- 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 ...
History of the Royals
Formed in 1945, the Royals originally played in both the old National Basketball League and the Basketball Association of America and won the NBL title in their inaugural year. The style of play wasn’t the only thing different from today’s game. Most of the players then were white, but the Royals were pioneers in integrating pro basketball.
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 team then held a rename-the-team contest in Rochester’s largest newspaper in 1944. The winner was 15-year-old Richard Paeth for his entry, the “Royals.”
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
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.
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