Yakama Sun Kings

CBA team
color1 = #FDD017
color2 = #151B8D

pixels = 150px
founded = 1990
league = CBA 1990-present
history = Kansas City Sizzlers
1985-1986
Topeka Sizzlers
1986-1990
Yakima Sun Kings
1990-2005
Yakama Sun Kings
2005-2008
arena = Yakima SunDome
city = Yakima, Washington
colors = Blue, Gold and White
owner = Yakama Indian Nation
coach = Paul Woolpert
championships = 5 (1995, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007)
titles = 2 (1995, 2007)
cheerleaders =
dancers =
mascot = ReboundThe Yakama Sun Kings were a Continental Basketball Association franchise located in Yakima, Washington, covering the Central Washington sports market of Yakima, Tri-Cities, and Ellensburg. The Sun Kings played at the Yakima SunDome.

Originally located in Kansas City, Missouri, and then Topeka, Kansas, the franchise moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1990 and was renamed the Yakima Sun Kings. The Sun Kings have been fairly successful historically, given the inconsistent nature of minor-league basketball; they won the 1994-95, 1999-2000, and 2002-03 CBA championships. The Sun Kings had a disappointing 2003-04 season when they posted a 10-38 record. They were also 0-9 against the CBA Champion Dakota Wizards.

In June 2005, the team was purchased by the Yakama Indian Nation, and were renamed the Yakama Sun Kings to honor the Nation.

Ronny Turiaf, a 2005 draft pick of the Los Angeles Lakers, played nine games for the Sun Kings in the 2005-06 season, less than six months after undergoing open-heart surgery which caused the Lakers to void his contract. He averaged 13 points in nine games with the team before re-signing with the Lakers in January 2006. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nba&id=2297233 ESPN.com, "Lakers sign F Turiaf"] accessed February 1, 2005]

The Sun Kings won their fourth CBA Championship with a 111-101 victory in Game 3 of a best-of-3 finals series against the Gary Steelheads on March 27, 2006. [ [http://www.yakimaherald.com/page/dis/285729302468753 Yakima Herald-Republic, "Sun Kings win CBA Title"] ]

In 2006-07 the Sun Kings repeated as champions, sweeping the Albany Patroons three games to none. [ [http://www.yakima-herald.com/page/dis/348195626873875 Yakima Herald-Republic, "Without a doubt - Sun Kings win CBA Title"] ]

Although the Yakama Indian Nation announced they had shut down team operations on April 10, 2008, due to the franchise's financial losses, [ [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sonics/2004340144_websunkings10.html Seattle Times, "CBA's Sun Kings Fold"] ] potential investors continue to meet with the team's owners in order to keep the team afloat. [ [http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/3898 Yakima Herald-Republic, "CBA -- Potential Sun Kings owners emerge"] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.sunkings.com/ Yakama Sun Kings official website]