Southeast Texas Panthers
| Oklahoma Panthers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| League | The Basketball League |
| Founded | 2021 |
| History | Beaumont Panthers 2022 Oklahoma Panthers 2023–present |
| Team colors | |
| General manager | Angela Weathers |
| Website | Official website |
The Oklahoma Panthers, formerly the Southeast Texas Panthers , and Beaumont Panthers, are an American basketball team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and members of The Basketball League (TBL).
History
[edit]From 2008 to 2011, Southeast Texas was home to a professional basketball team as a member of the ABA originally known as the Mustangs, before renaming in 2009 as the Mavericks. The team had three successful seasons and decided to become a professional basketball team.[1] The team requested to join the NBA G League but the offer was declined. [2] The ownership decided to sit the team out for three seasons and move the team to Shreveport, Louisiana in 2013.
On June 4, 2021 The Basketball League announced the Beaumont Panthers, led by retired professional basketball player Kendrick Perkins and his cousin, Jay McDonald, as an expansion team for the 2022 season.
On April 3. 2023, it was announced that the team would be relocated to Oklahoma for the end of the season with the hope of returning to Beaumont for the 2024 season.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "Pro basketball could be heading back to Beaumont-TBL announces Beaumont expansion team to play in 2022". 12newsnow.com/. June 2, 2021.
- ^ "SETX Mavericks leaving ABA...NBA-D League next?". The Examiner. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
- ^ "KENDRICK PERKINS HELP BEAUMONT PANTHERS JUMP INTO TBL FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS COMMUNITY". TBL. June 15, 2021.
- ^ "New pro basketball team coming to Beaumont". Beaumont Enterprise. June 4, 2021.
- ^ "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report". Our Sports Central. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- ^ "Lack of stability and sponsors in Beaumont causes the Panthers to relocate". Beaumont Enterprise. April 3, 2023.