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Providence Steamrollers

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Providence Steamrollers
Providence Steamrollers logo
DivisionEastern
Founded1946
Folded1949
HistoryProvidence Steamrollers
1946–1949
ArenaRhode Island Auditorium
LocationProvidence, Rhode Island
Team colorsBurgundy, pink, black
     
General managerJoe Fay
OwnershipLouis Pieri

The Providence Steamrollers were a Basketball Association of America team based in Providence, Rhode Island.[1] As of 2024, the Steamrollers were the last professional sports franchise from one of the Big Four leagues to be based in Rhode Island.

Franchise history

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The Steamrollers were one of the original eleven NBA franchises (when the league was called the Basketball Association of America). The franchise posted an all-time record of 46–122 (.274) before folding after three seasons.

The Steamrollers still hold the dubious NBA record for the fewest games won in a season with six, in the 1947–48 season, paired with 42 losses. However, the 2011–2012 Charlotte Bobcats hold the record for the lowest winning percentage in NBA history, with .106, the result of a 7–59 record. During that 1947–48 season, the Steamrollers' coach Nat Hickey activated himself as a player for two games, the second of which was two days before his 46th birthday, setting a still-standing record as the oldest player in NBA history.

Christmas Tradition

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The Steamrollers took on the New York Knicks on Christmas Day in 1947 in the first Christmas Day game in NBA history. The Steamrollers lost the game to the Knicks 89-75 in what would become an annual tradition for the NBA. [2]

Attempts to bring the Steamrollers back

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In 1980 entrepreneur Robert "Skip" Chernov attempted to bring the Steamrollers back to the NBA. Chernov had purchased the rights to the Steamroller's from Lou Pieri's estate and believed that the NBA bylaws at the time would allow him to resurrect the franchise. The NBA led by Chief Counsel David Stern disagreed, but Chernov, undeterred, sued the NBA. Chernov asked the courts to allow the Steamrollers return to the NBA and to grant them to first overall draft pick in the 1980 draft. Ultimately, the court ruled in the NBA's favor and the short-lived attempt to resurrect the Providence Steamrollers failed. [3]

Players of note

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Providence Steamrollers Hall of Famers
Coaches
Name Position Tenure Inducted
Ken Loeffler Head Coach 1948–1949 1964

Draft

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Player name College Year
Howie Shannon Kansas State University 1949
Ed Leede Dartmouth College 1949
Warren Perkins Tulane University 1949
Ray Corley Georgetown University 1949
Bob Royer Indiana State University 1949
Paul Courtey University of Oklahoma 1949
Carl Schaeffer University of Alabama 1949
Bill Tanzler University of Florida 1949
Jack Theolan DePaul University 1949
Andy Tonkovich Marshall University 1948
Al Bennett Oklahoma State University 1948
Jack Coleman University of Louisville 1948
Ed Faber Trinity University 1948
Verl Heap Arizona State University 1948
Otto Schnellbacher University of Kansas 1948
Brady Walker Brigham Young University 1948
Walt Dropo University of Connecticut 1947
Joe Barry 1947
Dick Furey University of St. Thomas 1947
Bob Hubbard Springfield College 1947
Bob Joyce Bates College 1947
Roy Lipscomb St. Mary's College of Maryland 1947
John Mills Hofstra University 1947
Al Nicolas University of Rhode Island 1947

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Coaches and others

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Season-by-season records

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BAA champions Division champions Playoff berth
Season League Division Finish Wins Losses Win% GB Playoffs Awards
1946–47 BAA Eastern 4th 28 32 .467 21
1947–48 BAA Eastern 4th 6 42 .125 21
1948–49 BAA Eastern 6th 12 48 .200 26
Regular season record 46 122 .274 1946–1949
Playoff record 0 0  

References

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  1. ^ Providence Steam Rollers Franchise Index
  2. ^ "Providence Steamrollers".
  3. ^ "The failed resurrection of the Providence Steamrollers".
  4. ^ "Providence Steam Rollers Draft Picks | Basketball-Reference.com". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-11-13.
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