Yakima SunKings

Yakima SunKings
League	CBA 1990–2008 TBL 2018–present
Founded	(1990-2008) 2017
History	Kansas City Sizzlers 1985–1986 Topeka Sizzlers 1986–1990 Yakima Sun Kings 1990–2005 Yakama Sun Kings 2005–2008 Yakima SunKings 2017–present
Arena	Yakima SunDome
Location	Yakima, Washington, U.S.
Team colors
Head coach	Paul Woolpert
Ownership	Jaime Campos
Championships	5 (1995, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2018)
Uniforms
Home Away

The Yakima SunKings is a NAPB franchise located in Yakima, Washington, covering the central Washington sports market of Yakima, Tri-Cities, and Ellensburg. Previously the team competed in the Continental Basketball Association. The Sun Kings play at the Yakima SunDome. In June 2005, the team was purchased by the Yakama Indian Nation and was renamed the Yakama Sun Kings (from Yakima to Yakama) to honor the Nation.

History

The franchise started in Kansas City, Missouri, then moved to Topeka, Kansas and the Pacific Northwest. In 1990 the team was purchased by Sacramento attorney Robert Wilson and was led By GM Brooks Ellison. Ex-Major League Baseball Player Ted Bowesfield was hired as an adviser. Dianne LaBissionaire, Pat Beehler, and Jay Mahn conducted day-to-day operations. A local contest to select a name was held, and the Yakima Sun Kings was chosen, replacing the old name, "Sizzlers". The team hired local favorite Dean Nicholson as coach. Dennis Rahm became the play by play radio announcer and handled media releases.

The Sun Kings was the first team to show a profit in the history of the CBA. The team was fairly successful historically, given the inconsistent nature of minor-league basketball; they won the 1994–95, 1999–2000, 2002–03, 2005–06 and 2006-07 CBA championships. The Sun Kings had a disappointing 2003–04 season when they posted a 10–38 record. They were also 0–9 against the CBA Champion Dakota Wizards.

Ronny Turiaf, a draft pick of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2005, played nine games for the Sun Kings in the 2005–06 season, less than six months after undergoing open-heart surgery which caused the Lakers to void his contract. He averaged 13 points in nine games with the team before re-signing with the Lakers in January 2006.^[1]

The Sun Kings won their fourth CBA Championship with a 111–101 victory in Game 3 of a best-of-3 finals series against the Gary Steelheads on March 27, 2006.^[2]

In 2006–07 the Sun Kings repeated as champions, sweeping the Albany Patroons three games to none.^[3]

Although the Yakama Indian Nation announced they had shut down team operations on April 10, 2008, due to the franchise's financial losses,^[4] potential investors continue to meet with the team's owners in order to keep the team afloat.^[5]

On September 29, 2017, it was announced that the Yakima SunKings would be one of the founding franchises of the North American Premier Basketball.^[6] In October 2017, Paul Woolpert was rehired as its head coach and general manager.^[7]

Current roster

Yakima SunKings roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age G 7001110000000000000♠11 Battle, Stephen 7000195580000000000♠6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 7001861825503000000♠190 lb (86 kg) 27 – (1991-04-16)16 April 1991 G 7000800000000000000♠8 Duncan, Robert 7000190500000000000♠6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 7001852753655600000♠188 lb (85 kg) 25 – (1993-04-22)22 April 1993 F/C 7001130000000000000♠13 Elliott, Devonte 7000208279999999999♠6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 7001997903214000000♠220 lb (100 kg) 27 – (1991-08-05)5 August 1991 PG 7000600000000000000♠6 Jackson, Cedric 7000190500000000000♠6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 7001771107029000000♠170 lb (77 kg) 32 – (1986-03-06)6 March 1986 F/C 7001140000000000000♠14 Koshwal, Mac 7000208279999999999♠6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 7002108862168800000♠240 lb (110 kg) 31 – (1987-10-19)19 October 1987 SF 7000700000000000000♠7 Major, Renaldo 7000185420000000000♠6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 7001884505121500000♠195 lb (88 kg) 36 – (1982-05-07)7 May 1982 F 7000300000000000000♠3 Schuck, Brent 7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 7001861825503000000♠190 lb (86 kg) 24 – (1994-10-02)2 October 1994 PG 7000100000000000000♠1 Thornton, Tyler 7000185420000000000♠6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 7001884505121500000♠195 lb (88 kg) 26 – (1992-04-05)5 April 1992 PG 7000200000000000000♠2 Trapp, Jackson 7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 7001907184740000000♠200 lb (91 kg) 25 – (1992-11-03)3 November 1992 C 7001150000000000000♠15 Upshaw, Robert 7000213360000000000♠7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 7002113398092500000♠250 lb (110 kg) 24 – (1994-01-05)5 January 1994	Head coach Paul Woolpert Assistant coach(es) Jim Berndt Legend (C) Team captain Injured Roster

References