Hiroshima Dragonflies
| Hiroshima Dragonflies | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Conference | West | |||
| Division | 1st | |||
| Leagues | B.League | |||
| Founded | 2013 | |||
| History | Hiroshima Dragonflies (2014–present) | |||
| Arena | Hiroshima Sun Plaza | |||
| Capacity | 6,052 | |||
| Location | Hiroshima Prefecture | |||
| Team colors | Blue, Orange | |||
| Ownership | Nova Holdings | |||
| Championships | 1 (2024) | |||
| Website | hiroshimadragonflies.com | |||
| ||||
The Hiroshima Dragonflies (in Japanese: 広島ドラゴンフライズ) are a professional basketball team based in Hiroshima, Japan. In October 2014 they commenced competing in the Western Conference of the Japanese National Basketball League.[1] In September 2016 they joined the B.League, the NBL's successor league, and currently play in the first division's Western Conference. The Dragonflies have won the B.League championship once, in 2024.[2]
History[edit]
Foundation[edit]
In April 2014, following the announcement that the former Japan Basketball League would be restructured as the National Basketball League, a group was launched to support the formation of a professional basketball team in Hiroshima.[3] In May 2014 the group received support from the prefectural basketball association [4] and an application to join the NBL was submitted in July.[5] In August 2014 the application was approved[6] and the name Hiroshima Dragonflies was decided.[7] In October 2014 an operating company Hiroshima Dragonflies Corporation (株式会社広島ドラゴンフライズ) was established.
Championship (2024)[edit]
On May 29, 2024, the Dragonflies won their first-ever B1 League championship after they defeated the Ryukyu Golden Kings 2–1 in the finals.[2]
Team[edit]
Head coach[edit]
The inaugural head coach of the Dragonflies was Kenichi Sako, a former Japanese national player. It was the first coaching role for Sako, who was known as "Mr. Basketball" during his playing career that ended in 2011.[8]
The team has not been able to retain a coach during the 2017–2018 season, and players have been filling in to the team's detriment.
Roster[edit]
| Hiroshima Dragonflies roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
url=https://www.bleague.jp/roster_detail/?PlayerID=51000259 | title=カイ・ソット }}</ref> | year=2002 | month=5 | date=11}}
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Updated: January 24, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arenas[edit]
- Hiroshima Sun Plaza
- Fukuyama Rose Arena
- Shishin-yo Oak Arena
- Higashihiroshima Sports Park Gymnasium
- Maeda Housing Higashiku Sports Center
Notable players[edit]
- Clint Chapman
- Daniel Dillon
- Yusuke Okada
- Shannon Shorter
- Kosuke Takeuchi
- Wendell White
- Daiji Yamada
- Kai Sotto
References[edit]
- ^ Hiroshima Dragonflies triumph in NBL regular season debut
- ^ a b "HIROSHIMA DRAGON FLIES - B. LEAGUE 2023-24 season annual championship". www.bleague.global. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ ""Pro basketball in Hiroshima" - Aiming to join the NBL next year". Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
- ^ ""Pro basketball in Hiroshima" - Aiming to join the NBL next year". Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
- ^ Hiroshima group applies to join new league Archived 2014-03-24 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ NBL send approval notice - Hiroshima group to join next year Archived 2014-03-24 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ NBL Hiroshima expansion team to be named "Dragonflies" Archived 2014-03-24 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ 'Mr Basketball' back on court in new role