1951 - The Olympians and the NBA’s Longest Game Ever

On January 6, 1951, the Indianapolis Olympians took part in the longest game in NBA history, a legendary matchup against the Rochester Royals. Played at Edgerton Park Arena in Rochester, the game lasted six overtimes and ended with a final score of 75–73 in favor of the Olympians. Despite the extended play, both teams adopted a cautious, low-scoring approach due to the absence of a shot clock, which wasn’t introduced until 1954. The game’s length, with its lack of scoring in some overtimes, ultimately contributed to the introduction of the shot clock in 1954. Remarkably, only 18 total points were scored during the six overtime periods. The Olympians’ victory became a lasting piece of basketball history, symbolizing a different era of the NBA’s evolution and holding the record for the league’s longest game to this day.