The Kuala Lumpur Dragons are a professional basketball team based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia that last played in the ASEAN Basketball League. They also played as the Blustar Detergent Dragons in the Philippines' PBA Developmental League in 2016.
History In their first year of existence, they were known as the KL Dragons before becoming the Westports KL Dragons after a sponsorship deal with Westports. Before the 2012 season, the team became the Westports Malaysia Dragons.
Malaysia has made the ABL semifinals in all of its first four seasons in the league but lost all four times in the semi-finals: the AirAsia Philippine Patriots in its first two semi-finals appearances, the San Miguel Beermen in its third year, and to the Indonesia Warriors in its fourth semi-final appearance. But, in the 2014 season, the Dragons made it to the finals before losing to Hi-Tech Bangkok City in the finals.
In 2011, the Dragons was the ABL representative in the 2011 FIBA Asia Champions Cup held in the Philippines after the champion Chang Thailand Slammers failed to make it because of a suspension by FIBA. KL failed to win a single game in the tourney.
The team won the 2015–16 ASEAN Basketball League season and qualify for the 2016 FIBA Asia Champions Cup. They entered the 2016 PBA D-League Foundation Cup under the name Blustar Detergent Dragons. The Dragons again failed to win a single game in the tourney.
The team changed its name to the Kuala Lumpur Dragons for the 2019–20 ASEAN Basketball League season.
Achievements
ASEAN Basketball League + Year ABL Regular Season Position ABL Grand Finals Position 2009–104th placeSemi-finals 2010–113rd placeSemi-finals20124th placeSemi-finals20133rd placeSemi-finals20141st placeRunners-up2015–161st placeChampion2016–175th placeDid not qualify2017–188th placeDid not qualify2018–199th placeDid not qualify FIBA Asia Champions Cup + Year FIBA Asia Champions Cup Position 20119th place 201610th place Season by season SeasonASEAN Basketball LeagueFIBA Asia Championships Cup Regular season Played Wins Losses Win % Postseason Final positionWinsLossesWin %2009–104th1578Lost in semi-finals to Philippine Patriots, 0–2 (series)Did not qualify2010–113rd1587Lost in semi-finals to AirAsia Philippine Patriots, 0–2 (series)9th0420124th211110Lost in semi-finals to San Miguel Beermen, 1–2 (series)Did not qualify20133rd221210Lost in Semi-finals to Indonesia Warriors, 0-3(series)Did not qualify20141st20155Runner-up against Hi-Tech Bangkok City, 0–2 (series)Did not qualify2015–161st20164Champion against Singapore Slingers, 3–2 (series)10th042016–175th20713Did not qualifyDid not qualify2017–188th20515Did not qualifyDid not qualify2018–199th26818Did not qualifyDid not qualify
Team officials Team owners: Datuk Wira Dani Daim Datuk Robin Tan Yeong Ching Datuk Ruben Gnanalingam
Team President: Datuk Wira Dani Daim
Team Commentator Ben Ibrahim (Foxsports)
Roster
Notable players To appear in this section a player must have either: - Set a club record or won an individual award as a professional player. - Played at least one official international match for his senior national team at any time. Imports
Will Artino Calvin Godfrey - MVP Reggie Johnson - MVP Keefe Grimes - 6TH MAN OF THE YEAR Brian Williams - MVP Jason Killeen Kiwi Gardner Jason Brickman Joshua Munzon Moala Tautuaa Shaun Bruce Matthew Wright
Malaysians Source:
Cheng Wah Chin Zhi Shin Chin Wei Hong Choo Batumalai Guganeswaran Yee Tong Heng Tian Yuan Kuek Satyaseelan Kuppusamy Kwaan Yoong Jing Shee Fai Loh Chee Kheun Ma Lok San Mak Ban Sin Ooi Ng Sing Tee Kok Hou Teo Chun Hong Ting Wen Keong Tong Chuan Chin Wee Chee Li Wei Yi Hou Wong Wee Seng Wong Ivan Yeo
Coaches Goh Cheng Huat (2009–11; 2016) Ariel Vanguardia (2011–16) Chris Thomas (2016–2018) Jamie Pearlman (2018–2020) References
External links
Malaysian basketball on Asia-Basket.com website