Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks Explained

Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks
Color1:
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Color2:
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Color3:gold
Founded:2006
Folded:May 23, 2024
League:ABA (2006 - 07), (2008 - 11), (2013 - 15)
CBA (2007 - 08)
PBL (2015 - 2017)
TBL (2021–2024)
History:Rio Grande Valley Silverados
2006–2008
Southeast Texas Mustangs
2008–2009
Southeast Texas Mavericks
2009–2011
Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks
2013–2015
Kentucky Mavericks
2015–2017
Shreveport Mavericks
2021–2023
Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks
2024
Arena:Louisiana State University Shreveport
Location:Shreveport, Louisiana
Coach:Steve Tucker
Ownership:TBA
Championships:5 (2010), (2011), (2014), (2015) (2022)
Div Champs:4 (ABA) 1 (TBL)

The Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks was a professional basketball team based in Shreveport, Louisiana that played in The Basketball League (TBL). The Mavericks folded Thursday, May 23, 2024.[1]

History

Rio Grande Valley/Southeast Texas (2006–2011)

Originally known as the Rio Grande Valley Silverados, the team was originally a member of the former Continental Basketball Association. Owned by McAllen businessmen Art Gonzalez and Kevin Mitchell, the Silverados were based out of McAllen, Texas and played their home games at the McAllen Convention Center.

In the team's initial ABA season of 2008–09, the team played in Beaumont. The Southeast Texas Mustangs proved to be a force to be reckoned with winning 27 of their first 28 games, many by margins of 50 points or more. Their only loss was a one-point defeat in the final seconds of the game to the Texas Fuel. The Mavericks rose to the top of the ABA Power Rankings early in the season and did not fall from that perch until suffering defeat in the ABA Playoff Semifinals.

On May 14, 2009, owner Jerry Nelson announced the new name and logo. The team name was changed to Southeast Texas Mavericks.

The name had changed, but the game remained much the same for the franchise as the Mavericks consistently remained atop the ABA Power Rankings. On January 25, 2010, the Mavericks set an ABA record for victory margin by beating the New Mexico Rim Rockers 158–72. The margin of 86 points erased the old mark of 81 set by the Kentucky Colonels in the 2004–05 season. In 2010, the team won its first ABA Title.[2]

The Southeast Texas Mavericks were ranked third in the MLN Sports Zone Minor League Pro Basketball Top 10 for January 2010, ahead of teams from the NBA Development League and Premier Basketball League, among others.

After dominating the ABA for three-straight seasons, the owners of the Mavericks decided to leave the ABA and seek a more challenging professional basketball league. The Mavericks contacted the NBA Development League office about possibly buying a franchise and beginning the process of becoming a member.[3]

After numerous meetings with NBA D-League officials, Mavericks’ owner Jerry Nelson accepted the league's "No" response to their request to join the D-League. The team sat out the next two seasons. In 2013, Nelson made the decision to return to the ABA and relocated the team to Shreveport.[4]

Shreveport-Bossier (2013–2015)

During their time in Shreveport, the Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks compiled a total record of 66–0, including a 50–0 record at Hirsch Memorial Coliseum, the Mavericks home arena. The team won two ABA championships during the 2013–14 season and 2014–15 season.

Kentucky (2015–2017)

The Mavericks had much success in their time in Shreveport, but in the offseason of 2015, the Mavericks announced that they would be moving, and the city they chose was Owensboro, Kentucky. The Kentucky Mavericks also changed leagues from the ABA to the Premier Basketball League. In their first game in a new league and the new city, the Mavericks took on defending PBL Champions, the Rochester Razorsharks. The Mavericks defeated the Razorsharks handily, winning by a score of 108–88.[5]

In 2017, it was announced that the Mavericks would cease operations.[6]

Rebirth (2021–2023)

After a six-year absence, a new Shreveport Mavericks joined TBL as an expansion team for the 2021 season with the original name and colors. Former coach, Steve Tucker will serve as the head coach and general manager.[7] [8] On April 5, 2021, the team officially announced its schedule with home games to take place at the LSUS Gym, the Gold Dome and Captain Shreve High School.[9]

Shreveport-Bossier (2024–present)

Prior to the 2024 season the team underwent an ownership change and reverted back to the Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks. It was also announced the Mavericks home would be Louisiana State University Shreveport.[10]

ABA/PBL win streak

On February 14, 2016, the Mavericks extended their win streak to 103 games, having not lost a game since December 2010.[11] On March 6, 2016, the Mavericks winning streak came to an end, as they were defeated by the Rochester Razorsharks, by a score of 105–99.[12]

Current roster

Season-by-season record

Season League Division/Conference Finish Wins Losses Pct. Postseason results
Southeast Texas Mustangs
2008-09 SW Division1st 272 93.1%ABA SW Division Champion. Lost in playoff semifinals.
Southeast Texas Mavericks
2009-2010 ABASW Division1st 233 88.5%ABA League Champions
2010-2011 ABASW Division1st 23195.8% ABA League Champions
Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks
2013-2014 ABASW Division1st 300 100%ABA League Champions[13]
2014-2015 ABASW Division1st 320 100%ABA League Champions
Kentucky Mavericks
2015-16 -1st 272 93.1%TBD
ABA regular season 1356 2008–2015
PBL 11 1 2015–2016
Playoffs 2008–present
Totals combined 1688 95.4% 2008–present 4 ABA League Championships

Coaching roster

Head CoachSeason
Coach Steve C. Tucker2007-2008
Coach Steve C. Tucker2008-2009
Coach Steve C. Tucker2009-2010
Coach Steve C. Tucker2010-2011
Coach Steve C. Tucker2011-2012
Coach Steve C. Tucker2013-2014Sarah Gayler
Coach Steve C. Tucker2014-2015Sarah Gayler
Coach Steve C. Tucker2015-2016Sarah Gayler
Coach Steve C. Tucker2016-2017Sarah Gayler Alex Sanders

Notes and References

  1. News: Outlaws get forfeit win after Mavericks fold . . May 25, 2024 . May 25, 2024.
  2. Web site: Mavericks win first title . 2010-09-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110719060932/http://www.kfdm.com/articles/aba-37243-finals-championship.html . 2011-07-19 . dead .
  3. Web site: SETX Mavericks leaving ABA...NBA-D League next?. The Examiner. 11 April 2011.
  4. Web site: ABA team comes to Shreveport Bossier. KSLA. 9 May 2013.
  5. Web site: Successful Season Opener as the Kentucky Mavericks beat the Rochester Razorsharks. mavup.com. 20 January 2016.
  6. Web site: Kentucky Mavericks Ceasing Operations. 4 September 2017.
  7. Web site: THE SHREVEPORT MAVERICKS ARE PLANNING A COMEBACK! . K945.com . July 23, 2020.
  8. Web site: SHREVEPORT MAVERICKS RETURN HOME AS PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM IN THE BASKETBALL LEAGUE. The Basketball League. January 11, 2020.
  9. Web site: Shreveport Mavericks set to tip off 2021 season . KTBS3.com . April 5, 2021.
  10. Web site: November 24, 2023, Shreveport Bossier Mavericks Instagram post . November 24, 2023 . Instagram.
  11. Web site: Kentucky Mavericks Win 100th Straight Game. mavup.com. 11 February 2016.
  12. Web site: Razorsharks get Revenge on Kentucky. razorsharks.com. 2016-03-07.
  13. Web site: Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks win the ABA Championship. ArkLaTexHomepage.com. 14 April 2014.