Derby Storm was a British Basketball League (BBL) franchise from the city of Derby, Derbyshire. The team decided to sit out the 2002–03 season after failing to find a suitable venue for home games. Despite early efforts for a new arena, the franchise never returned to playing action.
Founded in 1984 as the Derby Turbos later changed to Derby Rams in 1985. (which NBA head coach Nick Nurse was a player/coach), the team was a founder member of the franchise-based professional BBL when it was set up in 1987. Another name change took place in 1991, becoming the Derby Bucks, and in 1993 the franchise withdrew from the BBL due to financial problems, but was "rescued" and allowed to re-enter before the new season began.
Future Toronto Raptors coach and NBA championship winner Nick Nurse was a player-coach for Derby in 1990.
The team became known as the Derby Storm in 1995 and was the first British basketball club to own their own venue, the Thunderdome Storm Arena, which was in fact a converted factory. The compact arena was definitely one of the most characteristic venues in the League, and often the subject of many jokes from rival fans.
Storm were given permission to "sit out" the 2002–03 season, to generate finance and find an alternative venue, but having not returned since, the franchise membership with the BBL has lapsed. Basketball remained in the city however as fans took it upon themselves to take control of Storm's reserve team and reform them as Derby Trailblazers. The Blazers adopted one of Storm's former homes, the Moorways Centre, as their home venue.
Season-by-season records SeasonDivisionTierRegular SeasonPost-SeasonBBL TrophyNational CupHead coach Finish Played Wins Losses Points Win % Derby Turbos1984–85NBL D224th22166320.727Chris Squire Derby Rams1985–86NBL D222nd22184360.818Chris Squire1986–87NBL D1113th2442080.167Did not qualify2nd round (NC)David Lloyd1987–88BBL113th2842480.142Did not qualifyPool Stage (BT)2nd round (NC)Clarence Wiggins1988–89BBL110th2031760.150Did not qualifyQuarter-finals (BT)Quarter-finals (NC)Clarence Wiggins1989–90BBL15th281018200.357Did not qualifyPool Stage (BT)Semi-finals (NC)Ron Whitehead1990–91BBL15th241212240.500Quarter-finalsPool Stage (BT)1st round (NC)Nick Nurse Derby Bucks1991–92BBL15th301812360.600Quarter-finalsPool Stage (BT)Quarter-finals (NC)Terry Manghum1992–93BBL16th331419280.424Quarter-finalsSemi-finals (BT)Quarter-finals (NC)Terry Manghum1993–94BBL18th361719340.473Quarter-finalsPool Stage (BT)3rd round (NC)Terry Manghum1994–95BBL19th361026200.278Did not qualifyPool Stage (BT)4th round (NC)Greg Gurr Derby Storm1995–96BBL16th362115420.583Quarter-finalsQuarter-finals (BT)4th round (NC)Jeff Jones1996–97BBL19th361422280.389Did not qualifyPool Stage (BT)4th round (NC)Jeff Jones1998–99BBL17th361620320.444Quarter-finalsPool Stage (BT)4th round (NC)Steve Tucker1998–99BBL16th362115420.583Quarter-finalsRunners-up, losing to Manchester (BT)Quarter-finals (NC)Bob Donewald Jr.1999–00BBL NC15th361719340.472Did not qualifyQuarter-finals (BT)4th round (NC)Martin Ford2000–01BBL NC16th36630120.166Did not qualifyQuarter-finals (BT)Quarter-finals (NC)Kevin Wall2001–02BBL NC16th3232960.094Did not qualifyPool Stage (BT)4th round (NC)John Spezia
See also John Trezvant
Notes