Bellingham's first professional basketball team is coming to town sporting a catchy name -- the Bellingham Slam.
The Slam's management is confident local businesses and the people of Bellingham are going to support the expansion team. The Slam will play its home games at Whatcom Community College, assistant general manager Kip Leonetti said.
The team is a member of the revamped American Basketball Association, which is in its fourth season since its rebirth in 2000. The ABA's original stint spanned from 1967 to 1976.
"The response we've gotten so far has been shocking," Leonetti said. "It's going to be a lot of fun for everyone."
The ABA serves the NBA as its minor league, Leonetti said. The league is a platform for players to get exposure to the NBA. The ABA is comprised of 57 teams across the nation, including the 2004 ABA league champion Kansas City Knights. The league also includes two other Washington teams -- the Bellevue Blackhawks and ABA Tacoma.
The Slam is in the process of choosing players to fill the roster for this coming season, which begins in November.
Five former Western players hope to wear a Slam jersey, Leonetti said. Former Western guard Shelton Diggs is trying out. Diggs' younger brother Ryan Diggs currently plays for Western. Also trying out are former Western players, such as center Brian "Yogi" Dennis, guard Jacob Stevenson, guard Darnell Taylor and forward Craig Roosendaal, who still attends Western.
"There are a lot of really good players," Roosendaal said. "The people playing in the ABA are the top players from their college teams, (but) some choose to go overseas."
The Slam played host to its last open tryout camp Sunday in Richmond, British Columbia. The team has already selected 15 players from tryouts in the previous months and will select 15 players from a closed tryout Aug. 26. The team will then cut the team to 14 players from 30, Leonetti said.
Most players the team picks for its final roster will sign a one-year contract. Each ABA team has a salary cap of $120,000 to divide among the players.
Assistant general manager Bob Hofstetter said selecting players is a detailed process.
"First we target people that have a desire to be in the area," he said. "Then we look at players that we've seen play and can play at this level."
Hofstetter's job includes developing relationships with players before the tryout process starts. He said he spends hours on the phone with players and works in the community while the team develops.
Naming the team was an interesting ordeal for the Slam's front office, Hofstetter said.
"First you have to see if the city likes the name," he said. "The name sort of establishes your image, and the Bellingham Slam sounds dynamic. We're definitely gonna have some guys playing above the rim."
The ABA's style is up-tempo, fast-paced and skills-based, Hofstetter said. The league puts an emphasis on pure basketball with fundamentals and a focus on outside shooting, contrasted with the slow, low-post game of the NBA.
The Slam's front office is packed with recognizable local names such as head coach Rob Ridnour, a Blaine high school teacher and father of SuperSonics point guard Luke Ridnour. The Slam's owner is John Dominguez, father of Tony Dominguez, the Western men's basketball team assistant coach. Hofstetter is also the membership services manager at the Wade King Student Recreation Center.
