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Bradford Dragons

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Bradford Dragons
LeagueNBL Division 1
Established2001; 23 years ago (2001)
HistoryBradford Dragons
2001-present
ArenaCalderdale College
LocationBradford, West Yorkshire
Team colours     
Head coachEngland Chris Mellor
WebsiteOfficial website

The Bradford Dragons are an English semi-professional basketball club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Founded in 2001, the Dragons currently compete in NBL Division 1, the second tier of the British basketball system.

Club history

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The club was established in 2001 as a local under-16 club, in response to growing demand from local players for an outlet to play competitive basketball. The club quickly attracted more young players, entering an under-18 team in the Bradford League for the 2002-03 season and adding an Under-21 team in 2003. 2004 saw further expansion, with under-14 and under-16 teams entering the national junior leagues for the first time.[1]

The Dragons added senior men's basketball to their programme in 2005, entering into EBL Division Three North. The team made a steady start to life in the National League, finishing in the top six in each of their first four seasons, narrowly missing out on the playoffs on several occasions. In the 2009-10 season, the team won the first of two successive promotions, finishing the season at the top of Division Three (North) and making the post-season semi-finals. A similar record in the 2010-11 season saw the Men's team promoted to NBL Division 1, where they have remained since.[2]

A reserve team was entered in EBL Division Four (North) for the first time in 2011, with a women's team joining EBL Division Two (North) in the following season and claiming the title at their first attempt with a 13-2 record.[3] Despite this early success, both teams were disbanded after the 2012-13 season, although the club hopes to relaunch both teams into national competition in the future.

The club's importance to the local community was recognised in 2006 by Bradford Council, which awarded the Dragons a special commendation award for their contribution to community cohesion.[4]

Players

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Bradford Dragons 24-25 roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht.
G United Kingdom Lycoudis, Andreas 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
F Latvia Sulcs, Rihards 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
G United Kingdom Savery-Richards, Micah 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
G United Kingdom Whelan, Jordan 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
F United Kingdom Gayle, Andre 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
G United States Laidler, Jevon 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
F United Kingdom Josephs, Kofi 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Head coach

United Kingdom Chris Mellor


Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured


Notable former players

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Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Criteria

To appear in this section a player must have either:

  • Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club
  • Played at least one official international match for their national team at any time
  • Played at least one official NBA match at any time.


Season-by-season records

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Season Division Tier League Playoffs National Cup Div. League Cup
Finish Played Wins Losses Points Win %
Bradford Dragons
2005-06 D3 Nor 4 5th 16 8 8 16 0.500 Did not qualify 1st round 1st round
2006-07 D3 Nor 4 5th 20 13 7 26 0.650 Did not qualify 2nd round Semi-finals
2007-08 D3 Nor 4 3rd 20 14 6 28 0.700 Quarter-finals 3rd round Semi-finals
2008-09 D3 Nor 4 5th 22 14 8 28 0.636 Did not qualify 3rd round Quarter-finals
2009-10 D3 Nor 4 1st 22 21 1 42 0.955 Semi-finals 1st round Runners Up
2010-11 D2 3 1st 20 17 3 34 0.850 Semi-finals Quarter-finals Semi-finals
2011-12 D1 2 6th 24 15 9 30 0.625 Quarter-finals Quarter-finals Quarter-finals
2012-13 D1 2 12th 26 10 16 20 0.385 Did not qualify 2nd round Quarter-finals
2013-14 D1 2 4th 26 17 9 34 0.654 Semi-finals 2nd round 1st round
2014-15 D1 2 8th 24 10 14 20 0.417 Quarter-finals Quarter-finals Semi-finals
2015-16 D1 2 12th 26 6 20 12 0.231 Did not qualify 2nd round Semi-finals
2016-17 D1 2 7th 26 14 12 28 0.538 Quarter-finals Quarter-finals Pool Stage
2017-18 D1 2 6th 24 13 11 26 0.542 Quarter-finals Quarter-finals Pool Stage
2018-19 D1 2 11th 26 11 15 22 0.423 Did not qualify 4th round Pool Stage
2019-20 D1 2 8th 23 12 11 27 0.522 No competition 4th round
2020-21 D1 2 11th 19 7 12 14 0.368 Quarter-finals No competition
2021-22 D1 2 9th 26 10 16 20 0.385 Did not qualify 4th round
2022-23 D1 2 7th 26 13 13 26 0.500 Quarter-finals 4th round
2023-24 D1 2 7th 24 11 13 22 0.458 Quarter-finals

References

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  1. ^ "Bradford Dragons, Club History". Bradford Dragons Website.
  2. ^ "League Table History". Basketball England. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  3. ^ "League Table History". Basketball England. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  4. ^ "Bradford Dragons, Club History". Bradford Dragons Website.
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