New Mexico Thunderbirds
| New Mexico Thunderbirds | |
 |
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| Founded | 2005 |
| Folded | 2011 (relocated to Canton) |
|---|---|
| History | Huntsville Flight 2001–2005 Albuquerque Thunderbirds 2005–2010 New Mexico Thunderbirds 2010–2011 Canton Charge 2011-present |
| Arena | Santa Ana Star Center |
| City | Rio Rancho, New Mexico |
| Team colors | Dark Yellow, Black, Gray, White (New Mexico Thunderbirds - 2010-2011) Orange, Dark Yellow, Black, White (Albuquerque Thunderbirds - 2005-2006 through 2009-2010) Red, Yellow, Navy, White (Huntsville Flight - 2001-2002 through 2004-2005) |
| Head coach | Darvin Ham |
| Owner | Sam & Jackie Bregman |
| Championships | 1 (2005-06 as Albuquerque) |
| Division / Conference titles | 0 |
| Affiliations | New Orleans Hornets Orlando Magic |
| Website | www.nba.com/dleague/newmexico/ |
The New Mexico Thunderbirds were a professional NBA Development League minor league basketball team which played from 2005-2011. Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Thunderbirds first played their home games at Tingley Coliseum as the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, then played at the Santa Ana Star Center under the New Mexico Thunderbirds name for their final season of 2010-11.
On July 7, 2011, it was announced the Thunderbirds had been purchased by the Cleveland Cavaliers and are moving to Canton, Ohio for the 2011-12 season, where they now play as the Canton Charge.[1]
Franchise history
The team was formed as the Huntsville Flight and were 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, with Michael Cooper as Head Coach. 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.
For the 2010 season, the Thunderbirds moved from Tingley Coliseum to the Santa Ana Star Center and were renamed the New Mexico Thunderbirds. The team was then purchased by the Cleveland Cavaliers and moved to Canton, Ohio, where they are now the Canton Charge.
Season-By-Season
| Season | Division | Regular Season | Playoffs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | Wins | Losses | Pct. | ||||||
| Huntsville Flight | |||||||||
| 2001–02 | 5th | 26 | 30 | .464 | |||||
| 2002–03 | 8th | 22 | 28 | .440 | |||||
| 2003–04 | 3rd | 24 | 22 | .522 | Won Semifinals (Charleston) 108-100 Lost D-League Finals (Asheville) 108-106 |
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| 2004–05 | 3rd | 27 | 21 | .563 | Lost Semifinals (Asheville) 90-86 | ||||
| Albuquerque Thunderbirds | |||||||||
| 2005–06 | 2nd | 26 | 22 | .542 | Won Semifinals (Florida) 80-71 Won D-League Finals (Fort Worth) 119-108 |
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| 2006–07 | Western | 3rd | 24 | 26 | .480 | Lost Semifinals (Colorado) 130-100 | |||
| 2007–08 | Southwestern | 4th | 22 | 28 | .440 | ||||
| 2008–09 | Southwestern | 3rd | 24 | 26 | .480 | ||||
| 2009–10 | Western | 7th | 18 | 32 | .360 | ||||
| New Mexico Thunderbirds | |||||||||
| 2010–11 | Western | 9th | 20 | 30 | .400 | ||||
| Regular Season Record | 233 | 265 | .468 | 2001–2011 | |||||
| Playoff Record | 3 | 3 | .500 | 2001–2011 | |||||
Current roster
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New Mexico Thunderbirds roster
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Roster • Transactions |
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Affiliates
- Cleveland Cavaliers (2006–2007)
- Dallas Mavericks (2008–2010)
- Indiana Pacers (2006–2007)
- Miami Heat (2008–2009)
- New Orleans Hornets (2009–2011)
- Orlando Magic (2010–2011)
- Philadelphia 76ers (2007–2008)
- Phoenix Suns (2005–2008)
- Sacramento Kings (2005–2006)
- Seattle SuperSonics (2005–2006)
- Utah Jazz (2005–2006)
