Albuquerque Thunderbirds

NBADL team
color1 = #FF4600
color2 = black
name = Albuquerque Thunderbirds

imagesize = 150px
League = NBA Development League
founded = 2001
history = Huntsville Flight
2001-2005
Albuquerque Thunderbirds
2005-Present
arena = Tingley Coliseum
city = Albuquerque, New Mexico
colors = Orange and Black
coach = Jeff Ruland
owner = David Kahn
Southwest Basketball, LLC
league_champs = 1 (2006) | division_champs = 1 (2006)
affiliations = Dallas Mavericks
Miami Heat

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 Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat. The games are broadcast in Albuquerque on 96.3 KBZU, produced by Roberto Gonzales.

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. 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.

eason-By-Season

Huntsville Flight

Players eligible for affiliation

Phoenix Suns:
*D.J. Strawberry
*Alando Tucker

Philadelphia 76ers:
*Herbert Hill
*Jason Smith
*Thaddeus Young

External links

* [http://www.nba.com/dleague/albuquerque/index.html Albuquerque Thunderbirds Homepage]
* [http://www.nba.com/nbdl/ Official NBA Development League website]