Fukushima Firebonds

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Fukushima Firebonds
Fukushima Firebonds logo
LeaguesB.League
Founded2013
History2014–present
ArenaKoriyama General Gymnasium
(capacity: 7,056)
LocationFukushima Prefecture
Team colorsFuchsia
 
Main sponsorNiraku Pachinko
PresidentEiji Miyata
Head coachTomohiro Moriyama
OwnershipShikigaku Co., Ltd.
Championships0
Websitehttps://firebonds.jp/

The Fukushima Firebonds (福島ファイヤーボンズ (Fukushima Faiyābonzu)) is a professional basketball team based in Kōriyama, Fukushima that plays in the bj league, the top-tier professional basketball league of Japan. The team entered the league as an expansion team in the 2014–15 season.[1]

In July 2015, it was announced that the team will compete in the second division of the B.League, a new league in Japan set to begin play in 2016–17.[2]

History[]

In May 2013 Fukushima Prefecture was announced as the successful bidder for an expansion franchise to enter the 2014-15 season of the bj-league. The league management included the region's recovery from the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and the long-term feasibility of the bidding company, Fukushima Sports Entertainment, as reasons for the successful bid.[3]

In June 2014, the team announced Hiroki Fujita as the inaugural head coach.[4]

As an expansion team, the Firebonds received the first pick in the 2014-15 rookie draft, selecting forward Shota Kanno, a Fukushima Prefecture native. was selected in the second round.[4] In July 2014 the team signed American players James Hughes and as their two foreign players.[5]

2014-15 season[]

The team commenced play in the bj-league in October 2014 and had their first regular-season win in a match against the Aomori Wat's on 5 October 2015.[6] The team finished the season with a 21-31 record,[7] securing a playoff berth in the second-last game of the regular season.[8] They were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs 0-2 by the Iwate Big Bulls.[9]

2015-16 season[]

During the off-season, the team renewed the contract of Fujita as head coach [10] and signed Le'Bryan Nash, and as import players.[11] was named team captain and was named vice-captain.[12]

Current roster[]

Fukushima Firebonds roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name
PF 0 Finland Erik Murphy
SG 2 Japan
PG 5 Japan Kenya Tomori
PG 8 Japan Shinya Murakami
PG 9 Japan Yuji Kanbara
SG 10 Japan
SG 11 Japan
C 15 South Africa Tshilidzi Nephawe
SF 21 Japan
SG 24 Japan Dai Suzuki
PF 32 Japan Shuhei Muto
PG 33 Japan
PF 40 United States Jordan Faison
PG Japan Tomonobu Hasegawa
C 42 United States Jason Washburn
Head coach

Tomohiro Moriyama

Assistant coach(es)

Kimitoshi Sano

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured
Updated: 2020

Notable players[]

Coaches[]

Results by year[]

Bj-League[]

Season Regular Season Head Coach Notes
Wins Losses Win % Placing
2014-15[7] 21 31 .404 7th (East) Hiroki Fujita Eliminated in first round of playoffs[9]

Arenas[]

References[]

  1. ^ Odeven, Ed (2 October 2014). "Key questions entering 10th season". Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  2. ^ Nagatsuka, Kaz (29 August 2015). "JPBL finalizes division placements for 2016-17". The Japan Times. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  3. ^ "2014-2015新規参入チーム決定" [Decision Concerning 2014-15 Expansion Team] (in Japanese). 27 May 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Odeven, Ed (6 June 2014). "Fukushima Firebonds draft forwards Kanno, Masuko". The Japan Times. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  5. ^ Odeven, Ed (31 July 2014). "Gunma hires longtime NBA assistant Parker as new coach". The Japan Times. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  6. ^ Odeven, Ed (11 October 2014). "Shiga outplays Gunma in first bj-league contest for ex-NBA coach Parker, center Ely". The Japan Times. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Odeven, Ed (30 April 2015). "Sixteen teams ready to battle for title in expanded playoffs". The Japan Times. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  8. ^ Odeven, Ed (25 April 2015). "Fukushima earns playoff berth as first-year franchise". The Japan Times. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b Odeven, Ed (5 May 2015). "Fukushima makes great progress in first season". The Japan Times. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Firebonds renew Fujita's contract". The Japan Times. 23 May 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  11. ^ "【ニュース】福島ファイヤーボンズ　選手契約締結のお知らせ" [[News] Fukushima Firebonds Contracted Players] (in Japanese). 1 October 2015. Archived from the original on 4 October 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  12. ^ "【ニュース】2015-2016シーズン　キャプテン・副キャプテン決定のお知らせ" [[News] 2015-16 Season Captain and Vice-Captain Announced] (in Japanese). 20 August 2015. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.

External links[]

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