Albuquerque Thunderbirds
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Albuquerque Thunderbirds | |
 |
|
| Founded | 2001 |
| History | Huntsville Flight 2001-2005 Albuquerque Thunderbirds 2005-Present |
| Arena | Tingley Coliseum |
| City | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| Team Colors | Orange and Black |
| Head Coach | Michael Cooper |
| Owner | David Kahn Southwest Basketball, LLC |
| Championships | 2006 |
| Affiliations | Phoenix Suns ("local" affiliate), Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers |
The Albuquerque Thunderbirds is the name of an NBA Development League minor league basketball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. Their NBA affiliates are the Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, and Utah Jazz. The games are broadcast in Albuquerque on 96.3 KBZU, produced by Roberto Gonzales.
Logo design: Thunderbird profile with talon grasping a basketball
Contents |
[edit] Franchise history
The team was established in Huntsville, Alabama in 2001 as a founding member of the NBDL, the affiliate minor league of the NBA. The team ended its tenure in Alabama at the conclusion of the 2005 season after finishing 3rd in the overall NBDL standings at 27-21. They became the Albuquerque Thunderbirds the following season. In 2006, the team also won the NBDL Championship game over the Fort Worth Flyers in their first year of existence in Albuquerque. They are directly affiliated with NBA teams the Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, Seattle Supersonics, and the Utah Jazz. In the 2006-2007 season, along with the Ashville Altitude now the Tulsa 66ers,the Columbus Riverdragons now the Austin Toros and the North Charleston Lowgators now the Florida Flame who are not playing for the 2006-2007 season, the Huntsville Flight now the Albuquerque Thunderbirds are playing in their fifth season in the National Basketball Association Devlopment League.
[edit] Players of note
[edit] Basketball Hall of Famers:
[edit] Not to be forgotten:
[edit] Current Roster
| Albuquerque Thunderbirds Current Roster |
|||||
| Head Coach: Michael Cooper | |||||
| Associate Head Coach: Joe Harge | |||||
| Athletic Trainer: Michael Douglas | |||||
| 0 | G | 5'10 |  |
Tony Bland | (Boston College '03) |
| 5 | G | 6'1 | |
Troy Bell | (Boston College '03) |
| 7 | F | 6'8 | |
TJ Cummings | (UCLA '04) |
| 13 | F | 6'8 | |
Brandon Robinson | (Auburn '05) |
| 15 | F | 6'8 | |
Jamaal Thomas | (Angelo State '02) |
| 21 | F, C | 6'10 | |
Marcus Douthit | (Providence '04) |
| 45 | G | 5'10 | |
Steven Barber | (Texas-Arlington '02) |
| 50 | G | 6'4 | |
Manual Navarez | (New Mexico '02) |
[edit] External links
| NBA Development League |
|---|
| Albuquerque Thunderbirds | Anaheim Arsenal | Arkansas RimRockers | Austin Toros | Bakersfield Jam | Colorado 14ers |
| Dakota Wizards | Fort Worth Flyers | Idaho Stampede | Los Angeles D-Fenders | Sioux Falls Skyforce | Tulsa 66ers |
| Suspended operations: Florida Flame |
| Expected to begin play in 2007-08: Utah |
| Defunct/Former Teams: Asheville Altitude | Charleston Lowgators | Columbus Riverdragons | Fayetteville Patriots Greenville Groove | Huntsville Flight | Mobile Revelers | Roanoke Dazzle |
