Kortrijk Spurs

Kortrijk Spurs
Kortrijk Spurs logo
LeagueBNXT League
Founded2019
HistoryKortrijk Spurs
2019–present
ArenaSportcampus Lange Munte
Capacity2,400
LocationKortrijk, Belgium
ChairmanSteve Rousseau
Head coachChristophe Beghin
Websitewww.houseoftalentsspurs.be

The Kortrijk Spurs, for sponsorship reasons known as House of Talent Spurs, are a Belgian professional basketball club based in Kortrijk. As of 2023, the club features 62 teams which makes it the largest basketball club in Belgium.[1] Its first men's team plays in the BNXT League.[1]

Home games are played in the event hall of Sportcampus Lange Munte, which can host 2,400 people.[2]

History

The Kortrijk Spurs were founded after a merger between K Basketteam Kortrijk and BC Kortrijk Sport took place in 2019.[3] The same year, the first men's team promoted from the Top Division Men Two to the Top Division Men One, the Belgian second level.

In the Spurs' second season, Christophe Beghin (former three-time Belgian Player of the Year) was announced as the new head coach.[4] They managed to reach the finals of the Top Division I in 2022,[5] eventually losing to Guco Lier.[6]

From 2021 to 2023, the sponsorship revenues of the Spurs were doubled tenfold, while several West Flanders investors stepped in as well.[7]

The last team from Kortrijk to play in the Belgian top division, was IJsboerke Kortrijk during the 1970s. The biggest feat of the team was their victory of the Belgian Cup in 1976.[3] In January 2023, the Spurs announced they are for a license in the BNXT League starting from the 2023–24 season.[1] In May 2023, they received their license for the 2023–24 season.[8] On 12 May 2023, the Spurs defeated Donza in the final of the Top Division Men One season and won the second division title.[9]

Following their promotion, Chairman Steve Rousseau stated the team aimed to play for the national championship at one point, and was hopeful for a Belgian Cup victory as soon as in 2025.[7]

Honours

Top Division Men One (2nd tier)

  • Champions (1): 2022–23

Players

Current roster

Kortrijk Spurs roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
SG 0 Belgium Coucke, Mathieu 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 91 kg (201 lb) 23 – (2000-06-21)21 June 2000
SF 1 United States Gardner, Jayden 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 106 kg (234 lb) 23 – (2000-05-14)14 May 2000
C 2 Netherlands Brussen, Yarick 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 24 – (2000-02-02)2 February 2000
G 5 Croatia Tomsick, Nickolas 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 84 kg (185 lb) 32 – (1991-02-26)26 February 1991
SF 9 Belgium D'Espallier, Seppe 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) 24 – (1999-03-27)27 March 1999
PF 13 Belgium De Ridder, Niels 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 22 – (2001-02-07)7 February 2001
C 14 Belgium Tchako, Maxim 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 21 – (2002-03-08)8 March 2002
C 20 United States Atkinson, Paul 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 102 kg (225 lb) 24 – (1999-03-27)27 March 1999
G 21 United States Burton, Jamarius 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 91 kg (201 lb) 23 – (2000-04-15)15 April 2000
F 22 United States Perry, De'Vondre 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 25 – (1999-01-31)31 January 1999
PG 27 Belgium Pouedet, Sean 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 20 – (2003-09-23)23 September 2003
SG 44 United States Pritzl, Brevin 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 91 kg (201 lb) 27 – (1996-10-09)9 October 1996
C 66 Belgium Grymonprez, Kobe 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 20 – (2004-01-11)11 January 2004
Head coach
  • Belgium Christophe Beghin
Assistant coach(es)
  • Belgium Jeff Nolmans
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured
Updated: November 7, 2023

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

References

  1. ^ a b c "Vers bloed voor de BNXT League: House of Talents Kortrijk Spurs is klaar voor stap hogerop". sporza.be (in Dutch). 2023-01-25. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  2. ^ "Sportcampus Lange Munte Kortrijk". Kortrijk (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  3. ^ a b "Nieuwe fusieploeg Kortrijk Spurs wordt grootste basketclub van Vlaanderen en strikt Ann Wauters". HLN.be (in Dutch). 2019-03-19. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  4. ^ "OFFICIEEL Christophe Beghin twee jaar coach bij Kortrijk Spurs". Basket360 (in Dutch). 11 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Basket - Top Division Men 1: Kortrijk Spurs speelt finale | Focus en WTV". www.focus-wtv.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  6. ^ "Guco Lier schrijft sprookje en pakt eerste titel in Top Division Men One - Basketbal Vlaanderen". www.basketbal.vlaanderen (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  7. ^ a b "Kortrijk is klaar voor BNXT League: "Sponsorbudget is in 2 jaar tijd vertienvoudigd"". sporza.be (in Dutch). 2023-05-17. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  8. ^ "BNXT League". bnxtleague.com. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  9. ^ "Kortrijk Spurs pakken de titel en promoveren | Focus en WTV". www.focus-wtv.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-05-20.

External links