Quad City Thunder

The Quad City Thunder was a Continental Basketball Association franchise that was based in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. They played in the CBA from the 1987–88 season until the CBA folded in 2001. The Thunder were successful on the court, capturing CBA championships in the 1993–94 and 1997–98 seasons, and runner-up in the 1990–91 season. The Thunder played in Moline, Illinois, first at Wharton Field House before moving to the new MARK of the Quad Cities in 1993.

History

The Thunder first began play at the Wharton Field House in Moline, Illinois, in the 1987–88 season, with 6,047 fans attending the first home game. The Thunder were the first professional basketball franchise in the Quad Cities since the Tri-Cities Blackhawks moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1953. Initially a great success in the CBA, the Thunder struggled with attendance towards the end of their existence, especially with competition from their co-tenants at the Mark, the Quad City Mallards hockey team. The Thunder folded when the CBA ceased operations following the 2000–01 season.

Championship seasons

1993–1994

The 1993–1994 team went 34–22 under Dan Panaggio. They swept through the playoffs. They first defeated the Rochester Renegades in overtime of a playoff play-in in Bismarck, N.D. They then defeated the Grand Rapids Hoops 4–1 in best-of-seven second round; Defeated the La Crosse Catbirds 4–0 in conference finals.
Finally, the Thunder defeated the Omaha Racers 4–1, winning last three on road to claim franchise’s first league title. The Thunder won the opener in double overtime after Tate George tied the game with last-second buckets at both the end of regulation and of the first overtime. The Thunder then lost the second game in triple overtime, but won three straight in Omaha, the last in overtime.
Chris Childs averaged 17.4 points and 8.5 assists in the playoffs, was the Finals MVP and went on to the National Basketball Association. Other key players were Harold Ellis 21.4ppg, Tate George 16.4, Bobby Martin 13.6, Barry Mitchell 13.0, Matt Fish 7.1RPG, Ashraf Amaya 6.9, and Cedric Henderson 6.1.

1997–1998

The 1997–98 Thunder finished 38–18 under Dan Panaggio. In the playoffs they swept the La Crosse Catbirds in three games and defeated the Rockford Lightning in five games.
In the CBA Finals, they won a deciding seventh at home over the Sioux Falls Skyforce to capture their second CBA Championship. Key players were: Jimmy King 16.4ppg, Jeff McInnis 14.9ppg, Alvin Sims 13.6ppg, Doug Smith 12.8ppg, Willie Burton 11.6, Byron Houston 8.7Rpg, and Barry Sumpter. King won league MVP, McInnis was Newcomer of the Year, Sims became the Thunder’s first Rookie of the Year and Dan Panaggio won his second Coach of the Year award.

Quad City Thunder Personnel

Thunder NBA Callups

1988–89

Player	Position	NBA Team	Reference
Kevin Gamble	Shooting Guard/Small Forward	Boston Celtics
Bill Jones	Small Forward	New Jersey Nets
Anthony Bowie	Shooting Guard/Small Forward	San Antonio Spurs
Corey Gaines	Shooting Guard	New Jersey Nets
Barry Sumpter	Power Forward	Los Angeles Clippers

1989–90

Player	Position	NBA Teams	Reference
Nate Johnston	Power Forward/Small Forward	Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz
Kenny Gattison	Power Forward/ Center	Charlotte Hornets

1990–91

Player	Position	NBA Team	Reference
A. J. Wynder	Point Guard	Boston Celtics
Tony Harris	Shooting Guard	Philadelphia 76ers

1991–92

Player	Position	NBA Team	Reference
Steve Scheffler	Center/Power Forward	Sacramento Kings
Anthony Bowie	Shooting Guard/Small Forward	Orlando Magic

1992–93

Player	Position	NBA Team	Reference
Derek Strong	Power Forward	Milwaukee Bucks

1993–94

Player	Position	NBA Team	Reference
Harold Ellis	Shooting Guard	Los Angeles Clippers
Morlon Wiley	Shooting Guard	Miami Heat

1994–95

Player	Position	NBA Teams	Reference
Greg Sutton	Point Guard	Charlotte Hornets
Kevin Pritchard	Point Guard	Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat
Randolph Keys	Small Forward/Shooting Guard	Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks
Tate George	Point Guard	Milwaukee Bucks

1995–96

Player	Position	NBA Team	Reference
Kevin Pritchard	Point Guard	Washington Bullets

1996–97

Player	Position	NBA Team	Reference
Joe Courtney	Power Forward	Philadelphia 76ers
Erick Strickland	Point Guard/Power Forward	Dallas Mavericks
Rich Manning	Center/Power Forward	Los Angeles Clippers
Jimmy King	Shooting Guard	Denver Nuggets
Matt Steigenga	Small Forward	Chicago Bulls

1997–98

Player	Position	NBA Team	Reference
Litterial Green	Point Guard	Milwaukee Bucks
Willie Burton	Small Forward	San Antonio Spurs

1998–99

Player	Position	NBA Team	Reference
J.R. Henderson	Power Forward/Center	Vancouver Grizzlies
Jeff McInnis	Point Guard/Shooting Guard	Washington Wizards

1999–00

Player	Position	NBA Team	Reference
Jeff McInnis	Point Guard/Shooting Guard	Los Angeles Clippers
Maceo Baston	Power Forward	Milwaukee Bucks
Jamel Thomas	Shooting Guard/Small Forward	Boston Celtics, Portland Trail Blazers