Rapid City Thrillers
Encyclopedia
The Rapid City Thrillers were a professional basketball
club based in Rapid City
, South Dakota
that competed in the Continental Basketball Association
beginning in the 1987 season. They were reincarnated in 1998 as an International Basketball Association
franchise. One of the many notable players of the team was Keith Smart, who had previously played for the 1987 NCAA basketball champion Indiana Hoosiers
team.
The Thrillers had some very notable head coaches in its time. First Bill Musselman coached the team to three consecutive CBA titles during the 1980s. Bill would go on to be one of the winningest coaches in CBA history before moving to the NBA as coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves
. Flip Saunders coached the Thrillers for a season and is now current head coach of the NBA's Washington Wizards
. Keith Fowler coached the team during one of their only losing seasons. Eric Musselman (son of Bill Musselman) coached the team successfully for seven years but was never fortunate enough to bring the championship back to the franchise although the team was runner-up three separate times during its existence.
This team traced its history back to the Tampa Bay Thrillers
of the Continental Basketball Association
, which moved to Rapid City in 1987 because of lack of attendance. After ten seasons in Rapid City and by a move that some say ruined professional basketball in the Black Hills, the team moved to West Palm Beach where they became the Florida Beach Dogs. The Beach Dogs lasted only two seasons folding after losing the championship series to the Oklahoma City Cavalry
.
After the Thrillers departed Rapid City, professional basketball continued in the form of the Black Hills Posse
of the International Basketball Association
. In 1998 the Black Hills Posse were sold to John Tuschman (former owner of the original Thrillers). Tuschman tried to spark the old spirit the Thrillers had from the late 80's and early 90's, by renaming the Posse to the Thrillers and bringing back the original "flaming basketball" logo. Unfortunately, Tuschman was unsuccessful and the new Thrillers folded after the end of the 1998-99 season. The IBA continued for one more season in Rapid City, as the Black Hills Gold
played in the 1999-00 season for one year, before moving to Michell, SD and becoming the South Dakota Gold. Rapid City has been without professtional basketball since.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
club based in Rapid City
Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census. Rapid...
, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
that competed in the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
beginning in the 1987 season. They were reincarnated in 1998 as an International Basketball Association
International Basketball Association
The International Basketball Association was founded by Alexandria, Minnesota entrepreneur Thomas Anderson in 1995. Anderson traveled the Upper Midwest searching for franchise owners for a couple of years before the league began play with five teams in the 1995-1996 season...
franchise. One of the many notable players of the team was Keith Smart, who had previously played for the 1987 NCAA basketball champion Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana Hoosiers
The Indiana Hoosiers are the athletic teams for the Bloomington campus of Indiana University . Athletic teams sponsored by IU Bloomington include cross country, track, baseball, golf, tennis, rowing, volleyball, soccer, football and basketball...
team.
The Thrillers had some very notable head coaches in its time. First Bill Musselman coached the team to three consecutive CBA titles during the 1980s. Bill would go on to be one of the winningest coaches in CBA history before moving to the NBA as coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
. Flip Saunders coached the Thrillers for a season and is now current head coach of the NBA's Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
. Keith Fowler coached the team during one of their only losing seasons. Eric Musselman (son of Bill Musselman) coached the team successfully for seven years but was never fortunate enough to bring the championship back to the franchise although the team was runner-up three separate times during its existence.
This team traced its history back to the Tampa Bay Thrillers
Tampa Bay Thrillers
The Tampa Bay Thrillers were a franchise in the Continental Basketball Association from 1984–1987, winning back-to-back championships in 1984 and 1985...
of the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
, which moved to Rapid City in 1987 because of lack of attendance. After ten seasons in Rapid City and by a move that some say ruined professional basketball in the Black Hills, the team moved to West Palm Beach where they became the Florida Beach Dogs. The Beach Dogs lasted only two seasons folding after losing the championship series to the Oklahoma City Cavalry
Oklahoma City Cavalry
The Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry is a professional basketball team based in Lawton, Oklahoma. They played in the Premier Basketball League after having been in the Continental Basketball Association. They have one PBL championship and also are the two time champions of the CBA...
.
After the Thrillers departed Rapid City, professional basketball continued in the form of the Black Hills Posse
Black Hills Posse
The Black Hills Posse was a professional basketball club based in Rapid City, South Dakota that competed in the International Basketball Association beginning in the 1995-1996 season. The team was founded by George Daniel, an attorney from Pennsylvania...
of the International Basketball Association
International Basketball Association
The International Basketball Association was founded by Alexandria, Minnesota entrepreneur Thomas Anderson in 1995. Anderson traveled the Upper Midwest searching for franchise owners for a couple of years before the league began play with five teams in the 1995-1996 season...
. In 1998 the Black Hills Posse were sold to John Tuschman (former owner of the original Thrillers). Tuschman tried to spark the old spirit the Thrillers had from the late 80's and early 90's, by renaming the Posse to the Thrillers and bringing back the original "flaming basketball" logo. Unfortunately, Tuschman was unsuccessful and the new Thrillers folded after the end of the 1998-99 season. The IBA continued for one more season in Rapid City, as the Black Hills Gold
Black Hills Gold
The Black Hills Gold was an American professional basketball club based in Rapid City, South Dakota that competed in the International Basketball Association only during the 1999-2000 season....
played in the 1999-00 season for one year, before moving to Michell, SD and becoming the South Dakota Gold. Rapid City has been without professtional basketball since.
Year-by-year
| Year | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984/85 | CBA | 2nd, Eastern | Champions |
| 1985/86 | CBA | 1st, Eastern | Champions |
| 1986/87 | CBA | 1st, Eastern | Champions |
| 1987/88 | CBA | 6th, Western | Did not qualify |
| 1988/89 | CBA | 1st, Western | Western Division Finals |
| 1989/90 | CBA | 1st, National Midwest | Finals |
| 1990/91 | CBA | 2nd, National Midwest | National First Round |
| 1991/92 | CBA | 1st, National Northern | Finals |
| 1992/93 | CBA | 1st, National Midwest | National Conference Finals |
| 1993/94 | CBA | 1st, National Midwest | National Conference Finals |
| 1994/95 | CBA | 4th, National Midwest | National First Round |
| 1995/96 | CBA | 1st, National Southern | National Conference Finals |
| 1996/97 | CBA | 1st, American | Finals |
| 1998/98 | IBA | 3rd, West | West Division Finals |
Notable Thrillers
- Keith SmartKeith SmartJonathan Keith Smart is a retired American basketball player and current assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings of the NBA. He is best remembered for hitting the game-winning shot in the 1987 NCAA championship game. The shot gave the Indiana Hoosiers a 74–73 victory over the Syracuse Orangemen...
- Sidney LoweSidney LoweSidney Rochell Lowe is an American basketball coach and is currently an assistant coach with the Utah Jazz. He is a former NBA player and head coach, and has served as the head coach at North Carolina State University,.-Biography:Lowe began his career at DeMatha Catholic High School in...
- Ed NealyEd NealyEddie Carl Nealy is a retired American basketball player. At 6'7" and 238 pounds, he played as a forward....
- Freeman WilliamsFreeman WilliamsFreeman Williams is a retired American college and professional basketball player. He was the 1978 NCAA men's basketball Division I scoring champion, and the Portland State University all-time scoring leader. Williams was the NCAA Division I national men's basketball individual scoring leader in...
- Richard CoffeyRichard CoffeyRichard Lee Coffey is a retired American professional basketball player who had a brief stint with the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves....
- Shelton JonesShelton JonesShelton Jones is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2nd round of the 1988 NBA Draft...
- Stanley BrundyStanley BrundyStanley Dwayne Brundy is an active American professional basketball player who was selected by the New Jersey Nets in the 2nd round of the 1989 NBA Draft...
- "Jumpin'" Joe Ward (basketball)
- Larry Robinson (basketball)Larry Robinson (basketball)Larry Robinson is an American professional basketball player, 6'5" tall, at the shooting guard position, formerly in the NBA. He played collegiately 2 seasons at Eastern Oklahoma State College and then 2 seasons at the Centenary College of Louisiana...
- Fennis DemboFennis DemboFennis Marx Dembo is a retired American professional basketball player for the 1989 National Basketball Association champion Detroit Pistons. A small forward position, he only played in the NBA for one season, averaging 1.2 points and 0.7 rebounds in 31 games...
- Don CollinsDon CollinsDonald Collins is an American former professional basketball player. Collins was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the 1980 National Basketball Association draft...
- Craig NealCraig NealCraig Duane Neal is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 3rd round of the 1988 NBA Draft.-High school:...
- Tony DawsonTony DawsonFor the British actor see Anthony Dawson.Tony Dawson is a retired American professional basketball player. A 6'7" and 210 lb. small forward, he played college basketball at Gulf Coast Community College and Florida State University. He played a handful of NBA games during the 1990s...
- Jarvis Basnight
- Conner HenryConner HenryConner Henry is a retired American basketball player. He was a 6'7" 195 lb shooting guard and from 1982–86 played college basketball with the University of California, Santa Barbara, where, as of 2004, he ranks eighth all-time in points scored.He was selected by the Houston Rockets...
- Kenneth MillerKenneth MillerKenneth Miller may refer to:* Kenneth Hayes Miller , American painter and teacher* Kenneth R. Miller , U.S. biologist known for his role in the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District court case...