Sioux Falls Skyforce
| Sioux Falls Skyforce | ||
|---|---|---|
| founding | 1989 | |
| history | 1989–2006 CBA / IBL since 2006 NBA D-League and G-League |
|
| Stadion | Sioux Falls Arena (until 2013) Sanford Sports Pentagon (since 2013) |
|
| Location | Sioux Falls (SD) | |
| Club colors | Black, white, red, gold (since 2013, see Miami Heat) | |
| league | NBA G-League | |
| Head coach | Dan Craig | |
| owner | Greg Heineman et al. | |
| Championships | CBA 1996, 2005 D-League Champion 2016 |
|
| Conference title | CBA-National 1996, 1998, 1999 D-League 2016 |
|
| Division title | D-League 2015, 2016 | |
|
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The Sioux Falls Skyforce are a franchise of the NBA G-League , in Sioux Falls ( South Dakota is home). Founded in 1989, the franchise's basketball team played in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) until 2006 , before moving to the G-League.
history
On February 14, 1989 it was announced that a CBA expansion team would be located in Sioux Falls . The team name "Skyforce" was determined in a competition.
The first game of Skyforce took place on November 16, 1989 and was lost 79:85 against the Rapid City Thrillers.
In 1994, Flip Saunders became head coach and led the team into the play-offs for the first time in the club's history with a 34:22 record . Then Saunders was brought into the NBA by the Minnesota Timberwolves . The Skyforce hired Morris "Mo" McHone as their new head coach. He became the most successful head coach in the club's history. Between 1995 and 1999, the team won 142 games (with only 82 defeats). McHone led the Skyforce to three CBA finals series. In 1996 the Sioux Falls Skyforce even won the CBA title.
On February 8, 2001, the CBA briefly stopped their game operations and the Skyforce joined the IBL for the remainder of the season. In the IBL play-offs they lost to Rockford Lightning. The CBA resumed its gaming operations as early as the next season. In 2005 the Skyforce won the CBA championship for the second time.
On April 6, 2006, the team announced that they would join the NBA G-League after 17 years in the CBA . Mo McHone also returned to the team as head coach. In the first season in the NBA development league, 30 out of 50 games were won.
Kasib Powell was named NBA D-League Most Valuable Player in the 2007-08 season .
On June 10, 2013, the Skyforce and the Miami Heat announced that the Skyforce had closed an exclusive partnership with the Florida NBA franchise for the 2013-2014 season. The logo has also been adapted to match the colors of the Miami Heat.
In 2016 the Skyforce won the G-League championship for the first time with a 2-1 over the Los Angeles D-Fenders .
Known players
CBA
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Raja Bell (2000-01) -
Troy Hudson (1997-98 and 1998-99)
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Randy Livingston (1997-98, 1998-99 and 2000-01)
NBA Development League
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Will Blalock (2006-07, assigned by the Detroit Pistons )
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Amir Johnson (2006-07, assigned by the Detroit Pistons)
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Bobby Jones (2006-07, assigned by the Philadelphia 76ers )
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Antonio Meeking (2006-07)
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Kasib Powell (2007-08)
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Jared Reiner (2006-07)
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Luke Whitehead (2006-07)
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Patrick Ewing Jr. (2011-12)
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Miami HEAT Enter Into Single Affiliation Partnership With NBA Development League. National Basketball Association , June 10, 2013, accessed May 17, 2014 (Media Info Miami HEAT).