Albuquerque Thunderbirds
| Albuquerque Thunderbirds | |
|
[[Image:{{{logo}}}|center|150px|Albuquerque Thunderbirds logo]] |
|
| 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 | Jeff Ruland |
| Owner | David Kahn Southwest Basketball, LLC |
| Championships | 1 (2006) |
| Division Titles | 1 (2006) |
| Affiliations | Phoenix Suns ("local" affiliate) Philadelphia 76ers |
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 Philadelphia 76ers
and Phoenix Suns. The games are broadcast in Albuquerque on 96.3 KBZU, produced by Roberto
Gonzales.
Logo design: Thunderbird profile with talon grasping a basketball
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 D-League Championship game over the Fort Worth Flyers in their first year of existence in Albuquerque. They are directly affiliated with NBA teams the Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, and the Phoenix Suns. In the 2006-2007 season, along with the Tulsa 66ers (formerly the Asheville Altitude), the Austin Toros (formerly the Columbus Riverdragons), and the Florida Flame (formerly the Charleston Lowgators), who are not playing for the 2006-2007 season. The Albuquerque Thunderbirds (formerly the Huntsville Flight) are playing in their sixth season in the National Basketball Association Development League.
Players of note
Basketball Hall of Famers:
Not to be forgotten:
Current Roster
| Albuquerque Thunderbirds Current Roster |
|||||
| Head Coach: Michael Cooper | |||||
| Associate Head Coach: Joe Harge | |||||
| Athletic Trainer: Michael Douglas | |||||
| 0 | G | 6'5 |  |
Tony Bland | (San Diego State) |
| 12 | G,F | 6'8 | |
Dijon Thompson | (UCLA) |
| 4 | F | 6'6 | |
Joe Shipp | (Cal) |
| 11 | F,C | 7'1 |  |
Andreas Glyniadakis | (Greece) |
| 13 | F | 6'8 | |
Brandon Robinson | (Auburn '05) |
| 7 | G | 6'4 | |
Chris Rodgers | (Arizona) |
| 5 | F | 6'9 | |
Duane Erwin | (Memphis) |
| 45 | G | 6'0 | |
Steven Barber | (Texas-Arlington '02) |
| 42 | C | 6'10 | |
Greg Clausen | (Marquette) |
External links
| NBA Development League | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Division | Southwest Division | West Division | |
| Dakota Wizards | Albuquerque Thunderbirds | Anaheim Arsenal | |
| Fort Wayne Mad Ants | Austin Toros | Bakersfield Jam | |
| Iowa Energy | Colorado 14ers | Idaho Stampede | |
| Sioux Falls Skyforce | Rio Grande Valley Vipers | Los Angeles D-Fenders | |
| Tulsa 66ers | Utah Flash | ||
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