 | |
| Founded | 2010 |
|---|---|
| Folded | 2022 |
| League | ABA (2010–2022) |
| Team history | Jacksonville Giants (2010–2022) |
| Based in | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Arena | VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena |
| Colors | Navy Blue,Orange |
| Owner | Ron Sholes |
| Head coach | Jerry "Mouse" Williams |
| Championships | 7 (2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021) |
| Regional titles | 3 (2011, 2012, 2013) |
| Dancers | Gems and Jewels |
| Mascot | Mr. Biggs |
TheJacksonville Giants were a professionalminor leaguebasketball team based inJacksonville, Florida. They were the 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021 National Champions of the newAmerican Basketball Association (ABA), which they joined as anexpansion team for the 2010–2011 season. They play most home games atVyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. In addition to their six national championships, the Giants won regional titles in 2011, 2012, and 2013. In 2014, the team was recognized for their off-the-court achievements with the ABA National Charity Award for their work in the Jacksonville community.
In May 2010 theAmerican Basketball Association announced a new franchise based inJacksonville would join the league for the 2010–2011 season. The name was announced as the Jacksonville Giants in November. The owner was Jacksonville attorney Ron Sholes, while the head coach and general manager was Kevin Waters, who previously owned and coached theJacksonville Bluewaves of theWorld Basketball Association.[1][2]
Jacksonville was home to an earlier ABA team, theJacksonville Jam. The Jam played in the ABA for the 2006–2007 season before moving to the rivalPremier Basketball League in 2008, but folded by the end of the season.[1]
In 2010 owner Sholes stated that he hoped to avoid the fate of the Jam and other minor league basketball teams that have failed in Jacksonville with a more professional marketing strategy. He signed a contract with the city's major indoor venue, theJacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, to use for home games, and contracted with television and radio stations to broadcast games.[1][3] The Giants debuted on December 4, 2010, defeating theSan Francisco Rumble 182–124.[4] They excelled on the court, going 23–0 in the regular season and advancing to the league playoffs, but were ultimately knocked out.[5] They claimed an average attendance of 2000 in their inaugural season.[6]
The Giants had their 2011–2012 opener on December 3, 2011, defeating the Gulf Coast Flash by 1 point on a buzzer beating 3-pointer by Shooting Guard Currye Todd on an inbound pass from formerNational Basketball Association player and 1992 US Dream TeamerChristian Laettner. Laettner joined the Giants for all 11 of their home games that season. The Giants played two home games atUNF Arena at theUniversity of North Florida, and played the remaining nine at the Veterans Memorial Arena. The Giants won the 2012 ABA Championship, defeating theSouth Carolina Warriors 2–0 in a best-of-three series.[7]
Giants finished the season with a 29–1 regular season record and hosted the ABA Final Four tournament. Giants won second ABA Championship in a row, defeating theNorth Dallas Vandals, from whom they received their only loss of the regular season, 2–0 in a best-of-three series.
Giants finish season with 29–1 record for the second straight season and advanced through the playoffs to the ABA National Championship game for the third straight season. The Giants fell to theShreveport-Bossier Mavericks 2–0 in a best-of-three series. The first game was lost in overtime and the second was lost on a botched inbound attempt that sealed the game for the Mavericks. The 2013–2014 season saw a lot of positives for the Giants as they broke the ABA Regular Season Attendance record with 8,345 fans in attendance on February 2.
Finishing the season with a 19–1 record the Giants head to the ABA Final Eight in Austin, TX. In Austin, TX the Jacksonville Giants go 3-0 defeating the Steel City Yellow Jackets (125-103), the DMV Warriors (111-102) and the Austin Bats (119-114) to claim the 2018 ABA National Championship title. With this title the Jacksonville Giants complete the three-peat making this their third championship in a row and their fifth overall championship for the city of Jacksonville.
The Jacksonville Giants finish the regular season with a 20–1 record and head to the ABA Final 8 in St. Louis, MO. The Giants take a 129–98 win over the Steel City Yellow Jackets in the first round of playoffs and advance to the semifinals. In the semifinals the Giants take on the Syracuse Stallions and are able to pull off a 149–129 win which advanced them to the 2019 ABA National Championship game. In the championship the Jacksonville Giants get a rematch with the South Florida Gold, the only team to defeat the Jacksonville Giants in the regular season. In the regular season the Gold took down the Giants with only a 5-point lead. In the title game the Jacksonville Giants were able to redeem themselves with a 116–112 win over the South Florida Gold to claim the 2019 title. The 2019 National Championship win makes it the 6th overall title for the Giants and the 4th in a row.
The 2019–2020 season marks the 10th Anniversary of the Jacksonville Giants conception.
Following elimination from the 2021–22 playoffs by the Steel City Yellow Jackets,[8] the Giants ceased operations.
The Jacksonville Giants had the largest ABA dance team.[citation needed] Over 40 girls, ages 13 through 25, danced on two separate teams. The junior (or teenage) dance team was titled the Jacksonville Gems, while the adult dance team wascalled the Jacksonville Jewels.
All Jacksonville Giants home games played in the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena were televised onWCWJ in high-definition. Broadcaster and sports talk radio host Richard Miller formerly hosted the Giants broadcasts starting during Season One in 2010. Arley Johnson and Matt Potak were later featured on the broadcast of the Jacksonville Giants home games.
All Jacksonville Giants home games aired onWJXL 1010XL. Spencer Luthin (aka Spencer "Balls" Davis) hosted Giants radio since December 6, 2013.[citation needed]
February 7, 2014 – Most Points Scored in Basketball History – 222 points
February 5, 2012 – Most Points Scored in Basketball History – 211 points
February 1, 2014 – Highest Regular Season Attendance in ABA History – 8,354.
February 19, 2016 - Highest Regular Season Attendance in ABA History – 8,987.
June 1, 2014 – National ABA Charity Award for Outstanding Service to the Community.
2015-2015 Season – ABA Team of the Year, Ron Sholes ABA Owner of the Year, Pam Masters general Manager of the year, Kevin Waters coach of the year
2018-2019 Season – Maurice Mickens received ABA Player of the Year
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The Steel City Yellow Jackets defeated the defending ABA Champion Jacksonville Giants, 127-122, to advance to the ABA Finals...
