Hungry for more: welcome, Donar Groningen!

Donar Groningen are set to return for the 2025-2026 season at the European North Basketball league.

Dutch team had a 2-6 record in its debut season after a turbulent start, wave of injuries and coaching changes.

Donar finished seventh in Group A and took the thirteenth place in overall standings.

Groningen team also stood out in a special way as it registered second highest attendance in the league.

Donar averaged 2 350 fans for the regular season games at the martiniplaza.

In total, 9 400 people witnessed ENBL action on the home floor.

Bamberg Baskets led regular season attendance averaging 3 395 fans (3 244 playoffs included, 16 221 total).

Donar defeated Spišski Rytieri, 88-68, and Spartak Pleven, 87-84.

New head coach Jason Dourisseau posted his first win with Donar on December 11, 2024.

Omaha, Nebraska born Dourisseau represented Donar as a player from 2009-2014 and then again, from 2015-2020.

He helped Groningen win five Dutch championships (2010, 2014, 2016-2018), four Dutch Cups (2010, 2014, 2017, 2018) and two Supercups (2015, 2017).

On December 3, 2024 he took the coaching reins from Andrej Štimac.

Return of star center James Karnik helped Donar to finish season on a higher note.

Groningen ended BNXT league regular season with a 13-23 record.

It was the fourth result among the Dutch teams after Heroes Den Bosch, Leeuwarden and ZZ Leiden – ahead of Den Helder Suns, Landstede Hammers, Feyenoord, Prisma Works and QSTA.

Belgium teams occupied the first seven places in standings before the national playoffs.

Donar won the Dutch quarterfinal series against Den Helder, 2-0, before falling at the semifinal series against top seeded Heroes Den Bosch, 0-3.

Donar Groningen was founded in 1951 as a student basketball club GSSV Donar.

Team became professional in 1973.

It had numerous sponsors in its name but from 2014 plays under the non-sponsored name Donar.

The team has played in various European competitions from 1974.

Groningen participated at the Euroleague qualifiers in the autumn of 2010.

Donar Groningen reached the 2018 FIBA Europe Cup semifinals and played the eventual winner – Umana Reyer Venezia.

Donar Groningen have seven Dutch Basketball league titles – 1982, 2004, 2010, 2014, 2016-2018.

Trophy case includes seven Dutch Cups (2005, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022) and three Supercups (2014, 2016, 2018).

The team plays at the amazing martiniplaza.

An indoor arena was built in 1969 and expanded in 2000 – martiniplaza has a 4300 capacity.

Previous season the team averaged 2900 spectators – the most spectators among all indoor sports in the Netherlands.

Donar Groningen has a mascot – Thunder.

Club logo features two eagles, inspired by the coat of arms of the city of Groningen.

The team plays in the BNXT league – a combined league with teams from the Netherlands and Belgium.

Donar also has a fan podcast – Dourisseau Radio – offering in depth content by Klaas-Jan ter Veen and Yannick Masson.

You can listen it on Spotify, SoundCloud and other platforms or follow at X account @DonarPodcast .