Sioux Falls Skyforce

American professional basketball team of the NBA G League

Sioux Falls Skyforce

Conference| Western
League| NBA G League
Founded| 1989
History| Sioux Falls Skyforce
1989–present
CBA: 1989–2000; 2001–2006
IBL: 2000–2001
NBA D-League/G League: 2006–present
Arena| Sanford Pentagon
Location| Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Team colors| Black, red, yellow[1][2]

Team manager| Jeremy DeCurtins
Head coach| Dan Bisaccio[3]
Ownership| Miami Heat (Micky Arison)
Heineman family (Managing Partner)
Affiliation(s)| Miami Heat
Championships| 2 CBA (1996, 2005)
1 NBA D-League (2016)
Conference titles| 4 CBA (1996, 1998, 1999, 2005)
1 NBA D-League (2016)
Division titles| 1 CBA (1996)
2 NBA D-League (2015, 2016)
Website| siouxfalls.gleague.nba.com

The Sioux Falls Skyforce are an American professional basketball team of the NBA G League based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and are affiliated with the Miami Heat. The team has played its home games in the Sanford Pentagon since the 2013–14 season. The Sioux Falls Skyforce are the longest-running minor-league basketball team in the United States.[4]

The Skyforce began in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) in 1989, playing its home games at Sioux Falls Arena from then until the move to the Pentagon in 2013. It participated in four CBA championship finals, winning the championship trophy in 1996 (defeating the Fort Wayne Fury, four games to one) and 2005 (defeating the Rockford Lightning three games to one).

## History

[edit]

The team's name was chosen from two entries in a contest to name the team in 1989 which yielded 1,045 suggestions. The names "Sky" and "Force" were combined to create the "Skyforce".[5]

The Skyforce also hosted the CBA All-Star Game three times: in 1996, 2000, and 2003.

In 2006, the Skyforce joined the D-League. In its first two seasons in the D-League, it was a playoff contender. In 2009, the team suffered a 2–1 series loss in the first round to the Tulsa 66ers. In 2014, it fared a bit better, sweeping the Canton Charge in the first round before being swept by the eventual champion Fort Wayne Mad Ants in the semifinals. In 2016, the Skyforce won its first D-League championship, defeating the Los Angeles D-Fenders 2 games to 1. The Skyforce also finished the 2016 season 40–10, the winningest regular season record in D-League history.[6]

On June 10, 2013, the Miami Heat announced that it had entered into a single affiliation partnership with the Skyforce, beginning with the 2013–14 season.[7] The Miami Heat signature red/yellow color scheme was adopted into the Skyforce's jerseys, logo, and merchandise following this announcement. On June 1, 2017, the Heat purchased a controlling interest in the Skyforce with the Heineman family retaining its minority share.[8] The former ownership group of Bob Correa, Greg Heineman, Roger Larsen, and Tom Walsh had purchased the Skyforce from the Kemper Lesnik Organization in May 1993.[9]

## Year-by-year record

[edit]

Season | League | Conference | Division | Finish | Wins | Losses | Pct. | Postseason results

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Sioux Falls Skyforce
1989–90 | CBA | National | Midwest | 3rd | 20 | 36 | .357 |
1990–91 | CBA | American | Midwest | 3rd | 26 | 30 | .464 |
1991–92 | CBA | National | Northern | 4th | 24 | 32 | .429 |
1992–93 | CBA | National | Midwest | 3rd | 26 | 30 | .464 |
1993–94 | CBA | National | Midwest | 3rd | 24 | 32 | .429 |
1994–95 | CBA | National | Western | 2nd | 34 | 22 | .607 | Lost First Round (Omaha) 1–2
1995–96 | CBA | National | Northern | 1st | 32 | 24 | .571 | Won First Round (Oklahoma City) 3–1
Won Conf. Championship (Florida) 3–2
Won CBA Championship (Fort Wayne) 3–2
1996–97 | CBA | National |  | 1st | 47 | 9 | .839 | Lost First Round (Omaha) 2–3
1997–98 | CBA | National |  | 2nd | 31 | 25 | .554 | Won Semifinals (Yakima) 3–2
Won Conf. Championship (Fort Wayne) 3–0
Lost CBA Championship (Quad City) 3–4
1998–99 | CBA | National |  | 1st | 32 | 24 | .571 | Won First Round (Idaho) 3–2
Won Conf. Championship (Quad City) 3–2
Lost CBA Championship (Connecticut) 1–4
1999–00 | CBA | National |  | 3rd | 30 | 26 | .536 | Won First Round (Connecticut) 109–90
Lost Semifinals (La Crosse) 90–99
2000–01[a] | CBA | National |  | 5th | 8 | 15 | .348 |
2000–01 | IBL | Western |  | 3rd | 16 | 14 | .533 | Lost First Round (Rockford) 91–111
2001–02 | CBA | American |  | 2nd | 33 | 23 | .589 | Lost Semifinals (Rockford) 1–3
2002–03 | CBA | National |  | 4th | 17 | 31 | .354 |
2003–04 | CBA |  |  | 5th | 23 | 25 | .479 |
2004–05 | CBA | Western |  | 2nd | 31 | 17 | .646 | Won Semifinals (Dakota) 3–2
Won CBA Championship (Rockford) 3–1
2005–06 | CBA | Western |  | 2nd | 30 | 18 | .625 | Lost round-robin tournament 0–2
2006–07 | D-League |  | Eastern | 2nd | 30 | 20 | .600 | Won Division Semifinals (Fort Worth) 128–105
Lost Division Finals (Dakota) 113–115
2007–08 | D-League |  | Central | 2nd | 28 | 22 | .560 | Won First Round (Dakota) 101–89
Lost Semifinals (Austin) 93–99
2008–09 | D-League |  | Central | 4th | 25 | 25 | .500 |
2009–10 | D-League | Eastern |  | 2nd | 32 | 18 | .640 | Lost First Round (Tulsa) 1–2
2010–11 | D-League | Eastern |  | 7th | 10 | 40 | .200 |
2011–12 | D-League | Eastern |  | 7th | 15 | 35 | .292 |
2012–13 | D-League |  | Central | 4th | 25 | 25 | .500 |
2013–14 | D-League |  | Central | 2nd | 31 | 19 | .620 | Won First Round (Canton) 2–1
Lost Semifinals (Fort Wayne) 0–2
2014–15 | D-League | Eastern | Central | 1st | 29 | 21 | .580 | Lost First Round (Canton) 1–2
2015–16 | D-League | Eastern | Central | 1st | 40 | 10 | .800 | Won Quarterfinals (Westchester) 2–0
Won Semifinals(Canton) 2–0
Won D-League Championship (Los Angeles) 2–1
2016–17 | D-League | Western | Southwest | 3rd | 29 | 21 | .580 |
2017–18 | G League | Western | Midwest | 2nd | 25 | 25 | .500 |
2018–19 | G League | Western | Midwest | 3rd | 24 | 26 | .480 |
2019–20 | G League | Western | Midwest | 2nd | 22 | 20 | .524 | Season cancelled by COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 | G League | Opted out of single-site season
2021–22 | G League | Western | – | 12th | 14 | 21 | .400 |
2022–23 | G League | Western | – | 5th | 20 | 12 | .625 | Won Quarterfinals (Salt Lake) 115–107
Won Semifinals (Stockton) 98–97
Lost Conference Finals (Rio Grande Valley) 105–110
2023–24 | G League | Western | – | 2nd | 22 | 12 | .647 | Semifinals (TBD)
Regular season | 905 | 778 | .538 | 1989–2024
Playoffs | 50 | 45 | .526 | 1989–2023

1. ^ The CBA folded in the middle of the 2000–01 season.

## Head coaches

[edit]

#  | Head coach  | Term  | Regular season  | Playoffs  | Achievements

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G | W | L | Win% | G | W | L | Win%
1 | Nate Tibbetts | 2007–2009 | 100 | 53 | 47 | .530 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 |
2 | Tony Fritz | 2009–2010 | 50 | 32 | 18 | .640 | 3 | 1 | 2 | .333 |
3 | Mo McHone | 2010–2012 | 100 | 25 | 75 | .250 | — | — | — | — |
4 | Joel Abelson | 2012–2013 | 50 | 25 | 25 | .500 | — | — | — | — |
5 | Pat Delany | 2013–2014 | 50 | 31 | 19 | .620 | 5 | 2 | 3 | .400 |
6 | Phil Weber | 2014–2015 | 50 | 29 | 21 | .580 | 3 | 1 | 2 | .333 |
7 | Dan Craig | 2015–2016 | 50 | 40 | 10 | .800 | 7 | 6 | 1 | .857 | NBA D-League Finals Champion: 2016
NBA D-League Coach of the Year: 2016
NBA D-League All-Star Game coach: 2016
8 | Nevada Smith | 2016–2019 | 150 | 78 | 72 | .520 | — | — | — | — |
9 | Eric Glass | 2019–2020 | 42 | 22 | 20 | .524 | — | — | — | — |
10 | Kasib Powell | 2021–2024 | 67 | 34 | 33 | .507 | 3 | 2 | 1 | .667 |
11 | Dan Bisaccio | 2024–present | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |

## Current roster

[edit]

Sioux Falls Skyforce roster

* v
* t
* e

Players  | Coaches

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| Pos. | No. | Name  | Height  | Weight  | DOB  | From

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G | 8 | Christopher, Josh (TW)  | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)  | 215 lb (98 kg)  | 2001-12-08  | Arizona State
G | 10 | Daniels, Caleb | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)  | 210 lb (95 kg)  | 1999-05-17  | Villanova
F | 16 | Johnson, Keshad (TW)  | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)  | 225 lb (102 kg)  | 2001-06-23  | Arizona
F | 1 | King, Tre | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)  | 230 lb (104 kg)  | 1999-10-01  | Iowa State
F | 5 | Little, Nassir | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)  | 220 lb (100 kg)  | 2000-02-11  | North Carolina
F | 6 | Polley, Tyler | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)  | 215 lb (98 kg)  | 1999-04-07  | Connecticut
G | 17 | Pullin, Zyon | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)  | 206 lb (93 kg)  | 2001-03-03  | Florida
G | 12 | Smith, Dru (TW)  | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)  | 203 lb (92 kg)  | 1997-12-30  | Missouri
G/F | 21 | Snell, Tony | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)  | 213 lb (97 kg)  | 1991-11-10  | New Mexico
G | 4 | Stevens, Isaiah | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)  | 185 lb (84 kg)  | 2000-11-01  | Colorado State
G | 0 | Warren, Bryson | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)  | 174 lb (79 kg)  | 2004-10-14  | LRCH (AR)
F | 22 | Washington, Warren | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)  | 225 lb (102 kg)  | 2000-03-03  | Texas Tech
F/C | 2 | Williams, Malik | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)  | 240 lb (109 kg)  | 1998-08-06  | Louisville

Head coach

* Dan Bisaccio

Assistant coach(es)

* Jason Thompson
* Therian Williams
* Nate Wilson

* * *

Legend

* (DP) Unsigned draft pick
* (FA) Free agent
* (S) Suspended
* (P) Prospects
* (NBA) On assignment from NBA affiliate
* (TW) Two-way affiliate player
* Injured

* * *

Roster
Last transaction: December 9, 2024

## NBA affiliates

[edit]

* Miami Heat (2009–present)
* Charlotte Bobcats (2007–2009)
* Detroit Pistons (2006–2007)
* Minnesota Timberwolves (2006–2013)
* Orlando Magic (2011–2013)
* Philadelphia 76ers (2012–2013)

## See also

[edit]

* Sioux Falls Skyforce seasons

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Staff Directory". SiouxFalls.GLeague.NBA.com. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
2. ^ "Sioux Falls Skyforce Reproduction Guideline Sheet". NBA Properties, Inc. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
3. ^ "HEAT NAME DAN BISACCIO HEAD COACH OF SKYFORCE". GLeague.NBA.com. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. July 16, 2024. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
4. ^ "Sioux Falls Skyforce: A 30-Year Basketball Legacy | 605 Magazine". October 2018.
5. ^ "Sports Digest". United Press International. May 17, 1989.
6. ^ Kotloff, Brian (April 29, 2016). "2016 NBA Development League Champions, Sioux Falls Skyforce". SiouxFalls.GLeague.NBA.com. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
7. ^ "Miami HEAT Enter Into Single Affiliation Partnership With NBA Development League". NBA.com.
8. ^ "Miami Heat purchase controlling interest of Skyforce, keep Heinemans as chief business operators". KWSN. June 1, 2017.
9. ^ "Team History". SiouxFalls.GLeague.NBA.com. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Retrieved November 14, 2019.

## External links

[edit]

* Sioux Falls Skyforce official site

* v
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NBA G League

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Miami Heat

* Founded in 1988
* Based in Miami, Florida

Franchise|

* History
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Arenas|

* Miami Arena
* Kaseya Center

Personnel|

Owner(s)
Micky Arison
President
Pat Riley
General manager
Andy Elisburg
Head coach
Erik Spoelstra

G League affiliate|

* Sioux Falls Skyforce

Retired numbers|

* 1
* 3
* 10
* 23
* 32
* 33
* 40

NBA championships|

* 2006
* 2012
* 2013

Rivalries|

* Boston Celtics
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* Orlando Magic

Culture and lore|

* Broadcasters
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Sports teams based in the Dakotas

Baseball|

* AA: Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
* Sioux Falls Canaries
* NwL: Badlands Big Sticks
* Bismarck Larks
* Minot Hot Tots
* IndL: Spearfish Sasquatch

Basketball|

* NBA G League: Sioux Falls Skyforce

Hockey|

* ECHL: Rapid City Rush
* USHL: Fargo Force
* Sioux Falls Stampede
* NAHL: Aberdeen Wings
* Bismarck Bobcats
* Minot Minotauros
* Watertown Shamrocks

Roller derby|

* WFTDA: Fargo Moorhead Derby Girls
* Sioux Falls Roller Dollz

Soccer|

* NPSL: Dakota Fusion FC
* Sioux Falls Thunder FC

College athletics|

| NCAA
Division I|

North Dakota Fighting Hawks
North Dakota State Bison
South Dakota Coyotes
South Dakota State Jackrabbits

|

NCAA
Division II|

Augustana Vikings
Black Hills State Yellow Jackets
Mary Marauders
Minot State Beavers
Northern State Wolves
Sioux Falls Cougars
South Dakota Mines Hardrockers

NAIA|

Dakota State Trojans

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City of Sioux Falls

Attractions|

* The Empire Mall
* Falls Park
* Great Bear Recreation Park
* Great Plains Zoo
* Pettigrew Home & Museum
* Terrace Park
* Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science

Culture|

* Orpheum Theater
* Sioux Empire Fair
* Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Festival
* Sioux Falls Pride
* Sioux Falls State Theatre
* Sogen Con
* South Dakota Symphony Orchestra

History|

* Timeline
* Ozark Air Lines Flight 650

Government|

* Flag
* Old Minnehaha County Courthouse
* South Dakota State Penitentiary

Education|

* Sioux Falls Christian Schools
* Sioux Falls School District

| Secondary|

* All Saints School
* Lincoln High School
* O'Gorman Catholic High School
* Roosevelt High School
* South Dakota School for the Deaf
* Thomas Jefferson High School
* Washington High School

|

Tertiary|

* Augustana University
* Columbus College
* Sioux Falls Seminary
* South Dakota Public Universities and Research Center
* Southeast Technical College
* University of Sioux Falls

Libraries|

* Carnegie Free Public Library

Media|

* Argus Leader

Religion|

* Dakota Baptist Convention
* Calvary Cathedral
* Central Church
* First Congregational Church
* Josephine Martin Glidden Memorial Chapel
* Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls
* Cathedral of Saint Joseph

Sports|

* Sanford International

| Teams|

* Augustana Vikings
* Sioux Falls Canaries
* Sioux Falls City FC
* Sioux Falls Cougars
* Sioux Falls Roller Dollz
* Sioux Falls Skyforce
* Sioux Falls Spitfire
* Sioux Falls Stampede
* Sioux Falls Storm
* Sioux Falls Thunder FC

|

Venues|

* Denny Sanford Premier Center
* Elmen Center
* Howard Wood Field
* Kirkeby–Over Stadium
* Midco Arena
* Sanford Pentagon
* Sioux Falls Arena
* Sioux Falls Stadium

|

Transportation|

* Sioux Area Metro
* Sioux Falls Bus Station
* Sioux Falls Regional Airport

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