Lester Harrison

Member of the Basketball Hall of Fame

What is Lester Harrison known for?

Born in Rochester, New York, Les Harrison, a prominent figure in the world of American basketball, was an illustrious alumni of East High School in Rochester. His basketball journey started right from his graduation in 1923 when he embarked on a semi-professional basketball career, initially playing, coaching, and organizing for the Rochester Seagrams and the Rochester Ebers.

In 1945, Harrison and his brother Joseph established their semi-pro team, the Rochester Pros, which later transformed into the Rochester Royals in 1946. As a team owner, he signed Dolly King, the first African-American player to have played in the league since 1943. Under the guidance of coach Eddie Malanowicz, the Royals even reached the NBL finals three times, securing a win against the Sheboygan Red Skins in 1946.

In 1948, he transitioned his team to the Basketball Association of America (BAA), taking a pivotal role in the merger of the BAA and NBL which resulted in the formation of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Harrison coached the Royals through the 1954–55 season. His tenure as a coach saw five NBA divisional titles and a triumphant win in the 1951 NBA championship. Throughout his career, he coached several Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers, including Bob Davies, Red Holzman, and Bobby Wanzer.

He retired from coaching in the 1955 season but continued as the Royals' owner until 1958, relocating the team to Cincinnati, Ohio just before the 1957 season. As an influential member on the boards of directors of the NBL, BAA, and NBA, Harrison's contributions to the sport were recognized with an induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980.

His influence continues to be honored as the basketball court at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester bears his name, serving as a venue for the Section V high school basketball tournament each year and the home court for the Rochester Razorsharks of the Premier Basketball League.

You can read more about Les Harrison on his Hall of Fame page or check out his coaching statistics at Basketball-Reference.com.