London Lightning
About the Lightning
Founded in 2011, the London Lightning are a professional basketball team that competes in the National Basketball League of Canada (also founded in 2011). Under the ownership of local businessman Vito Frijia and the guidance of head coach Micheal Ray Richardson, a former NBA pro, the Lightning won the league’s inaugural championship in 2011-12 (over the Halifax Rainmen) and then repeated as champions the following year (against the Summerside Storm).
In 2016-17, led by the franchise’s third head coach, Kyle Julius, the Lightning enjoyed a record-setting year with a 35-5 regular season record (and 11-2 in the postseason) en route to winning the team’s third NBLC title. With Keith Vassell at the helm in 2017-18, the Lightning repeated as champions, capturing the franchise’s fourth title in seven years.
In 2019-20, prior to the league being shut down in March 2020 due to COVID-19, the Lighting, under the guidance of head coach Doug Plumb, sat in first place in the league’s Central Division.
The Lightning, who play their home games at Budweiser Gardens, have had numerous award winners over the years. They include league MVP (Gabe Freeman in 2012, Royce White in 2017), Canadian of the Year (Garrett Williamson in 2014, Warren Ward in 2016), Coach of the Year (Richardson in 2012 and 2013, Julius in 2017) and Executive of the Year (Taylor Brown in 2014, Frijia in 2015).
Nino Johnson, the newest tower rising in downtown London’s skyline, is healthy, hungry, and ready for his first season with the London Lightning.