Sunday’s winner-takes-all showdown between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder is just the 20th time the NBA Finals have reached Game 7.
The Association held its first championship in 1947, but it wasn’t until 1951 that we got a decider.
Crowned champion was the Rochester Royals — a franchise with a glittering past now consigned to the history books.
Led by Hall of Fame coach Les Harrison, a roster featuring All-Stars Bob Davies, Red Holzman, and Arnie Risen — who also made it to Naismith — took on their close rivals the New York Knicks in a thrilling back-and-forth.
Pioneering power forward Nat Clifton — the African American ever to sign an NBA contract — was on the opposite side of the court.
The Royals raced into a 3-0 lead but were pegged back as the Knicks won three straight to set up the historic decider.
Having been almost dead and buried in the series, the Knicks led 74–72 with under three minutes to play but Risen and Davies inspired a late surge.
Risen — a 6ft 9in center — scored 23 points and added 13 rebounds in a 79-75 victory which, unlike today, wasn’t marked by a ceremony or parade.
It marked the end of a journey that began with the establishment of the semi-pro Rochester Seagrams in 1923.
After joining the National Basketball League in 1945 as the rebranded Royals, the franchise won the championship that season before jumping ship in 1948 to join the Basketball Association of America, which ultimately merged with the NBL to form the NBA.
Despite success on the court, the small market of Rochester, New York, proved unsustainable and the team became the Cincinnati Royals in 1957.
The team enjoyed success in the early 60s after landing Oscar Robertson out of the University of Cincinnati.
GettyOscar Robertson won a ring in Boston after leaving the Royals[/caption] GettyBill Russell’s Celtics dynasty almost came unstuck in Cincinnatti[/caption] GettyThe Kansas City Kings try to tame Spencer Haywood, who later found glory with the Showtime Lakers[/caption]A 12-time All-Star who made the Hall of Fame, even The Big O — one of the greatest players of all time — couldn’t restore the Royals to their former glory.
In 1963, the Boston Celtics almost saw a historic eight-title streak broken in Cincinnati in the Division FInals.
MVP Robertson and Rookie of the Year Jerry Lucas took a 2-1 lead ,and The Associated Press reported that the “long reign of the Boston Celtics appears to be ending.”
But new owner Louis Jacobs booked a circus for Cincinnati Gardens just as Game 4 was heading into town, forcing the team to relocate to Xavier University’s Schmidt Field House.
“We are the only sports league in business that doesn’t have first call on the buildings we play in,” complained Boston owner Walter Brown.
Bill Russell inspired a Celtics victory and, despite taking the series to seven games, the Royals lost 4-3. The streak continued, and Cincinnati ultimately lost a potential world champion as well as its NBA franchise.
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GettyThe Kings are a long way from the throne they used to occupy[/caption] GettyThe franchise has made many pit stops since leaving New York State[/caption]In 1972, the Royals were on the move again and relocated to Kansas City, Missouri.
The name was changed to the Kansas City–Omaha Kings as the team split home games between its Missouri base and Omaha, Nebraska. Avoiding confusion with MLB‘s Kansas City Royals was an added benefit.
After three seasons, the franchise became the Kansas City Kings, but played some games in Omaha until 1978.
Another market, another failure to launch and the 1984-85 season saw the Kings pack their bags again.
The Kings, of course, now play in Sacramento, California. Completing an east-to-west journey with several pit stops.
A heyday at the turn of the century saw the Kings boast the NBA’s best record of 61-21 in the 2001–02 season.
Unfortunately, a Lakers team featuring Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal was too strong and triumphed in the Conference Finals en route to a three-peat.
The last two decades have seen lean times for the Kings, with little chance of a crown.
Between 2006 and 2022 the former rulers had 16 consecutive losing seasons – an NBA record.
One of the original powerhouses in pro basketball, the team holds the dubious honor of the most losses in NBA history.
Thankfully, a long playoff drought was snapped in 2023 but the Kings were in Cancun weeks before the NBA Finals the last two seasons.
They will be watching on TV as the Pacers and Thunder take part in one of sport’s most thrilling moments — a Finals Game 7.
Whoever wins, it will be a victory for small-market teams everywhere. Staying alive outside the nation’s powerhouse cities is a struggle — one the history of the Kings lays bare.
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