West Sydney Razorbacks
| Sydney Spirit | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Leagues | NBL | ||
| Founded | 1998 | ||
| Dissolved | 2009 | ||
| History |
West Sydney Razorbacks 1998–2008 Sydney Spirit 2008–2009 |
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| Arena | State Sports Centre | ||
| Capacity | 5,006 | ||
| Location | Sydney, New South Wales | ||
| Championships | 0 | ||
| Retired numbers | 2 (32, 45) | ||
| Uniforms | |||
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The Sydney Spirit (formerly the West Sydney Razorbacks) were an Australian professional basketball team competing in the Australasian National Basketball League. The club was based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
They were the second team to represent Sydney's west in the NBL, several years after the Fosters (West Sydney) Westars were largely absorbed in a merger with the Sydney Supersonics to form the Sydney Kings. After the demise of the Sydney Kings in 2008, the Razorbacks rebranded themselves as the Sydney Spirit to appeal to the greater Sydney community, as they were the sole remaining Sydney-based NBL team prior to the rebirth of the Kings in 2010. The Spirit folded in 2009.
The Razorbacks were formed in 1992 as the West Sydney Slammers in the Continental Basketball Association, and were granted a National Basketball League licence in 1997. The licence was held by the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Rugby League Club which participated in the National Rugby League (NRL). Canterbury-Bankstown had plans to develop land in the south-west Sydney suburb of Liverpool to create a multi purpose venue, called "The Oasis" which included a licensed club, Rugby League stadium as well as Basketball stadium to house the Razorbacks. Initially though, the club would play home games out of the EG Whitlam Centre in Liverpool.
The club was headed up by basketball Olympian Robbie Cadee as General Manager, who launched the franchise in 1998–99. The club had recruited strongly for their inaugural season led by former league MVP Derek Rucker, veteran Bruce Bolden and young stars Simon Dwight and John Rillie. They were also coach by former Olympian Gordie McLeod. The Razorbacks, played their first game in the NBL on 10 October 1998 defeating the Sydney Kings 103-97. The team also become the first club to win the "Doomsday Double" against the Adelaide 36ers and Perth Wildcats on consecutive nights, however, beyond that initial success, they struggled away from home and ultimately failed the reach the play-offs.
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