The Basketball League

The Basketball League (TBL), formerly North America Premier Basketball (NAPB), is a minor league basketball organization. The league began operating in North America in 2018 with eight teams, and expanded to over 30 teams as of 2021.

Not to be confused with The Basketball Classic or The Basketball Tournament.
The Basketball League (TBL)
Upcoming season or competition:
2022 TBL season
SportBasketball
Founded2017
Inaugural season2018
CEOEvelyn Magley
PresidentDave Magley
CommissionerCarlnel Wiley
Motto"Where the spirit of the game lives"
No. of teams42
CountriesUnited States
ContinentFIBA Americas (Americas)
Most recent
champion(s)		Enid Outlaws (2021)
Official websitethebasketballleague.net

The Basketball League is one of the few minor league basketball organizations providing player salaries from $1,500 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
Hustle
Gambits
Magic
Panthers
Imperials
Sea-Kings
Jaguars
Warriors
Cobras
Coyotes
Lions
Kings
Capitals
Southern Kings
Hurricanes
Sharks
Volcanoes
Royals
Monarchs
7ers
Capitals
Rebels
Legends
Kings
Leprechons
Timberjacks
All-Ameicans
Glass City
All-Americans
BobKats
Pharaohs
Lightning
Fire
Moguls
locations of teams in The Basketball League (TBL). Colors represent divisions as of the 2022 season.


2022 teams
ConferenceTeamCityArenaCapacityFoundedJoinedHead coach
Central Beaumont PanthersBeaumont, TexasFord Arena9,10020182022Omar Sneed
Dallas SkylinePlano, TexasJohn Paul II High School20192020Chris Berry
Enid OutlawsEnid, OklahomaStride Bank Center3,88720202021Mark Dannhoff
Little Rock LightningLittle Rock, ArkansasJack Stephens Center5,60020192021Armando Villanueva
Potawatomi FireShawnee, OklahomaFireLake Arena5,00020212022Derrick Rowland
Rockwall 7ersRockwall, TexasRoyse City High School20212022Kendrick Bryson
Shreveport MavericksShreveport, LouisianaGold Dome3,0002006[lower-alpha 1]2021Steve Tucker
Sugarland ImperialsSugar Land, TexasWheeler Field House2,50020212022James White
Waco RoyalsChilton, TexasChilton High School20202021Mamadou Diene
Lower Midwest Indiana All-AmericansNew Castle, IndianaBlue River Valley High School2,40020212022John Benson
Kentucky EnforcersFrankfort, KentuckyConnor Convocation Center1,20020162021Dustin Driskell
Kokomo BobKatsKokomo, Indiana Memorial Gymnasium7,20020202021Cliff Levingston[19]
Lebanon LeprechaunsLebanon, IndianaRosenstihl Gymnasium4,09920212022Brian Rowsom
Medora TimberjacksMedora, IndianaMedora High School1,20020212022Mark Morin
Owensboro ThoroughbredsOwensboro, KentuckyOwensboro Sportscenter5,00020172018Mark Anderson
Northeast Albany PatroonsAlbany, New YorkWashington Avenue Armory3,6002017[lower-alpha 2]2018Will Brown
Atlantic City GambitsAtlantic City, New JerseyAtlantic City High School20212022Elijah Thorpe
Connecticut CobrasBridgeport, ConnecticutHarvey Hubbell Gymnasium1,60020212022Sam Casey
Lehigh Valley LegendsAllentown, Pennsylvaniamultiple20212022Antawn Dobie
Massachusetts MonarchsTaunton, Massachusetts Taunton High School20202021David Harrison
Lancaster KingsLancaster, PennsylvaniaPucillo Gym3,00020212022Sergio Afre
Reading RebelsReading, PennsylvaniaGeigle Complex3,00020212022Snip Esterly
Syracuse StallionsSyracuse, New YorkLiverpool High School20172021Patrick Beilein
Tri-State AdmiralsMassapequa, New YorkBasketball Results Fieldhouse20192020Daniel Jacob
Southeast Carolina CoyotesColumbia, South CarolinaGlenforest School20202021Nelson T. Jones
Central Alabama JaguarsMontgomery, AlabamaGarrett Coliseum12,50020192022Quartez Harris
Huntsville HurricanesHuntsville, AlabamaJames Clemens High School2022
Gulf Coast LionsBradenton, FloridaBradenton Christian School20192020Cykobe Johnson
Raleigh FirebirdsRaleigh, North CarolinaJohn Chavis Memorial Park20182019Bob MacKinnon Jr.
Tallahassee Southern KingsTallahassee, FloridaTCC Eagle Dome81220212022Andrew Moten
Tampa Bay TitansTampaHoward W. Blake High School20182019David Reichner
Upper Midwest Cincinnati WarriorsCincinnatiCourts 4 Sports15020212022James Millen
Dayton FlightDayton, OhioDayton Sports Complex20020192020Gary Armstrong
Detroit HustleDetroit, MichiganLoyola High School40020102021Aaron McDonald
Flint UnitedFlint, MichiganDort Financial Center4,42120202021Keno Davis
Jamestown JackalsJamestown, New YorkJamestown Community College1,4002015[lower-alpha 3]2019Raheem Singleton
Lansing PharaohsLansing, MichiganDon Johnson Fieldhouse3,60020182022Scott Newman
Toledo Glass City B.CToledo, OhioStudent Health and Activities Center1,20020202022Freddie Zamora
West Bakersfield MagicBakersfield, CaliforniaRiverlakes Ranch Community Center20020212022Peter Pang
California Sea-KingsSan Jose, CaliforniaSilicon Valley Sports20020092021Wallace Bryant
Salem CapitalsSalem, OregonSalem Armory Auditorium3,88720202022Brian Stevens
SoCal MogulsSan Diego North CountyCanyon Crest Academy20212022Olden Polynice
San Diego SharksSan Diego, CaliforniaThe Salvation Army East County Red Shield Community Center2022Brandon Cheeks
Vancouver VolcanoesVancouver, WashingtonO'Connell Sports Center20212022Jeff Perrault
  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.

Future teams
TeamCityArenaCapacityFoundedJoinedOwnership
ATL 8IGH DAOAtlanta, Georgia20202021Chris Allison
Fayetteville StingersFayetteville, North Carolina20222023Ken Bishop
Central Florida ForceOrlando, Florida20212023Sean Mills, Dr. Shalonda Hill, Jacques Pittman
Indy ExpressIndianapolis, IndianaMunicipal Gardens20202021Chris Allison
Seattle Super HawksSeattle, Washington20222023Jacqulene Yang

Former teams
TeamCityArenaSeasonsNotes
Columbus CondorsColumbus, Ohiomultiple2020–2021Not 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.
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.
Mesquite Desert DogsMesquite, Nevadamultiple2018–2019Withdrew prior to the 2020 season citing travel costs as the last remaining west coast team.[20]
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.
Omaha's FinestOmaha, NebraskaMillard North High School2021Not listed on website after season ended.
Rochester RazorsharksRochester, New YorkBlue Cross Arena2018Played the 2018 NAPB season. Change of ownership and left TBL.
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.
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.
West Coast BreezeSan Marcos, Californiamultiple2021Not listed on website after season ended.
Yakima SunKingsYakima, WashingtonYakima SunDome2018–2019Went on hiatus for 2020.[21]

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

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

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. April 1, Rueben WrightPublished; 2021. "Pro Basketball Returns to Shreveport". News Radio 710 KEEL. Retrieved 2021-04-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. "NBL Canada Returns to Celebrate 10th Season with Inter-League Play". OurSports Central. November 4, 2021.
  19. "Professional minor league basketball team comes to Kokomo". Kokomo Perspective. August 11, 2020.
  20. "Mesquite Desert Dogs November 18, 2019, Facebook post". Facebook. November 18, 2019.
  21. "SunKings will not be returning for a third season". KIMA TV. October 29, 2019.
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