New York Renaissance
The New York Renaissance (sometimes called " Harlem Renaissance " or simply " Rens " ) were the dominant professional basketball team of the thirties and early forties. They were one of the first teams, which consisted only of black players. The Rens were founded in 1922 by Bob Douglas and existed until 1949.
The name of the team goes back to the " Harlem Renaissance ", a dance hall and casino in New York's Harlem, where the team fought out their home games. As a purely African- American team, the Rens were allowed to join any professional league, so they moved as a traveling troupe from place to place. In the southern states such as Georgia and Alabama, it was black teams even forbidden by law to play against white teams. Nevertheless games against white teams for the Rens were the norm, and many teams appreciated the magnificent atmosphere in the " home arena " of the reindeer.
With three victories in a series of six games against the Celtics, the original Rens won in 1926/27 national attention. The Renaissance copied the successful play of former top teams such as the Celtics by putting on consistent defense and quick passing game. Key figure for the latter was about Clarence Jenkins, one of the best guards of the time. Almost unbeatable they were finally in 1932, when Center " Wee " Willie Smith was committed. By 1936, they won 473 games, one of which ( 1932-1933 ) 88 in series.
After the beginning of the thirties, the Renaissance Casino had to be closed, the Rens played almost away just yet. Nevertheless, the team remained constant successful. In 1939, she won 112 games in only 7 losses. The Rens participated in the first World Tournament held in part in Chicago and won against the reigning NBL champion, the Oshkosh All-Stars with 34-25. During the Second World War, the tour operation of the Rens had to be severely restricted.
As the first " black team " rose Rens for season 48/49 in the (actually "white" ) NBL one. However, they had to declare their willingness to relocate to Dayton, Ohio, as the newly formed New York Knicks feared a local competitor. The aging stars of the Rens were no longer able to build on previous successes, and so threw Manager Bob Douglas after the first season in the towel. In the following season, NBL and BAA merged to NBA - without the New York Renaissance.
The New York Rens were recorded in 1963 as a team in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Player
- Tarzan Cooper
- William Gates
- John Holt
- John Isaacs
- Clarence Jenkins
- James Ricks
- Eyre Saitch
- " Wee " Willie Smith
- Bill Yancey