Buffalo Sharks

Buffalo Sharks

Founded	2005; 20 years ago (2005)
Folded	2008; 17 years ago (2008)
League	ABA
Conference	Blue
Division	Connie Hawkins 2005–2006 North 2006–2007
Team history	Buffalo Rapids 2005–2006 Buffalo Silverbacks 2006–2007 Buffalo Sharks 2008
Based in	Buffalo, New York
Arena	Burt Flickinger Center 2005 Park School of Buffalo 2005–2006 Buffalo State Sports Arena 2006–2007
Colors	Blue, blue, white 2005–2006       Red, black, silver 2006–2007       Blue, red, white 2008
Owner	Gary Nice 2005 Dan Robbie & Todd Wier 2005–2007 Vincent Lesh 2007–2008
Head coach	Richard Jacob 2005–2006, 2008 Trevor Ruffin 2006–2007
General manager	Richard Jacob 2005–2006, 2008
Captain	Tim Winn 2005–2006
Overall record	29–29 (.500)
Playoff berths	2 (2006, 2007)
Cheerleaders	Buffalo Rush 2005–2006
Dancers	WBLK Sweet Divas 2006–2007
Main sponsor	Shark Energy 2008

The Buffalo Sharks were a basketball team based in Buffalo, New York. The team competed in the American Basketball Association (ABA) as the Buffalo Rapids in 2005–06 and as the Buffalo Silverbacks in 2006–07 before suspending operations.

The organization rebranded as the Buffalo Sharks with plans to relaunch for the 2008–09 ABA season, but ownership instead folded the team.

Its legacy remains as the city's first basketball franchise to operate after the Buffalo Braves relocated to San Diego following the 1977–78 NBA season. Despite ownership changes and financial struggles, the team reached the ABA playoffs in both of its seasons.

History

2004: Franchise acquisition

Gary Nice paid $10,000 to acquire the rights for a Buffalo franchise of the American Basketball Association in August 2004.[1][2] Nice was CEO of Events Media International, a company that had worked with the league to broadcast its games nationally on radio and television.[3][4]

Mark Hamister disputed the purchase, as he had paid $75,000 to the league for the city's franchise rights in January 2000.[1][5][6] However, he had been unable to come to terms with HSBC Arena management to utilize their venue for the inaugural 2000–01 ABA season.[7] Hamister had been quoted a price of $41,000 per night to rent HSBC Arena, which he found unacceptable.[7]

The league ruled in 2004 that Mark Hamister's two-year contractual window to found a team had lapsed, allowing Gary Nice's plans to move forward.[1]

2005–2006: Buffalo Rapids

Tim Winn, ABA All-Star and All-ABA selection in 2006

The Buffalo Rapids were unveiled in February 2005 after an online contest to name the team.[8] Buffalo Braves won the voting, but along with the second-place Buffalo Wings could not be used due to existing trademarks.[8] The team did adopt Carolina blue uniforms reminiscent of the Columbia blue uniforms worn by the Buffalo Braves.[9]

Richard Jacob was named the team's head coach and general manager in April 2005.[10] Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kevin Cadle were also considered for the position.[10] Bob Bateson was hired as the team's strength and conditioning coach.[11]

Tryouts for the team were held at Daemen College in June 2005.[12] Tryouts for the Buffalo Rush cheerleading squad were held at Medaille College in June 2005.[13]

Tim Winn and Trevor Ruffin were announced as the team's first signings in June 2005.[14]

The team played the 2005–06 ABA season in the Connie Hawkins Division of the Blue Conference.[15] 400 season ticket packages were sold for the team's home matchups at Burt Flickinger Center, with the organization agreeing to rent the facility at a cost of $9,540 per night.[16][17] Their inaugural game was a 107–108 home loss to the Maryland Nighthawks in front of 3,200 fans on November 3, 2005.[2]

Gary Nice was removed as owner of the team in December 2005 after failing to make payroll, forcing the team's relocation from Burt Flickinger Center to Park School of Buffalo.[18] Former Miami Dolphins owner Dan Robbie and his business partner Todd Wier became co-owners after purchasing the franchise that same month.[19]

Antoine Sims scored 52 points in the team's 136–90 victory over the Boston Frenzy on February 3, 2006.[20][21] This tied the record for most points scored professionally by a Buffalo player, which was set by Bob McAdoo of the Buffalo Braves in 1974.[22][23]

Tim Winn was named to the 2006 ABA All-Star Game and 2006 All-ABA Team after averaging 25 points, 11 assists and 4 steals on the season.[24][25]

The team finished with an 11–17 record and was eliminated in the quarterfinal round of the 2005–06 ABA playoffs by the Atlanta Vision.[15] Kenneth Massey ranked the team 18th overall out of 47 teams in his final ABA ratings of the season.[26]

2006–2007: Buffalo Silverbacks

Buffalo Silverbacks logo
May 2006–September 2006

Buffalo Silverbacks logo
October 2006–September 2007

It was announced in May 2006 that the franchise had changed its name to the Buffalo Silverbacks.[27] The rebranding was necessary because Gary Nice retained ownership of the Buffalo Rapids trademark when he left the organization.[28]

Controversy arose when politician Betty Jean Grant criticized the team's name and logo, which featured a silverback gorilla, as racist.[28] The team responded by adopting a new logo featuring a tiger.[29]

All-Star Tim Winn was released in August 2006 after owner Dan Robbie required him to tryout again for the team, and he refused.[30] Winn had no-showed a team-sponsored youth clinic in Olean, New York the month prior in protest.[31]

Dayshawn Wright, the first overall pick in the 2006 CBA Draft, was signed to the team in September 2006 before breaching his contract a week later to instead sign with the CBA's Minot SkyRockets.[32][29]

Head coach Richard Jacob resigned from the team in November 2006 and was replaced by Trevor Ruffin.[33][34]

The team played the 2006–07 ABA season in the North Division of the Blue Conference.[35] Their season opener was a 100–109 loss to the Detroit Panthers on November 8, 2006, drawing 1,232 fans to their new home of Buffalo State Sports Arena.[36]

Antoine Sims was named to the 2007 ABA All-Star Game after leading the team with 28 points per game.[37] Modie Cox was recipient of the league's inaugural Community Service Award.[37]

The team finished with a 16–10 record and was eliminated in the semifinal round of the 2006–07 ABA playoffs by the Beijing Aoshen Olympians.[35] Kenneth Massey ranked the team 6th overall out of 49 teams in his final ABA ratings of the season.[38]

Dan Robbie and Todd Wier sold the franchise to concert promoter Vincent Lesh for $15,000 in September 2007, and the team sat out the 2007–08 ABA season for reorganization.[39][40] Robbie and Wier claimed losses of $700,000 in their two seasons of ownership.[40]

2008: Buffalo Sharks

It was announced in May 2008 that the franchise had changed its name to the Buffalo Sharks.[41] The name and logo referenced the team's primary sponsor, Shark Energy.

Rich Jacob returned as head coach and general manager, leading a makeshift Buffalo Select All-Stars squad to a 62–54 exhibition victory over the Italy men's national basketball team on June 23, 2008.[42] The team was led by Ejike Ugboaja with 16 points and Jason Rowe with 7 assists.[42]

Vincent Lesh secured Koessler Center as the team's home venue for the 2008–09 ABA season.[40] However, Lesh announced in September 2008 that he was folding the Sharks and instead leaving the ABA to purchase Todd Wier's Buffalo Dragons franchise in the PBL.[43]

Personnel

2005–2006

Buffalo Rapids roster

• v
• t
• e

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From F 42 Afif, Jean-Paul 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1980-03-30 Loyola Marymount G 25 Battle, Turner 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1983-01-11 SUNY Buffalo F 21 Bortz, Mark 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1982-12-23 SUNY Buffalo F 24 Brown, Carlton 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1979-03-24 Texas A&M F 34 Buddenborg, Brad 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1979-02-18 Oakland F 4 Bush, Andrew 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1979-08-02 Canisius G 33 Chandler, Willie 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1980-03-16 Misericordia G 12 Cox, Modie 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1972-12-29 SUNY Buffalo G/F 9 Johnson, Marlin 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1975-02-04 Monroe CC F 20 Ross, Kevin 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1979-07-08 Cleveland State F 18 Rutledge, DeRon 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1975-10-15 Texas A&M–Kingsville G 8 Sims, Antoine 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1977-05-?? Johnson C. Smith C 44 Tyson, Johnny 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1971-08-15 Central Oklahoma G 11 Winn, Tim (C) 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1977-06-27 St. Bonaventure

Head coach Richard Jacob Assistant coach(es) Tim Winn Modie Cox Bob Bateson Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Last transaction: February 9, 2006

2006–2007

Buffalo Silverbacks roster

• v
• t
• e

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From G 18 Brunner, Kenny 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1978-12-08 Georgetown F/C 42 Bush, Andrew 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1979-08-02 Canisius G 11 Castile, Lamar 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1982-08-18 Beaver County CC C 33 Closs, Keith 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1976-04-03 Central Connecticut G 12 Cox, Modie 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1972-12-29 SUNY Buffalo G/F 31 Duany, Kueth 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1980-04-22 Syracuse G/F 24 Johnson, Marlin 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1975-02-04 Monroe CC G/F 20 Jones, Todd 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1978-12-02 CSU Bakersfield G/F 34 Murphy, Sean 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1983-07-29 RIT F 32 Ross, Kevin 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1979-07-08 Cleveland State G 5 Ruffin, David 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1984-02-14 Hartford G 10 Sansom, Dameon 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1975-05-28 Texas State G 23 Sims, Antoine 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1977-05-?? Johnson C. Smith F/C 44 Tyson, Johnny 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1971-08-15 Central Oklahoma

Head coach Trevor Ruffin Assistant coach(es) Modie Cox Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Last transaction: February 4, 2007

Season-by-season record

ABA champions

Conference champions

Division champions

Playoff berth

Season	Conference	Finish	Division	Finish	Wins	Losses	Win%	GB	Playoffs	Awards	Head coach	Ref.
2005–06	Blue	17th	Connie Hawkins	3rd	11	17	.393	—	Won Wild Card (Frenzy) 133–88 Lost quarterfinal (Vision) 97–99	Tim Winn (All-Star, All-ABA)	Richard Jacob	[15]
2006–07	Blue	12th	North	3rd	16	10	.615	—	Won quarterfinal (Jam) 100–91 Lost semifinal (Olympians) 106–121	Antoine Sims (All-Star) Modie Cox (Community Service)	Trevor Ruffin	[35]

Game log

2005–2006

Regular season

2005–06 game log Total: 11–17 (Home: 6–7; Road: 5–10)
November: 2–5 (home: 2–2; road: 0–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 November 3 Maryland L 107–108 Carlton Brown (17) Burt Flickinger Center 3,200 0–1 2 November 5 @ Rochester L 88–89 Tim Winn (29) Blue Cross Arena 0–2 3 November 11 @ Montreal L 74–94 Kevin Ross (22) Centre Pierre Charbonneau 0–3 4 November 14 Harlem W 97–90 Trevor Ruffin (32) Burt Flickinger Center 2,000 1–3 5 November 19 @ Maryland L 102–132 Tim Winn (20) Tim Winn (10) Montgomery College 1–4 6 November 26 Montreal W 104–94 Tim Winn (26) Niagara Catholic High School 2–4 7 November 29 Maryland L 112–113 (OT) Tim Winn (34) Carlton Brown (11) Kevin Ross (11) Park School of Buffalo 2–5
December: 4–4 (home: 2–1; road: 2–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 8 December 1 @ Northeast Pennsylvania L 86–95 Tim Winn (29) Lackawanna College 2–6 9 December 4 @ Harlem L 109–116 Hunter College 2–7 10 December 13 Harlem W 107–102 (OT) Tim Winn (31) Park School of Buffalo 250 3–7 11 December 17 @ Maryland L 94–110 Brad Buddenborg (20) Montgomery College 3–8 12 December 18 @ Newark W 89–88 Tim Winn (23) Essex County College 4–8 13 December 23 Rochester L 100–110 Tim Winn (29) Gow School 4–9 14 December 28 Maryland W 94–89 Rashid Byrd (30) Park School of Buffalo 5–9 15 December 30 @ Montreal W 98–86 Brad Buddenborg (38) Centre Pierre Charbonneau 6–9
January: 2–3 (home: 0–1; road: 2–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 16 January 7 @ Boston W 113–96 Barnstable High School 7–9 17 January 11 Rochester L 91–94 Tim Winn (27) Park School of Buffalo 250 7–10 18 January 14 @ Strong Island W 70–65 Tim Winn (20) St. Joseph's College 8–10 19 January 21 @ Strong Island L 107–123 St. Joseph's College 8–11 20 January 26 @ Rochester L 87–114 Tim Winn (19) Blue Cross Arena 8–12
February: 1–4 (home: 1–3; road: 0–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 21 February 1 Montreal L 127–132 (OT) Johnny Tyson (40) Park School of Buffalo 8–13 22 February 3 Boston W 136–90 Antoine Sims (52) Turner Battle (13) Park School of Buffalo 9–13 23 February 5 Strong Island L 100–128 Turner Battle (23) Carlton Brown (11) Park School of Buffalo 9–14 24 February 19 Strong Island L 101–102 DeRon Rutledge (31) Park School of Buffalo 9–15 25 February 25 @ Boston W 117–104 Tim Winn (20) Barnstable High School 10–15
March: 1–2 (home: 1–0; road: 0–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 26 March 4 @ Harlem L 96–103 Hunter College 10–16 27 March 5 Newark W 112–104 Willie Chandler (21) Buffalo State Sports Arena 1,500 11–16 28 March 7 @ Rochester L 95–106 Blue Cross Arena 11–17

Playoffs

2006 playoff game log Total: 1–1 (home: 1–0; road: 0–1)
Wild Card (#15 seed): 1–0 (home: 1–0; road: 0–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 March 12 Boston (#16) W 133–88 Johnny Tyson (29) Tim Winn (14) Hilbert College 1–0
Quarterfinals (#15 seed): 0–1 (home: 0–0; road: 0–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 March 17 @ Atlanta (#7) L 97–99 Johnny Tyson (19) New Birth Missionary Baptist Church 0–1

2006–2007

Regular season

2006–07 game log Total: 16–10 (Home: 10–3; Road: 6–7)
November: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 November 8 Detroit L 100–109 Antoine Sims (33) Todd Jones (7) Antoine Sims (7) Buffalo State Sports Arena 1,232 0–1 2 November 12 @ Detroit L 113–128 Antoine Sims (24) Buck Weeber Center 0–2 3 November 16 @ Rochester L 93–107 Dameon Sansom (23) Blue Cross Arena 0–3 4 November 18 @ Vermont L 100–110 Johnny Tyson (27) Burlington Memorial Auditorium 0–4 5 November 24 Rochester W 96–93 Antoine Sims (29) Buffalo State Sports Arena 1–4 6 November 30 Hammond W 120–104 Antoine Sims (19) Buffalo State Sports Arena 2–4
December: 5–3 (home: 5–1; road: 0–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 7 December 8 Detroit W 119–104 Antoine Sims (24) Buffalo State Sports Arena 3–4 8 December 9 @ Rochester L 90–109 Marlin Johnson (18) Blue Cross Arena 3–5 9 December 13 Richmond W 119–97 Antoine Sims (22) Buffalo State Sports Arena 4–5 10 December 14 Richmond W 123–116 Kevin Ross (25) Buffalo State Sports Arena 5–5 11 December 15 @ Detroit L 104–110 Antoine Sims (21) Buck Weeber Center 5–6 12 December 20 Rochester L 102–107 Antoine Sims (33) Buffalo State Sports Arena 5–7 13 December 29 Cape Cod W 118–110 Johnny Tyson (28) Johnny Tyson (12) Buffalo State Sports Arena 6–7 14 December 30 @ Quebec City W 110–98 Lamar Castile (29) Buffalo State Sports Arena 7–7
January: 3–3 (home: 1–1; road: 2–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 15 January 5 Rochester L 94–96 Lamar Castile (30) Buffalo State Sports Arena 7–8 16 January 10 @ Vermont L 90–92 Lamar Castile (29) Burlington Memorial Auditorium 7–9 17 January 13 @ Toledo W 152–138 Lamar Castile (33) Libbey High School 8–9 18 January 18 Detroit W 103–95 Lamar Castile (25) Buffalo State Sports Arena 9–9 19 January 19 @ Jacksonville L 96–105 Lamar Castile (25) UNF Arena 9–10 20 January 21 @ Maryland W 114–108 Dameon Sansom (31) Montgomery College 10–10
February: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 21 February 9 @ Quebec City W 91–79 Antoine Sims (23) Université Laval 11–10 22 February 10 @ Montreal W 99–76 Kueth Duany (18) Centre Pierre Charbonneau 12–10 23 February 21 Vermont W 100–95 Lamar Castile (45) Iroquois High School 13–10 24 February 22 Detroit W 116–102 Antoine Sims (38) Park School of Buffalo 14–10
March: 2–0 (home: 0–0; road: 2–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 25 March 9 @ Montreal W 102–99 Lamar Castile (34) Centre Pierre Charbonneau 15–10 26 March 10 @ Quebec City W 120–107 Lamar Castile (38) Université Laval 16–10

Playoffs

2007 playoff game log Total: 1–1 (home: 0–0; road: 1–1)
Quarterfinals (#12 seed): 1–0 (home: 0–0; road: 1–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 March 16 @ Jacksonville (#2) W 100–91 Lamar Castile (37) Lamar Castile (10) UNF Arena 1–0
Semifinals (#12 seed): 0–1 (home: 0–0; road: 0–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 March 22 @ Beijing (#7) L 106–121 Antoine Sims (30) Felix Events Center 0–1

Player statistics

2006–2007

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

After all games.[44]

Buffalo Silverbacks statistics

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Ka'Ron Barnes^≠‡	–	–	16.4	.444	.353	.333	1.6	2.1	0.7	0.0	6.0
Kenny Brunner^≠	–	–	33.0	.300	.000	.435	3.7	4.7	2.7	1.0	6.5
Andrew Bush	–	–	6.7	.429	.000	.500	1.7	0.0	0.0	0.3	2.5
Lamar Castile	–	–	27.7	.435	.306	.800	4.5	2.7	2.1	0.2	20.3
Keith Closs^≠	–	–	37.0	.462	.000	.700	6.0	2.3	1.0	3.3	6.3
Modie Cox	–	–	23.1	.553	.667	.613	4.3	3.3	2.4	0.1	6.8
Kueth Duany	–	–	27.2	.477	.531	.692	6.7	1.3	1.2	0.7	19.0
Marlin Johnson	–	–	28.9	.514	.333	.606	7.3	3.8	2.6	0.5	9.6
Todd Jones	–	–	24.6	.452	.310	.746	5.5	1.7	1.2	0.2	9.6
Sean Murphy	–	–	6.5	.333	.500	.750	1.7	0.3	0.0	0.0	2.0
Kevin Ross	–	–	25.1	.523	.000	.613	6.9	1.3	0.9	0.9	10.4
David Ruffin	–	–	10.1	.371	.316	.800	1.5	0.8	1.0	0.1	5.8
Dameon Sansom	–	–	15.3	.368	.268	.750	0.8	1.1	0.5	0.1	6.1
Antoine Sims	–	–	31.2	.388	.320	.836	2.4	3.2	2.7	0.4	23.1
Victor Venters^≠‡	–	–	11.5	.500	1.000	.688	3.2	0.8	0.8	0.2	5.0

^‡Waived during the season
^†Traded during the season
^≠Acquired during the season

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