Bellingham Slam
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| Founded | 2005 |
|---|---|
| League |
ABA 2005–2007 IBL 2007-2014 |
| Team history | Bellingham Slam 2005-present |
| Based in | Bellingham, Washington |
| Arena | Whatcom Pavilion |
| Colors | Blue, black and white |
| Owner(s) | Bellingham Basketball, Inc. |
| Head coach | Tyler Amaya |
| Championships | 4 (2008, 2012, 2013, 2014) |
| Division titles | 6 (2006-07, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) |
| Dancers | Slam Dance Team |
| Mascot | Slam Man |
The Bellingham Slam is a professional basketball team that formerly competed for seven seasons in the International Basketball League. Before joining the IBL, they played two seasons in the American Basketball Association. They were originally expected to play in Everett, Washington, but were relocated to Bellingham, Washington under the ownership of John Dominguez. The head coach from 2005 to 2013 was Rob Ridnour, father of former NBA guard Luke Ridnour. On March 31, 2014, the team announced that Ridnour was stepping down as coach and former assistant Tyler Amaya was named as his replacement. In their third season of existence, the team won an IBL championship in 2008 and repeated again as league champions in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
The Slam have found success by primarily utilizing lesser-known NCAA Division II players rather than Division I players. Each season the Slam's roster features several players who played collegiately in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. They play their home games at Whatcom Pavilion on the campus of Whatcom Community College.
On February 16, 2015 the Slam announced that the team would be suspending operations.
The Slam finished their inaugural season 18-14, good for second place in the Red Conference's Ron Boone Division and a #10 seed in the playoffs. They won their first two playoff games (over the Tacoma Navigators, 134-116 in the first round and over the Pittsburgh Xplosion, 122-115 in the second round) in 2005, but lost in the Great Eight Tournament in Rochester to the San Jose SkyRockets by a score of 138-119 on March 22, 2006. The team averaged 529 fans per game, with a high of 1,078 when Dennis Rodman and the Tijuana Dragons came to Bellingham.
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