Hiroshima Dragonflies

The Hiroshima Dragonflies (in Japanese: 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. The Dragonflies have won the B.League championship once, in 2024.[2]

Hiroshima Dragonflies
ConferenceWest
Division1st
LeaguesB.League
Founded2013 (2013)
HistoryHiroshima Dragonflies
(2014–present)
ArenaHiroshima Sun Plaza
Capacity6,052
LocationHiroshima Prefecture
Team colorsTeal, Orange, Brown, White
       
OwnershipNova Holdings
Championships1 (2024)
Websitehiroshimadragonflies.com
3rd

History

Foundation

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.[3] In May 2014 the group received support from the prefectural basketball association [4] and an application to join the NBL was submitted in July.[5] In August 2014 the application was approved[6] and the name Hiroshima Dragonflies was decided.[7] 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.

Championship (2024)

On May 29, 2024, the Dragonflies won their first-ever B1 League championship after they defeated the Ryukyu Golden Kings 2–1 in the finals.[2]

Team

Head coach

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.[8]

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
Hiroshima Dragonflies roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Age
G 0 Ryo Terashima 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) 26 – (1997-10-23)23 October 1997
G/F 2 Shogo Asayama 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 43 – (1981-06-01)1 June 1981
G 3 Naoto Tsuji 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 34 – (1989-08-08)8 August 1989
G 5 Isaiah Murphy 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 26 – (1998-04-10)10 April 1998
F 7 Seiya Funyu 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 30 – (1993-12-15)15 December 1993
F/C 8 Kerry Blackshear Jr. 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 27 – (1997-01-28)28 January 1997
G 10 Toshiki Kamisawa 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) 26 – (1998-06-02)2 June 1998
PG 12 Takuto Nakamura 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) 23 – (2001-03-03)3 March 2001
F 13 Dwayne Evans 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 32 – (1992-01-24)24 January 1992
F 23 Ryo Sadohara 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 24 – (1999-10-24)24 October 1999
F/C 24 Nick Mayo 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 26 – (1997-08-18)18 August 1997
F/C 34 Keijiro Mitani 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 23 – (2001-06-15)15 June 2001
Head coach

Kyle Milling

Assistant coach(es)

Shoyo Kato
Ryoichi Nishitani

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured
Updated: January 24, 2023

Arenas

Notable players

References
  1. Hiroshima Dragonflies triumph in NBL regular season debut
  2. "HIROSHIMA DRAGON FLIES - B. LEAGUE 2023-24 season annual championship". www.bleague.global. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  3. ""Pro basketball in Hiroshima" - Aiming to join the NBL next year". Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  4. ""Pro basketball in Hiroshima" - Aiming to join the NBL next year". Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  5. Hiroshima group applies to join new league Archived 2014-03-24 at the Wayback Machine
  6. NBL send approval notice - Hiroshima group to join next year Archived 2014-03-24 at the Wayback Machine
  7. NBL Hiroshima expansion team to be named "Dragonflies" Archived 2014-03-24 at the Wayback Machine
  8. 'Mr Basketball' back on court in new role
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