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?
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.
History of the Royals
The Rochester Royals, now known as the Sacramento Kings, a former NBA franchise from 1945 to 1957, were one of the original members of the Basketball Association of America. The team's roots can be traced back to Rochester, New York, where it was initially known as the Rochester Seagrams, a semi-professional team that joined the National Basketball League in 1945. The franchise later rebranded as the Rochester Royals and achieved significant success, including winning the NBA championship in 1951, marking its only NBA title.
The team's impact on Rochester was profound, leading to the Rochester Press-Radio Club naming the Royals the city's "Pro Sports Team of the Century" in 1990. The franchise's success on the court and its contributions to the local community solidified its place in Rochester's sports history.
However, the team faced challenges in turning a profit in the comparatively small market of Rochester, ultimately leading to its relocation to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1957, where it became the Cincinnati Royals. This relocation marked a significant transition for the franchise, eventually leading to further moves and transformations, ultimately culminating in its current identity as the Sacramento Kings.
The Rochester Royals' legacy as a pioneering NBA franchise and its historic NBA championship win in 1951 remain integral parts of the league's history. The team's journey from Rochester to Cincinnati and its subsequent evolution into the Sacramento Kings reflect its enduring impact on the NBA and its significance in the annals of professional basketball.
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