The Thunder first began play at theWharton Field House inMoline, Illinois, (former home of the NBA'sTri-Cities Blackhawks) in the 1987–88 season, with 6,047 fans attending the first home game. The Thunder were the first professional basketball franchise in the Quad Cities since the Tri-Cities Blackhawks moved toMilwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1953.[3] Initially a great success in the CBA, the Thunder struggled with attendance towards the end of their existence, especially with competition from their co-tenants at the Mark, theQuad City Mallards hockey team. The Thunder folded when the CBA ceased operations following the 2000–01 season.[4]
The 1993–1994 team went 34–22 under Dan Panaggio. They swept through the playoffs. They first defeated theRochester Renegades in overtime of a playoff play-in in Bismarck, N.D. They then defeated theGrand Rapids Hoops 4–1 in best-of-seven second round; Defeated theLa Crosse Catbirds 4–0 in conference finals.
Finally, the Thunder defeated theOmaha Racers 4–1, winning last three on road to claim franchise’s first league title. The Thunder won the opener in double overtime afterTate George tied the game with last-second buckets at both the end of regulation and of the first overtime. The Thunder then lost the second game in triple overtime, but won three straight in Omaha, the last in overtime.
The 1997–98 Thunder finished 38–18 under Dan Panaggio. In the playoffs they swept the La Crosse Catbirds in three games and defeated theRockford Lightning in five games.
In the CBA Finals, they won a deciding seventh at home over theSioux Falls Skyforce to capture their second CBA Championship. Key players were:Jimmy King 16.4ppg,Jeff McInnis 14.9ppg,Alvin Sims 13.6ppg,Doug Smith 12.8ppg,Willie Burton 11.6,Byron Houston 8.7Rpg, andBarry Sumpter. King won league MVP, McInnis was Newcomer of the Year, Sims became the Thunder’s first Rookie of the Year and Dan Panaggio won his second Coach of the Year award.[5]
The Thunder and their fans enjoyed a spirited rivalry with theRockford Lightning.
The Thunder's mascot wasThor, the Norse god of thunder.
Hall of Fame playerGeorge Gervin played for the Thunder during the 1989–90 season in a brief comeback attempt. His tenure highlighted by the December 13, 1989 matchup against his brotherDerrick Gervin and his Santa Barbara team. In that game, George scored 43 points and Derrick 39 in a Thunder record 172-122 victory.
In 1992, history was made when, for the first time in the 45-year history of U.S. professional basketball, a father and son opposed one another as head coaches. Former Thunder Coach Mauro Panaggio went head to head against son Dan Panaggio when Mauro's Rockford Lightning played Dan's Quad City Thunder.[6]
From 2002-04 five former Thunder players/coaches/staffers were with the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers simultaneously.Jeff McInnis (player),Maurice Cheeks (Head Coach), Dan Panaggio (assistant coach), Dave Cohen (Director of Sales) and Joe Bivona (Director of Game Operations).
