Raleigh Firebirds
{{Infobox Basketball club
| color1 = #F3BC52
| color2 =#CE1126
| color3 = #000000
| name = Raleigh Firebirds
| current =
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| founded = 2018
| league = The Basketball League
| history = Raleigh Firebirds
2019–present
| arena = St. Augustine's University
| city = Raleigh, North Carolina
| colors =
| owner = Pro Basketball Raleigh, LLC
| president =
| gm =
| coach = Antonio Davis
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The Raleigh Firebirds are an American professional basketball team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and a member of The Basketball League (TBL). For the 2025 season, their home games are played at St. Augustine's University and Antonio Davis serves as head coach. The Firebirds have played in The Basketball League since 2019, with a spanning season from March to June. During their first inaugural season, the team went 13-1 at home, and reached the TBL Eastern Conference Finals. The Firebirds also had the number one overall pick in the 2019 TBL Draft, and selected Julian Harris. Harris would win Rookie of the Year, and go on to play basketball overseas. {{cite web |url=https://abc11.com/sports/professional-basketball-team-comes-to-raleigh/3889328/ |title=Professional basketball team comes to Raleigh |work=WTVD-TV |date=August 5, 2018}}
History
On February 25, 2018, Dave Magley, owner of The Basketball League (TBL), stated that Raleigh, North Carolina, was approved as a basketball franchise for the upcoming 2019 season.{{cite web |url=http://napbasketball.com/News/Id/35632 |title=State of the NAPB: Magley shares thoughts on first half of season |publisher=NAPB|date=February 25, 2018}} On July 27, 2018, the team was announced as the Raleigh Firebirds.{{cite web |url=http://www.triangletribune.com/news/2018/07/27/sports/raleigh-gets-another-pro-basketball-team/ |title=Raleigh gets another pro basketball team|work=Triangle Tribune|date= July 27, 2018}} Raleigh previously hosted the Raleigh Cougars from 1997 to 1999 in the United States Basketball League.{{cite web |url= https://www.wral.com/news/local/story/145760/|title=Raleigh Cougars Prepare for Second Season|work=WRAL|date= April 28, 1998}}
The Firebirds first season was played during 2019, and they traveled all over the country. During the 14 games they played at home, the team went 13-1, and eventually lost in the TBL Eastern Conference Finals. They were four points from playing in the TBL Finals.
Current roster
{{Basketball roster header| team = Raleigh Firebirds
| color1 =#FFCB3D| bg1 =#B50000| color2 = #FFFFFF| bg2 =#000000}}
{{player3 | num =2 | nat = USA | first = Kenny| last =Collins| pos = SG | ft =6| in =5| year =| month =| date =}}
{{player3 | num =10 | nat = USA | first = Ahmad| last = Abdullah| pos = PG | ft =6| in =1| lbs =| year =| month =| date =}}
{{player3 | num =3 | nat = USA | first = Daequon| last =Antoine| pos = SG | ft = 6 | in =3| lbs = | year = | month =| date =}}
{{player3 | num =15 | nat = USA | first = DJ | last =Thomas| pos = PG | ft = 5 | in = 7| lbs = | year = | month =| date =}}
{{player3 | num =24 | nat = USA | first = Shaq |last =Dance| |dab=basketball|pos = SF| ft = 6 | in = 6| lbs = | year =| month =| date =}}
{{player3 | num =1 | nat = USA | first = Dreko | last =Palmer| |dab=basketball|pos = SG | ft = 6 | in =6 | lbs = | year = | month =| date =}}
{{player3 | num =4 | nat = USA | first = Donté | last =Greene| |dab=basketball|pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 11| lbs = | year = | month =| date =}}
{{player3 | num = 33| nat = USA | first = Darius | last = Paul| pos = PG | ft = 6 | in =11 | lbs = | year = | month =| date = 20}}
{{player3 | num = 45| nat = USA | first =Julian | last =Gamble |dab=basketball| pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 10| lbs = | year = | month =| date = }}
{{player3 | num =7 | nat = USA | first = Jeremiah| last =Pope|pos = SG| ft = 6 | in = 5| lbs = | year =| month =| date =}}
{{player3 | num =12 | nat = USA | first = Antonio | last =Spencer| pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 10| lbs = | year = | month =| date =}}
{{Basketball roster footer
| head_coach = Antonio O. Davis
| asst_coach = Mitch Jeffries
| team_manager/owner = Wade Harris
| general_manager = Chris Lightner
| roster_url = https://www.raleighfirebirds.net/team
| accessdate =
| transaction_url =
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.raleighfirebirds.net/ Raleigh Firebirds website]
{{The Basketball League}}
Category:Basketball teams in North Carolina
Category:The Basketball League teams
Category:2018 establishments in North Carolina