Bradford Dragons

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Bradford Dragons
League NBL Division 1
Established2001;24 years ago (2001)
HistoryBradford Dragons
2001-present
Arena Calderdale College
Location Bradford, West Yorkshire
Team colours   
Head coach Flag of England.svg Chris Mellor
Website Official website

The Bradford Dragons are an English semi-professional basketball club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Founded in 2001, the Dragons currently compete in NBL Division 1, the second tier of the British basketball system.

Contents

Club history

The club was established in 2001 as a local under-16 club, in response to growing demand from local players for an outlet to play competitive basketball. The club quickly attracted more young players, entering an under-18 team in the Bradford League for the 2002-03 season and adding an Under-21 team in 2003. 2004 saw further expansion, with under-14 and under-16 teams entering the national junior leagues for the first time. [1]

The Dragons added senior men's basketball to their programme in 2005, entering into EBL Division Three North. The team made a steady start to life in the National League, finishing in the top six in each of their first four seasons, narrowly missing out on the playoffs on several occasions. In the 2009-10 season, the team won the first of two successive promotions, finishing the season at the top of Division Three (North) and making the post-season semi-finals. A similar record in the 2010-11 season saw the Men's team promoted to NBL Division 1, where they have remained since. [2]

A reserve team was entered in EBL Division Four (North) for the first time in 2011, with a women's team joining EBL Division Two (North) in the following season and claiming the title at their first attempt with a 13-2 record. [3] Despite this early success, both teams were disbanded after the 2012-13 season, although the club hopes to relaunch both teams into national competition in the future.

The club's importance to the local community was recognised in 2006 by Bradford Council, which awarded the Dragons a special commendation award for their contribution to community cohesion. [4]

Players

Bradford Dragons 24-25 roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.
G 1 Flag of the United States.svg Williams, Justin 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
F 4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Josephs, Kofi 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
G 5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lemanski, Julian 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
G 7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lycoudis, Andreas 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
G 8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Savery-Richards, Micah 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
F 9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gayle, Andre 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
11 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Unsworth, Cameron
F 12 Flag of Latvia.svg Šulcs, Rihards  (C)6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
F 14 Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg Silcott, Vance 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
F 21 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Baldwin, Oscar 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
G 23 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Whelan, Jordan 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Head coach

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris Mellor


Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured


Notable former 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.

Season-by-season records

SeasonDivisionTierLeaguePlayoffsNational CupDiv. League Cup
FinishPlayedWinsLossesPointsWin %
Bradford Dragons
2005-06 D3 Nor 45th1688160.500Did not qualify1st round1st round
2006-07 D3 Nor 45th20137260.650Did not qualify2nd roundSemi-finals
2007-08 D3 Nor 43rd20146280.700Quarter-finals3rd roundSemi-finals
2008-09 D3 Nor 45th22148280.636Did not qualify3rd roundQuarter-finals
2009-10 D3 Nor 41st22211420.955Semi-finals1st roundRunners Up
2010-11 D2 31st20173340.850Semi-finalsQuarter-finalsSemi-finals
2011-12 D1 26th24159300.625Quarter-finalsQuarter-finalsQuarter-finals
2012-13 D1 212th261016200.385Did not qualify2nd roundQuarter-finals
2013-14 D1 24th26179340.654Semi-finals2nd round1st round
2014-15 D1 28th241014200.417Quarter-finalsQuarter-finalsSemi-finals
2015-16 D1 212th26620120.231Did not qualify2nd roundSemi-finals
2016-17 D1 27th261412280.538Quarter-finalsQuarter-finalsPool Stage
2017-18 D1 26th241311260.542Quarter-finalsQuarter-finalsPool Stage
2018-19 D1 211th261115220.423Did not qualify4th roundPool Stage
2019-20 D1 28th231211270.522No competition4th round
2020-21 D1 211th19712140.368Quarter-finalsNo competition
2021-22 D1 29th261016200.385Did not qualify4th round
2022-23 D1 27th261313260.500Quarter-finals4th round
2023-24 D1 27th241113220.458Quarter-finals

References

  1. "Bradford Dragons, Club History". Bradford Dragons Website.
  2. "League Table History". Basketball England. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  3. "League Table History". Basketball England. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  4. "Bradford Dragons, Club History". Bradford Dragons Website.