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Basketball team in Roanoke, Virginia
The
Roanoke Dazzle
were an
NBA Development League
team based in
Roanoke, Virginia
, U.S. In operation from the inaugural D-League season of 2001?02 through the 2005?06 season, the Dazzle marked the return of professional basketball to Roanoke since the
Virginia Squires
called Roanoke home in the 1970s. Playing their home games at the
Roanoke Civic Center
, their logo design featured a
star
moving on
rail tracks
around a basketball.
Franchise history
[
edit
]
The NBDL initially announced that Roanoke was under consideration for one of the inaugural teams in August 2000.
[1]
Competing with
Hampton
for Virginia's NBDL team, Roanoke was evaluated as a potential franchise location based on its population, arena size and lack of a major
NCAA
basketball program in the
Roanoke Valley
.
[1]
After reaching an agreement to play home games at the
Roanoke Civic Center
, the NBDL announced Roanoke as the league's fifth member on May 18, 2001.
[2]
The announcement marked the return of professional basketball to Roanoke since the departure of the
American Basketball Association
's
Virginia Squires
following the 1972?73 season.
[2]
By June 2001,
Donna Daniels
was named team president and
Kent Davison
was announced as the first head coach in franchise history.
[3]
On July 18, 2001, Daniels announced the team nickname, the Dazzle.
[4]
The name was chosen purposefully to not reflect Roanoke's railroad heritage as two other professional teams, the
Roanoke Express
and the
Roanoke Steam
, already called the civic center home.
[4]
The Dazzle would be victorious in the inaugural game on November 18, 2001, against the
Mobile Revelers
in the Roanoke Civic Center.
[5]
After five seasons, and overall moderate success on the court, the Dazzle were one of the final two teams from the
NBDL
inaugural season to last through the 2005?06 season. The
Fayetteville Patriots
were the other. Both were owned by the
NBA
for their entire five season history. On May 1, 2006, the NBA Development League announced that the NBA would no longer operate the Roanoke Dazzle. League President Phil Evans briefly held out the possibility of a local ownership group operating the team. However, when a local ownership group failed to materialize, the team was disbanded.
[6]
[7]
Season by season results
[
edit
]
Season
|
Regular Season
|
Playoffs
|
Finish
|
Wins
|
Losses
|
Pct.
|
Roanoke Dazzle
|
2001?02
|
8th
|
18
|
38
|
.320
|
|
2002?03
|
4th
|
26
|
24
|
.520
|
Lost Semifinals (
Fayetteville
) 2-0
|
2003?04
|
5th
|
20
|
26
|
.435
|
|
2004?05
|
4th
|
26
|
22
|
.542
|
Lost Semifinals (
Columbus
) 96-89
|
2005?06
|
4th
|
25
|
23
|
.521
|
Lost Semifinals (
Fort Worth
) 87-78
|
Regular Season Record
|
115
|
133
|
.464
|
2001?2006
|
Playoff Record
|
0
|
3
|
.000
|
2001?2006
|
Players of note
[
edit
]
NBA affiliates
[
edit
]
See also
[
edit
]
Notes
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
Bogaczyk, Jack (August 25, 2000). "Roanoke might snare pro hoops team".
The Roanoke Times
. pp. C1.
- ^
a
b
Bogaczyk, Jack (May 17, 2001). "NBDL on its way to Roanoke".
The Roanoke Times
. pp. C1.
- ^
Bogaczyk, Jack (June 29, 2001). "Davidson rebounds in Roanoke".
The Roanoke Times
. pp. C1.
- ^
a
b
Bogaczyk, Jack (July 18, 2001). "NBDL wants to Dazzle you".
The Roanoke Times
. pp. B6.
- ^
Berman, Mark (November 19, 2001). "Dazzle huge in debut".
The Roanoke Times
. pp. B1.
- ^
King, Randy (May 2, 2006).
"
'So it's over': NBA benches Roanoke Dazzle"
.
The Roanoke Times
. pp. A1. Archived from
the original
on February 1, 2013.
- ^
NBA Development League (June 1, 2008).
"D-League Will No Longer Operate Roanoke Dazzle"
.
|
---|
Relocated
(still active)
| |
---|
Defunct
| |
---|