Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Encyclopedia
The Fort Wayne Mad Ants are a team of the NBA Development League
, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana
. The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
is the home venue for the team. The team is the first minor league basketball franchise to play in Fort Wayne since the Fort Wayne Fury
. Former Fort Wayne Fury coach Kent Davison was the Mad Ants' first head coach.
On July 5, 2007, it was announced by the NBA
that the Mad Ants would be affiliated with the Detroit Pistons
and Indiana Pacers
. The Pistons were founded in Fort Wayne by Fred Zollner
as the Zollner Pistons, before moving to Detroit in 1957. On September 3, 2008, the Mad Ants announced the Milwaukee Bucks
as their third affiliate for the 2008-09 season. The Bucks were previously a parent club for the Tulsa 66ers
until Professional Basketball Club, LLC (owner of the Oklahoma City Thunder
), purchased the 66ers to be Oklahoma City's exclusive affiliate.
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
. The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is a 13,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Fort Wayne, Indiana, initially built in 1952 for nearly $3 million in Fort Wayne's Johnny Appleseed Park. The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum was originally designed to seat 8,000 for hockey or 10,240 for basketball...
is the home venue for the team. The team is the first minor league basketball franchise to play in Fort Wayne since the Fort Wayne Fury
Fort Wayne Fury
The Fort Wayne Fury was a team in the Continental Basketball Association from 1991 through the cessation of the CBA on February 8, 2001.-History:...
. Former Fort Wayne Fury coach Kent Davison was the Mad Ants' first head coach.
History
The franchise held a name-the-team contest on their website where fans could vote on one of the four finalists: Lightning, Fire, Coyotes, and Mad Ants. The winning name of Mad Ants was announced June 18, 2007, chosen as a salute to the city's and fort's namesake, General "Mad" Anthony Wayne.On July 5, 2007, it was announced by the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
that the Mad Ants would be affiliated with the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
and Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. The Pistons were founded in Fort Wayne by Fred Zollner
Fred Zollner
Fred Zollner was called "Mr. Pro Basketball" as the founder and longtime owner along with his sister Janet of the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons and a key figure in the merger of National Basketball League and Basketball Association of America into the National Basketball Association in 1949.Zollner,...
as the Zollner Pistons, before moving to Detroit in 1957. On September 3, 2008, the Mad Ants announced the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
as their third affiliate for the 2008-09 season. The Bucks were previously a parent club for the Tulsa 66ers
Tulsa 66ers
The Tulsa 66ers are an NBA Development League team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma and the minor league affiliate of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Their logo design is a basketball behind mountains with a road leading up to them, all on a U.S...
until Professional Basketball Club, LLC (owner of the Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ; their home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena....
), purchased the 66ers to be Oklahoma City's exclusive affiliate.
Season-by-season
| Season | Division | Regular Season | Postseason Results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | Wins | Losses | Pct. | ||||
| Fort Wayne Mad Ants | |||||||
| 2007–08 | Central | 4th | 17 | 33 | .340 | ||
| 2008–09 | Central | 5th | 19 | 31 | .380 | ||
| 2009–10 | Eastern | 5th | 22 | 28 | .440 | ||
| 2010-11 | Eastern | 3rd | 24 | 26 | .480 | ||
| Regular Season Record | 82 | 118 | 2007–2011 | ||||
| Playoff Record | 0 | 0 | .000 | 2007–2011 | |||
Current roster
Affiliates
- Detroit PistonsDetroit PistonsThe Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
(2007–present) - Indiana PacersIndiana PacersThe Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
(2007–present) - Milwaukee BucksMilwaukee BucksThe Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
(2008–present)
In popular culture
- In the television series One Tree HillOne Tree Hill (TV series)One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
episode "You've Dug Your Own Grave, Now Lie In It", James LaffertyJames LaffertyJames Martin Lafferty is an American actor, director and producer. He currently portrays Nathan Scott on the CW television drama One Tree Hill. In addition to his role on the young adult drama, Lafferty is also known for his appearance as Justin in S...
's character Nathan ScottNathan ScottNathan Royal Scott is a fictional character on The CW television series One Tree Hill, portrayed by James Lafferty. He was the second protagonist during the first six seasons; but following Lucas Scott's departure, Nathan has become the main character and central figure of the show. Nathan is Lucas...
receives an offer to coach the team. The episode originally aired September 29, 2008 on The CW Network. - Sports site DeadspinDeadspinDeadspin is a sports website owned by Gawker Media and was launched in September 2005. As of February 2010, the site had attracted over 462 million unique visitors and about 573 million page views....
published several articles about the team's mascot, calling it "Nightmare Ant."