Every NBA team's best iteration ever

Every NBA team’s best iteration ever

PORTLAND, OR - 1987: Head Coach Pat Riley leads Magic Johnson #32, Byron Scott #4, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar #33 during a game played circa 1987 at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1987 NBAE (Photo by Brian Drake/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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ROCHESTER, NY – 1955: Art Spoelstra #20 of the Rochester Royals poses with the basketball in 1955 in Rochester, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1955 NBAE (Photo by NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Sacramento Kings: 1950-51

The Sacramento Kings have a well earned reputation for being a bit of a hapless franchise, and in fact, they have the longest championship drought in the NBA. The lone time the franchise won a title, they were on the other side of the country, representing Rochester, New York as the Rochester Royals. In between several years of losing to the George Mikan-led Minneapolis Lakers in the playoffs, the Royals finally defeated the Lakers in the Division Finals before defeating the New York Knicks in seven games. Rochester had won the first three games of the series before the Knicks won the next three forcing a climactic Game 7. The Royals quickly gained a 14-point advantage over the Knicks, but again, New York came back, taking the lead with under two minutes left. With 44 seconds left, the score was tied at 75, and the Royals’ Bob Davies was fouled. He went on to make both free throws, giving them a two-point lead. Jack Coleman made another shot for Rochester in the final minute as the Knicks failed to score again, giving the Royals a 79-75 victory and the championship.

Eventually, three players from that team — Bob Davies, Bobby Wanzer, and Arnie Risen — along with their owner and coach, Les Harrison, would all be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. While the 1951 Rochester Royals aren’t going to be mentioned alongside the 1986 Celtics and 1996 Bulls as among the NBA’s all time great teams, it feels like a safe bet to claim they’re at least the best team to prominently feature two men named Arnie.

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