London Lightning

London Lightning
2016–17 NBL Canada season
Division	Central Division
League	National Basketball League of Canada
Founded	2011
History	London Lightning 2011–present
Arena	Budweiser Gardens
Location	London, Ontario
Team colours	Yellow, black, white
Head coach	Kyle Julius
Ownership	Vito Frijia
Championships	2 (2011-12, 2012-13)
Website	LightningBasketball.ca

The London Lightning is a Canadian professional basketball team based in London, Ontario, Canada. The team was a charter member of the National Basketball League of Canada which began play with the 2011–12 season (of which they are the inaugural and two time champions). The Lightning plays its home games at the Budweiser Gardens.

History

Micheal Ray Richardson era

The Lightning name was announced on August 12, 2011. ^[1] 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. ^[2] 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.^[3]

Carlos Knox era

Carlos Knox was unveiled as the new Lightning head coach on July 17, 2014.^[4] He led the team to an 18–14 record.^[5] 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.^[6][7][8]

Home arenas

Budweiser Gardens (2011–present)

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.^[9]

Current roster

London Lightning roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age 1.5 !G 44 USA ! Anderson, Ryan 7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 7001929864358500000♠205 lb (93 kg) 7001280000000000000♠28 – (1987-12-19)19 December 1987 3.5 !F 11 CAN ! Black, Taylor 7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 7002104326245100000♠230 lb (100 kg) 1.5 !G 34 USA ! Capers, Marcus 7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 7001861825503000000♠190 lb (86 kg) 7001260000000000000♠26 – (1989-12-21)21 December 1989 5.0 !C 20 USA ! Evans, Nick 7000210820000000000♠6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 7002108862168800000♠240 lb (110 kg) 7001280000000000000♠28 – (1988-04-14)14 April 1988 3.5 !F 14 CAN ! Kibi, Eric 7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 7001997903214000000♠220 lb (100 kg) 7001260000000000000♠26 – (1990-08-04)4 August 1990 3.5 !F 21 USA ! Maxwell, Stephen 7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 7001997903214000000♠220 lb (100 kg) 7001230000000000000♠23 – (1993-04-29)29 April 1993 1.5 !G 2 USA ! Okorie, Nick 7000185420000000000♠6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 7001884505121500000♠195 lb (88 kg) 7001280000000000000♠28 – (1988-07-22)22 July 1988 1.5 !G 22 USA ! Patterson, Tyshawn 7000185420000000000♠6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 7001816466266000000♠180 lb (82 kg) 7001250000000000000♠25 – (1991-04-19)19 April 1991 1.5 !G 10 CAN ! Ward, Warren 7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 7001952543977000000♠210 lb (95 kg) 7001270000000000000♠27 – (1989-11-16)16 November 1989 1.5 !G 4 USA ! Weidner, Jordan  7000185420000000000♠6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 7001848217731900000♠187 lb (85 kg) 2.5 !G/F 15 USA ! Williamson, Garrett 7000195580000000000♠6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 7001907184740000000♠200 lb (91 kg) 7001280000000000000♠28 – (1988-06-15)15 June 1988 2.5 !G/F 25 USA ! Wright, Akeem 7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 7001988831366600000♠218 lb (99 kg) 7001320000000000000♠32 – (1984-11-01)1 November 1984	Head coach Kyle Julius Assistant coach(es) Legend (C) Team captain Injured Roster – Transactions Updated: March 26, 2016

Season-by-season record

References

External links

• Official website