Tampa Bay Thrillers
Encyclopedia
The Tampa Bay
Thrillers were a franchise in the Continental Basketball Association
(CBA) from 1984–1987, winning back-to-back championships in 1984 and 1985. The franchise relocated to Rapid City, South Dakota
, at the end of the 1986 CBA regular season, where the team went on to win its third consecutive CBA title.
In 1984-85, the team's inaugural season, head coach Bill Musselman
led the Thrillers to a 35-13 record with a roster featuring Sidney Lowe
, Freeman Williams
, Ronnie Valentine
, Charles Jones, and Perry Moss.
In the postseason, Tampa Bay swept the Lancaster Lightning in the first round (3–0) and disposed of the Albany Patroons
(3–2) before getting by the Detroit Spirits, 4–3, in the CBA championship series, for which Williams earned MVP honors. (All results are expressed in games won.) The team played its home games at the Bayfront Center in St. Petersburg, Florida
.
The next season (1985–86), the Thrillers moved their home games to the University of Tampa
's Spartan Sports Center (now the Martinez Sports Center), a 4,200-seat venue built in 1984. With Musselman at the helm, Tampa Bay posted a CBA-best 34–14 record. That season, Thrillers guard Kevin Williams scored 58 points in a game against the Baltimore Lightning. Ten days later, he had a 59-point effort in a playoff game against the Patroons. The Thrillers took their second straight title in five games over the La Crosse Catbirds
.
In 1986–87, the Thrillers, who had moved back to the Bayfront Center, had another outstanding season, but in a bizarre development, moved out of Florida at the end of the regular season—in an apparent dispute over arena rent—and became the Rapid City Thrillers
. That did not stop the team from another championship run, which ended in a five-game triumph over the Rockford Lightning
.
The Rapid City Thrillers would continue in both the CBA and International Basketball Association
until 2001.
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
Thrillers were a franchise in the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
(CBA) from 1984–1987, winning back-to-back championships in 1984 and 1985. The franchise relocated to Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census. Rapid...
, at the end of the 1986 CBA regular season, where the team went on to win its third consecutive CBA title.
In 1984-85, the team's inaugural season, head coach Bill Musselman
Bill Musselman
William Clifford Musselman was an American basketball coach in the NCAA, the ABA, the WBA, the CBA, and the NBA. He was a fiercely intense coach who once was quoted as saying "defeat is worse than death, because you have to live with defeat."-Early life:Musselman was the second of five children....
led the Thrillers to a 35-13 record with a roster featuring Sidney Lowe
Sidney Lowe
Sidney Rochell Lowe is an American basketball coach and is currently an assistant coach with the Utah Jazz. He is a former NBA player and head coach, and has served as the head coach at North Carolina State University,.-Biography:Lowe began his career at DeMatha Catholic High School in...
, Freeman Williams
Freeman Williams
Freeman Williams is a retired American college and professional basketball player. He was the 1978 NCAA men's basketball Division I scoring champion, and the Portland State University all-time scoring leader. Williams was the NCAA Division I national men's basketball individual scoring leader in...
, Ronnie Valentine
Ronnie Valentine
Ronnie L. Valentine is an American former professional basketball player.-College:A 6'7" forward, Valentine attended Old Dominion University from 1976 to 1980. He set a school record with 2,204 points in his college career and scored ten points or more in 101 consecutive games...
, Charles Jones, and Perry Moss.
In the postseason, Tampa Bay swept the Lancaster Lightning in the first round (3–0) and disposed of the Albany Patroons
Albany Patroons
The Albany Patroons were a professional basketball team that played in the Continental Basketball Association ....
(3–2) before getting by the Detroit Spirits, 4–3, in the CBA championship series, for which Williams earned MVP honors. (All results are expressed in games won.) The team played its home games at the Bayfront Center in St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
.
The next season (1985–86), the Thrillers moved their home games to the University of Tampa
University of Tampa
The University of Tampa , is a private, co-educational university in Downtown Tampa, Florida, United States. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In 2006, the University celebrated its 75th anniversary...
's Spartan Sports Center (now the Martinez Sports Center), a 4,200-seat venue built in 1984. With Musselman at the helm, Tampa Bay posted a CBA-best 34–14 record. That season, Thrillers guard Kevin Williams scored 58 points in a game against the Baltimore Lightning. Ten days later, he had a 59-point effort in a playoff game against the Patroons. The Thrillers took their second straight title in five games over the La Crosse Catbirds
La Crosse Catbirds
The La Crosse Catbirds was an American basketball team based in La Crosse, Wisconsin and member of the Continental Basketball Association. The team has since disbanded.The Catbirds were the 1990 and 1992 CBA champions...
.
In 1986–87, the Thrillers, who had moved back to the Bayfront Center, had another outstanding season, but in a bizarre development, moved out of Florida at the end of the regular season—in an apparent dispute over arena rent—and became the Rapid City Thrillers
Rapid City Thrillers
The Rapid City Thrillers were a professional basketball club based in Rapid City, South Dakota that competed in the Continental Basketball Association beginning in the 1987 season. They were reincarnated in 1998 as an International Basketball Association franchise...
. That did not stop the team from another championship run, which ended in a five-game triumph over the Rockford Lightning
Rockford Lightning
The Rockford Lightning were a basketball team that played in the Continental Basketball Association. They were based in Rockford, Illinois. The Lightning were the oldest team in the CBA, originally existing as the Lancaster Red Roses from Lancaster, Pennsylvania...
.
The Rapid City Thrillers would continue in both the CBA and International Basketball Association
International Basketball Association
The International Basketball Association was founded by Alexandria, Minnesota entrepreneur Thomas Anderson in 1995. Anderson traveled the Upper Midwest searching for franchise owners for a couple of years before the league began play with five teams in the 1995-1996 season...
until 2001.
Some notable players
- Don Collins
- Brian MartinBrian MartinBrian Martin may refer to:* Brian Martin , U.S. basketball player* Brian Martin , former Scottish footballer* Brian Martin , Canadian hockey player* Brian Martin , American luger...
- Ed NealyEd NealyEddie Carl Nealy is a retired American basketball player. At 6'7" and 238 pounds, he played as a forward....
- Rod HigginsRod HigginsRoderick Dwayne "Rod" Higgins is a retired American professional basketball player who currently serves as president of basketball operations for the National Basketball Association's Charlotte Bobcats....
- Sam MitchellSam Mitchell (basketball)Samuel "Sam" E. Mitchell, Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player and a former head coach in the National Basketball Association . He is currently an assistant coach with the New Jersey Nets....
- Rick Lamb
Year-by-year
- 1984-85 35–13 Bayfront Center (St. Petersburg)
- 1985-86 34–14 Spartan Sports Center (University of Tampa)
- 1986-87 34–14 Bayfront Center