Canberra Cannons

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Canberra Cannons
Canberra Cannons.png
Leagues NBL
Founded1979;45 years ago (1979)
Dissolved2003
HistoryCanberra Cannons
1979–2003
Hunter Pirates
2003–2006
Singapore Slingers
2006–present
Arena AIS Arena
Capacity5,200
Location Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Team colorsNavy, red, white
   
Championships3 (1983, 1984, 1988)

The Canberra Cannons are a defunct basketball team that competed in Australia's National Basketball League (NBL). They went into financial administration in 2003 and were relocated to Newcastle, where they became the Hunter Pirates. After this venture also folded the team was relocated to Singapore and played as the Singapore Slingers for the 2006/07 season.

Contents

The Cannons were runners-up in the inaugural 1979 competition and then won three championships in 1983, 1984 and 1988. They were also runners-up in 1989.

History

The Cannons were one of the original ten NBL clubs, competing in the league's very first season in 1979. They reached the championship game with a 13–5 record, but fell at the final hurdle, losing to the St Kilda Saints 94–93 in the final.

Canberra failed to make the playoffs over the next few seasons, but in 1983 they won their first NBL championship, downing the defending champions the West Adelaide Bearcats 75–73 in the Grand Final. Adelaide born Guard Phil Smyth joined the team in 1983 and led the NBL in steals and assists as well as being selected at Point guard in the All-NBL Team.

In 1983, the Cannons' trio of Wade Kirchmeyer, Dave Nelson and Garry Ball were dubbed the "Bruise Brothers". [1] Following the league's import reduction from three to two, Kirchmeyer was not re-signed for 1984. [2]

The Cannons repeated as champions in 1984, this time beating the Brisbane Bullets 84–82 in the big game. Smyth again had a big season, being named to the All-NBL Team.

Canberra made the playoffs for the next three seasons but would fall to the Bullets in the semi-finals each time. Championship glory eluded the Cannons until 1988, when swept the minor premiers the Adelaide 36ers in the semi-finals then beat the North Melbourne Giants 2–1 in a best-of-three championship series. Smyth again was named to the All-NBL Team after leading the league in three-point percentage, free-throw percentage and steals, and was also named Best Defensive Player. Smyth also won the Grand Final MVP after averaging 23.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists over the series. 7'0" (213 cm) import centre Willie Simmons also led the league in blocks, averaging 3.6 per game.

North Melbourne exacted their revenge in 1989, beating the Cannons 2–0 in the championship series. It would prove to be the last time the Cannons played in the NBL Grand Final.

The Cannons failed to make the playoffs again until 1992, when they were eliminated in the first round by the eventual champions, the South East Melbourne Magic. They reached the playoffs in 1996 making the semi-finals before being eliminated by the Melbourne Tigers 2–1. They again made the finals in 1997 but were eliminated in the first round 2-1 by North Melbourne.

Financial problems dogged the club in the late 1990s, and the team finally succumbed to its money woes in December 2002. The club managed to play all its remaining games from the 2002–03 NBL season, but were unable to hold on to their star players, including C. J. Bruton, the son of then-coach Cal Bruton, or any imports. Canberra finished with an 11–19 record, and the team was bought by a consortium that moved the team to Newcastle.

During the 2002 off-season, the Cannons embarked on a short tour of the United States playing various college teams. On one occasion they played against the Michigan State Spartans at the Breslin Center in Lansing. For that game, the Cannons featured former Michigan State player, NBA legend with the Los Angeles Lakers and one of the most decorated players in basketball history, Earvin "Magic" Johnson. The game, a celebration of Johnson's induction into the Hall of Fame in 2002, saw the Cannons defeat the Spartans (who featured future NBL player Adam Ballinger) 104–85 with Magic contributing 12 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds. [3]

In April 2022, NBL owner Larry Kestelman flagged Canberra as a potential 11th team. Kestelman says "Canberra could be next in line for a league license, following the same model as the Tasmania JackJumpers". [4] [5]

Honour Roll

NBL Championships:3 (1983, 1984, 1988)
NBL Finals Appearances:11 (1979, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1996, 1997)
NBL Grand Final appearances:5 (1979, 1983, 1984, 1988, 1989)
NBL Most Valuable Players:None
NBL Grand Final MVPs: Phil Smyth (1988)
All-NBL First Team:Herb McEachin, Cal Stamp (1980), Dave Nelson (1981), Phil Smyth (1983, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989), Robert Rose (1996, 1997)
NBL Coach of the Year:Bob Turner (1985), Brett Flanigan (1996)
NBL Rookie of the Year:Jamie Kennedy (1983), Lachlan Armfield (1992), Damien Ryan (1999)
NBL Most Improved Player:None
NBL Best Defensive Player:Phil Smyth (1988, 1989)

Season by season

NBL championsLeague championsRunners-upFinals berth
SeasonTierLeagueRegular seasonPost-seasonHead coachCaptain
FinishPlayedWinsLossesWin %
Canberra Cannons
1979 1 NBL 2nd18135.722Lost NBL final (St. Kilda) 93–94Cal Stamp
1980 1 NBL 7th221111.500Did not qualifyCal Stamp
1981 1 NBL 7th221210.545Did not qualify Patrick Hunt
1982 1 NBL 11th26818.308Did not qualifyIan Ellis
1983 1 NBL 2nd22166.727Qualified round robin 3–0
Won semifinal (Coburg) 80–75
Won NBL final (West Adelaide) 75–73		Bob Turner
1984 1 NBL 2nd23167.696Won preliminary final (Geelong) 87–81
Won semifinal (Coburg) 108–107
Won NBL final (Brisbane) 84–82		Bob Turner
1985 1 NBL 4th26197.731Won elimination final (Coburg) 110–87
Lost semifinal (Brisbane) 76–93		Bob Turner
1986 1 NBL 2nd26197.731Lost semifinal (Brisbane) 100–120Bob Turner
1987 1 NBL 5th26179.654Lost elimination final (Perth) 96–101Jerry Lee
1988 1 NBL 4th24168.667Won elimination final (Newcastle) 107–92
Won semifinals (Adelaide) 2–0
Won NBL finals (North Melbourne) 2–1		Jerry Lee
1989 1 NBL 1st24186.750Won semifinals (Sydney) 2–1
Lost NBL finals (North Melbourne) 0–2		 Steve Breheny
1990 1 NBL 7th261610.615Did not qualifySteve Breheny
1991 1 NBL 10th26917.346Did not qualify Mel Dalgleish
1992 1 NBL 8th241113.458Lost quarterfinals (S.E. Melbourne) 0–2Barry Barnes
1993 1 NBL 9th261214.462Did not qualifyBarry Barnes
1994 1 NBL 11th26719.269Did not qualifyBarry Barnes
1995 1 NBL 9th261214.462Did not qualifyBrett Flanigan
1996 1 NBL 4th261610.615Won quarterfinals (Sydney) 2–1
Lost semifinals (Melbourne) 1–2		Brett Flanigan
1997 1 NBL 6th301515.500Lost quarterfinals (North Melbourne) 1–2Brett Flanigan
1998 1 NBL 7th301416.467Did not qualifyBrett Flanigan
1998–99 1 NBL 11th26818.308Did not qualifyBrett Flanigan
1999–2000 1 NBL 8th281117.393Did not qualifyBrett Flanigan
Cal Bruton
2000–01 1 NBL 11th28325.107Did not qualifyCal Bruton
2001–02 1 NBL 10th301218.400Did not qualifyCal Bruton
2002–03 1 NBL 8th301119.367Did not qualifyCal Bruton
Lloyd Klaman
Regular season record641322319.5021 regular season champions
Finals record352015.5713 NBL championships

As of the end of the 2002–03 season

*Note: In 1983 and 1984, the NBL was split into Eastern and Western divisions during the regular season.

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References

  1. ↑ "Basketball's thinking team". The Canberra Times . 25 February 1983. Retrieved 27 February 2024– via Trove.
  2. ↑ Gover, Paul (30 July 1983). "Victim of NBL's new import rule; Kirchmeyer leaves the Cannons". The Canberra Times . Retrieved 26 February 2024– via Trove.
  3. ↑ Canberra Cannons featuring Magic Johnson
  4. ↑ "NBL exploring Canberra return". NBL.com.au. 13 April 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  5. ↑ "NBL Ready For Canberra". NBL.com.au | NBL. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
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