rochester Royals history represents one of the most influential chapters in professional basketball. Originally formed as the semi-professional Rochester Seagrams, the team entered the National Basketball League in 1945 and later became the Rochester Royals basketball franchise. They quickly became a competitive force and were one of the founding members of the Basketball Association of America, which later merged with the NBL to form the modern NBA.
During their time in Rochester, the team enjoyed significant popularity and success. Rochester Royals history includes their 1951 NBA championship, which remains the franchise’s only NBA title. The team’s success and contributions to the city were honored in 1990 when the Rochester Press-Radio Club named the Royals the city’s “Pro Sports Team of the Century.”
Despite their success on the court, the Rochester Royals basketball franchise struggled financially in the small Rochester market. In 1957, the team relocated to Cincinnati and became the Cincinnati Royals, beginning a new era that later included further moves to Kansas City-Omaha and eventually Sacramento, where the team became the Sacramento Kings.
Rochester Royals Achievements
The achievements of the Rochester Royals' history remain a proud part of the NBA’s legacy. Their 1951 NBA championship, multiple playoff appearances, and role in shaping early professional basketball helped pave the way for the future of the Sacramento Kings franchise. Their journey from Rochester to Sacramento shows how the Royals left an enduring impact on both the league and the communities they represented.
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