Tulsa 66ers
Encyclopedia
The Tulsa 66ers are an NBA Development League
team based in Tulsa
, Oklahoma
and the minor league affiliate
of the Oklahoma City Thunder
. Their logo design is a basketball behind mountain
s with a road leading up to them, all on a U.S. Highway shield.
("Route 66"), which runs through Tulsa and once played a pivotal role in its economy. The team has one affiliate club in the NBA: the Oklahoma City Thunder
. The New York Knicks
were formerly an affiliate through the end of the 2007–08 season. Prior to the 2005–06 season, the team was the Asheville Altitude and played in the Asheville Civic Center
in Asheville, North Carolina
, where they won two NBDL championships. The team's name was in reference to the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains
. Upon moving, all of the team's hard assets were then sold to former Tulsa 66ers owner Southwest Basketball, LLC, which also owns the Albuquerque Thunderbirds
and the Reno Bighorns. The Asheville Altitude were a founding team of the NBDL in 2001.
On July 31, 2008, the 66ers announced that Clayton Bennett
of the Professional Basketball Club LLC
(owner of the Oklahoma City Thunder
), had agreed in principle to purchase the 66ers; marking the third D-League team to be owned by an NBA team (the other two are the Los Angeles D-Fenders
and the Austin Toros
, owned by the Los Angeles Lakers
and San Antonio Spurs
, respectively). Under terms of that deal, they will be the OKC team's sole affiliate; former co-parent club the Milwaukee Bucks
will now be affiliated with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants
.
For the 2008–09 season, the team moved to the brand-new SpiritBank Event Center
in nearby Bixby
, but retained the Tulsa 66ers name. After the 2008–09 season, however, the team announced it would seek another venue for the next season, and it filed a lawsuit against the owner of the arena. On August 13, 2009, it was announced that the 66ers would play home games for the 2009/2010 season at the Tulsa Convention Center in downtown Tulsa.
During the 2010-2011 season, the team set a record for 14 wins in a row before being defeated by the Maine Red Claws 109-106 on January 30th, 2011.
Sean Banks
Derrick Dial
Ersan İlyasova
Nick Fazekas
Joe Forte
Shaun Livingston
John Lucas III
Ramon Sessions
Brandon Kurtz Mike Hall
David Noel
Deron Washington
Mustafa Shakur
Damir Markota
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
team based in Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
and the minor league affiliate
Farm team
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...
of the Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ; their home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena....
. Their logo design is a basketball behind mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
s with a road leading up to them, all on a U.S. Highway shield.
Franchise history
The 66ers are named for the famous US Highway 66U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
("Route 66"), which runs through Tulsa and once played a pivotal role in its economy. The team has one affiliate club in the NBA: the Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ; their home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena....
. The New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
were formerly an affiliate through the end of the 2007–08 season. Prior to the 2005–06 season, the team was the Asheville Altitude and played in the Asheville Civic Center
Asheville Civic Center
The Asheville Civic Center is a 7,654-seat multi-purpose arena, in Asheville, North Carolina.It was home to the Asheville Altitude basketball team in the NBDL, before the franchise moved to Tulsa in 2005 and the United Hockey League's Asheville Smoke and also the SPHL's Asheville Aces.The venue...
in Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
, where they won two NBDL championships. The team's name was in reference to the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
. Upon moving, all of the team's hard assets were then sold to former Tulsa 66ers owner Southwest Basketball, LLC, which also owns the Albuquerque Thunderbirds
Albuquerque Thunderbirds
The New Mexico Thunderbirds were a professional NBA Development League minor league basketball team which played from 2005-2011. Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Thunderbirds first played their home games at Tingley Coliseum as the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, then played at the Santa Ana Star...
and the Reno Bighorns. The Asheville Altitude were a founding team of the NBDL in 2001.
On July 31, 2008, the 66ers announced that Clayton Bennett
Clayton Bennett
Clayton "Clay" Ike' Bennett is an American businessman and chairman of the Professional Basketball Club LLC, the ownership group of the Oklahoma City Thunder NBA franchise that was formerly the Seattle SuperSonics...
of the Professional Basketball Club LLC
Professional Basketball Club LLC
Professional Basketball Club LLC is an investment group headed by Clayton Bennett that owns the Oklahoma City Thunder and Tulsa 66ers....
(owner of the Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ; their home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena....
), had agreed in principle to purchase the 66ers; marking the third D-League team to be owned by an NBA team (the other two are the Los Angeles D-Fenders
Los Angeles D-Fenders
The Los Angeles D-Fenders are a NBA Development League team based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 2006, the team is owned by the Los Angeles Lakers, which became the first National Basketball Association franchise to own a D-League team...
and the Austin Toros
Austin Toros
The Austin Toros are a NBA Development League minor league basketball team based in Cedar Park, Texas, United States.The team plays home games at Cedar Park Center.Their logo is the design of a bull and basketball with the state of Texas in the background...
, owned by the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
, respectively). Under terms of that deal, they will be the OKC team's sole affiliate; former co-parent club the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
will now be affiliated with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Fort Wayne Mad Ants
The Fort Wayne Mad Ants are a team of the NBA Development League, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is the home venue for the team. The team is the first minor league basketball franchise to play in Fort Wayne since the Fort Wayne Fury...
.
For the 2008–09 season, the team moved to the brand-new SpiritBank Event Center
SpiritBank Event Center
The SpiritBank Event Center is a 4,500 seat multi-purpose arena and convention center in Bixby, Oklahoma built at a cost of $50 million. The center contains . of arena floor space and . of banquet rooms/ballrooms....
in nearby Bixby
Bixby, Oklahoma
Bixby is a city in Tulsa and Wagoner counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, and is a suburb of Tulsa. The population was 13,336 at the 2000 census and 20,884 in the 2010 census. It is nicknamed "The Garden Spot of Oklahoma" for its rich agrarian heritage...
, but retained the Tulsa 66ers name. After the 2008–09 season, however, the team announced it would seek another venue for the next season, and it filed a lawsuit against the owner of the arena. On August 13, 2009, it was announced that the 66ers would play home games for the 2009/2010 season at the Tulsa Convention Center in downtown Tulsa.
During the 2010-2011 season, the team set a record for 14 wins in a row before being defeated by the Maine Red Claws 109-106 on January 30th, 2011.
Season-by-season
| Season | Division | Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | Wins | Losses | Pct. | ||||||
| Asheville Altitude | |||||||||
| 2001–02 | 6th | 26 | 30 | .460 | |||||
| 2002–03 | 5th | 23 | 27 | .460 | |||||
| 2003–04 | 1st | 28 | 18 | .609 | Won Semifinals (Fayetteville Fayetteville Patriots The Fayetteville Patriots were a NBA Development League team based in Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States. Its logo design features a bald eagle's head and a basketball in the middle of a capital letter "P" with stars and stripes filling the rest of it.-Season By Season:- Franchise history... ) 116–111 Won D-League Finals (Huntsville) 108–106 |
||||
| 2004–05 | 2nd | 27 | 21 | .563 | Won Semifinals (Huntsville) 90–86 Won D-League Finals (Columbus Austin Toros The Austin Toros are a NBA Development League minor league basketball team based in Cedar Park, Texas, United States.The team plays home games at Cedar Park Center.Their logo is the design of a bull and basketball with the state of Texas in the background... ) 90–67 |
||||
| Tulsa 66ers | |||||||||
| 2005–06 | 7th | 24 | 24 | .500 | |||||
| 2006–07 | Eastern | 4th | 21 | 29 | .420 | ||||
| 2007–08 | Southwestern | 3rd | 26 | 24 | .520 | ||||
| 2008–09 | Southwestern | 5th | 15 | 35 | .300 | ||||
| Tulsa 66ers | |||||||||
| 2009–10 | Western | 5th | 27 | 23 | .540 | Won First Round (Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Skyforce The Sioux Falls Skyforce is a professional basketball team that plays in the NBA Development League. They are based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. The team plays at the Sioux Falls Arena. The Skyforce began in the CBA in 1989... ) 2–1 Won Semifinals (Iowa Iowa Energy The Iowa Energy are a 2007-08 expansion team of the NBA Development League, of which they are the current defending champions. They play their home games at the Wells Fargo Arena at Iowa Events Center.... ) 2–1 Lost D-League Finals (Rio Grande Valley Rio Grande Valley Vipers The Rio Grande Valley Vipers are a 2007-08 expansion team in the NBA Development League. They play their home games at the State Farm Arena, in Hidalgo, Texas.... ) 0–2 |
|||
| 2010-11 | Western | 3rd | 33 | 17 | .660 | Won First Round (Texas) 2–1 Lost Semifinals (Iowa Iowa Energy The Iowa Energy are a 2007-08 expansion team of the NBA Development League, of which they are the current defending champions. They play their home games at the Wells Fargo Arena at Iowa Events Center.... ) 0–2 |
|||
| Regular season | 250 | 248 | .502 | 2001–2011 | |||||
| Playoffs | 10 | 7 | .588 | 2001–2011 | |||||
Current roster
Former stars
Maurice AgerMaurice Ager
Maurice Darnell Ager is an American professional basketball player. He played collegiately for the Michigan State Spartans from 2002 until 2006...
Sean Banks
Sean Banks
Sean Anthony Banks is an American]] professional basketball player currently in the NBA Development League and playing for Idaho Stampede...
Derrick Dial
Derrick Dial
Derrick Jonathon Dial is an American professional basketball player. He had a brief career in the NBA....
Ersan İlyasova
Ersan Ilyasova
Ersan İlyasova is a Turkish professional basketball player who currently plays for Anadolu Efes. He is also under contract with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, though the NBA is currently in a lockout...
Nick Fazekas
Nick Fazekas
Nick Fazekas is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Reno Bighorns of the NBA D-League.-Early career:...
Joe Forte
Joseph Forte
Joseph Xavier "Joe" Forte is an American professional basketball player.-Beginnings:Forte got his start at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland. There, Forte played under the instruction of legendary high school prep coach Morgan Wootten. Forte's teammate at DeMatha, Keith Bogans,...
Shaun Livingston
Shaun Livingston
Shaun Patrick Livingston is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks.-Early years:Livingston was born in Peoria, Illinois. He led Concordia Lutheran Grade School, coached by Mr. Tom Ruppert, to LSA state titles in 1999 and 2000...
John Lucas III
John Harding Lucas III
John Harding Lucas III, often referred to as just John Lucas , is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls. He spent the 2009-10 season with the Shanghai Sharks of the CBA.-Early life:...
Ramon Sessions
Ramon Sessions
Ramon Sessions is an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers. He was drafted by Milwaukee with the 56th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. Sessions played collegiately at the University of Nevada for three years. Sessions ranks second in career assists at Nevada with 478...
Brandon Kurtz Mike Hall
Mike Hall
Michael Hall or Mike Hall may refer to:*Mike Hall , British politician*Mike Hall , English rugby league footballer*Mike Hall , Welsh rugby union footballer...
David Noel
David Noel
David Anthony Noel III is an American professional basketball player. A graduate of Southern High School in Durham, North Carolina and the University of North Carolina, Noel was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft with their lone pick, 39th overall.Noel...
Deron Washington
Deron Washington
Deron Washington is an American basketball player for the Obradoiro CAB of the Liga LEB. He played in college for the Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball team...
Mustafa Shakur
Mustafa Shakur
Mustafadeen "Mustafa" Abdush Shakur is an American professional basketball player for A.S. Junior Pallacanestro Casale in Italy. He was not drafted by an NBA team, but he signed with and was subsequently released by the Sacramento Kings, before playing in any NBA regular season games...
Damir Markota
Damir Markota
Damir Markota is a Croatian-Swedish professional basketball player at the forward position. He is 2.09 m tall and 118 kg in weight. His style of play has been compared to that of Vladimir Radmanović...
Affiliates
- Chicago BullsChicago BullsThe Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
(2005–2006) - Dallas MavericksDallas MavericksThe Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
(2007–2008) - Indiana PacersIndiana PacersThe Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
(2005–2006) - Milwaukee BucksMilwaukee BucksThe Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
(2005–2008) - New Orleans Hornets (2005–2007)
- New York KnicksNew York KnicksThe New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
(2006–2008) - Oklahoma City ThunderOklahoma City ThunderThe Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ; their home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena....
(2008–present)