The United States Basketball League (OTC Pink No Information: USBL), often abbreviated to the USBL, was a professional men's spring basketball league. The league was formed in 1985.
Video United States Basketball League
History
The USBL started in 1985 as one of the first basketball leagues to play a late-spring to early-summer schedule. The league quickly became known as a development league for players, with many players moving up to the NBA and many more playing in Europe after stints here. In 1996, the league made a stock offering, a rarity among sports leagues. However, in later years, the league declined as rival leagues appeared and USBL had a tougher time replacing teams that folded. In the last two seasons, the league was mainly a midwestern league, with teams mainly in Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.
After speculation that the USBL might fold after the 2007 season, the league announced that it would sit out the 2008 season and consider its options for the future. In January 2010, the league expressed hopes to resume play in April 2010. However, no further news has surfaced from the league.
The final champions are the Kansas Cagerz, who won the title game on July 1, 2007.
Maps United States Basketball League
Complete team list
USBL Champions
- Year Champion, score Runner-up, score
- 1985 Springfield Fame (19-6), Won regular season, No Playoffs
- 1986 Tampa Bay Flash (22-8), Won regular season, No Playoffs
- 1987 Miami Tropics 103 Rhode Island Gulls 99
- 1988 New Haven Skyhawks 134 Palm Beach Stingrays 126
- 1989 USBL Suspended Operations
- 1990 Jacksonville Hooters (15-1) Won regular season, No Playoffs
- 1991 Philadelphia Spirit 110 Miami Tropics 108
- 1992 Miami Tropics 116 Philadelphia Spirit 114
- 1993 Miami Tropics 139 Westchester Stallions 127
- 1994 Jacksonville Hooters 117 Atlanta Trojans 109
- 1995 Florida Sharks 109 Atlanta Trojans 104
- 1996 Florida Sharks 118 Atlantic City Seagulls 115
- 1997 Atlantic City Seagulls 114 Long Island Surf 112
- 1998 Atlantic City Seagulls 100 Long Island Surf 96
- 1999 Atlantic City Seagulls 83 Connecticut Skyhawks 77
- 2000 Dodge City Legend 89 Oklahoma Storm 86
- 2001 Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs 100 Dodge City Legend 91
- 2002 Oklahoma Storm 122 Kansas Cagerz 109
- 2003 Dodge City Legend 97 Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs 96
- 2004 Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs 118 Brooklyn Kings 116
- 2005 Dodge City Legend 97 Kansas Cagerz 84
- 2006 Nebraska Cranes 100 Dodge City Legend 92
- 2007 Kansas Cagerz 95 Brooklyn Kings 92
- 2008 USBL Suspended Operations
Notable past players
- Michael Adams - (Springfield Fame)
- Darrell Armstrong - (Atlanta Trojans)
- Tim Barnes - (Oklahoma Storm)
- Tyrone Curtis "Muggsy" Bogues - (Rhode Island Gulls)
- Manute Bol - (Rhode Island Gulls)
- Devin Brown - (Kansas Cagerz)
- Lloyd Daniels - (Miami Tropics)
- Mark Davis - (Long Island Knights)
- Waliyy Dixon - (Atlantic City Seagulls)
- Mario Elie - (Miami Tropics)
- World B. Free - (Miami Tropics)
- Raja Bell - (Tampa Bay Windjammers)
- Doug Gottlieb - (Oklahoma Storm)
- Darrin Hancock - (New Jersey Shore Cats), (Dodge City Legend), (Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs), (Kansas Cagerz)
- Avery Johnson - (Palm Beach Stingrays)
- Roy Jones, Jr. - (Brevard Blue Ducks)
- Nancy Lieberman - (Springfield Fame)
- Anthony Mason - (Long Island Surf)
- Cheryl Miller - (Staten Island Stallions)
- Jamario Moon - (Dodge City Legend), (Gary Steelheads)
- Terrell Owens - (Adirondack Wildcats)
- Lynette Richardson - (Miami Topics)
- Micheal "Sugar" Ray Richardson - (Long Island Knights)
- LaMont "ShowBoat" Robinson - (Long Island Knights)
- Anthony Jerome "Spud" Webb - (Rhode Island Gulls)
- John "Hot Rod" Williams - (Rhode Island Gulls)
- Shivang Patel - (Miami Tropics)
- Kelvin Upshaw - (Palmbeach Stingrays)
- Lorenzo Williams - (Palmbeach Stingrays)
- Aqulis Bell -(Jacksonville Barracudas)
- Edward Gamble - (Long Island Surf)
- Vince Hizon - (Pennsylvania Valleydawgs)
- R. Kelly - (Atlantic City Seagulls)
- Kevin O'Rourke - (Miami Tropics)
- Daryle Mickens - ([[Atlantic City Seagulls (United States Basketball League) Atlantic City Seagulls)
See also
- List of developmental and minor sports leagues
References
External links
- USBL logos
- Press Releases from USBasket
Source of article : Wikipedia