Bakersfield Magic

The Bakersfield Magic are an expansion team in The Basketball League that will begin play in 2022. They will play their home games in Bakersfield, California.

Bakersfield Magic
LeagueThe Basketball League
Founded2021
HistoryBakersfield Magic
2022–present
LocationBakersfield, California
Team colors     
General managerLawrence 'Doc' Holliday
Head coachKaraya Gage
OwnershipSpencer Norman

History

From 2006 to 2016, Bakersfield, California, was home to the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League. The team played at Rabobank Arena until 2009 and later at the Jam Events Center. On May 9, 2014, the Jam entered a hybrid affiliation with the Phoenix Suns, giving the Suns exclusive affiliation with the team while allowing the Jam to operate under their own management.[1] On April 12, 2016, the Suns announced that the organization had purchased the Jam and were relocating the franchise to the town of Prescott Valley, Arizona, for the 2016–17 season to become the Northern Arizona Suns.[2] In response, the previous owners of the Jam franchise, Stan Ellis and David Higdon, announced that they had been working with the D-League in securing a new franchise and affiliation before the 2016–17 season, although it did not come to fruition.[3]

In June 2021, it was first reported by KGET-TV that Bakersfield would host the Bakersfield Magic in The Basketball League for the 2022 season.[4] On August 5, 2021, it was announced that Spencer Norman, previously announced as the team market owner for the Fresno Fire,[5] would be the team market owner, and Karaya Gage would be the team's head coach.[6]

References
  1. Phoenix Suns to use D-League Bakersfield as affiliate
  2. "Phoenix Suns Buy Bakersfield Jam; Relocate Team to Prescott Valley, Arizona". OurSports Central. April 12, 2016.
  3. "Phoenix Suns Purchase Bakersfield Jam". OurSports Central. April 12, 2016.
  4. "Professional basketball is coming back to Bakersfield". 15 June 2021.
  5. "FRESNO FIRE BLAZE A TRAIL INTO WEST COAST DIVISION OF TBL". TBL. July 9, 2020.
  6. "Gage's winding road in and out of coaching leads her to Bakersfield Magic". The Bakersfield Californian. August 19, 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.