The Basketball League

The Basketball League (TBL), formerly North America Premier Basketball (NAPB), is a professional basketball organization. The league began operating in North America in 2018 with eight teams, and expanded to over 49 teams as of 2023.

The Basketball League (TBL)
Upcoming season or competition:
Current sports event 2024 TBL season
SportBasketball
Founded2017
Inaugural season2018
CEOEvelyn Magley
PresidentDave Magley
CommissionerCarlnel Wiley
Motto"Where the spirit of the game lives"
No. of teams37
CountriesUnited States
ContinentFIBA Americas (Americas)
Most recent
champion(s)
Potawatomi Fire (2023)
Official websitethebasketballleague.net

The Basketball League is a professional basketball league providing player salaries from $500 to $6,500 per month,[1][2] while teams operate on a budget of $125,000 to $250,000 per season.[3]

History

On July 7, 2017, Sev Hrywnak and Dave Magley announced the formation of a new professional basketball league. Magley previously served as commissioner for the National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC).[4] Hrywnak was the owner of the Rochester Razorsharks. Teams are based throughout the United States and Western Canada. Over the course of two years, the league administration located cities that formerly hosted basketball teams in the defunct Continental Basketball Association, the Premier Basketball League, defunct NBA teams and other potential sports markets. The purpose of the league is to provide opportunities for community involvement particularly schools from the elementary to high school levels. Programs include players reading to younger children, hosting basketball camps for teens, and speaking in school-wide assemblies about substance abuse and staying in school.[5]

The league launched its inaugural 2018 season with eight teams: the Albany Patroons, Kansas City Tornados, Kentucky Thoroughbreds, Nevada Desert Dogs, Ohio Cardinals, Rochester Razorsharks, Vancouver Knights, and the Yakima SunKings. The Ohio Cardinals were replaced mid-season by the Ohio Bootleggers, a team operated by the former ownership of the Vancouver Knights.

On February 25, 2018, Dave Magley announced that there were four more approved franchises in Bellevue, Washington, Raleigh, North Carolina, Tampa, Florida, and San Diego, California, with the goal of 16 total well-funded teams, for a 2019 season.[6]

After the first NAPB season, Magley acquired the league as sole owner, moved the headquarters to Indiana, and named Evelyn Magley—his wife—as the new CEO. On July 14, the league was re-branded as The Basketball League (TBL).[7] Paul Mokeski, head coach and general manager of the Nevada Desert Dogs during the inaugural season, was then named commissioner of the league for the 2019 season.[8] During the league changes, the Ohio Bootleggers, Rochester Razorsharks, and Vancouver Knights folded while the Bellevue team never came to fruition. The league then added the existing teams, the Jamestown Jackals and New York Court Kings, in addition to the three previously announced expansion teams, the Raleigh Firebirds, San Diego Waves, and Tampa Bay Titans. Three teams also slightly re-branded with the Kansas City Tornadoes, Mesquite Desert Dogs, and Owensboro Thoroughbreds. The 2019 season commenced with ten teams.

During the second season, there were many canceled and rescheduled games.[9] The league cut its season short, with the New York Court Kings and Kansas City Tornadoes either folding or ceasing operations for the season.[10]

Prior to the third season, the league added the Columbus Condors, Dayton Flight, Dallas Skyline, Gulf Coast Lions, Indy Express, Lewisville Yellow Jackets, and the Tri-State Admirals as expansion teams.[11][12] The San Diego Waves were replaced by expansion San Diego Armada while the Waves were being relocated, but neither team would make the 2020 schedule.[13] Due to the lack of other western teams, the Yakima SunKings and the Mesquite Desert Dogs suspended operations. The third season started in January 2020, but on March 11, 2020, the league announced the season would end prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and have a four-team playoff on March 18 through 22. However, the tournament was also cancelled as most events throughout the country were closed to prevent the spread of the virus.

The league then proceeded to announce several new teams for the 2021 season, expanding from 12 teams in the curtailed 2020 season to 35 teams by January 11, 2021. Several of the added teams came from the semi-professional American Basketball Association.[14][15][16][17] In March, several teams began opting out of the season due to the ongoing pandemic restrictions.

For the 2021–22 season, the National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC) announced that they had agreed to inter-league series play with several teams from The Basketball League. The games played between the teams from the two leagues are included in their respective regular season standings for each league.[18]

Teams

The Basketball League is located in the United States
Lightning
Lightning
Fire
Fire
7ers
7ers
Griffins
Griffins
Sky Kings
Sky Kings
Gambits
Gambits
Crusaders
Crusaders
Flying Cows
Flying Cows
Legends
Legends
95ers
95ers
Kraken
Kraken
Grind
Grind
Flight
Flight
Vipers
Vipers
Warriors
Warriors
Distillers
Distillers
Wranglers
Wranglers
BobKats
BobKats
Leprechauns
Leprechauns
Timberjacks
Timberjacks
Pharaohs
Pharaohs
Majestics
Majestics
Jaguars
Jaguars
Electric
Electric
Sharks
Sharks
SuperHawks
SuperHawks
Blue Waves
Blue Waves
Volcanoes
Volcanoes
Big Horns
Big Horns
Ignite
Ignite
Capitals
Capitals
New Mexico
New Mexico
Colors represent conference alignment as of the 2024 season.

,

DivisionTeamCityArenaCapacityFoundedJoinedHead coach
Central Conference
Central Enid OutlawsEnid, OklahomaStride Bank Center3,88720202021
Little Rock LightningLittle Rock, ArkansasJack Stephens Center5,6002019 2021
Potawatomi FireShawnee, OklahomaFireLake Arena5,0002021 2022Mark Dannhoff
Shreveport MavericksShreveport, LouisianaGold Dome3,0002006[lower-alpha 1]2021Steve Tucker
St. Louis GriffinsSt. Louis, MissouriNormandy High School20222023
Texas 7ersRockwall, TexasRockwall High School20232024
Wichita Sky KingsWichita, KansasCharles Koch Arena10,50620222023Sean Flynn
Eastern Conference
Northeast
Albany PatroonsAlbany, New YorkWashington Avenue Armory3,6002017[lower-alpha 2]2018Derrick Rowland
Atlantic City GambitsAtlantic City, New JerseyAtlantic City High School20212022Elijah Thorpe
Coastal Georgia BuccaneersSavannah, GeorgiaMemorial Day School20222023Roman Button
Connecticut Crusaders Bridgeport, Connecticut20232024
Lehigh Valley LegendsEaston, PennsylvaniaKirby Sports Center4,00020212022Antawn Dobie
Frederick Flying CowsFrederick, MarylandBB&T Arena - Hood College20232024Ed Corporal
Jacksonville 95ersJacksonville, FloridaAdams-Jenkins Complex20232024Jerrod Tucker
Rhode Island KrakenWarwick, Rhode Island20232024
Reading RebelsReading, PennsylvaniaPhysical Education Center20212022Joe Linderman
Raleigh FirebirdsRaleigh, North CarolinaWord of God Christian Academy20182019Bob MacKinnon
Rocket City FlightHuntsville, AlabamaJames Clemens High School2024O'Brien Wherry
Virginia Valley VipersWinchester, VirginiaJames R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center1,20020222023Lester Conner
West Virginia GrindCharleston, West VirginiaWalker Convocation Center2023
York Mighty AntsYork, PennsylvaniaWilliam Penn Senior High School20142023
Midwest Conference
Midwest Cincinnati WarriorsCincinnati, OhioGamble Montessori High School20212022James Millen
Derby City DistillersLouisville, KentuckyGardner Gymnasium20222023Tim Gray
Glass City WranglersToledo, OhioStudent Health and Activities Center1,20020202022Freddie Zamora
Jamestown JackalsJamestown, New YorkJamestown Community College1,4002015[lower-alpha 3]2019Raheem Singleton
Kokomo BobKatsKokomo, Indiana Memorial Gymnasium7,20020202021Chandler Levingston Simon
Lebanon LeprechaunsLebanon, IndianaRosenstihl Gymnasium4,09920212022Brian Rowsom
Medora TimberjacksMedora, IndianaMedora High School1,20020212022Mark Morin
Pontiac PharaohsPontiac, MichiganPontiac Gymnasium2021Scott Newman
West
West
Bakersfield MajesticsBakersfield, CaliforniaRiverlakes Ranch Community Center20212022Marc Mo
Emerald City JaguarsEugene, Oregon20232024John Tyson
Great Falls ElectricGreat Falls, MontanaFour Seasons Arena5,05420232024J.C. Isakson
Los Angeles IgniteLos Angeles, California20232024Vicken Eskidjian
Long Beach Blue WavesLong Beach, CaliforniaLong Beach City College20222023
Salem CapitalsSalem, OregonSalem Armory Auditorium3,88720202022Brian Stevens
San Diego SharksSan Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego City College2022Brandon Cheeks
Seattle Super HawksSeattle, WashingtonRoyal Brougham Pavilion2,50020222023Eldridge Recasner
Vancouver VolcanoesVancouver, WashingtonO'Connell Sports Center20212022Jeff Perrault
Wenatchee BighornsWenatchee, WashingtonTown Toyota Center4,30020222023Don Simms

Announced teams

TeamCityArenaCapacityFoundedJoiningHead coach
Arizona HeetChandler, Arizona20212025
New MexicoRio Rancho, New MexicoRio Rancho Events Center8,00020232024Cliff Levingston

Former teams

TeamCityArenaSeasonsNotes
Carolina CoyotesColumbia, South CarolinaGlenforest School2020–2022Not listed on website after season ended.
Central Alabama JaguarsMontgomery, AlabamaGarrett Coliseum2022Not listed on website after season ended.
Central Florida ForceOrlando, FloridaBarnett Park Recreation Complex2021-2023Not listed on website after season ended.
Charlotte Purple JacketsCharlotte, North Carolinacurry court2021-2023Not listed on website after season ended.
Columbus CondorsColumbus, Ohiomultiple2020–2021Not listed on website after season ended.
Dayton FlightDayton, OhioDayton Sports Complex2020–2022Not listed on website after season ended.
Detroit HustleDetroit, MichiganLoyola High School2020–2022Not listed on website after season ended.
Fayetteville StingersFayetteville, North CarolinaCrown Complex2023Not listed on website after season ended.
Georgia SoulAugusta, GeorgiaHEAL Complex2021-2023Not listed on website after season ended.
Gulf Coast LionsSarasota, FloridaNewton Estates Gym2020-2023Not listed on website after season ended.
Houston PushHouston, Texas2021Not listed on website after season ended.
Indy ExpressIndianapolis, IndianaMunicipal Gardens2020–2021Not listed on website after season ended.
Indiana All-AmericansNew Castle, IndianaBlue River Valley High School2022Not listed on website after season. ended.
Kansas City TornadoesKansas City, Missourimultiple2018–2019Reportedly backed out of participating in 2019 playoffs despite being second place; not listed on website after season ended.
Lewisville LeopardsLewisville, TexasMacedonia C.A.R.E. Center2020–2021Known as the Lewisville Yellow Jackets in the 2020 season; not listed on website after 2021 season ended.
Massachusetts MonarchsTaunton, Massachusetts Taunton High School2020–2022not listed on website after 2022 season ended.
Mesquite Desert DogsMesquite, Nevadamultiple2018–2019Withdrew prior to the 2020 season citing travel costs as the last remaining west coast team.[19]
Midtown PrestigeWichita, Kansas2021Not listed on website after season ended.
New York Court KingsQueens, New YorkElmcor Youth and Adult Activities Center2019Joined from the ABA; apparently ceased operations during the 2019 season.
Ohio BootleggersWesterville, OhioOtterbein University Rike Center2018Owners of the Bootleggers had been operating the Vancouver Knights since sometime during the 2018 season. The Bootleggers' NABL team then replaced the folded Ohio Cardinals midseason, but were not listed by TBL as a 2019 member. The Bootleggers relaunched as the Columbus Condors in 2020.
Ohio CardinalsAkron, OhioLeBron James Arena2018Folded during the 2018 season.
Oklahoma PanthersOklahoma City, OklahomaPutnam City High School2021–2023Not listed on website after season ended.
Omaha's FinestOmaha, NebraskaMillard North High School2021Not listed on website after season ended.
Owensboro ThoroughbredsOwensboro, Kentucky Owensboro Sportscenter2018–2023Not listed on website after season ended.
Pearland Texas WarriorsPearland, TexasPearland Nortorium2022Not listed on website after season ended.
Rochester RazorsharksRochester, New YorkBlue Cross Arena2018Played the 2018 NAPB season. Change of ownership and left TBL.
Syracuse StallionsSyracuse, New YorkLiverpool High School2017-2023Not listed on website after season ended.
San Diego GuardiansSan Diego, California2021Not listed on website after season ended.
San Diego WavesSan Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego Mesa College2019Team's owner was stated to be relocating the team to an undecided location. San Diego Armada was announced as a replacement team for the 2020 season under new ownership.
Sugarland ImperialsSugar Land, TexasWheeler Field House2022Not listed on website after season ended.
SoCal MogulsSan Diego North CountyCanyon Crest Academy2021-2022Not listed on website after season. ended.
Tallahassee Southern KingsTallahassee, FloridaTCC Eagle Dome2022Not listed on website after season ended.
Tampa Bay TitansTampaHoward W. Blake High School2019-2022Not listed on website after season ended.
Tri-State AdmiralsDix Hills, New YorkUpper Christian Gym2021-2023Not listed on website after season ended.
Vancouver KnightsRichmond, British ColumbiaRichmond Olympic Oval2018The Ohio Bootleggers' ownership took over operations of the Knights during the season and the Knights became a travel team. Ownership was transferred during the 2018 season to another unidentified group once the Bootleggers took over for the Cardinals' schedule. Was not listed by TBL as a 2019 member.
Vegas BallersLas Vegas, NevadaTarkanian Basketball Center2021Not listed on website after season ended.
Waco RoyalsChilton, TexasChilton High School2020-2022Not listed on website after season ended.
West Coast BreezeSan Marcos, Californiamultiple2021, 2023Not listed on website after season ended.
Yakima SunKingsYakima, WashingtonYakima SunDome2018–2019Went on hiatus for 2020.[20]

Seasons

SeasonRegular season championRegular season MVPPlayoff championPlayoff runner-upPlayoff MVP
2018Yakima SunKingsEdwin Ubiles (Albany)Yakima SunKingsAlbany PatroonsRenaldo Major
2019Yakima SunKingsRobert Duncan (Yakima)Albany PatroonsYakima SunKingsShadell Millinghaus
2020Indy Express*Corey Taite (Tri-State)Season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021Enid OutlawsChance Comanche (Enid)Enid OutlawsSyracuse StallionsChance Comanche
2022Shreveport MavericksDeshawn Munson (Potawatomi Fire)Shreveport MavericksAlbany Patroons
2023Potawatomi FirePotawatomi FireSt. Louis Griffins

* Shortened season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Indy Express had the best overall record at the time of cancellation.

Notes

  1. As the Rio Grande Valley Silverados in the ABA.
  2. New franchise replacing the defunct team of the same name.
  3. competed in Premier Basketball League for 2016, joined the North American Basketball League.

References

  1. "FAQ – The Basketball League". Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  2. "US Basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings". www.usbasket.com. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  3. "The Raptors Are New to Tampa's Basketball Scene. The Titans Aren't". The New York Times. January 20, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  4. "KU notebook: Ex-Jayhawk David Magley leaves Canada pro league for new venture in U.S." The Kansas City Star. July 2, 2017.
  5. "The North American Premier Basketball League". NAPB.
  6. "State of the NAPB: Magley shares thoughts on first half of season". NAPB. February 25, 2018.
  7. "Meet the First Black Female Owner of a Male Professional Basketball League (Not a Team, But a League!)". Black News. July 17, 2018.
  8. "Mesquite (Nevada) Desert Dogs coming back for 2019". Mesquite Local News. August 17, 2018.
  9. "Good and Bad news for Desert Dogs". Mesquite Local News. April 12, 2019.
  10. "Patroons trying to make it work". Times Union. April 8, 2019.
  11. "Dayton Flight Takes Off in Ohio". The Basketball League. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  12. "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report". Our Sports Central. 9 September 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
  13. "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report". Our Sports Central. 2 September 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  14. "Syracuse Stallions take it up a notch, move from ABA to 'The Basketball League'". CNY Central. May 1, 2020.
  15. "Portland Storm to Become Full ABA Team". ABA Live Action. April 18, 2020.
  16. "San Diego Guardians Support Local Community as New Professional Basketball Team in TBL". The Basketball League. August 3, 2020.
  17. Wright, Rueben (April 1, 2021). "Pro Basketball Returns to Shreveport". News Radio 710 KEEL. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  18. "NBL Canada Returns to Celebrate 10th Season with Inter-League Play". OurSports Central. November 4, 2021.
  19. "Mesquite Desert Dogs November 18, 2019, Facebook post". Facebook. November 18, 2019.
  20. "SunKings will not be returning for a third season". KIMA TV. October 29, 2019.
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