Bayer Giants Leverkusen

Bayer Giants Leverkusen
Leagues ProA
Founded 1961 (1961)
History TuS Bayer 04 Leverkusen (1961–1983)
TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen (1983–2000)
Bayer Giants Leverkusen
(2000–present)
Arena Wilhelm Dopatka Halle
Arena Capacity 3,500
Location Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia
Championships 14 German Championships
10 German Cup
1 ProB
Website www.bayer-basketball.de
Uniforms
Home
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Bayer Giants Leverkusen is a professional basketball club, part of the Bayer Leverkusen sports club based in Leverkusen, Germany. It currently plays in ProA, German second league.

Based on the number of titles, Leverkusen is the most successful team in the history of German Basketball.[1] In 2009, the Bayer company cut down sponsorship and the club went down to Germany's Pro B (3rd division) to restructure. The license for the Basketball Bundesliga was transferred to the newly formed Giants Düsseldorf.

History

Founded as TuS Bayer 04 Leverkusen in 1961, the club moved up to first division Basketball Bundesliga in 1968. The club won 5 national championships and 4 German Cups as TuS 04 Leverkusen before it changed its name and continued its dominance as TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Until today, the club has won more national titles than any other German basketball team.[2]

To the disdain of all of its supporters, in 2008 the Bayer company decided to make dramatic cuts in its sponsorship for the team and simply focus on its football operations and amateur athletics. This move forced the club's basketball team to cede its Basketball Bundesliga license to the newly formed Giants Düsseldorf and move down to Germany’s 3rd Division Pro B to restructure.

Thousands of club supporters gathered in the streets of Leverkusen to protest the company’s move.[3][4]

On 2013, the club promotes to ProA.

Season by season

Season Tier League Pos. Postseason German Cup European competitions
1989–90 1 Bundesliga 1 Champion Champion 2 Cup Winner's Cup Round of 16
1990–91 1 Bundesliga 1 Champion Champion 1 Champions Cup quarterfinalist
1991–92 1 Bundesliga 1 Champion 1 Euroleague Group stage
1992–93 1 Bundesliga 1 Champion Champion 1 Euroleague Group stage
1993–94 1 Bundesliga 1 Champion Semifinalist 1 Euroleague Group stage
1994–95 1 Bundesliga 1 Champion Champion 1 Euroleague Group stage
1995–96 1 Bundesliga 1 Champion Runner-up 1 Euroleague Group stage
1996–97 1 Bundesliga 4 Semifinalist 1 Euroleague Group stage
1997–98 1 Bundesliga 8 Quarterfinalist 2 EuroCup Round of 32
1998–99 1 Bundesliga 4 Semifinalist 3 Korać Cup Group stage
1999–00 1 Bundesliga 2 Runner-up 3 Korać Cup Group stage
2000–01 1 Bundesliga 3 Semifinalist Third position 1 SuproLeague Regular season
2001–02 1 Bundesliga 5 Quarterfinalist 3 Korać Cup Round of 16
2002–03 1 Bundesliga 8 Quarterfinalist 4 Regional Challenge Cup North Runner-up
2003–04 1 Bundesliga 8 Quarterfinalist
2004–05 1 Bundesliga 13
2005–06 1 Bundesliga 10
2006–07 1 Bundesliga 8 Quarterfinalist
2007–08 1 Bundesliga 6 Quarterfinalist
2008–09 4 1st Regionalliga 1 Promoted
2009–10 3 ProB 7
2010–11 3 ProB 8 Round of 16
2011–12 3 ProB 11
2012–13 3 ProB 5 PromotedChampion
2013–14 2 ProA 13
2014–15 2 ProA 14

Honours

Winners (14): 1970, 1971, 1972, 1976, 1979, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996
Winners (10): 1970, 1971, 1974, 1976, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995
Winners (1): 2013

Notable players

  • Germany Michael Pappert 4 seasons: '85-'89
  • Germany Jochen Pollex 3 seasons: '69-'72
  • Germany Sven Schultze 3 seasons: '02-'05
  • Germany United States Derrick Taylor 2 seasons: '97-'99
  • Germany Norbert Thimm 10 seasons: '69-'72,'74-'81
  • Germany Lutz Wadehn 3 seasons: '86-'89
  • Germany Christian Welp 5 seasons: '91-'96
  • Germany Denis Wucherer 9 seasons: '92-'98, '02-'05
  • Spain Mike Hansen 3 seasons: '99-'02
  • Estonia Kristjan Kangur 2 seasons: '04-'06

References

External links

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