Hiroshima Dragonflies

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Hiroshima Dragonflies
Hiroshima Dragonflies logo
ConferenceWest
Division1st
LeaguesB.League
Founded2013; 11 years ago (2013)
HistoryHiroshima Dragonflies
(2014–present)
ArenaHiroshima Sun Plaza
Capacity6,052
LocationHiroshima Prefecture
Team colorsBlue, Orange
   
OwnershipNova Holdings
ChampionshipsNone
WebsiteHiroshima Dragonflies
3rd jersey
Team colours
3rd

The Hiroshima Dragonflies (広島ドラゴンフライズ) are a professional basketball team based in Hiroshima, Japan. In October 2014 they commenced competing in the Western Conference of the Japanese National Basketball League.[1] In September 2016 they joined the B.League, the NBL's successor league, and currently play in the first division's Western Conference.

Formation[edit]

In April 2014, following the announcement that the former Japan Basketball League would be restructured as the National Basketball League, a group was launched to support the formation of a professional basketball team in Hiroshima.[2] In May 2014 the group received support from the prefectural basketball association [3] and an application to join the NBL was submitted in July.[4] In August 2014 the application was approved[5] and the name Hiroshima Dragonflies was decided.[6] In October 2014 an operating company Hiroshima Dragonflies Corporation (株式会社広島ドラゴンフライズ) was established.

Team[edit]

Head coach[edit]

The inaugural head coach of the Dragonflies was Kenichi Sako, a former Japanese national player. It was the first coaching role for Sako, who was known as "Mr. Basketball" during his playing career that ended in 2011.[7]

The team has not been able to retain a coach during the 2017–2018 season, and players have been filling in to the team's detriment.

Roster[edit]

Hiroshima Dragonflies roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Age
G 0 Japan Ryo Terashima 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) 26 – (1997-10-23)23 October 1997
G/F 2 Japan Shogo Asayama 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 42 – (1981-06-01)1 June 1981
G 3 Japan Naoto Tsuji 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 34 – (1989-08-08)8 August 1989
G 5 Japan Isaiah Murphy 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 25 – (1998-04-10)10 April 1998
F 7 Japan Seiya Funyu 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 30 – (1993-12-15)15 December 1993
F/C 8 United States Kerry Blackshear Jr. 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 27 – (1997-01-28)28 January 1997
G 10 Japan Toshiki Kamisawa 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) 25 – (1998-06-02)2 June 1998
C 11 Philippines Kai Sotto 2.20[8] m (7 ft 3 in) 21 – (2002-05-11)11 May 2002
PG 12 Japan Takuto Nakamura 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) 23 – (2001-03-03)3 March 2001
F 13 United States Dwayne Evans 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 32 – (1992-01-24)24 January 1992
F 23 Japan Ryo Sadohara 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 24 – (1999-10-24)24 October 1999
F/C 24 United States Nick Mayo 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 26 – (1997-08-18)18 August 1997
F/C 34 Japan Keijiro Mitani 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 22 – (2001-06-15)15 June 2001
Head coach

Kyle Milling

Assistant coach(es)

Shoyo Kato
Ryoichi Nishitani


Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured

Updated: January 24, 2023

Arenas[edit]

Notable players[edit]

Dragonflies in 2017

References[edit]

  1. ^ Hiroshima Dragonflies triumph in NBL regular season debut
  2. ^ ""Pro basketball in Hiroshima" - Aiming to join the NBL next year". Archived from the original on 2013-06-07. Retrieved 2014-10-19.
  3. ^ ""Pro basketball in Hiroshima" - Aiming to join the NBL next year". Archived from the original on 2013-06-07. Retrieved 2014-10-19.
  4. ^ Hiroshima group applies to join new league Archived 2014-03-24 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ NBL send approval notice - Hiroshima group to join next year Archived 2014-03-24 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ NBL Hiroshima expansion team to be named "Dragonflies" Archived 2014-03-24 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ 'Mr Basketball' back on court in new role
  8. ^ "カイ・ソット".

External links[edit]