Saitama Broncos
The Saitama Broncos is a men's professional basketball club based in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. It calls the whole prefecture home and its main home arenas are Tokorozawa Municipal Gymnasium and Saitama Super Arena in Chūō-ku, Saitama City. It competes in the B.League.
History
- 1982: founded as an amateur Mazda Auto Tokyo basketball club.
- 1983: The nickname Broncos taken from Santa Clara University.
- 1987: Promoted to Japan Basketball League division 1.
- 1991: Club renamed to "Ẽfini Tokyo"
- 1996: The company club was dissolved.
- 1997: Restarts as a community-based club "ME Tokorozawa Broncos". From a lower-tier "Kantō Corporate League".
- 1998: Renamed "Tokorozawa Broncos". Promoted to the JBL division 2.
- 1999: The league reorganisation put the team to the new JBL.
- 2000: Adds Saitama City to its hometowns. Renamed hiragana "Saitama Broncos".
- 2002-03, 2004-05: Wins the premiership in two-peat.
- 2005: Quits the JBL. Renamed kanji "Saitama Broncos". Competes in the bj league as an inaugural member.
Notable players
- Set a club record or won an individual award as a professional player.
- Played at least one official international match for his senior national team or one NBA game at any time.
Coaches
- Tomoya Higashino
- Charles Johnson
- Kenji Yamane
- David Benoit
- Masato Fukushima
- Bob Nash
- Dean Murray
- Natalie Nakase
- Tracy Williams
- Takatoshi Ishibashi
- Kazuaki Shimoji
- Ryutaro Onodera
- Collier St. Clair
- Thomas Roijakkers
- John Saintignon
Arenas
- Urawa Komaba Gymnasium
- Tokorozawa Municipal Gymnasium
- Josai University
- Fukaya Big Turtle
- Kasukabe City General Gymnasium
- Cosmos Arena Fukiage
- Shiki Citizens Gymnasium