| Greenville Groove | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| League | NBA Development League | |||
| Founded | 2001 | |||
| History | Greenville Groove 2001–2003 | |||
| Arena | BI-LO Center | |||
| Location | Greenville, South Carolina | |||
| Team colors | Green and Blue | |||
| Head coach | Milton Barnes (2001-02) Tree Rollins (2002-03) | |||
| Ownership | Carl Scheer | |||
| Affiliation(s) | None | |||
| Championships | 1 NBA D-League (2002) | |||
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The Greenville Groove were a National Basketball Development League (NBDL) team based in Greenville, South Carolina. Playing their home games at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, the Groove was a charter franchise of the league, which had four teams based in the Carolinas. They were the league champions for the inaugural 2001–02 season but the team folded after the 2002–03 season.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced the Groove as one of the NBDL's charter franchises in July 2001.[1] On August 16, 2001, the team announced that Stephanie Ready would serve as the team's lone assistant coach in becoming the first woman to serve as a coach on an all-male professional basketball team.[2] Milton Barnes served as head coach of the first season and won the championship before leaving to become coach of the Harlem Globetrotters.[3] The team had won the inaugural NBDL title in defeating the North Charleston Lowgators two games to zero.[4]
Tree Rollins was tapped to serve as the new head coach. However, the league contracted the franchise in June 2003.[5] Its contraction was carried out by the league due to low attendance and increasing operating losses.[6]
- ^ Staff Reporters (July 17, 2001). "NBDL team names, colors announced". NBA.com: National Basketball Association. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ Berkow, Ira (August 15, 2001). "Ready for the challenge". Herald-Journal. Spartanburg, SC. p. B1. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/2002/07/11/rollins-planting-roots-with-greenville-groove-tree-ex-clemson-star-to-coach-nbdl-team/29645229007/ [bare URL]
- ^ Staff Reporters (April 11, 2002). "Greenville claims first NBDL crown". Herald-Journal. Spartanburg, SC. p. D4. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ Staff Reporters (June 13, 2003). "NBDL contracts Groove, Revelers". SI.com: Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ Strelow, Paul (June 13, 2003). "Greenville Groove shuts down". Herald-Journal. Spartanburg, SC. p. B4. Retrieved June 5, 2010.