BV Den Helder

BV Den Helder was a professional basketball club from Den Helder, Netherlands. The team had several seasons in the Dutch Basketball League, the highest professional league in the Netherlands. The club is currently inactive, however Den Helder Suns has replaced the club as professional team from Den Helder.

The club has won the Dutch League six times and the NBB Cup once. The club had a long history of financial troubles, with the club being dissolved three times. The last time the club appeared at the highest level was in 2014, as the professional team was declared bankrupt during that season.

History
The club was founded in 1981, as a separation was made between amateur sports club BV Noordkop. BV Den Helder became the separated professional team. The club played in the Eredivisie in its first season. Home games were played in Sporthal Sportlaan and Sporthal de Slenk. With coach Ton Boot the club experienced its best years: the team won the championship six times between 1989 and 1998. Den Helder won the NBB Cup in 1992. In 2005, the club was forced to leave the Dutch Basketball League because of a shortage of money. The club played a few years in an amateur competition. Den Helder returned to the professional level in 2007, but after two seasons the club was declared bankrupt.

Den Helder Kings era
In 2012 the club changed its name to Den Helder Kings, as the first team returned to the Dutch Basketball League again. In its first season the team played in its new home arena KingsDome. The new head coach was Belgian Jean-Marc Jaumin. After a solid first season with a sixth place, the Kings really performed in the following season.

In the 2013–14 season, the team led by Manny Ubilla finished third in the regular season. Before the 2014 Playoffs, the name of the club was changed to "Port of Den Helder Kings" after the club started a conjunction with the Port of Den Helder. In the playoffs, the team beat Magixx 2–0 in the quarterfinals before being swept by SPM Shoeters Den Bosch in the semifinals.

In the 2014–15 season, financial problems troubled the Kings. The team had a €200,000 deficit in their budget and in December the professional team was declared bankrupt. All results of the team were removed and the Kings were expelled from the DBL.

Den Helder Suns
In 2016, a new professional team in the city was founded with the Den Helder Suns which entered the 2016–17 DBL season.

Names
Since its establishment the club frequently changed its name due to sponsorship deals. • 1981–1984: Albert van Zoonen/Cracks

• 1984–1986: Doppeldouche

• 1986–1989: Direktbank

• 1989–1992: Commodore

• 1992–1995: Mustang Jeans Den Helder

• 1995–1997: René Colthof

• 1997–2000: Hans Verkerk

• 2000–2001: Conesco

• 2001–2003: CEB/Noordkop

• 2003–2005: Cape Holland

• 2005–2007: BlueStream Seals

• 2007–2009: Den Helder Seals

• 2012–2014: Den Helder Kings

• 2014: Port of Den Helder Kings

Honours
Dutch Basketball League Dutch Cup
 * Winners (6): 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1994–95, 1997–98
 * Winners (1): 1991–92

European record

 * Notes

Individual awards

 * DBL Most Valuable Player
 * 🇺🇸 Jose Waitman – 1987
 * DBL Most Improved Player
 * Jeroen van der List – 2013, 2014
 * DBL Rookie of the Year
 * Eric van der Sluis – 1993
 * Tjoe de Paula – 2002
 * DBL All-Stars
 * 🇺🇸 Manny Ubilla – 2014
 * 🇺🇸 Justin Knox – 2014

Notable players
• Chris Mims

• Serge Zwikker

• Peter van Paassen

• Thomas Koenis

• Jeroen van der List

• Rogier Jansen

• Tjoe de Paula

• 🇺🇸 Justin Knox

• Manny Ubilla (1 season: 2013–14)

• 🇺🇬 Stanley Ocitti (1 season: 2003–04)

Head coaches

 * BV Den Helder
 * Ton Boot (1985–1993)
 * Meindert van Veen (1993–1995)
 * Den Helder Seals
 * Peter van Noord (2007–2009)
 * Den Helder Kings
 * 🇧🇪 Jean-Marc Jaumin (2012–2014)