Basket Club Maritime Gravelines-Dunkerque, commonly referred to as BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque, is a French professional basketball club based in Gravelines. They currently play in the Pro A, the highest professional league in France. The team plays it home games at Sportica, which has a capacity for 3,043 people.
History
During the summer of 2012, Gravelines secured the services of a player who would become a club legend, Dwight Buycks. His teammates included Ludovic Vaty, JK Edwards, Ousmane Camara, and Yannick Bokolo, and they formed one of the greatest teams in the club's history.
Only real regret, this "Dream Team" will not go after the title of Champion of France, and will be eliminated in the 8th final.
But she will still win the "LeadersCup" formerly "Semaine des As" for the 2nd time in its history.
The 2020–21 season brought severe challenges as the club struggled with the Covid breaks plus had to compensate the injuries of key players such as Erik McCree and Briante Weber. Yet, the arrival of new head coach JD Jackson brought some victories so that the team was able to stay in the country's prime division.[1]
For the 2021-2022 season, the club is extending coach JD Jackson. They sign during the summer players like Vafessa Fofana, Marcquise Reed, Brandon Taylor, Dominik Olejniczak.
The club will go to the 1/2 finals of the Coupe de France, and will finish in 12th place in the standings.
The 2022/2023 season will be a real challenge for the club, to finally get out of this negative spiral that has been rotating for several seasons.
The club announces the arrivals of players with big careers during the summer, such as JaJuan Johnson and DJ Seeley.
However, after 11 games, the club separated from coach JD Jackson and signed the former coach of Bourg, Laurent Legname!
The new coach will make an incredible rise in the standings, going from 15th place in November to 8th place for a time.
Only two players will leave the ship, and Kenny Boynton will replace DJ Seeley who returned to the EuroLeague at Bayern Munich.
Legname and his team will play their destiny in the Playoffs during the final day against SLUC Nancy.
But unfortunately the BCM failed by a few points at home, and will send Strasbourg to 8th place.
The rise in the standings is still exceptional for a club almost promised to descend into the 2nd division.
The European Cup
The club will experience its first qualification in the European Cup Korac Cup in 1990. Qualified for the 2nd round, the BCM then faces CB Estudiantes. It was after two memorable matches that the BCM lost to the great Spanish club.
During the 2002-2003 season, the BCM will compete in the EuroCup and will achieve one of the best runs of this first edition. The club will continue to evolve in this competition for the next two seasons.
Participation during the 2007-2008 season, in the preliminary round of the FIBA Europe Cup. The club automatically qualifies for the FIBA Europe Cup, during the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 seasons.
For the 2011-2012 season, the BCM will participate for the first time in its history in the qualifying round of the largest European competition, the EuroLeague. Unfortunately the club will lose against ASVEL. They will participate in the EuroCup this year.
Return to the FIBA Europe Cup the following season, with a Final 4 at the end in Turkey!
During the 2013-2014 season the club will participate in the EuroCup, but will experience a very difficult season.
We will have to wait 3 seasons to see the BCM in the European Cup again. Return to the FIBA Europe Cup for the 2016-2017 season!
On June 19, 2023, the club formalized the club's return to FIBA Europe Cup more than six years after their last appearance. On November 22, the BCM qualifies for the Top 16 of the FIBA Europe Cup.
