LWD Basket is a Dutch professional basketball club based in Leeuwarden. Founded as Aris Leeuwarden in 2004, the club competes in the BNXT League, and has competed at the highest national level since its foundation. The team plays its home games at the Kalverdijkje.

LWD Basket
LWD Basket logo
LeaguesBNXT League
Founded2004; 20 years ago (2004)
History
List
  • Woon! Aris
    (2004–2007)
    Aris Friesland
    (2007–2009)
    De Friesland Aris
    (2009–2011)
    Lasaulec Aris
    (2011–2012)
    Aris Leeuwarden
    (2012–2023)
    LWD Basket
    (2023–present)
ArenaKalverdijkje
Capacity1,700
LocationLeeuwarden, Netherlands
Team colorsYellow, Navy Blue
   
Team managerGert Schurer
Head coachVincent van Sliedregt
2021–22 positionBNXT League, 14th of 21
Websitelwdbasket.nl

The most notable successes are reaching the DBL finals in 2013 and the NBB Cup final in 2020.

History

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The parent club was actually founded in 1992, when the clubs Sporty and Ymir merged into BV Aris. In 2004 the professional team was founded, when the team promoted from the Promotiedivisie – the Dutch second-tier league – to the Eredivisie. The team, coached by Tom Simpson, was named Woon!Aris for sponsorship reasons and reached the Playoffs in its first season. After then, the team failed to reach the postseason for four seasons. In 2009–10, Aris, then named De Friesland Aris, reached the playoff semi-finals for the first time.

In the 2012–13 season, Aris was in financial trouble after it lost their main sponsor Lasaulec.[1] Despite these circumstances Aris' squad – which included All-Stars Holcomb-Faye and Givens – reached the DBL Finals. Rival #1 seed Den Bosch was knocked out of the tournament 3–1 in the semi-finals. In the Finals Aris played ZZ Leiden and lost 0–4 to the #2 seed of the regular season.[2]

Before the start of the 2013–14 Aris signed a new main sponsor in Univé, which guaranteed the existence of the team despite its ongoing financial struggles.[3] The capacity of Kalverdijkje was also increased from 800 to 1,700 to further increase the stability for the club's future.[4]

In the 2019–20 season, Aris reached the final of the Dutch Basketball Cup for the first time in history under head coach Ferried Naciri.[5] The final, however, was never played as the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. The final, which was to be played against Donar, was cancelled as well after no new date could be found.[6]

Since the 2021–22 season, Aris plays in the BNXT League, in which the national leagues of Belgium and the Netherlands have been merged.[7] During the 2022–23 season, Aris reached the semi-finals for a third time in history.

At the end of the 2022–23 season, it was revealed that the club was in financial difficulties. The BNXT organisation denied the club’s first application for a licence. To resolve the issues, the stichting behind the club was resolved and a new club was founded in a besloten vennootschap by the three members of the board, Johan Meijer, Gert Schrurer and Paul de Jong. The new name of the phoenix club was decided to be LWD Basket, with LWD being an abbreviation for Leeuwarden.[8] LWD Basket adopted new club colours, blue and yellow, which it lends from the flag of the city.

Honours

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Dutch Basketball League

Dutch Cup

Season by season

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Champions Runners-up Playoff berth
Season Tier League Finish Played Wins Losses Win% Dutch Playoffs NBB Cup BNXT Playoffs Head coach
Aris Leeuwarden
2004–05 1 DBL 7th 20 11 9 .550 Lost quarterfinals (Den Bosch), 0–2 Tom Simpson
2005–06 1 DBL 10th 26 5 21 .192
2006–07 1 DBL 9th 40 14 26 .350 Andre Roorda
2007–08 1 DBL 10th 40 8 32 .200 Tony van den Bosch
2008–09 1 DBL 10th 40 12 28 .300 Pete Miller
2009–10 1 DBL 6th 36 19 17 .528 Won quarterfinals (Den Bosch), 2–0
Lost semifinals (West-Brabant Giants), 1–3
Fourth round
2010–11 1 DBL 5th 36 17 19 .472 Lost quarterfinals (Magixx), 1–2 Quarterfinalist
2011–12 1 DBL 6th 28 10 18 .370 Lost group stage quarterfinals Fourth round Erik Braal
2012–13 1 DBL 4th 36 20 16 .556 Won quarterfinals (Landstede), 3–0
Won semifinals (Den Bosch), 3–1
Lost finals (ZZ Leiden), 0–4
Semifinalist
2013–14 1 DBL 6th 36 13 23 .361 Lost quarterfinals (SPM Shoeters), 0–2 Semifinalist Ed Molthoff
2014–15 1 DBL 6th 28 8 20 .286 Lost quarterfinals (Donar), 0–2 Quarterfinalist Tom Simpson
2015–16 1 DBL 7th 28 9 19 .321 Semifinals Michael Schuurs
Klaas Stoppels (a.i.)
2016–17 1 DBL 7th 28 8 20 .286 Quarterfinals Klaas Stoppels
2017–18 1 DBL 6th 32 10 22 .313 Lost quarterfinals (ZZ Leiden), 1–2 Quarterfinals Tony van den Bosch
2018–19 1 DBL 7th 34 9 25 .265 Lost quarterfinals (Landstede), 0–2 Fourth round Tony van den Bosch
Anne van Dijk (a.i.)
2019–20 1 DBL 8th 24 7 17 .292 Cancelled Runners-up[a] Ferried Naciri
2020–21 1 DBL 11th 21 4 17 .190 First Round
2021–22 1 BNXT League 14th 30 14 16 .467 Lost quarterfinals (Donar), 1–2 Semifinalist Lost second round (Okapi), 128–161 Vincent van Sliedregt
  1. ^ a b Aris reached the final of the 2019–20 Dutch Basketball Cup against Donar. However, the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the final was never played.

Players

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The teampicture of the Aris roster of the 2011–12 season

Current roster

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Aris Leeuwarden roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Age
C 2   Doorson, Shaquille 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in) 30 – (1994-02-26)26 February 1994
G 3   van der Geijn, Thomas 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 21 – (2003-02-12)12 February 2003
G 4   Frierson, Matt 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 27 – (1997-05-02)2 May 1997
F 5   Johansson, Daniel 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 26 – (1998-04-04)4 April 1998
G 6   ter Weeme, Bram 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 18 – (2006-07-16)16 July 2006
F 7   Douwes, Jurrian 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 22 – (2002-07-11)11 July 2002
F 9   Whitfield, Devin 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 26 – (1998-03-10)10 March 1998
PG 11   Murray, Joel 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 24 – (1999-11-23)23 November 1999
C 15   Brandsma, Reinder 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 25 – (1999-11-11)11 November 1999
F 24   Merkx, Bjorn 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) 22 – (2002-03-08)8 March 2002
F/C 32   Hemphill, Jack 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 25 – (1999-05-15)15 May 1999
G 55   Duncan, Robin 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 28 – (1996-08-23)23 August 1996
Head coach
  •   Vincent van Sliedregt
Assistant coach(es)
  •   Klaas Stoppels
Physician(s)
  •   Piet Bouius
  •   Jan Watse Jousma
Team manager
  •   Jouke Lemke

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  •   Injured

Updated: November 1, 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Notable players

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Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Criteria

To appear in this section a player must have either:

  • Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club
  • Played at least one official international match for their national team at any time
  • Played at least one official NBA match at any time.
  •   Meshack Lufile
    (1 season: 2016-17)
  • Individual awards

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    Top scorers by seasons

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    Season Name PPG
    2011–12   Lance Jeter 16.8
    2012–13   Samme Givens 16.4
    2013–14   Darius Theus 16.5
    2014–15   Tjoe de Paula 17.0
    2015–16   Javier Duren 17.7
    2016–17   Jordan Gregory 18.6
     
    Season Name PPG
    2017–18   Emile Blackman 16.4
    2018–19   Nick Masterson 16.6
    2019–20   Andrzej Mazurczak 16.5
    2020–21   Chad Frazier 12.7
    2021–22   Nigel Pruitt
    16.9

    [9]

    List of head coaches

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    The following list shows all head coaches of Aris Leeuwarden since its inception in 2004:

    Name From To Ref.
      Tom Simpson 2004 2006
      Andre Roorda 2007 2008
      Tony van den Bosch 2008 2009
      Pete Miller 2009 2011
      Erik Braal 2011 2013
      Ed Molthoff 2013 February 2014
      Tom Simpson February 2014 2015
      Michael Schuurs 2015 2016
      Klaas Stoppels 2016 2017
      Tony van den Bosch 2017 April 2019 [10]
      Anne van Dijk (interim) April 2019 May 2019 [11]
      Ferried Naciri September 2019 May 2021 [12]
      Vincent van Sliedregt June 2021 present [13]

    References

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    1. ^ "Huis aan Huis Leeuwarden maakt gebruik van cookies". Aris in nood na vertrek hoofdsponsor Lasaulec; hoop gevestigd op gemeente (in Dutch). 1 June 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
    2. ^ Fryslân, Redaksje Omrop (24 May 2013). "Aris geen basketbalkampioen". Omrop Fryslân (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 August 2018.
    3. ^ "Eredivisie basketbal Nederland, basketballleague.nl". Archived from the original on 2015-02-04. Retrieved 2014-08-19.
    4. ^ "Sportcomplex Kalverdijkje, Leeuwarden". Jorritsma bouw (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 August 2018.
    5. ^ "Basketballers Aris foar it earst yn de kluphistoarje nei bekerfinale". Omrop Fryslân. 22 February 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
    6. ^ "De strijd om de Basketball Cup van 2020 bij de mannen gaat helaas niet door". Basketball League (in Dutch). Retrieved 10 July 2021.
    7. ^ "Licenties BNXT League 2021-2022 toegekend". Basketball League (in Dutch). Retrieved 10 July 2021.
    8. ^ "Basketbalclub Aris verdwijnt, maar Leeuwarden krijgt er LWD Basket voor terug". www.omropfryslan.nl (in Dutch). 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
    9. ^ "Aris Leeuwarden Stats - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
    10. ^ "Tony van den Bosch nieuwe headcoach Aris Leeuwarden". Aris Leeuwarden (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 August 2018.
    11. ^ "Anne van Dijk maakt seizoen af als hoofdcoach bij Aris". Omrop Fryslân (in Dutch). 10 April 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
    12. ^ "Aris in zee met Belgische coach Ferried Naciri". De Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch). 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.[permanent dead link]
    13. ^ "Van Sliedregt nieuwe hoofdcoach Aris". Basketball.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 10 July 2021.
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