Gabon Giants

Team history 

Season 1 

This is where it all began for the WBA, and the Giants were already a part of it. But the Giants were not going to be a competitive team from day one, as management decided to opt for a questionable strategy to improve the team in the long run. They decided to trade most of the good players they obtained in the inaugural draft (including three players out of their first four picks) for future draft picks. The results: a league low 9 wins for the first season. Even if that season had only a total of 62 games, you can’t be proud of a 14,5% winning percentage. It’s difficult to win games when you get outscored by 18 points, get outrebounded by 7 rebounds, get 5 less assists and do 5 more fouls than you opponent every given night. Shooting 45% while the opposing team shoot 50% won’t help either. It was one very difficult and long season. 

No need to say that no player from this original squad was named to the All-Stars team and none of them received an award. I could name some of the players that were part of the team inaugural season but none of them had a real impact on the team’s future. They were just there to fill in until they would be replaced as soon as some promising rookies can be drafted. 

That was the sacrifice that the general manager was willing to do hoping that the future will be brighter in the land of the Giants. It was a big gamble, as only a small group of fans were present to follow this team disastrous performances game after game. The Giants were the laughing stock of the entire league. 

Season 2 

Since the management strategy to trade all the good assets they had for future picks was a 2-year plan, and since the Giants had no draft pick for the second draft, the second season was even worse than the first. The Giants went on to win the same number of games than the previous season, only 9. But this time it was done within an 80 games schedule. With a 11.2% winning percentage, they were once again in the bottom of the league standings all year long. Only 2 players averaged double digit in scoring with the top scorer at 14 points per game.  Outscored by an average of 24 points a game, outrebounded by 9 boards a game, and shooting 43% from the floor while the opponent shoots 51%, the Giants found a way to do the impossible; do even worse than they did in a disastrous first season. 

The opponents had so much fun playing against this team, as several records were set against this pitiful basketball squad. Like South Carolina and Albacete, who both scored 83 points in a half against the Giants. 

Once again, Gabon was the laughing stock of the entire league. Winning 18 games out of 142 games over two seasons sure won’t get you any credibility. Rumors began spreading that the general manager could be fired and that this team could be sold. The situation had to change drastically in a near future for this team to stay in Gabon. 

Season 3 

The wait is over. After two atrocious seasons, Gabon Giants fans would finally be rewarded. Entering the season 3 draft with five selections out of the first sixteen picks, they had now the possibility to start from scratch and build a complete new starting five. 

With the second pick in the draft, shooting guard Otto Hameleers was the first addition. Otto did not waste anytime leading this squad with 20 points and 3 steals per game in his first season, while shooting 48 % from the field. 

With the fourth pick in the draft, power forward Jerry Bramson was selected. A tough and physical player, Bramson was all over the place every game scoring 15 pts, grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing 3 assists, while also adding a steal and 2 blocks. He was the defensive presence the Giants needed to protect the basket. 

With the ninth pick in the draft, point guard Leon Berthelson was selected. A floor general, he helped this new group of guys to play as a unit. With 9 assists and 3 steals per game, while also scoring 12 points, he was the player that logged the most minutes in season 3. 

With the fourteen pick in the draft, forward Blaine Brooks was selected. While he had less impact than the four other players picked by the Giants in the first round, Brooks still managed to do a little bit of everything, with his 5 points, 6 boards and 4 assists per game. 

With the sixteen pick in the draft, small forward Derek Vinyard was selected. The versatile slasher was a steal late in this draft producing 19 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assist and 2 blocks right from the get-go. 

The Gabon Giants would never be the same again. This new group of young and hungry players stormed into a 65 wins season winning 83% of their regular season games. They did that outscoring opposing teams by average 17 points, while outrebounding them by 7 rebounds and getting 5 more assists. That is what you called a major turnaround. They even had a game where they scored 150 points and another that they won by 69 points in the regular season. 

Facing New York in their first playoff series in WBA history, the Giants found a way to win a decisive game 5 by scoring 70 points in the second half. Even if they went on to be swept in the second round by Washington, this was a very successful season and the beginning of something special in Gabon. This team lead by rookies had shown to the entire league that they would be a force to be reckoned with for many years to come.  Most importantly, they had conquered the heart of the Gabon population, has the stade d’Angondgé was completely sold out as we were getting near the end of the season.  40 000 intense fans created an atmosphere like no other in the playoffs. The Gabon Giants had finally found their identity. 

Season 4 

The Gabon Giants had become one of the best defensive team in the league, as they allowed only 89 points per game during the 4th season. The backcourt duo of Otto Hameleers and Leon Berthelson combined for more than 6 steals per game while the muscled frontcourt of Jerry Bramson and Derek Vinyard were blocking 3.5 shots per contest. And the Giants were no slouch on offense neither, as they scored almost 102 points per game with some strong contributions from their stars Hameleers and Vinyard, scoring respectively 22 and 19 points per game. Bramson averaged double-double for the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Otto and Leon were among league leaders in 3 points FG%. 

Life was good in Gabon, as they cruised all season long to easily capture their second straight division title. A nice chemistry had quickly grown between all those young players drafted a year ago. So, what was the next step for this up-and-coming franchise? Maybe a trip to the Conference finals? Not quite. After a successful regular season, the Giants entered the playoffs with home court advantage in the first round against the Albacete Burning Hell. 

Even though they won the first game by a 22 points margin, the Gabon Giants were surprised and beaten the next 3 games by the underdog Burning Hell. Lack of rebounding, bad shot selections and poor defense by the Giants were among the reasons for an early first round exit. It showed that, even if they were talented, this group of youngsters still needed time to grow as a unit if they were to get to that next level. The supporting cast also required some improvement has they were no significant impact from the bench. 

Season 5 

No division title this year for the Giants has they finished second behind the London Disco, led at that time by the dynamic duo of Horace Colbert and Kevin Davidson. They were no real setback for the Giants as they still won an impressive 61 games in the regular season, same wins total they had a year earlier. Defense was still Gabon’s trademark as they again allowed only 89 points per game to the opponent, 2nd best in the league in that category. Their offense showed a slight improvement of 1 point per game. Gabon was led by the usual suspects, as Hameleers, Bramson, Vinyard and Berthelson had almost identical stats from the year before. 

This unit racked up wins easily in the regular season as they were outscoring opponent by 14 points a game. So, let’s fast forward to the post-season. The Gabon Giants had, of course, home court-advantage in the first round. This season they had to face… oh no. Not again. The Albacete Burning Hell. The matchup against this nemesis was a bad one for the Giants as their weakness were exposed last playoff. The Giants did put a good fight, extending the series to a final and decisive 5th game, but the Burning Hell had the better of them. Gabon’s coaching staff made some adjustments prior to the series, but it was not enough as they were still outrebounded and shoot selection was questionable once again. Also, the input from the supporting cast was limited. 

The Gabon Giants have been successful in the regular season for the last three years, but this success has not followed them in the post-season has they only have won one series out of four. Those first round exits were considered a failure by Gabon management and by the fans as well. Even though team’s stars were still young, there was uncertainty in Gabon’s land as it seems that this group has already reached his potential and results were not as good as expected. A stronger and deeper bench would certainly help the Giants cause. Some moves had to be made to get the Giants out of this funk. 

Season 6 

While the trio of All-stars (Hameleers, Vinyard and Bramson) is still firmly in place as the core of this team, there are some new faces arriving in Gabon’s land. Young point guard Ethan Hunt was directly inserted in the starting unit moving Otto to shooting guard position, which he’s more suited for. Hunt had a nice first season with the Giants, leading this squad in assists (7.3 per game) while also being a pest on defense (2.9 steals per game). He also finished 4th in team’s scoring while playing 38 minutes per game in all contest in the regular season. Hunt was a true point guard and a nice addition as he was now taking the ball handling duty, freeing up his teammates. Another newcomer was rookie center John Diblasi. He was not your typical center as he only grabbed 4 boards per game as the starting center. But he was athletic enough to produce some steals and blocks while hitting the occasional 3-point shot. Another rookie by the name of Fernando Edwards was drafted. A glue guy, this small forward could do a little of everything. These new additions were supposed to give help to the main guys and help them make a playoff run. The results? 

  

The Gabon Giants had a successful regular season again. Even though they won 11 less games than the previous season, they still managed to win 50 games. They outscored their opponents by an average of 7 points per game and were efficient with perimeter defense with the duo of Hunt and Hameleers, who combined for almost 7 steals a game while only making 2.5 turnovers. But beside that, this team was not as dominant as they used to be in other categories, especially in rebounding, which has been a trademark for this team over the years. 

When playoff time arrived, the Giants had to be ready because they would face old demons right away, as the first round matchup was against, who else, the Albacete Burning Hell. After getting kicked out by this rival for the last 2 consecutive seasons, the Giants had to get over the humped this time. The Giants played a better team game than the Burning Hell and were more efficient in almost every aspect of the game. Still this best of 5 series had to come to the last game as Albacete still could break the heart of Gabon’s fans. But this time, it would be the Giants who came on top winning the crucial and decisive game. It was redemption time in Gabon. 

The party didn’t last long as Washington crushed them 4-0 in the second round.  Still, it was a huge moral victory for this team to finally get past Albacete. 

Season 7 

Even though all keys guys from the previous season were back in action for another year, the Giants lost 7 more games in the regular season. More than 43 wins were expected from team’s management before the season began.  Those results came, of course, with a significant drop in the standings. It was now apparent that this squad was slowly declinin0g and was doing so for the last 2 seasons. After a disappointing season, Gabon just barely made the playoffs obtaining the 8th and last seed in the Eastern Conference. Albacete Burning Hell really enjoyed putting the Giants out of their misery in the first round. 

Who was to blame? This roster was very similar than the one who went to win 61 regular season games 2 years before. At that point, this squad was on the rise and was supposed to be a dominant team for years to come. Team’s leaders (Hameleers, Bramson and Vinyard) were still there and doing their things. They were now veteran with 5 years of WBA experience each and were still in their prime, or where they? Point guard Leon Berthelson (member of the Giants in season 5) had been replaced by Ethan Hunt, two point guards with similar talent and skills set. The coaching staff hadn’t changed, and strategies employed by them were the same. Once feared for his domination of the boards, this unit was now getting outrebounded by 2 rebounds per game in the regular season, and they were outrebounded by a whopping 9 boards per game in the playoffs. 

What could explain that drop? Most of all, how to stop it? Maybe the all-star trio of Hameleers, Bramson and Vinyard, who had already peak talent wise, had already grown old. Maybe the talent level in the league had improved quickly and the Giants had trouble adapting. Maybe the supporting cast was not efficient enough to help this team become a contender and maybe not even a top team in this league. Something was not working but it seemed difficult to pinpoint it right away. As you see, they were a lot of questions but not many answers as the Gabon Giants had entered a more obscure and unpredictable phase of their existence. 

Season 8 

Same roster. Same results. The Giants won 41 games in the regular season, just good enough to capture the 8th and last spot in the Eastern conference. Even though they put a good fight against regular nemesis Albacete Burning Hell in the first round, it was another first round exit that capped another disappointing season in Gabon. This team was clearly on the decline and some major moves had to be made to put this squad back in the right direction. 

Once this boring season was over, changes were coming. With the 15th pick of season 9 draft, the Giants would select a player that will have a major and positive impact in the franchise for many years to come. John Devine, an unorthodox 6-11 power forward with impressive long rang skills to go along with a special talent to grab offensive rebounds, was joining the team and giving them hope that future could get bright again in Gabon. Selected at mid-first round in a talented draft class that included Bishop Stein, Edgar Kamara and Juxan Bixby, Divine Devine was one of the steals of the draft (Let’s not forget that Abdiel Gordon was selected 18th). 

This is how Gabon’s management would get winning ways back in Gabon, by selecting quality players in the draft even though they did not own a top 10 picks. We must admit that scouting was not the same during that period, and that finding a gem with a 15th pick was something possible. With all the information gathered by the scouts today, these kind of franchise players usually are selected much sooner in the draft make it difficult to repeat what the Giants made during season 9 and season 11 draft. 

Season 9 

Although drafting John Devine was a step in the right direction, there was still a lot of work to be done by Gabon’s management to bring back success to this franchise. And fans had to be patient because this process take some time. Only 36 wins in the regular season but still good enough for the 8th spot and a playoff appearance. Once again, the Giants put on a fight against the top seed Washington and lost in a decisive game 5. 

This team was still led by the trio of Hameleers, Vinyard and Bramson. It would be Derek Vinyard last season with team, and the sign that this was the end of an era. Vinyard would leave the city with much admiration from the fans, and left his name close to the top of Gabon all-time leading list in points, rebounds and blocks. 

As for the future, we already said that it will take some time for John Devine to develop into a star in this league. He was still given close to 24 minutes of playing time every night and put some decent numbers (8 points 6 rebounds and 1 block). You could already see his 3 points skills at display as he hits 35% of his attempts from long range. Divine Devine was already a fan favorite, but he would need help improving this franchise. But a little patience was required. 

Season 10 

The Giants were back playing .500 ball winning 41 games in the regular season. They improved enough to get the 5th spot in the playoffs. Another thought battle in the first round but once against a lost in a 5th and decisive game this time against Rochester. Even though those results were almost identical from the one they were getting the last few seasons, Giant’s management and fans were happy to see improvements and hope for the future. 

Let’s not forget that Hameleers and Bramson are still running the show here and are doing a pretty good job at doing so. Those veterans are still very efficient at playing bball, and lots are being put on their shoulders every given night. Once again, they were able to do so successfully. 

John Devine was much better in his second season, improving in almost every area while playing the same number of minutes. Getting more comfortable within the offense and with a better shot selection, Devine vastly increased in FG%, and was now shooting 39% from deep. But he was only scratching the surface of his immense potential. 

The Giants also added a nice backup point guard in Reid Dall, with their 18th selection in the draft. The rookie was able to run the offense for major part of the game scoring 6 points and getting 6 assists in 28 minutes per game. 

The improvements were nice to see but there were still missing pieces. A major part of the team’s future would be arriving in Gabon soon. 

Season 11 

The worst season of Giants history since WBA first two seasons. At that time, Gabon’s management had at least some excuses as they were making some moves planning for a better future. But no excuse in season 11. This one really hurts. 

Otto Hameleers and Jerry Bramson were still team’s main guys playing 40 minutes every game. Promising young center John Devine was continuing his progression scoring 13 points and grabbing 8 boards per game. 2-year man and point guard Reid Dall was as steady as his rookie season the previous year. But results were not the same. The Giants were outscored by an average or 6 points per game and, most unusually for this team, they were outrebounded by more than 3 boards per game. It seems that the experiment of having the type of post player who can score but can’t defend or rebound (Magic Toby and Oryn Dasing) wasn’t working well for the team.  As a result, the Giants won only 27 games and missed the playoffs which is rare for this franchise. It was also unacceptable as management didn’t seem to have a clear vision and a blueprint for the future at that point. 

As changes were needed, the Giants let go future Hall of Famer Otto Hameleers after 9 seasons in Gabon. Hameleers has been an ironman since he came to the league, not missing one single game in his career in Gabon. He has forever impacted this team positively leaving the Giants as the team scoring, assists and steals career leader. Some of these records, like 2374 steals, are almost impossible to surpass. 

One bright spot during these dark times, the arrival of rookie center Jarrod Roe. Selected with the 15th pick, Roe showed signs that he could one day become a valuable asset in this league. His versatility (10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block playing 23 minutes per game) gave some hope that better days were ahead for this team. 

Season 12 

Giants showed some improvement from the previous season, winning 10 more games for a total of 37. They got back at working hard on the glass as they were now outrebounding the opponent by 3 boards per game. Center John Devine, now on his fourth season in the league, was now the clear-cut leader for the Giants. He led the team in points (18.4), rebound (8.2) and blocks (1.6). Devine did all that while still playing alongside Gabon’s legend Jerry Bramson, who was playing his last season for the Giants. After Hameleers the previous season, Gabon’s fans were saying goodbye to another very special player. Bramson was also an ironman, missing only one game in a decade of basketball played in Gabon. He left as the team’s career leader in rebounds and blocks, and second in points and assists behind only Otto. 

Drafted with the 7th selection in the draft, a local guy from Senegal, Omar Raoumbe, made quite an impression in his rookie season. Not only he could defend, score and rebound, but he also was making some very flashy dunks during his rookie season and quickly became a crowd favorite. 

The Hameleers-Bramson-Vinyard era was now officially over and it is with pride and nostalgia that we remember all the great memories they left in Gabon. Although it was another quick first round exit in the playoffs for the Giants, management had some nice pieces to build around as a new era was beginning. 

Season 13 

Dark days are already way behind for the Giants as they won 51 games in the regular season. The frontcourt combo of Devine and Roe is already paying off as they combined for 38 points, 16 rebounds and 2 blocks per game in regular season. But the biggest addition was incontestably the signing of WBA champion Charlie Meyers.  Gabon’s management made all the right moves convincing the best player available in this year free agency. Right away, Meyers completely changed the dynamic of this team with his superior leadership skills. He finished the regular season with 18 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds per game. Charlie was also filing a void as an elite perimeter defender and was able to get 2 steals per game. 

Although it was sad for fans to see promising 2nd-year man Omar Raoumbe playing his last season in Gabon, they were pleased with the acquisition via trade of sharpshooter Zacharia Salera. This small forward really explode in Gabon, already reaching his potential in his first season with the team (18 pts per game with efficient FG%). Signed long term at a very cheap contract, Salera was a real bargain that would help this squad for many years. 

Winning 51 games in the regular season was good enough for a third spot in the talented World Division behind Capetown and Cancun and a fifth spot in the Western Conference playoffs. Even though they didn’t have the home-court advantage, the Giants had no problem taking care of Oregon in 5 games in the first round. And they repeated the same accomplishment in the second round kicking out Salt Lake City in 5 games also. The adventure finally stopped against an experienced Cancun team in the Conference finals. Still, this season considered as the best the Gabon Giants had in franchise history thus far. A 50 wins regular season mixed with a trip to the Conference finals was having both management and fans very delighted. 

Season 14 

If a team wins 53 games in the regular season that year, it’s good enough to win the division title in 3 out of the 6 divisions in the league. It’s also good enough to get the 2nd place in 5 out of the 6 divisions in the league. But the Global Division (formerly known as the World Division), is not your typical WBA division. It’s arguably WBA best Division ever so Gabon winning 53 games that season will get them a 3rd place behind Toronto and Cancun. 

Nevertheless, it was another successful tour for this group. The core of Meyers, Devine, Roe and Salera was again very efficient outscoring opponent by an average of 6 points in the regular season. Since Salera skills were more suited for the shooting guard position, Gabon’s management was looking for the last piece of the puzzle; a small forward. That’s why the Giants gave a very substantial and long-term contract to veteran Jevon Carter. A potent scorer who could rebound the ball well, Carter had no problem fitting with the team in his first season, and he had career high in FG and FT% to go along with a PER of 18.6. 

Gabon took major blow when All-star center Jarrod Roe went down with an injury (broken foot) less than 10 games to play in the regular season. The Giants limped to the finish line after the injury, losing 5 out of the 9 last games to close out the regular season. Still, this squad showed characters in their first-round matchup against eternal rivals Albacete even without Roe out for the playoffs. Some wise coaching moves, like playing Jevon Carter at the power forward position and giving role player Mathew Gill the starting small forward spot, made quite a positive impact on the outcome of this series. Carter was especially efficient giving the Giants a nice boost on offense. Somewhat surprisingly, and thanks to home-court advantage, Gabon won the series in 5 games. Facing Conference best team (Dinos) in the second round, Gabon didn’t back down a bit taking the future Conference champions to the limit, losing game 7 by 10 points in Toronto. 

Season 15 

The Giants kept almost the same core as the previous season and got similar results. Management quickly realize that signing the 30 years old small forward Jevon Carter to a 4-year 38.5 million dollars deal wasn’t exactly a smart move. Although he was a great help in last playoff run, Jevon game has considerably diminished as training camp arrived and management tried to ship him elsewhere… unsuccessfully. But, after finding out that Jevon had violated a clause in his contract, this one was void and another problem was solved for team’s management. The quest to find another small forward was starting over. 

In a league counting many offensive-oriented small forwards especially efficient from long-distance, and since none of them were available, Gabon’s management decided to take their chance on another kind of player. Raphael Park offense is somewhat limited, but he’s an excellent perimeter defender with great stealing abilities. He is also a tough rebounder on the offensive end and he can pass the ball very well for a forward. Gabon acquired Park via trade over the course of the season, coming with a 4 year-deal around 9 million per season. This might seem like a big contract for Park, but Gabon’s management really though that he could be the missing ingredient, the defensive «stopper» that will handle the Walt Jackson, Abdiel Gordon and others WBA scoring machines at the small forward spot. 

After winning at least 50 games in the regular season for the second year in a row, and after an impressive sequence where they won 17 out of the last 19 games, the Giants were ready for another playoff run. With that record they capture the 6th spot in the Conference and a matchup against the Arizona Dragons. Counted out by many journalists who predict that the Dragons will win this series easily, the Giants had other plans. After many adjustments in rotation and a after falling behind 3-2 in the series, the Giants kept fighting and handled the pressure very well to win game 6 and 7. Winning a game 7 on the road is no easy task and Gabon’s management were pleased to see the team step up to the challenge. Salera offensive outbursts, along with Jarrod Roe domination from inside and outside were some key elements for the team’s success. Roe was a monster in game 7 (40 points and 10 rebounds) and was simply unstoppable leading the Giants to win this contested battle by only 3 points. 

It was another close fight in the second round against the Zulus. The Giants really gave them a scared but this time the home team came out on top, as Capetown won game 7 at home by 7 points. Even though they didn’t reach the Conference finals like they did last year, it was another successful season for the Giants, and they became a team you don’t want to face in the playoffs no matter what the season records indicates. 

Season 16 

June 29th, 2016. It’s draft day. Giants management have no reason to get excited about the rookie class because they don’t even own a single pick for that draft. Still, there is some anxiety felt in the general manager’s office. John Devine, part of Giants star trio, is about to begin his last contract year. A very cheap contract in fact, arguably one of the league’s best at that point, at approximately 7 million per year. Gabon’s management feared that they will have to pay lots of money to keep Devine under contract for 5 more years, and that they will not be able sign all three stars with the team’s low financial budget. They decide it would be better to invest in the Charlie Meyers and Jarrod Roe duo, giving them a strong inside/outside combination, and to trade Devine as soon as possible to get good value in return. 

After intense and muscled negotiations with the Colorado Pioneers where harsh words were exchanged between respective general managers, a very controversial trade was concluded that day. John Devine was sent to Colorado and Polykarp Dragunas and David Carlo were coming to Gabon. Although Dragu was already a very efficient defender, he never developed in nothing more and his low stamina limited his impact as he would become a very good backup big at best. Carlo would get his opportunity to play with the Giants giving him lots of playing time, but his lackluster defense clearly demonstrate that he would have a though time finding a niche in the WBA. As for Devine, he simply became Divine. In his first season in Colorado, he had career’s best in points, rebound, blocks, and was named All-star and All-League First team that year. And he also went to sign a very affordable contract extension with the Pioneers the next offseason. 

In 15 years as a general manager, you make some good and bad moves. But this one hurts a lot. When looking back at all those transactions made, this is the move that Simon Drapeau regrets he made. Congrats to Colorado general manager Marc Hameleers for pulling that one off. 

Still, the Giants had a good year racking up 48 wins in the regular season. Meyers and Roe carried this team all season long, also getting help from sharpshooter Salera. They had to face division and African rivals Zulus in the first round, and the Giants seemed poised as they blew them out by 19 points in Capetown in game 1. But it was all Zulus after that, as Adrian Arceo coaching skills were too much to handle. 

All in all, it was still a good season for the Giants. Especially since they sign a player in free agency that would rejuvenate this team for many years to come.  

Season 17 

As a general manager, sometimes you make good moves and sometimes you make bad moves. And sometimes you’re just plain lucky. Late in free agency the year before, the Giants signed for league’s minimum a young guard named Napoleon Carter. After three years of pro basketball, Napoleon had shown some scoring and passing skills as a backup but not enough for the Fugu to retain his services. Scouts didn’t saw much more potential for him at that point. The Giants thought otherwise and decided to give Carter more playing time as he became team’s offensive spark off the bench. With a roster deeply lacking offensive power, Napoleon arrival was a very welcomed addition. Giants management even decided to give him a 4-year extension as he was an important part of the future in Gabon. Napoleon also took care of his personal life during that period and that really gave him the possibility to focus on basketball. 

A year later, after some intense training in the off season, Napoleon Carter is now the floor general for the Giants. And the team’s best player. His offensive skills really changed the dynamic of this group, helping them became more dangerous and unpredictable. After earning All-star status at mid-season, Napoleon talents was now known and recognized by all his peers. The Giants even decided to trade injured point guard Charlie Meyers to give room for Carter to lead the show. Meyers was sent to Cincinnati in exchange of scorer Arturo Fonzarelli. With a duo of Carter and Fonzi leading the way, it shows that management was ready to sacrifice some defense to get more offense. That trend continue has defensive specialists Matt Archer and Reid Dall were also traded for inside scorer Brian Armstrong from Arizona. Some good transactions were made by Gabon’s management that season as they also acquired decent future picks and a good prospect in Bobbie Mason along the way. 

It was a transition year in Gabon, but the Giants still managed to perform decently on the court. They piled up 44 wins in the regular season but were no match, again, against the Zulus in playoffs 1st round. Still, it looks like the Giants are currently in some rebuilding process while being able to give fans a competitive team to root for. 

Season 18 

The Giants had their best season in this WBA modern day era, winning 56 games in the regular season and finishing fourth in the World Conference. All-star Napoleon Carter offensive prowess led the team in scoring, but he was far from alone in this ride. It was a combined effort that made Gabon solid and efficient all season long. The free agency signing of young guard Brenden Avery was a major plus, as he led the team in assist and steals in his first season with the Giants. Avery, more of defensive and pass first type of player, was the ideal backcourt mate to Carter. Veterans Brian Armstrong and Arturo Fonzarelli were carrying some of the offensive load from both inside and outside. Tyriq Lang and Polikarp Dragunas were strong inside presence defensively and on the glass. Last but not the least, «dirty» Frank Ryan came off to bench to spark the team with some instant offense. 

Playoffs were even more exciting than regular season. Giants dismantled long-time foe Albacete in the first round, winning all games by an average of 28 points. In the second round against the Mexico City, Giants quickly took a commanding 3-0 lead. Hellcats were able to make things interesting, but Gabon managed to close out the series in 6 games. 

Gabon had then made the Conference Finals for only the second time in their long existence. Facing a formidable foe in the Milan Mayhem, the Giants had to really perform well to have a chance to win. Let us not forget that the Gabon had not won in Milan for many years and that the Mayhem had home-court advantage  (winning that on a tie-breaker after both teams had identical records in the regular season). That series was suspenseful until the ends. Both squads were able to win games at home, resulting in setting up a decisive game 7 in Milan. The Mayhem took care of business when it mattered the most, and Giants were sent home being only a few buckets away from a trip to the WBA Finals. 

Still, this was a season to remember for the Giants and it will be considered the benchmark to measure the team level of success for years to come. 

Season 19 

Ouch. That one hurts. Management had not seen this coming at all.  

For a few years now, the Giants were able to compete at a high level while slowly putting the building stone for the future. The initial plan was to continue doing so for one more year until Gabon would enter in a new era. 

With Carter, Avery, Fonzarelli and Armstrong still on board, coaching staff and management thought that would automatically result in a good record and a playoffs appearance. There was even some conversation from staff members about the possibility of winning the Global division. Some experts predicted that this squad could win 60 games. 

But as soon as the regular season got underway, you could feel that something was not right. Giants were losing big-time against bad teams. But they still had a 11-11 record at the mid-December mark when general manager traded big man Brian Armstrong for Aaron LLanes. Armstrong was having a tough time scoring and management felt that he was not producing efficiently enough anymore to justify his contract. Owner would be content with an average team while being way over the luxury tax. They also thought that the team would do OK without Armstrong. They did not. 

Some have pointed out that the Giants got unlucky this season, as they lost many close games. In fact, out of the 52 games they lost, 19 of them were lost by 5 points or less (or in overtime). But let us face the fact. The Gabon Giants were not a good team anymore. Combined that inability to close out games with and some key injuries to Avery and Kurz, and you are in for a long season. 

Management realized that they could not have it both ways anymore. They could not compete and rebuild at the same time. So, it became clear that they should fully commit to the rebuilding path. Since they have not found any suitor before trade deadline for veteran Fonzarelli, they decided to simply waive him off. Luckily for Gabon and their owner, Arturo and his huge remaining payroll was claimed by the Fanatics, giving the Giants a reduced payroll for the remaining of the season. 

Fans hope that this team has reached the bottom of the barrel. And that next season should be better. Seeing rookie Mathias Kurz demonstrate elite rebounding and defensive skills in his first WBA campaign gives reasons to hope for a better future. Youngsters Artie Duggons and Shelton Britton dominating the D-league also is a good sign for things to come. Bobbie Mason’s game also has evolved in his first full year as a pro. Gabon’s fans must hang on to that for now. 

Season 20

How quickly things can change. The Gabon Giants were able to bounce back from last year disappointing season and reach 50 regular season wins once again. How did they manage to do this?

Kurz and Avery were able to play a full season and it shows. Their impact on the defensive end is tremendous, propelling the Giants as the 6^th best defense in the league when looking at points allowed to opponents.

Management was also active when trading season started by dealing Casey Pointer and Jojo Edwards in exchange of legend Abdiel Gordon and Inge Adlgasser. Even at 33 years old, Gordon led this squad in scoring and back to the playoffs where they won the first round against Barcelona before losing to Paris.

Promising big man Artie Duggons didn’t disappoint in his first pro appearances in the post season, where he averaged 25 points per game on 64% shooting. Giants are on the rise.

Season 21

With Duggons on the pro roster for the regular season, the Giants catapulted their way close to the standing top, finishing with 65 wins and only 2 games behind the Conference leader. They also had found an identity, as they were the best defensive team in the league, allowing opponents only 98 points.

The acquisition of Kelley Brandon appears to be a homerun for the manager. Having already played for 4 teams and only being 24 years old, the Giants were excited to acquire him via trade with Albacete. Brandon is an efficient player in almost every aspect of the game, and still showed untapped potential.

Gabon elite defense and improved offense delivered results come playoffs time. They swept Moscow in the first round and then defeated Paris in an epic showdown that lasted for 7 games. Albacete high octane offense was too much for Gabon in the Conference Finals, but significant progress was made and this season can be called a success.

Season 22

The core of Kurz, Duggons and Brandon would make this team the best defensive team in the league once again and gave this team 68 regular season wins.

Other pieces were added to the puzzle. Frenchman Olivier Hervé was obtained via trade. A defensive and rebounding specialist, Hervé was a natural fit for this team and the Giants mentality. Guilhem Lamerand, a defensive and rebounding oriented big man, was signed with a max contract in free agency. Vitor Morales, a player who seems to be good at everything without excelling at any of it, was acquired via trade with Shangai.

Giants overcame Capetown and Albacete in the post season, before falling to Paris in the Conference Finals. While the ending result could be satisfying in other circumstances, it was not for these Giants who had higher aspiration.

Season 23

Giants came back with a vengeance this season, resulting in 70 wins in the regular season and the top spot in World Conference standings.

The usual suspects leading this elite defensive team (Duggons, Kurz and Brandon) were still on board. But it was the free agency signing of talented big man Fulgencio Lurdes that really draw the attention in the offseason. Lurdes decided to not resign with Paris after winning a championship to join their rivals Gabon. Giants big man trio of Kurz, Duggons and Lurdes was a nightmare to matchup with.

After sweeping Cancun and Barcelona in the first 2 rounds, Giants dueled with Paris (once again!) in the Conference Finals. Even after losing their top scorer Duggons in game 2, Giants were able to make the proper roster adjustments to defeat Paris in 6 games.

For the first Finals appearance in franchise history, the Giants had to surrender to the mighty California Fighting Cocks, with Gabon still showing character despite missing their top scorer and leader.

Season 24

Giants were stellar in the regular season has they won a franchise best 75 games. They looked almost invincible as they lost only one game at home during the whole campaign. Having secured homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs, Giants were on the perfect position to capture that elusive title.

But then injuries hit them once again. Six man of the year candidate Melor Harkov went down with a ruptured Achilles in March, an injury that will leave him out for almost a year. The Russian was one of the catalysts of Gabon Finals run without Duggons last season. Then defensive and rebounding anchor Hervé suffered an injury in the season round.

Giants had to face their eternal rivals Paris Honeybees in the Conference Finals without these 2 key elements. Even after losing game 1 in overtime and game 3 by a last-second putback, you could see that the Giants had trouble keeping up with the incredible offensive machine that Paris is.

Getting swept in the Conference Finals was a tough pill to swallow, but a sign that some adjustments were still required to reach the promised land.

Season 25

Giants came back with another great regular season, winning 65 games and capturing the 2nd seed in the World Conference. But what really matters is success in the Playoffs.
Beating the Counts in the first was easy as Giants were able to sweep them. In the second round, even if they won 4-1 against Milan, you could see that this team had trouble scoring points. That is trouble when you must face the high-octane Paris offense in the Conference Finals. Gabon simply could not keep pace with Paris and lost the series 4-1. Honeybees went on to win the Championship right after that.

You can’t blame it on injuries year after year even if encounter some bad luck. There was more to that if Gabon wanted to reach the next level. More firepower was needed if Gabon wanted to climb to the top of the mountain.

So close but so far.

Season 26

Giants finally win their first WBA championship!

It has been a bumpy road to get there, with some heartbreaking losses along the way. It was also quite a learning experience for GM Simon Drapeau. And all the grinding finally pays off today.

This post-season looked like it was screenplay written for a Hollywood production. After easily eliminating the Pandas in the first round, they had to face an elite and deep Albacete Team. They surprised them by winning the first game of the series on the road, but then dropped the next 2. Things were not looking that great at that point when some roster changes completely changed the offensive dynamic of Gabon. With Duggons playing center, they won the next 3 games convincedly.

They then had their usual meeting with the mighty Paris Honeybees in the Conference Finals. Trailing by 17 points entering the 4th quarter of game 1, Giants pulled out a miraculous comeback to send this game in overtime and win it. This will set the tone for the series as the Giants appears to be the assailant. They would finally win at home in 6 games, same results they obtained against Albacete.

In the Finals, Giants elite pressure defense combined with improved offensive firepower were simply too much for the Brooklyn Rage and their legendary GM.

Mission accomplished.