Bakken Bears

Last updated
Bakken Bears
Bakken Bears logo.svg
Leagues Basketligaen
Founded1954;71 years ago (1954)
HistoryAarhus Basketball Forening
1954–1962
Skovbakken Basketball
1962–1999
Bakken Bears
1999–present
Arena Vejlby-Risskov Hallen
Capacity2,050
Location Aarhus, Denmark
Team colorsNavy, Silver, White
   
PresidentClaus Hommelhoff
Team managerMichael Piloz
Head coachAnders Sommer
Affiliation(s) Bears Academy
Championships20 Danish Leagues
12 Danish Cups
1 ENBL
Website bakkenbears.com

Bakken Bears is a Danish professional basketball club based in Aarhus. The club plays in the Basketligaen, the top-tier basketball league in Denmark.

Contents

Founded in 1953, the club has won the Basketligaen 20 times, holding the record for the most championships, and has also won 11 Danish Cups. Along with their domestic play, the club is a regular in European competitions. The Bears are a three-time semifinalist of the FIBA Europe Cup.

History

Bears' alternate logo Bakken Bears logo 2.png
Bears' alternate logo

Bakken Bears was formed in 1953 under the name of Aarhus Basketball Forening, or simply ABF. From 1962, the club was known as Skovbakken Basketball. Bears has been in the top Danish league almost every year since then and won its first title in 1958. Since then, the club has won a number of domestic titles and is now the most winning sports team in the history of the city of Aarhus.

In the years 2005 to 2009, Bakken Bears was a part of Aarhus Elite A/S, an elite sports organization in Aarhus that includes ia. AGF Football (soccer). In the last months of 2009 a group of local businessmen, sponsors and fans bought the team.

When Bakken Bears hosted Team FOG Næstved in Game 1 of the league semifinals in March 2009, 4,816 spectators watched the game in Aarhus Arena, which set an all-time attendance record for basketball in Denmark.

In the summer of 2018, the Bears' development team EBAA entered the Basketligaen as well.

On 27 March 2018, Bakken Bears qualified for the first time ever for a semifinal of a European competition, by eliminating ESSM Le Portel in the quarterfinals of the FIBA Europe Cup. [1]

Players

Current roster

Bakken Bears roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.Age
G 1 Flag of Denmark.svg Oriane, Silas 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)95 kg (209 lb)21 – (2004-04-18)18 April 2004
G 3 Flag of the United States.svg Parsons, Malik 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)86 kg (190 lb)25 – (1999-08-17)17 August 1999
SF 5 Flag of the United States.svg Evans, Ryan 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in)99 kg (218 lb)35 – (1990-06-19)19 June 1990
F 6 Flag of Denmark.svg Berg, Sylvester 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)27 – (1998-05-27)27 May 1998
SF 8 Flag of Denmark.svg Jukić, Darko 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in)94 kg (207 lb)34 – (1990-08-23)23 August 1990
F 9 Flag of Denmark.svg Vinther, Marcus 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)88 kg (194 lb)22 – (2002-10-15)15 October 2002
C 11 Flag of Senegal.svg Diouf, Michel 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)102 kg (225 lb)36 – (1989-04-19)19 April 1989
G 12 Flag of the United States.svg Bowlin, Skyler 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)77 kg (170 lb)36 – (1989-07-13)13 July 1989
F 15 Flag of Denmark.svg Høj, Magnus 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)98 kg (216 lb)22 – (2003-07-09)9 July 2003
G/F 18 Flag of Denmark.svg Knudsen, Gustav 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)90 kg (198 lb)22 – (2003-04-16)16 April 2003
PF 24 Flag of Denmark.svg Holst, Andreas 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in)91 kg (201 lb)20 – (2005-05-28)28 May 2005
G 77 Flag of Denmark.svg Erichsen, Frederik 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in)90 kg (198 lb)18 – (2006-08-07)7 August 2006
Head coach

Flag of Denmark.svg Anders Sommer

Assistant coach(es)
  • Flag of Germany.svg Florian Wedell
  • Flag of Denmark.svg Thomas Hemmingsen
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured
Updated: September 25, 2023

Notable players

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Criteria

To appear in this section a player must have either:

  • Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club
  • Played at least one official international match for their national team at any time
  • Played at least one official NBA match at any time.

Individual awards

Basketligaen MVP
Basketligaen Finals MVP

Honours

Domestic competitions

European competitions

Season by season

SeasonTierLeaguePos. Danish Cup European competitions
2010–111 Basketligaen 1stChampion
2011–121 Basketligaen 1stRunner-up
2012–131 Basketligaen 1stChampion
2013–141 Basketligaen 1stRunner-up3 EuroChallenge T16
2014–15 1 Basketligaen 2ndRound of 163 EuroChallenge RS
2015–16 1 Basketligaen 2ndChampion3 FIBA Europe Cup R32
2016–17 1 Basketligaen 1stSemifinalist3 Champions League RS
2017–18 1 Basketligaen 1stChampion3 Champions League QR2
4 FIBA Europe Cup SF
2018–19 1 Basketligaen 1stQuarterfinalist3 Champions League QR2
4 FIBA Europe Cup QF
2019–20 1 Basketligaen 1stChampion
2020–21 1 Basketligaen 1stChampion
2021–22 1 Basketligaen 1stRunner-up4 FIBA Europe Cup SF
2022–23 1 Basketligaen 1stChampions3 Champions League L16
2023–24 1 Basketligaen 1stRunner-upR European North Basketball League C
2024–25 1 Basketligaen 1stRunner-upR European North Basketball League QF

Head coaches

References

  1. ↑ "Bakken Bears survive overtime drama in Le Portel, book ticket to Semis". FIBA Europe Cup. 27 March 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2018.

56°11′33″N10°12′37″E / 56.1924°N 10.2103°E / 56.1924; 10.2103

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