Leagues B.League History 2014–present Team colors Fuchsia | Founded 2013 Location Fukushima Prefecture Championships 0 | |
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Arena Kōriyama Gymnasium
(capacity: 7,056) | ||
The Fukushima Firebonds (福島ファイヤーボンズ (Fukushima Faiyābonzu)) is a professional basketball team based in Kōriyama, Fukushima that plays in the bj league, the top-tier professional basketball league of Japan. The team entered the league as an expansion team in the 2014–15 season.
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In July 2015, it was announced that the team will compete in the second division of the B.League, a new league in Japan set to begin play in 2016–17.
History
In May 2013 Fukushima Prefecture was announced as the successful bidder for an expansion franchise to enter the 2014-15 season of the bj-league. The league management included the region's recovery from the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and the long-term feasibility of the bidding company, Fukushima Sports Entertainment, as reasons for the successful bid.
In June 2014, the team announced Hiroki Fujita as the inaugural head coach.
As an expansion team, the Firebonds received the first pick in the 2014-15 rookie draft, selecting forward Shota Kanno, a Fukushima Prefecture native. Takumi Masuko was selected in the second round. In July 2014 the team signed American players James Hughes and Nick Thompson as their two foreign players.
2014-15 season
The team commenced play in the bj-league in October 2014 and had their first regular-season win in a match against the Aomori Wat's on 5 October, 2015. The team finished the season with a 21-31 record, securing a playoff berth in the second-last game of the regular season. They were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs 0-2 by the Iwate Big Bulls.
2015-16 season
During the off-season, the team renewed the contract of Fujita as head coach and signed Le'Bryan Nash, Joseph Taylor and Stephan Van Treese as import players. Masaya Karimata was named team captain and Kenya Tomori was named vice-captain.