Albany Patroons

The Albany Patroons are a professional basketball team that plays in The Basketball League (TBL). Previously, the team competed in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and in the United States Basketball League (USBL). The Patroons won CBA championships in 1984 and 1988[2] and became champions of The Basketball League in 2019.[3]

Albany Patroons
LeaguesContinental Basketball Association
1982–1992, 2005–2009
United States Basketball League
2006–2007
The Basketball League
2018–present
Founded1982
HistoryAlbany Patroons
1982–1992
Capital Region Pontiacs
1992–1993
Albany Patroons
2005–2009
Albany Patroons
2018–present
ArenaWashington Avenue Armory
LocationAlbany, New York
Team colorsgold, green
   
General managerMichael Corts[1]
Head coachDerrick Rowland
OwnershipDr. Tim Maggs
Championships3 (1984, 1988, 2019)

Formed in 1982,[2] the Patroons' original home arena was the Washington Avenue Armory,[4] a former New York National Guard armory.[5] The team later moved from this location to the Times Union Center, then known as the Knickerbocker Arena.[6][7] The franchise was renamed the Capital Region Pontiacs in 1992[8] and was relocated to Connecticut in 1993.[7]

The Patroons rejoined the CBA in 2005.[9] When the CBA ceased its operations in 2009, the team went defunct.[10]

The Patroons became a member of North American Premier Basketball (NAPB) in the 2018 season, once again playing at the Washington Avenue Armory.[10][9] The NAPB later became The Basketball League.[11]

History

Early years (1982–1993)
Main article: Continental Basketball Association

Future NBA head coach Phil Jackson won his first championship ring as a coach when he guided the Patroons to the 1984 CBA championship. Andre Gaddy was named MVP of the series. Jackson later won NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.

In 1988, the Patroons won a second championship, this time under head coach Bill Musselman. Musselman later coached the Minnesota Timberwolves, and several Patroons from the 1987–88 championship year – including Scott Brooks, Tod Murphy, Tony Campbell, and Sidney Lowe – played on those early Timberwolves squads.

In the 1990–91 season, the Patroons completed a 50–6 regular season, winning all 28 home games, with George Karl as head coach. Future NBA players Mario Elie and Vincent Askew were part of that squad.

The Patroons won two CBA championships and five Eastern Division regular season titles. For the 1992–93 season, they were renamed the Capital Region Pontiacs, as the team received sponsorship from local car dealerships. After that season, the franchise was relocated to Connecticut, where it played for ​1 1⁄2 years as the Hartford Hellcats and then ​6 1⁄2 years as the Connecticut Pride before folding in 2001.

The CBA ceased operating and filed for bankruptcy in February 2001.[12]

Rebirth (2005–2009)

After a decade-long absence, a new Patroons joined the CBA as an expansion team for the 2005–06 season with the original name and colors (gold and kelly green), as well as returning to the old Washington Avenue Armory. Former NBA star Micheal Ray Richardson, who played for the Patroons in the 1987–88 season, became the head coach, while the Patroons' career scoring leader, Derrick Rowland, was named assistant coach. The Patroons finished the season with a 20–28 record, good for third place in the CBA Eastern Conference. Albany qualified for the playoffs, but lost in the first round of the CBA round-robin style playoffs.[13]

On June 14, 2006, the Patroons purchased the rights to a United States Basketball League team, also to be called the Patroons, and play in the Washington Avenue Armory. The team replaced the Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs. After only two years of very low attendance at their home games, the Patroons ended their USBL affiliation on June 19, 2007.[14]

In the 2006–07 season, the Patroons won the CBA American Conference championship and advanced to the best-of-five CBA Finals against the Yakima SunKings. The Patroons lost game one at the Armory. The next day, Coach Richardson was suspended for the rest of the season for firing expletives at hecklers during games and saying in an interview with the Albany Times Union newspaper that Jews are "crafty [because] they are hated worldwide."[15][16] Without Richardson, the Patroons dropped the next two games of the finals, as the Sun Kings won their second consecutive championship. Three days after the conclusion of the series, it was announced that Richardson would not return.[17] He was replaced by Vincent Askew.[18]

On July 10, 2007, former Patroon Jamario Moon signed a two-year contract with the Toronto Raptors. Moon had a strong rookie campaign, averaging 8.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

Both the Patroons and the CBA folded after the 2009 season, citing the economic recession.

North American Premier Basketball/The Basketball League (2018–present)

On August 30, 2017, it was announced that the Patroons would return to the Washington Avenue Armory in January 2018 under the ownership of former players.[19] The new team became one of the inaugural members of North American Premier Basketball (NAPB). The Patroons' roster included former NBA players Maurice Taylor, Smush Parker, and Jamario Moon. After the first season, the NAPB rebranded as The Basketball League (TBL).

On May 3, 2019, the Patroons defeated the Yakima SunKings in the third game of a best-of-three series to win the TBL championship.[3]

On September 4, 2019, the ownership of the Patroons was transferred to Dr. Tim Maggs for the 2020 season.[20] The 2020 TBL season was curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Current roster

Albany Patroons roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.Age
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Adam Chrisco
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured
Updated: November 19, 2019

Alumni

Former Albany Patroons players who went on to play in the National Basketball Association include Vincent Askew,[21] Scott Brooks,[21] Mario Elie,[21] Jamario Moon,[22] and Scott Roth.[21]

Former Patroons players and/or coaches who went on to coach in the National Basketball Association include Scott Brooks, Rick Carlisle, Phil Jackson, George Karl, Derrick Rowland, Sidney Lowe, Bill Musselman, Kenny Natt, Scott Roth, and Terry Stotts.[23]

Former Patroons players who later coached the Patroons include Micheal Ray Richardson[24] and Derrick Rowland.[25]

Season-by-season history
Year League Reg. Season Playoffs
1982/83 CBA 4th, Eastern Did not qualify
1983/84 CBA 2nd, Eastern Champions
1984/85 CBA 1st, Eastern Eastern Division Finals
1985/86 CBA 4th, Eastern Eastern Division Semifinals
1986/87 CBA 2nd, Eastern Eastern Division Finals
1987/88 CBA 1st, Eastern Champions
1988/89 CBA 1st, Eastern Eastern Division Semifinals
1989/90 CBA 1st, American Eastern American Conference Finals
1990/91 CBA 1st, National Eastern National Conference Finals
1991/92 CBA 3rd, American Eastern American Conference 1st Round Shootout
1992/93 CBA 2nd, American Eastern Did not qualify
2005/06 CBA 3rd, Eastern 2nd in Eastern Round Robin
2006 USBL 4th, Eastern Lost First Round
2006/07 CBA 1st, American Eastern Lost CBA Finals
2007 USBL 2nd Withdrew from league
2008 CBA 4th, Eastern Did not qualify
2009 CBA 2nd Lost CBA Finals
2018 NAPBL 2nd Lost NAPBL Finals
2019 TBL 4th Champions

References
  1. "Albany Patroons announce 2019 season schedule; new, lower ticket price options". Medium.com. December 6, 2018.
  2. Bouyea, Brien. "Patroons to be resurrected". The Record.
  3. Martin, Sean (May 4, 2019). "Albany Patroons win TBL championship". Times Union.
  4. Awareness, Relentless (August 30, 2017). "Washington Avenue Armory, Albany Patroons announce return of professional basketball in Albany".
  5. Hallisey, Michael (July 25, 2018). "Mirk set to release new album complete with unique visual experience".
  6. "Documentary captures fun, spirit of 1982-92 Albany Patroons - The Daily Gazette". dailygazette.com.
  7. https://www.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2005/04/04/smallb1.html
  8. November 16, Chuck Miller on; AM, 2016 at 7:34 (November 16, 2016). "The Trading Cards of the Albany Patroons". Chuck Miller.
  9. Lucas, Dave. "Fail: Albany Patroons Reboot". www.wamc.org.
  10. "Basketball rebounds in Albany as Patroons return to Armory". spectrumlocalnews.com.
  11. "Island Storm believes it has found a hidden gem in Dominic Shuler - The Guardian". www.theguardian.pe.ca.
  12. "C.B.A.; League Files For Bankruptcy". Associated Press. February 26, 2001 – via NYTimes.com.
  13. http://www.cbahoopsonline.com/news_detail.html?newsid=768 News Brief
  14. Patroons will not return to USBL, June 20, 2007
  15. CBA coach Richardson suspended for remarks, March 28, 2007
  16. Time for this coach to sit out Archived February 14, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, March 28, 2007
  17. Patroons, Richardson part Archived February 20, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, April 3, 2007
  18. "Albany Patroons Announce 2007-8 Head Coach". OurSports Central. August 2, 2007.
  19. "Washington Avenue Armory, Albany Patroons announce return of professional basketball in Albany". Medium.com. August 30, 2017.
  20. "Maggs introduced as Albany Patroons owner". www.timesunion.com. September 4, 2019.
  21. Dyer, Mike. "CBA could return to Capital Region". The Record.
  22. Wilkin, Tim (December 29, 2017). "Jamario Moon says "great chance" he returns to Patroons". Times Union.
  23. writer, PETE DOUGHERTY Staff (May 25, 2011). "NBA's Patroons alumni". Times Union.
  24. Finley, Bill (February 6, 2007). "Richardson on Course for Long-Awaited Return to N.B.A." – via NYTimes.com.
  25. Sports, WRGB (February 1, 2017). "Beyond the Games: Derrick Rowland". WRGB.
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