Yakama Sun Kings
Encyclopedia
The Yakama Sun Kings were a Continental Basketball Association
franchise located in Yakima, Washington
, United States
, covering the central Washington sports market of Yakima, Tri-Cities
and Ellensburg
. The Sun Kings played at the Yakima SunDome
.
Originally located in Kansas City, Missouri
, and then Topeka, Kansas
, the franchise moved to the Pacific Northwest
in 1990 and was renamed the Yakima Sun Kings. The Sun Kings have been fairly successful historically, given the inconsistent nature of minor-league basketball; they won the 1994–95, 1999–2000 and 2002–03 CBA championships. The Sun Kings had a disappointing 2003–04 season when they posted a 10–38 record. They were also 0–9 against the CBA Champion Dakota Wizards
.
In June 2005, the team was purchased by the Yakama
Indian Nation, and were renamed the Yakama Sun Kings to honor the Nation.
Ronny Turiaf
, a 2005 draft pick of the Los Angeles Lakers
, played nine games for the Sun Kings in the 2005–06 season, less than six months after undergoing open-heart surgery which caused the Lakers to void his contract. He averaged 13 points in nine games with the team before re-signing with the Lakers in January 2006.
The Sun Kings won their fourth CBA Championship with a 111-101 victory in Game 3 of a best-of-3 finals series against the Gary Steelheads
on March 27, 2006.
In 2006–07 the Sun Kings repeated as champions, sweeping the Albany Patroons
three games to none.
Although the Yakama Indian Nation announced they had shut down team operations on April 10, 2008, due to the franchise's financial losses, potential investors continue to meet with the team's owners in order to keep the team afloat.
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 :...
franchise located in Yakima, Washington
Yakima, Washington
Yakima is an American city southeast of Mount Rainier National Park and the county seat of Yakima County, Washington, United States, and the eighth largest city by population in the state itself. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 91,196 and a metropolitan population of...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, covering the central Washington sports market of Yakima, Tri-Cities
Tri-Cities, Washington
The Tri-Cities is a mid-sized metropolitan area in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, consisting of three neighboring cities: Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland. The cities are located at the confluence of the Yakima, Snake, and Columbia rivers in the semi-arid region of...
and Ellensburg
Ellensburg, Washington
Ellensburg is a city in, and the county seat of, Kittitas County, Washington, United States. The population was 18,174 at the 2010 census. The population was 18,250 at 2011 Estimate from Office of Financial Management. Ellensburg is located just east of the Cascade Range on I-90 and is known as the...
. The Sun Kings played at the Yakima SunDome
Yakima SunDome
The Yakima SunDome is a 6,195 seat multi-purpose arena in Yakima, Washington. It was built in 1990, on the Central Washington State Fairgrounds and often serves as an exhibit hall during the fair. Bea Noel of Yakima developed the first vision of building a multi purpose facility on the Yakima Fair...
.
Originally located in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, and then Topeka, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
, the franchise moved to the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
in 1990 and was renamed the Yakima Sun Kings. The Sun Kings have been fairly successful historically, given the inconsistent nature of minor-league basketball; they won the 1994–95, 1999–2000 and 2002–03 CBA championships. The Sun Kings had a disappointing 2003–04 season when they posted a 10–38 record. They were also 0–9 against the CBA Champion Dakota Wizards
Dakota Wizards
The Dakota Wizards are an American basketball team in the NBA Development League, based in Bismarck, North Dakota. Home games are played at the Bismarck Civic Center.-Beginnings in IBA:...
.
In June 2005, the team was purchased by the Yakama
Yakama
The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, or simply Yakama Nation , is a Native American group with nearly 10,000 enrolled members, living in Washington. Their reservation, along the Yakima River, covers an area of approximately 1.2 million acres...
Indian Nation, and were renamed the Yakama Sun Kings to honor the Nation.
Ronny Turiaf
Ronny Turiaf
Ronny Turiaf is a French professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the NBA. Turiaf has been a member of the French national basketball team....
, a 2005 draft pick of the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, played nine games for the Sun Kings in the 2005–06 season, less than six months after undergoing open-heart surgery which caused the Lakers to void his contract. He averaged 13 points in nine games with the team before re-signing with the Lakers in January 2006.
The Sun Kings won their fourth CBA Championship with a 111-101 victory in Game 3 of a best-of-3 finals series against the Gary Steelheads
Gary Steelheads
The Gary Steelheads were a professional basketball team that played in the International Basketball League. In the past they played in the International Basketball League, Continental Basketball Association, and the United States Basketball League. They were based in Gary, Indiana and played their...
on March 27, 2006.
In 2006–07 the Sun Kings repeated as champions, sweeping the Albany Patroons
Albany Patroons
The Albany Patroons were a professional basketball team that played in the Continental Basketball Association ....
three games to none.
Although the Yakama Indian Nation announced they had shut down team operations on April 10, 2008, due to the franchise's financial losses, potential investors continue to meet with the team's owners in order to keep the team afloat.