Quad City Thunder - Championship Seasons

Championship Seasons

The 1993-94 team went 34-22 under Dan Panaggio. They swept through the playoffs, defeating: Rochester (Minn.) Renegades in overtime of a playoff play-in in Bismarck, N.D.; Grand Rapids 4-1 in best-of-seven second round; La Crosse 4-0 in conference finals; and Omaha 4-1, winning last three on road to claim franchise’s first league title. The Thunder won the opener in double overtime after Tate George tied the game with last-second buckets at both the end of regulation and of the first overtime. The Thunder then lost the second game in triple overtime, but won three straight in Omaha, the last in OT. Chris Childs averaged 17.4 points and 8.5 assists in the playoffs, was the Finals MVP and went on to the National Basketball Association. Other key players were Harold Ellis 21.4ppg, Tate George 16.4, Bobby Martin 13.6, Barry Mitchell 13.0, Matt Fish 7.1RPG, Ashraf Amaya 6.9, and Cedric Henderson 6.1.

The 1997-98 Thunder finished 38-18 under Dan Panaggio. In the playoffs: Swept La Crosse in three games, defeated Rockford in five . They won a deciding seventh at home over Sioux Falls to capture their second CBA Championship. Key players were: Jimmy King 16.4ppg, Jeff McInnis 14.9ppg, Alvin Sims 13.6ppg, Doug Smith 12.8ppg, Willie Burton 11.6, Byron Houston 8.7Rpg, and Barry Sumpter. King won league MVP, McInnis was Newcomer of the Year, Sims became the Thunder’s first Rookie of the Year and Dan Panaggio won his second Coach of the Year award.

The Thunder and their fans enjoyed a spirited rivalry with the Rockford Lightning.

The Thunder's mascot was Thor, the Norse god of thunder.

Hall of Fame played George Gervin played for the Thunder in 1989-90.