June 5, 2021 – Beaumont, TX –
The last time Beaumont, Texas fielded a semi-professional basketball team was in 2011 with the Southeast Texas Mustangs, whom were members of the ABA (American Basketball Association) until their transition to Shreveport, LA and to the TBL (The Basketball League). With the combined effort of a Beaumont city council member and former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins, Basketball is returning to the city of Beaumont in 2022. Perkins push for a team in his hometown was well fit with the TBL’s goal to find an expansion franchise cutting the distance between Houston, TX and Shreveport, LA. TBL President David Magley expressed his excitement about the former NBA player’s decision to become a team market owner saying, “(I am) Personally thrilled with today’s announcement. Kendrick Perkins has a great NBA career, does a nice job as an analyst on ESPN and genuinely cares about people… He’s exactly the kind of person we need involved with our teams.”
The expansion franchise has been named the Beaumont Panthers and although no official venue has been announced, it has been predicted that they will play at the Ford Park Entertainment Complex in Beaumont. When asked about why he decided to bring a team to his hometown, his response was, “This is giving my hometown something to be proud of. A chance to give those that didn’t have the opportunities we had, a chance to be seen.” A list of tryouts has already been announced and they are already proving they are looking for the best talent as they have scheduled tryouts in NY, PA, DC, CA, and TX. The big question that still looms is who will take the helm as the head coach. With Perkins very busy schedule as a current analyst for ESPN, it is highly expected that he will not coach the team.
The TBL is not shy to having involvement from former NBA players. The current coach for the Kokomo Bobkats is Cliff Levingston, an NBA champion whom played with the Chicago Bulls alongside Michael Jordan from 1990-92. The Houston Push, the closest team to the Panthers, is owned by Steve Francis whom had a 10-year career in the NBA playing for teams such as the Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, and the Houston Rockets. Perkins finds himself in good company and in a great competitive market with the Houston Push looking to win a TBL championship in their inaugural season with currently the best record in the TBL at 16-1. The Beaumont Panthers will play their inaugural season in 2022 and will be expected to make announcements regarding their venue and front office in the upcoming months.
