1951 NBA Finals
{{Short description|1951 basketball championship series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{NBA Finals summary
| image =
| league = NBA
| year = 1951
| runnerup = New York Knicks
| runnerup_coach = Joe Lapchick
| runnerup_games = 3
| champion = Rochester Royals
| champion_coach = Les Harrison
| champion_games = 4
| date = April 7–21
| MVP =
| HOFers = Royals:
Bob Davies (1970)
Red Holzman (1986, coach)
Bobby Wanzer (1987)
Arnie Risen (1998)
Knicks:
Harry Gallatin (1991)
Dick McGuire (1993)
Nat Clifton (2014)
Coaches:
Joe Lapchick (1966, player)
Les Harrison (1980, contributor)
Officials:
Pat Kennedy (1959)
| ECF result = Knicks defeated Nationals, 3–2
| WCF result = Royals defeated Lakers, 3–1
}}
The 1951 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1951 NBA Playoffs, which concluded the National Basketball Association 1950–51 season. The Western Division champion Rochester Royals faced the Eastern Division champion New York Knicks in a best-of-seven series with Rochester having home-court advantage.
Rochester won the first three games, two at home, but New York won the next three, two at home. It was the first BAA or NBA Finals (spanning 1947 to 1951){{efn|name=BAA}} that extended to a seventh-game conclusion, a 4-point win by Rochester at home on Saturday, April 21.
The seven games were played in fifteen days, beginning Saturday and Sunday, April 7 and 8, in Rochester and incorporating one game in Rochester on each following weekend. Three Wednesday or Friday games were played in New York City. The entire postseason tournament spanned 33 days in which both Rochester and New York played 14 games.
The Royals appeared in their first NBA finals by defeating the Fort Wayne Pistons in the semifinals and the two-time defending champion Minneapolis Lakers in the division finals while the Knicks defeated the Boston Celtics in the semifinals and the Syracuse Nationals in the division finals. This was the first finals appearance for both teams, and the first Finals with two teams that had not made a finals appearance since the 1947 BAA Finals.
Team rosters
=Rochester Royals=
{{NBA roster header|team=Rochester Royals|season=1950-51}}
{{player2 | num = 19 | first = Bill | last = Calhoun | dab=basketball|pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 180 | DOB = 1927-11-04 |college = City College of San Francisco }}
{{player2 | num = 10 | first = Jack | last = Coleman |dab=basketball| pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 195 | DOB = 1924-05-23 |college = Louisville}}
{{player2 | num = 11 | first = Bob | last = Davies | pos = PG | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 175 |DOB = 1920-01-15 | college = Seton Hall }}
{{player2 | num = 16 | first = Red | last = Holzman | pos = PG | ft = 5 | in = 10 | lbs = 175 |DOB = 1920-08-10 | college = City College of New York }}
{{player2 | num = 12 | first = Arnie | last = Johnson | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 5 | lbs = 236 | DOB = 1920-05-16 |college = Bemidji State }}
{{player2 | num = 20 | first = Joe | last = McNamee | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 210 | DOB = 1926-09-24| college = San Francisco }}
{{player2 | num = 18 | first = Ed| last = Mikan | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 230 | DOB = 1925-10-20| college = DePaul}}
{{player2 | num = 07, 15 | first = Paul | last = Noel | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 185 | DOB =1924-08-17| college = Kentucky }}
{{player2 | num = 14 | first = Arnie | last = Risen | pos = C| ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 200 | college = Ohio State }}
{{player2 | num = 03 | first = Pep | last = Saul|dab=basketball| pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 185 | college = Seton Hall }}
{{player2 | num = 09 | first = Bobby | last = Wanzer| pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 0 | lbs = 170 | DOB = 1921-06-04| college = Seton Hall }}
{{NBA roster footer
| head_coach =
| asst_coach =
| roster_url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/ROC/1951.html
}}
=New York Knicks=
{{NBA roster header|team=New York Knicks|season=1950-51}}
{{player2 | num = 12 | first = Vince | last = Boryla | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 5 | lbs = 210 | college = Denver }}
{{player2 | num = 19 | first = Nathaniel | last = Clifton | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 220 | college = Xavier (Louisiana) }}
{{player2 | num = | first = Ray | last = Ellefson | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 230 | college = West Texas A&M University }}
{{player2 | num = 11 | first = Harry | last = Gallatin | pos = F/C | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 210 | college = Truman State }}
{{player2 | num = 14 | first = Gene | last = James | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 180 | college = Marshall }}
{{player2 | num = 17 | first = George | last = Kaftan | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 190 | college = Holy Cross }}
{{player2 | num = 6, 16 | first = Tony | last = Lavelli | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 185 | college = Yale }}
{{player2 | num = 7 | first = Ray | last = Lumpp | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 178 | college = NYU }}
{{player2 | num = 15 | first = Dick | last = McGuire | pos = PG | ft = 6 | in = 0 | lbs = 180 | college = St. John's }}
{{player2 | num = 10 | first = Tex | last = Ritter | dab = basketball | pos = G/F | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 185 | college = Eastern Kentucky }}
{{player2 | num = 18 | first = Connie | last = Simmons | pos = C/F | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 222 | college = }}
{{player2 | num = 9 | first = Ernie | last = Vandeweghe | pos = F/G | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 195 | college = Colgate }}
{{player2 | num = 5 | first = Max | last = Zaslofsky | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 170 | college = St. John's }}
{{NBA roster footer
| head_coach =
| asst_coach =
| roster_url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/1951.html
}}
Series summary
| class="wikitable" | ||||
| Game | Date | Home team | Result | Road team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | April 7 | Rochester Royals | 92–65 (1–0) | New York Knicks |
| Game 2 | April 8 | Rochester Royals | 99–84 (2–0) | New York Knicks |
| Game 3 | April 11 | New York Knicks | 71–78 (0–3) | Rochester Royals |
| Game 4 | April 13 | New York Knicks | 79–73 (1–3) | Rochester Royals |
| Game 5 | April 15 | Rochester Royals | 89–92 (3–2) | New York Knicks |
| Game 6 | April 18 | New York Knicks | 80–73 (3–3) | Rochester Royals |
| Game 7 | April 21 | Rochester Royals | 79–75 (4–3) | New York Knicks |
Royals win series 4–3
The Rochester / Cincinnati Royals / Kansas City / Sacramento Kings won their first ever NBA Championship.
Box scores
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = April 7 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195104070ROC.html Boxscore]
| team1 = New York Knicks | score1 = 65
| team2 = Rochester Royals | score2 = 92
| Q1 = 18–24 | Q2 = 16–27 | Q3 = 16–21 | Q4 = 15–20
| points1 = Vince Boryla 13 | rebounds1 = Simmons, Clifton 10 each | assist1 = Ernie Vandeweghe 4
| points2 = Arnie Risen 24 | rebounds2 = Arnie Risen 15 | assist2 = Bobby Wanzer 9
| place = Edgerton Park Arena, Rochester, New York | attendance = 4,200
| series = Rochester leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = April 8 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195104080ROC.html Boxscore]
| team1 = New York Knicks | score1 = 84
| team2 = Rochester Royals | score2 = 99
| Q1 = 17–26 | Q2 = 21–21 | Q3 = 28–26 | Q4 = 18–26
| points1 = Max Zaslofsky 28 | rebounds1 = Harry Gallatin 17 | assist1 = Vince Boryla 7
| points2 = Bob Davies 24 | rebounds2 = Jack Coleman 28 | assist2 = Jack Coleman 8
| place = Edgerton Park Arena, Rochester, New York | attendance = 4,200
| series = Rochester leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = April 11 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195104110NYK.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Rochester Royals | score1 = 78
| team2 = New York Knicks | score2 = 71
| Q1 = 15–17 | Q2 = 20–16 | Q3 = 16–15 | Q4 = 27–23
| points1 = Arnie Risen 27 | rebounds1 = Arnie Risen 18 | assist1 = Bob Davies 8
| points2 = Vince Boryla 20 | rebounds2 = Nat Clifton 11 | assist2 = Dick McGuire 7
| place = 69th Regiment Armory, Manhattan, New York | attendance = 5,000
| series = Rochester leads series, 3–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = April 13 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195104130NYK.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Rochester Royals | score1 = 73
| team2 = New York Knicks | score2 = 79
| Q1 = 10–21 | Q2 = 18–19 | Q3 = 28–17 | Q4 = 17–22
| points1 = Arnie Risen 26 | rebounds1 = Arnie Risen 20 | assist1 = Jack Coleman 9
| points2 = Harry Gallatin 22 | rebounds2 = Nat Clifton 17 | assist2 = Zaslofsky, Clifton 6 each
| place = 69th Regiment Armory, Manhattan, New York | attendance = 4,000
| series = Rochester leads series, 3–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = April 15 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195104150ROC.html Boxscore]
| team1 = New York Knicks | score1 = 92
| team2 = Rochester Royals | score2 = 89
| Q1 = 25–28 | Q2 = 19–21 | Q3 = 29–21 | Q4 = 19–19
| points1 = Connie Simmons 26 | rebounds1 = Nat Clifton 10 | assist1 = Nat Clifton 7
| points2 = Bobby Wanzer 21 | rebounds2 = Arnie Risen 14 | assist2 = Bob Davies 10
| place = Edgerton Park Arena, Rochester, New York | attendance = 4,200
| series = Rochester leads series, 3–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = April 18 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195104180NYK.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Rochester Royals | score1 = 73
| team2 = New York Knicks | score2 = 80
| Q1 = 21–19 | Q2 = 17–19 | Q3 = 12–15 | Q4 = 23–27
| points1 = Arnie Johnson 27 | rebounds1 = Arnie Johnson 15 | assist1 = Jack Coleman 8
| points2 = Max Zaslofsky 23 | rebounds2 = Ernie Vandeweghe 8 | assist2 = Dick McGuire 6
| place = 69th Regiment Armory, Manhattan, New York | attendance = 4,500
| series = Series tied, 3–3
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = April 21 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195104210ROC.html Boxscore]
| team1 = New York Knicks | score1 = 75
| team2 = Rochester Royals | score2 = 79
| Q1 = 16–22 | Q2 = 18–18 | Q3 = 26–22 | Q4 = 15–17
| points1 = Zaslofsky, Boryla 16 each | rebounds1 = Harry Gallatin 10 | assist1 = Ernie Vandeweghe 5
| points2 = Arnie Risen 24 | rebounds2 = Arnie Risen 13 | assist2 = Jack Coleman 9
| place = Edgerton Park Arena, Rochester, New York | attendance = 4,200
| series = Rochester wins series, 4–3
}}
The Knicks led 74–72 with under three minutes later but Arnie Risen and Bob Davies (who combined for 44 points scored in the game) managed to draw quick shots and free throws in the final minutes to give the Royals a 79–75 victory. Contrary to today's practices, there was no trophy presentation or a parade.{{Cite web |title=Democrat and Chronicle Subscription Offers, Specials, and Discounts |url=https://subscribe.democratandchronicle.com/restricted |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=subscribe.democratandchronicle.com}}
Aftermath
This was the first and to date last title for the Rochester Royals, who would move to Cincinnati, Ohio for the 1958 season. The Royals would spend 15 years mired in mediocrity before moving to Kansas City, Missouri in 1972, changing their name in the process to the Kings. One notable highlight was their appearance in the 1981 NBA Playoffs, in which their 40–42 team reached the Western Conference Finals before losing to the Houston Rockets, who also had a 40–42 record. The Kings moved to Sacramento, California in 1985, where they have remained to this day. The team reached the Western Conference Finals in 2002, where they lost in seven games to the Los Angeles Lakers in a highly controversial series.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/nba/kings-robbed-in-2002-western-conference-finals-tim-donaghy-claims/1310810/?amp=1|author=Ham, James|title=Kings 'robbed' in 2002 Western Conference finals, Tim Donaghy claims|website=NBC Sports Bay Area|date=November 1, 2019|accessdate=June 4, 2024}} The Kings’ 2002 Western Conference Final run was the closest the team got to reaching the NBA Finals in the modern era. The Royals/Kings have the longest NBA title drought, the longest NBA Finals appearance drought, the longest active championship round appearance drought in all four of the American major pro sports leagues, and the third longest championship drought in North American sports.{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2023/11/02/here-are-longest-championship-droughts-four-major-north-american-sports-rangers-world-series|last=Salvador|first=Joseph|title=Here Are the Longest Championship Droughts in the Four Major North American Sports|website=Sports Illustrated|date=November 2, 2023|accessdate=February 16, 2025}}
This would be the Knicks first of three consecutive appearances in the Finals, but they would lose all three times. They would not return to the Finals until 1970, which they won.
Notes
{{notelist |25em |notes=
{{efn|name=BAA |1=
The Basketball Association of America (BAA) played three seasons, 1946–47 to 1948–49, all with postseason tournaments that concluded in best-of-seven series. The NBA recognizes BAA history as part of its own, sometimes without comment.[http://www.nba.com/history/nba-season-recaps/index.html "NBA Season Recaps"]. NBA History (nba.com/history). July 1, 2014. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
The NBA was actually created by 1949 merger of the BAA and its older competitor, the National Basketball League. There were 12 NBL championships, all finally decided by a best-of-three or best-of-five series.
}}
}}
References
{{reflist |25em |refs=
[https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1951.html "1950–51 NBA Season Summary"]. Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
Select "Previous Season" from the heading for 1949–50, and so on. Select "Finals" from League Playoffs for the daily schedule of the final series, and so on.
}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120222182800/http://www.nba.com/history/finals/19501951.html 1951 Finals] at NBA.com
- [https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1951.html 1951 NBA Playoffs] at Basketball-Reference.com
{{NBA Finals}}
{{Rochester Royals 1950–51 NBA champions}}
{{Sacramento Kings}}
{{New York Knicks}}
{{1950–51 NBA season by team}}
Category:Basketball competitions in New York City