Providence Steamrollers

Last updated
Providence Steamrollers
Providence Steamrollers logo.svg
Division Eastern
Founded1946
Folded1949
HistoryProvidence Steamrollers
1946–1949
Arena Rhode Island Auditorium
Location Providence, Rhode Island
Team colorsBurgundy, pink, black
   
General manager Joe Fay
Ownership Louis Pieri

The Providence Steamrollers were a Basketball Association of America team based in Providence, Rhode Island. [1] As of 2025, the Steamrollers were the last professional sports franchise from one of the Big Four leagues to be based in Rhode Island.

Contents

Franchise history

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.

On August 3, 1949, the Steamrollers would join the Indianapolis Jets as the only teams from the Basketball Association of America side of the BAA-NBL merger in what's now known as the NBA to not join in on the merger and survive as a team. Nine days later, seven of the Steamrollers' players would be bought out and play for the Boston Celtics instead. [2]

Christmas Tradition

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. [3]

Attempts to bring the Steamrollers back

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. [4]

Players of note

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame

Providence Steamrollers Hall of Famers
Coaches
NamePositionTenureInducted
Ken Loeffler Head Coach1948–19491964

Draft

Player nameCollegeYear
Howie Shannon Kansas State University1949
Ed Leede Dartmouth College1949
Warren Perkins Tulane University1949
Ray Corley Georgetown University1949
Bob Royer Indiana State University1949
Paul Courtey University of Oklahoma1949
Carl Schaeffer University of Alabama1949
Bill Tanzler University of Florida1949
Jack Theolan DePaul University1949
Andy Tonkovich Marshall University1948
Al Bennett Oklahoma State University1948
Jack Coleman University of Louisville1948
Ed Faber Trinity University1948
Verl Heap Arizona State University1948
Otto Schnellbacher University of Kansas1948
Brady Walker Brigham Young University1948
Walt Dropo University of Connecticut1947
Joe Barry1947
Dick FureyUniversity of St. Thomas1947
Bob Hubbard Springfield College1947
Bob JoyceBates College1947
Roy Lipscomb St. Mary's College of Maryland1947
John MillsHofstra University1947
Al Nicolas University of Rhode Island1947

[5]

Coaches and others

Season-by-season record

BAA champions Division championsPlayoff berth
Season League Division FinishWinsLosses Win% GB Playoffs Awards
1946–47 BAA Eastern 4th2832.46721
1947–48 BAAEastern4th642.12521
1948–49 BAAEastern6th1248.20026
Regular season record46122.2741946–1949
Playoff record00 

References

  1. Providence Steam Rollers Franchise Index
  2. Bradley, Robert D. (2013). The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts. Scarecrow Press. ISBN   9780810890695., pg. 423
  3. "Providence Steamrollers".
  4. "The failed resurrection of the Providence Steamrollers".
  5. "Providence Steam Rollers Draft Picks | Basketball-Reference.com". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-11-13.