Bob Davies
A flashy, behind-the-back dribbling pioneer who led the Rochester Royals to an NBA championship and helped shape modern guard play.
1920–1990 (age 70)·American basketball player-coach·Birthday: January 15·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Before 'Showtime' there was Bob Davies, a player whose flair and innovation made him one of professional basketball's first true crowd-pleasers. At Seton Hall, he was a two-time All-American, but it was with the Rochester Royals where he became a star. Partnering with Bobby Wanzer, Davies formed a backcourt that combined slick ball-handling with sharp shooting. His signature move, the behind-the-back dribble, was considered audacious and even disrespectful in the 1940s, but he wielded it with such effectiveness that it forced the sport to embrace a new kind of artistry. In 1951, his leadership and skill propelled the Royals past the New York Knicks to claim the NBA title, cementing his place as a foundational talent in the league's early, gritty years.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Bob was born in 1920, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bob Was Born
The biggest hits of 1920
#1 Movie
Way Down East
Bob's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1920Born
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1925Started school
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1933Became a teenager
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1936Could drive
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1938Could vote
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1941Turned 21
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1950Turned 30
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1960Turned 40
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1970Turned 50
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1980Turned 60
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1990Turned 70
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
Key Achievements
- Won the 1951 NBA championship as the star guard for the Rochester Royals.
- Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970.
- Was a four-time NBA All-Star and a three-time All-NBA First Team selection.
- His No. 11 jersey was retired by the Sacramento Kings, the successors to the Rochester Royals.
Did You Know?
He was known as "Harrisburg Houdini" and "The Wizard of Oz" for his ball-handling magic.
He served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
After his playing career, he returned to coach at his alma mater, Seton Hall University.
“I invented the behind-the-back dribble not for show, but to protect the ball from defenders.”
