Alabama Bat History

The Alabama Bats also know as the “Battling Bats” are an American Basketball team in located in Montgomery, Alabama. The bats compete in the NBA Eastern Conference. The team began playing in 1961, since then they have played all of their games in Garrett Coliseum or the “Bat Cave.” The Bats wear Red and Black. The teams mascot Bat Boy provides entertainment for fans, getting them excited to see their Bats play. The Bats were founded by Martin Luther King Jr in 1961 and originally named the team the “Battling Crabs”. Martin Luther King Jr changed the team’s name to the “Battling Bats” in 1965 in remembrance of Malcolm X and his favorite animal the bat. Today the Bats are owned by Adam Winkel, and coached by Big Sam. Many past and present top NBA players such as Lebron Durant, Kyrie Antetokounmpo, Chamberlain Robertson, Bill Oscar, and Russell Wilt all spent most of their years with the Bats. The bats have won thirteen NBA Title’s (1985, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016), twenty Eastern Conference Championships, and have appeared in the NBA play-offs thirty-five times. The Bats lead the all- time series 44-12 with their rivals the Atlanta Hawks. …show more content…
The team was integrated in 1970 so that they could continue play after being removed from the league from 1967-1969. Martin Luther King Jr created the Bats to give the people of Montgomery and surrounding cities a reason to be happy in the midst of the civil rights movement . He had a dream that the team would one day bring together the state of Alabama. He hoped they would put away their differences and form a comradeship of different races and religion through a common love for the game of basketball. The team’s motto “Together we have won” embraces his founding philosophy. The team believes the only way they can win is together with people of all races and