In Soviet times, there was one professional basketball team in Donetsk, called Shakhtyor (which translates as Miners in English).

In the years following Ukrainian independence, the Miners finished second in the country on one occasion and third place another season, and played 24 games in the Euro cup championships.

As a result of its successful season, BC "Donetsk" was promoted to the Ukrainian Basketball Super League.

[3] Before the start of the 2008–09 season a new coach was hired to lead a team, Olympic champion Igors Miglinieks.

The team set a very ambitious goal: to become the champion of the Ukrainian Basketball Super League in its first year as a member and to be competitive in its debut in the EuroChallenge.

The tiger — one of the largest predators of family cats, symbolizes grace, dexterity and huge power.

At the beginning of 2010, a few months later, the management of team found financial support from the Party of Regions, the political party in power in Ukraine at the time, and a number of deputies assisted in financing BC Donetsk and youth sports clubs.