Albany Patroons

{{Infobox basketball club

| name = Albany Patroons

| color1 = #FDD017

| color2 = #347C17

| logo = Albany-patroons-square.png

| founded = 1982

| folded =

| leagues = Continental Basketball Association
1982–1992, 2005–2009
United States Basketball League
2006–2007
The Basketball League
2018–present

| history = Albany Patroons
1982–1992
Capital Region Pontiacs
1992–1993
Albany Patroons
2005–2009
Albany Patroons
2018–present

| arena = Washington Avenue Armory

| location = Albany, New York

| colors = gold, green
{{colorbox|#FDD017}} {{colorbox|#347C17}}

| coach = Derrick Rowland

| website = {{official|https://albanypatroonsbasketball.com/}}

| owner = Ben Fernandez

|vice-presidents = Michael Corts, Rocco Ricchiuti

| gm =

| championships = 3 (1984, 1988, 2019)

}}

The Albany Patroons are a professional basketball team that plays in The Basketball League (TBL). Previously, the team competed in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and in the United States Basketball League (USBL). The Patroons won CBA championships in 1984 and 1988{{cite web|last=Bouyea|first=Brien|date=November 24, 2004|title=Patroons to be resurrected|url=https://www.troyrecord.com/news/patroons-to-be-resurrected/article_e7bf18d1-c489-5231-83c1-542705024d9a.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=February 8, 2021|website=The Record}} as well as a TBL championship in 2019.{{cite web|last=Martin|first=Sean|date=May 4, 2019|title=Albany Patroons win TBL championship|url=https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Albany-Patroons-win-TBL-championship-13818629.php|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=May 5, 2019|website=Times Union}} The team's name derives from patroon, the term for a large landholder in New Netherland, the Dutch colony that once included the Albany region.

Formed in 1982, the Patroons' original home arena was the Washington Avenue Armory,{{cite web|last=Awareness|first=Relentless|date=August 30, 2017|title=Washington Avenue Armory, Albany Patroons announce return of professional basketball in Albany|url=https://medium.com/relentlessawareness/washington-avenue-armory-albany-patroons-announce-return-of-professional-basketball-in-albany-863c49cf3084|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=February 8, 2021|website=Medium}} a former New York National Guard armory.{{cite web|last=Hallisey|first=Michael|date=July 25, 2018|title=Mirk set to release new album complete with unique visual experience|url=https://www.spotlightnews.com/thespot/2018/07/25/mirk-set-to-release-new-album-complete-with-unique-visual-experience/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=February 8, 2021|website=Spotlight News}} The team later moved from this location to MVP Arena, then known as the Knickerbocker Arena.{{cite web|last=MacAdam|first=Mike|date=September 19, 2018|title=Documentary captures fun, spirit of 1982-92 Albany Patroons - The Daily Gazette|url=https://dailygazette.com/article/2018/09/19/the-minor-league-mecca-ode-to-albany-patroons|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=February 8, 2021|website=The Daily Gazette}}{{Cite web|last=Stashenko|first=Joel|date=April 4, 2005|title=Former county executive seeks to revive Armory and Albany Patroons|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2005/04/04/smallb1.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=February 8, 2021|website=Albany Business Review}} The franchise was renamed the Capital Region Pontiacs in 1992{{cite web|last1=Miller|first1=Chuck|date=November 16, 2016|title=The Trading Cards of the Albany Patroons|url=https://blog.timesunion.com/chuckmiller/the-trading-cards-of-the-albany-patroons/28417/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=November 16, 2016|website=Chuck Miller}} and was relocated to Connecticut in 1993.

The Patroons rejoined the CBA in 2005.{{cite web|last=Lucas|first=Dave|date=April 29, 2018|title=Fail: Albany Patroons Reboot|url=https://www.wamc.org/post/fail-albany-patroons-reboot|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=February 8, 2021|website=WAMC}} When the CBA ceased its operations in 2009, the team went defunct.{{cite web|last=Redick|first=Geoff|date=August 30, 2017|title=Basketball rebounds in Albany as Patroons return to Armory|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/triad/news/2017/08/30/albany-patroons-basketball-returns|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=February 8, 2021|website=Spectrum News}}

The Patroons became a member of North America Premier Basketball (NAPB) in the 2018 season, once again playing at the Washington Avenue Armory. The league was later renamed to The Basketball League prior to the 2019 season.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=August 7, 2018|title=Island Storm believes it has found a hidden gem in Dominic Shuler|url=http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/sports/other-sports/island-storm-believes-it-has-found-a-hidden-gem-in-dominic-shuler-231923/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=February 8, 2021|website=The Guardian}}

History

=Early years (1982–1993)=

Future NBA head coach Phil Jackson won his first championship ring as a coach when he guided the Patroons to the 1984 CBA championship. Andre Gaddy was named MVP of the series. Jackson later won NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.

In 1988, the Patroons won a second championship, this time under head coach Bill Musselman. Musselman later coached the Minnesota Timberwolves, and several Patroons from the 1987–88 championship year, including Scott Brooks, Tod Murphy, Tony Campbell, and Sidney Lowe, played on early Timberwolves squads.

In the 1990–91 season, the Patroons completed a 50–6 regular season, winning all 28 home games, with George Karl as head coach. Future NBA players Mario Elie and Vincent Askew were part of that squad.

The Patroons won two CBA championships and five Eastern Division regular season titles. For the 1992–93 season, they were renamed the Capital Region Pontiacs, as the team received sponsorship from local car dealerships. After that season, the franchise was relocated to Connecticut, where it played for {{frac|1|1|2}} years as the Hartford Hellcats and then {{frac|6|1|2}} years as the Connecticut Pride before folding in 2001.

The CBA ceased operating and filed for bankruptcy in February 2001.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=February 26, 2001|title=C.B.A.; League Files For Bankruptcy|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/26/sports/cba-league-files-for-bankruptcy.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=February 8, 2021|website=|via=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press}}

=Rebirth (2005–2009)=

After a decade-long absence, a new Patroons joined the CBA as an expansion team for the 2005–06 season with the original name and colors (gold and kelly green), as well as returning to the old Washington Avenue Armory. Former NBA star Micheal Ray Richardson, who played for the Patroons in the 1987–88 season, became the head coach, while the Patroons' career scoring leader, Derrick Rowland, was named assistant coach. The Patroons finished the season with a 20–28 record, good for third place in the CBA Eastern Conference. Albany qualified for the playoffs, but lost in the first round of the CBA round-robin style playoffs.http://www.cbahoopsonline.com/news_detail.html?newsid=768News Brief {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060613014200/http://cbahoopsonline.com/news_detail.html?newsid=768 |date=June 13, 2006}}

On June 14, 2006, the Patroons purchased the rights to a United States Basketball League team, also to be called the Patroons, and play in the Washington Avenue Armory. The team replaced the Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs. After only two years of very low attendance at their home games, the Patroons ended their USBL affiliation on June 19, 2007.[http://www.timesunion.com/ASPStories/Story.asp?StoryID=599331&Category=SPORTS&LinkFrom=RSS Patroons will not return to USBL], June 20, 2007 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220053423/http://www.timesunion.com/ASPStories/Story.asp?StoryID=599331&Category=SPORTS&LinkFrom=RSS |date=February 20, 2009}}

In the 2006–07 season, the Patroons won the CBA American Conference championship and advanced to the best-of-five CBA Finals against the Yakima SunKings. The Patroons lost game one at the Armory. The next day, Coach Richardson was suspended for the rest of the season for firing expletives at hecklers during games and saying in an interview with the Albany Times Union newspaper that Jews are "crafty [because] they are hated worldwide."{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=March 28, 2007|title=CBA coach Richardson suspended for remarks|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2816356|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=February 9, 2021|publisher=ESPN}}Ettkin, Brian. [http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=575891&category=SPORTS&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=3/28/2007 Time for this coach to sit out] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214013646/http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=575891&category=SPORTS&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=3%2F28%2F2007|date=February 14, 2008}}, March 28, 2007 Without Richardson, the Patroons dropped the next two games of the finals, as the Sun Kings won their second consecutive championship. Three days after the conclusion of the series, it was announced that Richardson would not return.[http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=577452&category=PATROONS&BCCode=&newsdate=4/5/2007 Patroons, Richardson part] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220053613/http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=577452&category=PATROONS&BCCode=&newsdate=4%2F5%2F2007 |date=February 20, 2009 }}, April 3, 2007 He was replaced by Vincent Askew.{{cite web|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/albany-patroons-announce-2007-8-head-coach/n-3518459|title=Albany Patroons Announce 2007-8 Head Coach|date=August 2, 2007|website=OurSports Central}}

On July 10, 2007, former Patroon Jamario Moon signed a two-year contract with the Toronto Raptors.{{cite news|last=|first=|date=2007-07-10|title=Raptors Sign Jamario Moon|work=|publisher=Toronto Raptors|url=http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/moonpr_071007.html|access-date=2007-11-11}} Moon had a strong rookie campaign, averaging 8.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

Both the Patroons and the CBA folded after the 2009 season, citing the economic recession.

=North American Premier Basketball/The Basketball League (2018–present)=

On August 30, 2017, it was announced that the Patroons would return to the Washington Avenue Armory in January 2018. The new team became one of the inaugural members of North American Premier Basketball (NAPB).{{cite web |url=https://medium.com/relentlessawareness/washington-avenue-armory-albany-patroons-announce-return-of-professional-basketball-in-albany-863c49cf3084 |title= Washington Avenue Armory, Albany Patroons announce return of professional basketball in Albany |publisher=Medium|date= August 30, 2017|access-date=December 9, 2021}}

The Patroons' roster included former NBA players Maurice Taylor, Smush Parker, and Jamario Moon. After the first season, the NAPB rebranded as The Basketball League (TBL).

On May 3, 2019, the Patroons defeated the Yakima SunKings in the third game of a best-of-three series to win the TBL championship.{{cite web|last=Singelais|first=Mark|date=September 4, 2019|title=Albany Patroons win TBL championship|url=https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Albany-Patroons-win-TBL-championship-13818629.php|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=December 9, 2021|website=Times Union}}

On September 4, 2019, the ownership of the Patroons was transferred to Dr. Tim Maggs for the 2020 season.{{cite web|last=Singelais|first=Mark|date=September 4, 2019|title=Maggs introduced as Albany Patroons owner|url=https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Maggs-introduced-as-Albany-Patroons-owner-14413616.php|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=February 9, 2021|website=Times Union}} They started the 2020 season at 6-3 before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Patroons opted to sit out the 2021 season as well. The Washington Avenue Armory was being used as a vaccination site, and the team would have had to play the season without fans in attendance in any case. Maggs considered temporarily moving to the Times Union Center, but decided against it after recalling how the CBA Patroons saw their attendance figures fall through the floor when they played there.{{Cite web |url=https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Albany-Patroons-cancel-2021-season-15986467.php |title=Albany Patroons cancel 2021 season |date=March 1, 2021 |website=Times Union}}

Former UAlbany Basketball Coach and Albany Legend Will Brown was named the Head Coach and General Manager of the Patroons. He led UAlbany to 5 America East Championships and is a former America East Coach of the Year. On December 7, 2021, Will Brown announced his coaching staff of Brian Beaury, Julie McBride and Marc Rybczyk for the 2022 season.{{cite web |url= https://wnyt.com/sports/will-brown-announces-experienced-patroons-coaching-staff-with-local-ties/6324941/|title=Will Brown announces experienced Patroons coaching staff with local ties|work=WNYT|date=December 7, 2021}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Albany-Patroons-hire-husband-and-wife-restarting-16686589.php |title=Albany Patroons hire husband, wife restarting basketball careers |date=December 8, 2021 |website=Times Union}}

In the 2022 season, the Patroons finished with a league best 21-3 record in the regular season. Albany would clinch the TBL's East Region, but would ultimately lose the Championship to the Shreveport Mavericks in a best-of-three series. {{cite web |url= https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Shreveport-breaks-through-Patroons-Armory-for-17291617.php|title=Shreveport breaks through Patroons' Armory streak for TBL championship|date=July 7, 2022}}

Current roster

{{Basketball roster header

| team = Albany Patroons

| color1 = white | bg1 = #006600| color2 = #006600 | bg2 = gold}}

{{player3 | num = 0| nat = USA|first=Derrick|last=Rowland, Jr.| pos = SG | ft = 6| in = 3| lbs = 190| year =1998| month =7| date =6}}

{{player3 | num = 1| nat = USA|first=La'Darius|last=Carter| pos = SG | ft = 6 | in =3 | lbs =191 | year =1999| month =8| date =4}}

{{player3 | num = 2| nat = USA|first=Sidney|last=Brown, Jr.| pos = SG | ft = 5 | in =10 | lbs =160.6 | year =1999| month =7| date =7}}

{{player3 | num = 3| nat = USA|first=Trevis|last=Wyche| pos = SG | ft = 6 | in =1 | lbs =176 | year =1995| month =4| date =25}}

{{player3 | num = 5| nat = USA|first=Joshua |last=Williams| dab=basketball| pos = SF | ft = 6 | in =7 | lbs =209 | year =1994| month =12| date =26}}

{{player3 | num = 12| nat = USA|first=Jamil |last=Hood, Jr.| pos = SG | ft = 6 | in =2 | lbs =189.2 | year =1996| month =10| date =18}}

{{player3 | num = 22| nat = USA|first=Montell|last=McRae| pos = SG | ft = 6| in = 10| lbs = 198| year =1996| month =1| date = 25}}

{{player3 | num = 32| nat = CAN|first=Edward|last=Dyson III| pos = SG | ft = 6| in = 4| lbs = 189| year =1992| month =4| date = 9}}

{{player3 | num = 33| nat = CAN|first=Arsenio|last=Arrington| pos = SG | ft = 6| in = 9| lbs = 180| year =1996| month =6| date = 12}}

{{player3 | num = 40| nat = USA|first=Juwan|last=Malone| pos = G/F | ft = 6| in = 4| lbs = 180| year =1997| month =6| date =1}}

{{player3 | num = 55| nat = USA|first=Jamarr|last=Joseph| pos = SG | ft = 6| in = 3| lbs = | year =1997| month =3| date =31}}

{{player3 | num = | nat = USA|first=Malik|last=Cincy| pos = SG | ft = 6| in = 4| lbs = 194| year =1997| month =5| date =25}}

{{player3 | num = | nat = USA|first=Marcus|last=Merchant| pos = PF/C | ft = 6| in = 9| lbs = 220| year =2000| month =8| date =23}}

{{Basketball roster footer

| head_coach =

{{player||USA|Derrick Rowland}}

|asst_coach =

{{player||USA|Michael Shewmaker}}

|Team Manager =

|roster_url = https://basketball.usbasket.com/team/Albany-Patroons/6958?Page=1

| transaction_url = https://basketball.usbasket.com/team/Albany-Patroons/6958?Page=1

|accessdate = April 3, 2024

}}

Alumni

Former Albany Patroons players who went on to play in the National Basketball Association include Vincent Askew,{{cite web|last=Dyer|first=Mike|date=November 23, 2004|title=CBA could return to Capital Region|url=https://www.troyrecord.com/news/cba-could-return-to-capital-region/article_480cf9ea-c324-5795-bb0c-637d803a4c06.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=February 9, 2021|website=The Troy Record}} Scott Brooks, Mario Elie, Jamario Moon,{{cite web|last=Wilkin|first=Tim|date=December 29, 2017|title=Jamario Moon says "great chance" he returns to Patroons|url=https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Jamario-Moon-says-great-chance-he-returns-to-12462673.php|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=February 9, 2021|website=Times Union}} Scott Roth. and Xavier Moon.

Former Patroons players and/or coaches who went on to coach in the National Basketball Association include Scott Brooks, Rick Carlisle, Phil Jackson, George Karl, Derrick Rowland, Sidney Lowe, Bill Musselman, Kenny Natt, Scott Roth, and Terry Stotts.{{cite web|last=Dougherty|first=Pete|date=May 25, 2011|title=NBA's Patroons alumni|url=https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/NBA-s-Patroons-alumni-1394581.php|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=February 9, 2021|website=Times Union}}

Former Patroons players who later coached the Patroons include Micheal Ray Richardson{{cite web|last=Finley|first=Bill|date=February 6, 2007|title=Richardson on Course for Long-Awaited Return to N.B.A.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/06/sports/basketball/06richardson.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=February 9, 2021|website=|via=The New York Times}} and Derrick Rowland.{{cite web|last=Sports|first=WRGB|date=February 1, 2017|title=Beyond the Games: Derrick Rowland|url=http://cbs6albany.com/sports/beyond-the-games/beyond-the-games-derrick-roland|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=February 2, 2017|website=WRGB}}

Season-by-season history

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!Year

!League

!GP

!Pct.

!Reg. Season

!Playoffs

1982/83

|CBA

|44

|16

|28

|.364

|4th, Eastern

|did not qualify

1983/84

|CBA

|44

|25

|19

|.568

|2nd, Eastern

|bgcolor="FFEBAD"|Won Eastern Division Semi Finals 3-2 Vs Bay State Bombardier, Won Eastern Division Finals 3–1 Vs Puerto Rico Coquis, Won CBA Championship 4–1 Vs Wyoming Wildcatters

1984/85

|CBA

|48

|34

|14

|.708

| bgcolor="B3B7FF" |1st, Eastern

|Won Eastern Division Semi Finals 3–2 Vs Toronto Tornados, Lost Eastern Division Finals 3–2 Vs Tampa Bay Thrillers

1985/86

|CBA

|48

|24

|.500

|4th, Eastern

|Lost Eastern Division Semifinals 4–3 Vs Tampa Bay Thrillers

1986/87

|CBA

|48

|26

|22

|.542

|2nd, Eastern

|Won Eastern Division Semi Finals 4–0 Vs Jacksonville Jets, Lost Eastern Division Finals 4–0 Vs Rapid City Thrillers

1987/88

|CBA

|54

|48

|.889

| bgcolor="B3B7FF" |1st, Eastern

|bgcolor="FFEBAD"|Won Eastern Division Semi Finals 4–1 Vs Savannah Spirits, Won Eastern Division Finals 4–0 Vs Pensacola Tornados, Won CBA Championship 4–3 Vs Wyoming Wildcatters

1988/89

|CBA

|54

|36

|18

|.667

| bgcolor="B3B7FF" |1st, Eastern

|Lost Eastern Division Semifinals 4–2 Vs Wichita Falls Texans

1989/90

|CBA

|56

|41

|15

|.732

| bgcolor="B3B7FF" |1st, American Eastern

|Won American Conference Semi Finals 3–2 Vs Pensacola Tornados, Lost American Conference Finals 4–3 Vs La Crosse Catbirds

1990/91

|CBA

|56

|50

|.893

| bgcolor="B3B7FF" |1st, National Eastern

|Won National Conference First Round 3–2 Vs Grand Rapids Hornets, Lost National Conference Finals 4–2 Vs Wichita Falls Texans

1991/92

|CBA

|56

|24

|32

|.429

|3rd, American Eastern

|Lost American Conference 1st Round Shootout 131–122 Vs Birmingham Bandits

colspan="8" style="text-align:center;|Capital Region Pontiacs

1992/93

|CBA

|56

|28

|.500

|2nd, American Eastern

|did not qualify

colspan="8" style="text-align:center;|Albany Patroons

2005/06

|CBA

|48

|20

|28

|.417

|3rd, Eastern

|Placed 2nd in Eastern Round Robin

2006

|USBL

|29

|27

|.068

|4th, Eastern

|Lost First Round 97–92 to Nebraska Cranes

2006/07

|CBA

|48

|30

|18

|.625

| bgcolor="B3B7FF" |1st, American Eastern

|Lost CBA Finals 3–0 VsYakima SunKings

2007

|USBL

|21

|15

|.714

|2nd

|Withdrew from league

2008

|CBA

|48

|21

|27

|.438

|4th, Eastern

|did not qualify

2009

|CBA

|20

|13

|.650

|2nd

|Lost CBA Finals 2–1 Vs Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry

2018

|NAPBL

|29

|19

|10

|.655

|2nd

|Won Semi Finals 2–0 Vs Ohio Bootleggers, Lost NAPBL Finals 2–0 Vs Yakima SunKings

2019

|TBL

|27

|16

|11

|.593

|4th

|bgcolor="FFEBAD"|Won East division Semi Finals 2–1 Vs Raleigh Firebirds, Won TBL Championship 2–1 Vs Yakima SunKings

2020

|TBL

|.667

|5th

|No playoffs held due to COVID-19 pandemic

2021

|TBL

|–

| colspan="2" | Opted out of season due to COVID-19 pandemic

2022

|TBL

|23

|20

|.870

|1st Northeast

|Won Northeast Division Finals 2–1 Vs Atlantic City Gambits, Won Eastern Conference Finals 2–0 Vs Huntsville Hurricanes, Won TBL Semi Finals 2–1 Vs Kokomo BobKats, Lost TBL Finals 2–1 Vs Shreveport Mavericks

2023

|TBL

|24

|20

|.833

|5th

|Won Northeast Division Final 2–0 Vs Atlantic City Gambits, Won Eastern Conference Finals 2–0 Vs Newfoundland Rogues, Lost TBL Semi Finals 2–1 Vs St Louis Griffins

2024

|TBL

|23

|17

|.739

|3rd Atlantic Northeast

|Won Atlantic Northeast Play in round 131–120 Vs Reading Rebels, Won East round of 16 2–0 Fredrick Flying Cows, Lost Quarter Finals 2–1 Vs Raleigh Firebirds

References

External links

[https://albanypatroonsbasketball.com/ Team Website]

Category:Continental Basketball Association teams

Category:Sports in Albany, New York

Category:United States Basketball League teams

Category:Basketball teams in New York (state)

Category:The Basketball League teams

Category:1982 establishments in New York (state)

Category:Basketball teams established in 1982