NBA Development League Albuquerque Unveils Team Name and Logo
August 11, 2005 - NBA G League (G League)
New Mexico Thunderbirds News Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M, August 11, 2005 - The NBA Development League team in Albuquerque announced today that its nickname will be "Thunderbirds", a powerful name that has special meaning in Native American culture. The Thunderbird logo was designed by the NBA's creative marketing team and features a flying Thunderbird holding a basketball in its claws.
Albuquerque's name and logo unveiling is the team's second major announcement of the week. On Tuesday, Southwest Basketball, LLC owner David Kahn announced that 12-year NBA veteran, five time NBA champion and former University of New Mexico star player Michael Cooper will serve as the team's first head coach.
The Thunderbirds tip off their home opener Friday, Nov. 25 against the Tulsa 66ers beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Tingley Coliseum. The Thunderbirds' regular season tips off with back-to-back outings Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18-19, also against the Tulsa 66ers in Oklahoma.
"We are excited to share the good news of our team name and logo," said team president Billy Widner. "We are proud of what the NBA creative marketing team accomplished and hopes the logo reflects a perfect moniker and logo design that the entire state of New Mexico can be proud of."
The Thunderbird is a mythological bird that was the creator and controller of all elements and spirits. In native North American legends, the Thunderbird is thought of as a great Eagle, which produces thunder from the beating of his wings and flashes lightning from his eyes.
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico and possesses a rich Native American history that dates back centuries. Noted for its health and medical services, government agencies, nuclear research, banking and tourism, Albuquerque is also home to a unique group of indigenous Native Americans known as Pueblo Indians. Today, there are 19 Pueblo Indian communities in the region that continuously establish themselves as a distinct and complex civilization. Still retaining the ancient and largely secret ceremonial life, the Pueblo Indians welcome visitors to a culture rooted in religion and deep spirituality.
Game uniforms featuring the team nickname (Thunderbirds) on home jerseys and city name (Albuquerque) on road uniforms will be unveiled at a later date. In addition to the distinctive D-League and individual team logos embroidered on the uniform, an NBA team logo will be affixed to the jersey of a player who is assigned to the Thunderbirds to help identify his NBA affiliation.
The NBA Development League includes the Arkansas RimRockers (Little Rock), Fayetteville Patriots (N.C.), Florida Flame (Ft. Myers), Fort Worth Flyers (Texas), Roanoke Dazzle (Va.), Tulsa 66ers (Okla.), Austin Toros (Texas) and the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (N.M.).
The D-League offers players the opportunity to develop their talent in a highly competitive atmosphere under the NBA's umbrella. Thirty-four (34) players have been called up to the NBA on 50 separate occasions. Ten (10) former D-League coaches, five athletic trainers, 11 referees and 29 front office executives have also been called up since the start of the league's inaugural season in November 2001.
Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the league also offers fun, family entertainment at affordable prices. The D-League is a source of on-court talent for the NBA's 30 teams and is a diverse human resources pool for the NBA and its teams by training employees in management, operations, public relations, sales and marketing positions.
For more information about the Albuquerque Thunderbirds call (505) 265-DUNK or log on to www.abqtbirds.com.
NBA G League Stories from August 11, 2005
- NBA Development League Albuquerque Unveils Team Name and Logo - New Mexico Thunderbirds
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