Collegiate athletics, specifically basketball, have been extremely popular in North Carolina for a long time. Raleigh is a large part of the thriving passion for basketball in NC, with its exceptional basketball programs at local colleges in the region. The rivalries between NC State, UNC Chapel Hill and Duke’s basketball programs are a common topic of discussion for many NC sports fans.

Not only is the Raleigh-Durham area home to prestigious collegiate programs, but it also has great pro-league talent, many of whom are alumni of various local colleges and universities where they played during their collegiate career. Unfortunately, not all members of these teams will make it to the NBA. Still, their passion for the game empowers them to continue their careers at the professional level, even if they are not NBA or G-League caliber. 

The opportunity of this local talent pool led to discussions between Wade Harris, current Firebirds Team Market Owner, and the commissioner of North America Premier Basketball (now known as The Basketball League or TBL) David Magley, shortly after the league’s formation about bringing professional basketball to Raleigh in 2017.

“Ultimately, when the TBL came to the United States and, you know, provided a platform and an opportunity for us to have a team here,” said Harris. “[It was] just kind of … a culmination of the perfect storm where there were a number of players coming out of college … that were local, that were good enough to play at the next level, and they didn’t have anywhere to go, and there wasn’t really a team here in Raleigh.”

The organization has its origins in a mentorship program Harris held for basketball players ages eight to eighteen. Once the kids graduated from playing college basketball, he began looking into any opportunity where they could continue chasing their dreams of playing professionally. 

“I knew Wade probably in high school; going into college, we met. We built a relationship. I was working out with him, and then he ended up creating the Firebirds,” said Tyrrel Tate, who plays guard for the team.

Tate is an alumnus of Millbrook High School and went on to play Division II basketball at Fayetteville State. He was named the player of the game during the Firebirds game against the Fayetteville Liberty on April 24 and has played professionally for the past 11 years.

“We want to use our basketball team as a way to … communicate with the youth in our community that have certain needs and connect them with organizations and businesses in our community [that] have resources that can … help support those young people and those needs,” said Harris. 

From the beginning of the team’s formation in 2019, they have participated in various community outreach initiatives and, over time, many connections have been formed to uplift their own organization as well as their partners. One of their most successful efforts are the themes they establish for each game, as it encourages community members to come out and support the team and make more connections.

“I would describe the Raleigh Firebirds as a team that is dedicated to their craft – basketball – and [are] very good at it, but also a team that wants to make an impact in the underserved community and bring not only themselves, but those around them up too,” said Rohit Konduru, Athens junior and student intern for the team.

This year, they have game themes of entrepreneurship, health awareness, municipalities and first responders night. For their entrepreneurship and financial literacy day, members of various local chambers of commerce attended the game, and Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell visited that day, as well as for the municipalities’ game.

“Our ways of getting out in the community and marketing ourselves has grown over time, where initially we were mainly in the public schools … whereas now we’re part of the chamber of commerce .. in various communities throughout Wake County,” said Harris.

The affinity the team has built with the community also extends to the bond the team has built, as they aim to succeed in achieving their dreams of playing professionally together. As many of them are North Carolina natives, their familiarity with one another enhances their performance as a team. 

“Everybody’s pretty close, so that makes it fun to … play basketball with a bunch of people that you already know,” said Tate.

The Firebirds have served as an outlet for members of the team to continue playing the game they love on a professional level, with Tate sharing that he feels it has been a ‘blessing’. 

“If you’re not a basketball enthusiast, you know, I think you’ll enjoy just the atmosphere and … the camaraderie [with] the way the fans interact with each other,” said Harris. “The fans are right on the floor. So to get to talk to the players … they get to jive back and forth with players from the opposing teams, it’s all in good fun.”

The high-intensity play of the team can be very exciting, and their talent is clear once they step on the court. The team finished off their season at home on May 15 and 16 versus the Jacksonville 95ers with two wins, upholding their undefeated streak this season.

“[I would] really encourage everybody that hasn’t been out to a Firebirds game to try to come out to one of our games,” said Harris.

The team is leading the South Atlantic Division with a record of 13-4, with one more game to play in Fayetteville before they begin their push for a championship in the TBL playoffs. 

“You need to see it for yourself,” said Tate.