London Lightning

Last updated
London Lightning
LondonLightningNBL.PNG
League NBL Canada 2016-2023
BSL: 2023–present
Founded2011
HistoryLondon Lightning
2011–present
Arena Budweiser Gardens
Location London, Ontario
Team coloursYellow, black, white
   
General managerMark Frijia [1]
Head coach Doug Plumb
Ownership Vito Frijia
Championships6
(2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023)
Website lightningbasketball.ca
Kit body.png
Kit body basketball.svg
Kit shorts.png
Kit shorts.svg
Alternate

The London Lightning is a Canadian professional basketball team based in London, Ontario, with home games at the Budweiser Gardens. The team competes in the Basketball Super League.

Contents

History

The Lightning name was announced on August 12, 2011. [2] The team was a charter member of the National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC) that began play for the 2011–12 season and won the league's first championship. The Lightning have won the most NBLC championships with six. On August 17, former Albany Patroons and Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry head coach Micheal Ray Richardson was announced as the Lightning's first head coach. [3] The Lightning would go on to win the 2012 NBL championship, defeating the Halifax Rainmen 116-92 on March 25, 2012 at the John Labatt Centre to take the best-of-five championship series three games to two. [4]

Carlos Knox was unveiled as the new Lightning head coach on July 17, 2014. [5] He led the team to an 18–14 record. [6] Knox was dismissed in August 2015 after hiding player Jonathan Mills' positive drug test results from Vito Frijia and the league. He was replaced by former Mississauga Power head coach Kyle Julius later in the month. [7] [8] [9]

Julius would lead the Lightning to back-to-back championship appearances in 2016 and 2017, winning the championship in the latter. [10] He would be replaced by former Niagara College and interim Niagara River Lions head coach, Keith Vassell. [11] Vassell led the Lightning to another championship in 2017–18, but was fired after a 4–4 record in the 2018–19 season. [12]

Home arenas

Originally opened in 2002, the Budweiser Gardens is a sports-entertainment centre, in London, Ontario, Canada. The arena has a capacity of 9,000. The Lightning shares the arena with London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. [13]

Current roster

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

London Lightning roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.Age
G 6 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Binney, Marvin   Cruz Roja.svg 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)195 lb (88 kg)33 – (1990-12-15)15 December 1990
SF 0 Flag of the United States.svg Bolden, Mo 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)205 lb (93 kg)34 – (1989-08-18)18 August 1989
SF 60 Flag of the United States.svg Capers, Marcus 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)180 lb (82 kg)34 – (1989-12-21)21 December 1989
G/F 35 Flag of the United States.svg Gaines, A. J. 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)30 – (1993-12-05)5 December 1993
SF 14 Flag of the United States.svg Isom, Mareik 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)217 lb (98 kg)29 – (1994-07-25)25 July 1994
F 13 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Iyekekpolor, Otas 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)220 lb (100 kg)27 – (1996-06-20)20 June 1996
F 21 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Lufile, Abednego 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)240 lb (110 kg)29 – (1994-06-08)8 June 1994
C 32 Flag of the United States.svg Phillips, Randy 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)240 lb (110 kg)28 – (1995-07-17)17 July 1995
G 5 Flag of the United States.svg Strong, Omar 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)175 lb (79 kg)33 – (1990-05-16)16 May 1990
G 10 Flag of the United States.svg Tate, Jaylon   Cruz Roja.svg 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)170 lb (77 kg)28 – (1995-01-16)16 January 1995
SF 15 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Williamson, Garrett 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)200 lb (91 kg)35 – (1988-06-15)15 June 1988
Head coach
  • Doug Plumb
Assistant coach(es)
  • Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Nate Benjamin
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Season-by-season record

SeasonCoachRegular seasonPost season
WonLostWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
2011–12 Micheal Ray Richardson 288.7781st52.714Champions
2012–13 Micheal Ray Richardson337.8251st62.750Champions
2013–14 Micheal Ray Richardson2317.5754th66.500Conference semi-finals
2014–15 Carlos Knox 1814.5633rd23.400Conference quarter-finals
2015–16 Kyle Julius 2614.6501st106.500League runners-up
2016–17 Kyle Julius355.8751st112.846Champions
2017–18 Keith Vassell 2713.6751st116.647Champions
2018–19 Keith Vassell
Elliott Etherington		2218.5501st23.400Division Semifinals
2019–20 Doug Plumb 159.625Season curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic
Totals227105.6845330.6394 championships

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Budweiser Gardens</span> Sports-entertainment centre in London, Ontario

Budweiser Gardens is a sports-entertainment centre, in London, Ontario, Canada – the largest such centre in Southwestern Ontario. Until 2012, it was known as the John Labatt Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Basketball League of Canada</span> Professional basketball league in Canada

The National Basketball League of Canada was a Canadian professional men's minor league basketball organization. The NBL Canada was founded in 2011, when three existing Premier Basketball League teams joined with four new franchises for the league's inaugural season. The league changed in size multiple times and had four active teams in its final season, all in Ontario, but historically the NBLC had several located in the Atlantic provinces. The league's season typically ran from November to April of the following year. The final league champions were the London Lightning, who defeated the Windsor Express 3–2 in the 2023 NBL Finals,

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mississauga Power</span> Former basketball team in Mississauga, Canada

The Mississauga Power were a Canadian professional basketball team based in Mississauga, Ontario, that competed in the National Basketball League of Canada (NBL). Established in 2011 as the Oshawa Power, they played in the Central Division. The Oshawa team began play in the inaugural NBL Canada season, along with the London Lightning, Moncton Miracles, and Summerside Storm and three Premier Basketball League (PBL) teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windsor Express</span> Basketball team in Windsor, Canada

The Windsor Express are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, competing in the Basketball Super League. The Express play their home games at the WFCU Centre.

Garrett Williamson is a Canadian-American professional basketball player for the London Lightning of the National Basketball League of Canada (NBL). Born in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania, Williamson played high school basketball for Lower Merion and college basketball at Saint Joseph's. While at college he was named twice in the Atlantic 10's all-defensive team. Williamson has played professionally in the NBA Development League, the National Basketball League of Canada, Germany and Greece. In Canada he was named NBL Canada Canadian of the Year in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Julius</span>

Kyle Julius is a Canadian former professional basketball player and coach, He currently serves as General Manager and head coach for the Vancouver Bandits of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) for the Taiwanese team Formosa Taishin Dreamers of the ASEAN Basketball League and the P. League+, and general manager of the Fraser Valley Bandits of the Canadian Elite Basketball League. A former Canadian men's national team player, he has been considered one of Canada's most experienced and talented basketball minds. He shares training tips and basketball experience through short articles published on NorthPoleHoops.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015–16 NBL Canada season</span> Sports season

The 2015–16 NBL Canada season was the fifth season of the National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC). The regular season began on December 26, 2015 and concluded on April 30, 2016. There were 40 total games played by each team, eight more than the previous year. The new expansion Niagara River Lions team are competing in their first season. The Halifax Hurricanes also began play, replacing the defunct Halifax Rainmen. During the offseason, the Mississauga Power folded to make way for Raptors 905 of the NBA Development League. Prior to the season, the league also enforced new policies to help improve its standard, including rules regarding sportsmanship, addressing the brawl that ended the 2015 NBL Canada Finals. The first regular season game featured the Island Storm and the Saint John Mill Rats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vito Frijia</span> Italian-Canadian businessman and construction engineer

Vito Frijia is an Italian-Canadian businessman and construction engineer. He is currently the owner of the London Lightning of the National Basketball League of Canada (NBL). At the league's Board of Governors' meeting in May 2015, he was unanimously voted the President of the NBL Canada. Frijia is also the president of the Southside Group, who have contributed to the construction of several prominent buildings in Southwestern Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niagara River Lions</span> Basketball team in St. Catharines, Canada

The Niagara River Lions are a Canadian professional basketball team based in St. Catharines, Ontario, that competes in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. From 2015 to 2018, they were members of the National Basketball League of Canada. The River Lions play their home games at the Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines.

The 2015 NBL Canada Finals brawl was an altercation that occurred prior to Game 7 of the year's National Basketball League of Canada (NBL) Finals, between the Windsor Express and Halifax Rainmen on April 30, 2015. It led to the Rainmen's forfeit of the deciding game and allowed the Express to win the championship by default. Windsor's guard Tony Bennett, who participated in the brawl, said, "It's a black eye not just for the league, but for basketball."

Douglas Herring Jr. is an American-born naturalised Syrian professional basketball player for the Vancouver Bandits of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). He played college basketball for Utica College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junior Cadougan</span> Canadian basketball player

Junior Carlisle Cadougan is a Canadian former professional basketball player and Assistant Coach for the Vancouver Bandits of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). Cadougan spent his college career at Marquette University. Following his graduation from college, he played professionally in Europe. He also represented Canada in international competition.

The 2016–17 NBL Canada season was the sixth season of the National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. John's Edge</span> Basketball team in St. Johns, Canada

The St. John's Edge are an inactive Canadian professional basketball team based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, and compete in the National Basketball League of Canada. From 2017 to 2020, they played home games at Mile One Centre. They were given a leave of absence from the league in 2021 due to not having a suitable home arena after not being given a new lease for Mile One Centre.

The 2017–18 NBL Canada season is the seventh season of the National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC). The regular season ran November 18, 2017 to April 2, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaylon Tate</span> American basketball player

Jaylon Tate is an American professional basketball player for the London Lightning of the National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC). Tate played college basketball for the University of Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sudbury Five</span> Basketball team in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

The Sudbury Five are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Sudbury, Ontario that play in the Basketball Super League (BSL). The team is owned by Sudbury Wolves Sports and play at the Sudbury Community Arena.

Keith Christophe Vassell is a Canadian-Icelandic basketball coach and a former member of the Canadian national basketball team. He played seven seasons in the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild karla, winning the national championship in 2000 with KR and the Icelandic Cup in 2007 with Íþróttafélag Reykjavíkur.

The 2018–19 NBL Canada season is the eighth season of the National Basketball League of Canada. The regular season ran from November 15, 2018, to March 31, 2019.

The 2019–20 NBL Canada season was the ninth season of the National Basketball League of Canada. The regular season was supposed to run from December 26, 2019, to April 23, 2020. However, on March 12, the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.

References

  1. ↑ "Mark Frijia Promoted to General Manager". OurSports Central. 26 August 2019.
  2. ↑ "Lightning choice for pro basketball team | London | News | London Free Press". Archived from the original on 2012-04-02.
  3. ↑ "Coach knows highs, lows | Basketball | Sports | London Free Press". Archived from the original on 2011-12-17.
  4. ↑ "NBL: London Lightning | Home Page". Archived from the original on 2012-04-08. Retrieved 2012-03-26.
  5. ↑ "Coach Knox takes Lightning in new direction". londoncommunitynews.com. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
  6. ↑ "2014-15 Standings". NBLCanada.com. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  7. ↑ "Lightning dismiss Knox". LightningBasketball.ca. Archived from the original on 11 September 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  8. ↑ "London Lightning coach Carlos Knox kept test secret". The London Free Press . Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  9. ↑ "London Lightning set to name Kyle Julius head coach". The London Free Press . Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  10. ↑ "London Lightning coach, owner deny serious conflict led to coach quitting". The London Free Press . 13 June 2017.
  11. ↑ "London Lightning hire new coach for upcoming NBL season". GlobalNews.ca. 24 August 2017.
  12. ↑ "Lightning dump coach Vassell after lack-lustre start". The London Free Press. 11 December 2018.
  13. ↑ "Arena Info". BudweiserGardens.com. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.