Utah Flash
Encyclopedia
The Utah Flash was a team of the NBA Development League
that began playing in 2007 and folded in 2011. They played their home games at the UCCU Center on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah
. The Utah Flash was the affiliate team for the Utah Jazz
and the Atlanta Hawks
.
The team name was chosen by a name-the-team contest, with the choices Dash, Flash, Dynos, and Heroes. The Utah Flash name was announced on April 17, 2007 by owner Brandt Andersen at a press conference; David Fredman was announced general manager at the same press conference. David Fredman had worked with the Utah Jazz for 28 years as an assistant coach and director of scouting; he was also the assistant general manager for the Denver Nuggets
. In the first season for the Flash on December 21, 2007 guard Morris Almond
(Who had been sent down to the D league by the Utah Jazz
) tied an NBA Development League
record with 51 points in a 118-116 victory over the Austin Toros
later in that season Almond broke the record with an 53-point performance in the 102-87 blowout win against the Bakersfield Jam
, Almond also lead the league in scoring averaging 25.6 points a game. Mark Madsen
(who formerly played with the L.A. Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves) was hired as assistant coach in 2009 he only coached the 2009 season.
On May 24, 2007 it was announced that Utah Jazz
regional scout Brad Jones (nephew of Jerry Sloan
who was the head coach of the Utah Jazz for 23 years) would be the team's inaugural head coach. Brad Jones retired as head coach of the Utah Flash on September 7, 2010 and Kevin Young was named as his replacement. Young had been the assistant coach for the Flash for the past 2 years. before he had joined the Flash as an assistant he was an assistant coach for NJCAA team Oxford College of Emory in Georgia he also worked for Utah Valley University he worked at developing player's skills he also contributed with video breakdowns and scouting.
On December 8, 2009, the Flash hosted a sold out crowd that hoped Michael Jordan
was going to appear to play in a charity exhibition at halftime against former Utah Jazz guard Bryon Russell
. However, Jordan did not appear, and a Jordan lookalike was introduced in what became one of the biggest hoaxes in minor league sports history.
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...
that began playing in 2007 and folded in 2011. They played their home games at the UCCU Center on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah
Orem, Utah
Orem is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States, in the north-central part of the state. It is adjacent to Provo, Lindon, and Vineyard and is about south of Salt Lake City. Orem is one of the principal cities of the Provo-Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Utah and...
. The Utah Flash was the affiliate team for the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
.
The team name was chosen by a name-the-team contest, with the choices Dash, Flash, Dynos, and Heroes. The Utah Flash name was announced on April 17, 2007 by owner Brandt Andersen at a press conference; David Fredman was announced general manager at the same press conference. David Fredman had worked with the Utah Jazz for 28 years as an assistant coach and director of scouting; he was also the assistant general manager for the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
. In the first season for the Flash on December 21, 2007 guard Morris Almond
Morris Almond
Morris Almond is an American professional basketball player.-High school:Almond attended McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia, and was a teammate of current Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith....
(Who had been sent down to the D league by the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
) tied an NBA Development League
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...
record with 51 points in a 118-116 victory over the Austin Toros
Austin Toros
The Austin Toros are a NBA Development League minor league basketball team based in Cedar Park, Texas, United States.The team plays home games at Cedar Park Center.Their logo is the design of a bull and basketball with the state of Texas in the background...
later in that season Almond broke the record with an 53-point performance in the 102-87 blowout win against the Bakersfield Jam
Bakersfield Jam
The Bakersfield Jam is an expansion franchise of the National Basketball Association Development League that began play in 2006-07. It plays its home games at the newly-built Jam Events Center in Bakersfield, California, United States, which had been built as their practice facility...
, Almond also lead the league in scoring averaging 25.6 points a game. Mark Madsen
Mark Madsen
Mark Ellsworth "Mad Dog" Madsen is an American assistant coach and former professional basketball player.Madsen played NCAA basketball at Stanford, where he finished his career ranked in the school's career top 10 in blocks and rebounds. In addition, Madsen helped the Cardinal to four NCAA...
(who formerly played with the L.A. Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves) was hired as assistant coach in 2009 he only coached the 2009 season.
On May 24, 2007 it was announced that Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
regional scout Brad Jones (nephew of Jerry Sloan
Jerry Sloan
Gerald Eugene "Jerry" Sloan , is an American former National Basketball Association player and head coach, and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. NBA commissioner David Stern called Sloan "one of the greatest and most respected coaches in NBA history." Sloan had a career regular-season...
who was the head coach of the Utah Jazz for 23 years) would be the team's inaugural head coach. Brad Jones retired as head coach of the Utah Flash on September 7, 2010 and Kevin Young was named as his replacement. Young had been the assistant coach for the Flash for the past 2 years. before he had joined the Flash as an assistant he was an assistant coach for NJCAA team Oxford College of Emory in Georgia he also worked for Utah Valley University he worked at developing player's skills he also contributed with video breakdowns and scouting.
On December 8, 2009, the Flash hosted a sold out crowd that hoped Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
was going to appear to play in a charity exhibition at halftime against former Utah Jazz guard Bryon Russell
Bryon Russell
Bryon Demetrise Russell is an American basketball player. During an NBA career that spanned from 1993 to 2006, he played for the Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Lakers and was a key member of the Utah Jazz, helping them reach back-to-back NBA finals appearances in 1997 and 1998...
. However, Jordan did not appear, and a Jordan lookalike was introduced in what became one of the biggest hoaxes in minor league sports history.
Season-By-Season
| Season | Division | Regular Season | Playoffs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | Wins | Losses | Pct. | ||||||
| Utah Flash | |||||||||
| 2007–08 | Western | 3rd | 24 | 26 | .480 | ||||
| 2008–09 | Western | 1st | 32 | 18 | .640 | Won Round 1 (Bakersfield Bakersfield Jam The Bakersfield Jam is an expansion franchise of the National Basketball Association Development League that began play in 2006-07. It plays its home games at the newly-built Jam Events Center in Bakersfield, California, United States, which had been built as their practice facility... ) 94-81 Won Semifinals (Dakota Dakota Wizards The Dakota Wizards are an American basketball team in the NBA Development League, based in Bismarck, North Dakota. Home games are played at the Bismarck Civic Center.-Beginnings in IBA:... ) 103-93 Lost D-League Finals (Colorado Colorado 14ers The Colorado 14ers were a team in the NBA Development League which began play in 2006-07. They were affiliated with the Denver Nuggets, New Jersey Nets and Toronto Raptors of the NBA. The 14ers played their home games at the Broomfield Event Center in the Denver suburb of Broomfield, Colorado. ... ) 2-0 |
|||
| 2009–10 | Western | 4th | 28 | 22 | .560 | Lost Round 1 (Iowa Iowa Energy The Iowa Energy are a 2007-08 expansion team of the NBA Development League, of which they are the current defending champions. They play their home games at the Wells Fargo Arena at Iowa Events Center.... ) 2-1 |
|||
| 2010-11 | Western | 5th | 28 | 22 | .560 | Lost Round 1 (Iowa Iowa Energy The Iowa Energy are a 2007-08 expansion team of the NBA Development League, of which they are the current defending champions. They play their home games at the Wells Fargo Arena at Iowa Events Center.... ) 2-1 |
|||
| 112 | 88 | .560 | 2007–2011 | ||||||
| Playoff Record | 4 | 6 | .400 | 2007–2011 | |||||
Final roster
Affiliates
- Atlanta HawksAtlanta HawksThe Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
(2009–2011) - Boston CelticsBoston CelticsThe Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
(2007–2009) - Utah JazzUtah JazzThe Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
(2007–2011)