Huntsville Flight
| Canton Charge | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| League | NBA Development League |
| Founded | 2001 |
| History |
Huntsville Flight 2001–2005 Albuquerque Thunderbirds 2005–2010 New Mexico Thunderbirds 2010–2011 Canton Charge 2011–present |
| Arena | Canton Memorial Civic Center |
| Location | Canton, Ohio |
| Team colors | Wine, gold, white |
| Team manager | Mike Gansey |
| Head coach | Nate Reinking |
| Ownership | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Affiliation(s) | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Championships | 1 (2006) |
| Division / Conference titles | 1 (2013) |
| Website | cantoncharge |
The Canton Charge is an American professional basketball team based in Canton, Ohio, that competes in the NBA Development League. The Charge is owned by and is the minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and home games are held at the Canton Memorial Civic Center. The franchise was founded in 2001 as the Huntsville Flight, based in Huntsville, Alabama, before moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2005, where they were known as the Albuquerque Thunderbirds until 2010. The team won their first league championship while playing in Albuquerque, claiming the 2006 NBA D-League title. After playing the 2010–11 season in suburban Rio Rancho as the New Mexico Thunderbirds, the franchise was purchased by the Cavaliers and moved to Canton. Through the 2015–16 season, the Charge has one league title and one division championship.
The team was formed in 2001 as the Huntsville Flight based in Huntsville, Alabama, as a founding member of the NBA Development League, the affiliate minor league of the National Basketball Association (NBA). They played home games at the Von Braun Center. In their first two seasons, they failed to make the playoffs, but in their third they reached the NBA D-League Finals, losing to the Asheville Altitude. The team ended its tenure in Alabama at the conclusion of the 2004–05 season after finishing third in the league and making the playoffs.
The team moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and became the Albuquerque Thunderbirds beginning in the 2005–06 season. They played home games at Tingley Coliseum. In their first season in New Mexico, the team won the 2006 NBA D-League Championship by defeating the Fort Worth Flyers in the championship game. In the 2006-07 season, they again made the playoffs, but were defeated by the Colorado 14ers. The Thunderbirds moved in 2010 to the Santa Ana Star Center in suburban Rio Rancho and were re-branded as the New Mexico Thunderbirds. They played just one season in Rio Rancho, finishing ninth and failing to make the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
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