La Crosse Catbirds

La Crosse Catbirds
LeagueCBA 1990–2008
Founded1983
Folded1995
HistoryLouisville Catbirds
1983–1985
La Crosse Catbirds
1985–1994
Pittsburgh Piranhas
1994–1995
ArenaLa Crosse Center
LocationLa Crosse, Wisconsin, United States
Head coachFlip Saunders[1]
Championships2 (1990, 1992)

The La Crosse Catbirds was an American basketball team based in La Crosse, Wisconsin and member of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA).[2] The Catbirds were the 1990 and 1992 CBA champions. The team moved to La Crosse from Louisville in 1985, and left La Crosse for Pittsburgh in May 1994.[1] La Crosse would see the CBA return in 1995 when the La Crosse Bobcats took to the court.

Widely known as the training ground for future NBA coach Flip Saunders, who led the team to both championships.[3]

Several future and previous NBA players played for the Catbirds, including Andre Turner, David Rivers, Mark Davis, Derrick Gervin, Elliot Perry, Jaren Jackson, Kevin Lynch, Dennis Nutt and Kenny Battle.[citation needed]

  1. ^ a b "La Crosse Catbirds". Archived from the original on 2016-05-15. Retrieved 2015-06-16.
  2. ^ Bradley, Robert. "History of the Continental Basketball Association". www.apbr.org. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
  3. ^ "Flip Saunders". NBA. Archived from the original on 2012-11-03. Retrieved 2013-02-17.