GRAND RAPIDS 1995-96 EASTERN DIVISION CHAMPIONS

Grand Rapids Mackers
CBA 1994-1996

After the Grand Rapids Hoops completed the 1993-94 regular season, the franchise was sold to a new ownership group, led by Mark Kimball. The team was renamed the "Mackers" in May 1994, as Kimball owned the legendary Gus Macker Three-on-Three Basketball Tournament, and for the next two years the Mackers represented Grand Rapids in the CBA.

The team started out strongly, led by eventual CBA Newcomer of the Year Marques Bragg, a 6'8" forward who averaged 39 minutes per game, led the team in scoring (19.8 ppg) and shot .527 percent from the field. Bragg's 486 rebounds during the sesaon was the best of any CBA Grand Rapids-based team. The Mackers did make the playoffs, but were bounced in the first round by the Chicago Rockers.

For the Mackers' second season, head coach Dick Hunsacker was replaced by Brendan Suhr, who was an assistant coach with the Detroit Pistons during that team's "Bad Boys" championship years. Under Suhr, the Mackers finished first in the Eastern Division, led with Ray Jackson (1996 CBA All-Rookie Team), Cuonzo Martin, Michael McDonald and Matt Maloney. Even after winning the Eastern Division regular season title, the Mackers again made a quick exit from the playoffs.

Mark Kimball later sold his ownership in the Mackers to Bob Przybysz, who changed the team's name back to the "Hoops" for the remainder of its existence.

             W   L   QW     QP   Result
1994-1995   29  27 114.0  201.0  lost in quarterfinals
1995-1996   33  23 110.5  209.5  lost in quarterfinals

1994-1995 Lost in quarterfinals to Chicago, 1 game to 2
1995-1996 Lost in quarterfinals to Quad City, 1 game to 3