The Gunma Crane Thunders are a professional basketball team that compete in the first division of the Japanese
B.League
The B.League is a men's professional basketball league in Japan. The league is operated by the Japan Professional Basketball League and was formed as a result of a merger between the National Basketball League that was operated by the FIBA-affi ...
. They are based in
ÅŒta, Gunma
is a city located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 224,358 in 109,541 households, and a population density of 1300 persons per km2. The total area of the city is .
Geography
ÅŒta is located in the extreme so ...
. It is said that the shape of Gunma Prefecture resembles the shape of a dancing crane. The team's name is a combination of the crane and thunder, which evokes images of "energy" and "speed".
Coaches
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Tadashi Hayashi (2012)
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Ryan Blackwell (2012–13)
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Hiroki Fujita
is the head coach of the Sendai 89ers in the Japanese B.League. Head coaching record
, -
, style="text-align:left;", Gunma Crane Thunders
, style="text-align:left;", 2013-14
, 32, , 10, , 22, , , , style="text-align:center;", 10th in ...
(2013
*
Charlie Parker
Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz Saxophone, saxophonist, bandleader, and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of beb ...
(2014–15)
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Hirokazu Nema (2015–16)
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Fujitaka Hiraoka (2016–21)
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Thomas Wisman (2021–22)
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Kota Mizuno (2022–2024)
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Kyle Milling (2024–present)
Roster
Notable players
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Ben Bentil
Benjamin Bentil (born March 29, 1995) is a Ghanaian professional basketball player for ASVEL Basket, LDLC ASVEL of the French LNB Élite and the EuroLeague. He played two seasons of college basketball for Providence Friars men's basketball, Provi ...
*
Trey Britton
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Deividas Busma
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Darko Čohadarević
Darko Čohadarević ( sr-cyr, Дарко Чохадаревић; born 7 March 1986) is a Serbian professional basketball player, who plays as a Power forward (basketball), power forward for BK Olomoucko of the National Basketball League (Czech Rep ...
*
Marcus Cousin
Marcus Lynn Cousin Jr. (pronounced coo-ZON; born December 18, 1986) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Seton Hall University and the University of Houston.
High school career
Cousin attended ...
*
Melvin Ely
Melvin Anderson Ely (; born May 2, 1978) is an American former professional basketball player who was also an assistant coach for the Canton Charge of the NBA G League.
A 6'10", , power forward– center from Fresno State, Ely was drafte ...
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Gary Hamilton
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Thomas Kennedy
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Abdullahi Kuso
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Kenneth Simms
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Dillion Sneed
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Ryan Stephan
Ryan may refer to:
People and fictional characters
*Ryan (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name)
* Ryan (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name)
Places Australia
* Division of Ryan, an electo ...
*
Noriyuki Sugasawa
is a Japanese professional basketball player who plays for Nagasaki Velca of the B.League in Japan. Following his college graduation, Sugasawa became a school teacher, but decided to be a professional basketball player. In 2012 he was picked up b ...
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Patrick Sullivan
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Hirohisa Takada
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Scootie Randall
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Ondrej Balvin
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Erik Murphy
Arenas
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Ota Citizens Gymnasium
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Yamato Citizens Gymnasium Maebashi
Yamato Citizens Gymnasium Maebashi is an arena in Maebashi, Gunma, Japan. It is the home arena of the Gunma Crane Thunders of the B.League
The B.League is a men's professional basketball league in Japan. The league is operated by the Japan Pr ...
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Yamada Green Dome Maebashi
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Kiryu University Green Arena
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Kakinuma Arena
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Isesaki Citizens Gymnasium
References
{{Japanese B.League
Basketball teams in Japan
Sports clubs and teams in Gunma Prefecture
Basketball teams established in 2011
2011 establishments in Japan
B.League teams