United States Basketball League
Defunct men's basketball minor league
The United States Basketball League (USBL ) was a professional men's spring basketball league. The league was formed in 1985 and ceased operations in 2008. 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 National Basketball Association (NBA) and many more playing in Europe .[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] 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,[ 4] [ 5] [ 6] Kansas Cagerz , who won the title game on July 1, 2007.
History
The United States Basketball League was founded in December 1984 by Daniel T. Meisenheimer, a stockbroker from Connecticut .[ 7] [ 8] [ 9] [ 10] NBA referee Richie Powers was named the league's vice president and director of operations, while Earl Monroe was the commissioner.[ 1] salary cap of $250,000 per team.[ 1] [ 8] Connecticut Colonials from New Haven, Connecticut ; the New Jersey Jammers from Jersey City, New Jersey ; the Long Island Knights from Long Island, New York (owned by Meisenheimer himself); the Rhode Island Gulls from Warwick, Rhode Island ; the Springfield Fame from Springfield, Massachusetts ; the Westchester Golden Apples from Westchester, New York ; and the Wildwood Aces from Wildwood, New Jersey . Several players with NBA experience joined the USBL: among them Ken Bannister , Jim Bostic , Tracy Jackson , Lowes Moore , Eddie Lee Wilkins and Sam Worthen . Other players who played in the 1985 USBL season would later play in the NBA, such as Michael Adams , Manute Bol , Ron Crevier , Spud Webb and John "Hot Rod" Williams . After the regular season ended after each team played 25 games, the league management decided not to organize postseason games, since many players were going to join other teams for the start of the regular season of other leagues such as the NBA or the CBA .[ 11]
In 1986 two teams, the Long Island Knights and the Rhode Island Gulls, left the league, and three new franchises joined the USBL: the Gold Coast Stingrays from West Palm Beach, Florida , the Staten Island Stallions from Staten Island, New York and the Tampa Bay Flash from Tampa, Florida . In the same year Nancy Lieberman joined the Springfield Fame and became the first female player to play in a professional league with men.[ 12] Staten Island Stallions , playing 3 minutes during which she did not score.[ 12] Lynette Richardson , who had played college basketball at Florida International , signed for the Miami Tropics .[ 13] Long Island Knights : Richardson scored 3 points while Lieberman scored 2.[ 14] [ 15]
The top teams of the regular season advanced to the USBL Postseason Festival , a playoffs system that saw teams play single elimination games in order to advance to the final game. On three occasions (1985, 1986 and 1990) no postseason was held, and the team with the best regular season record won the championship. In 1989 the USBL ceased operations temporarily in order to improve its organization, and resumed the following season, in 1990.[ 16]
Complete team list
Locations of final USBL teams and divisions
Albany Patroons (2006–07)Atlanta Trojans (1991–99, as Atlanta Eagles in 1991–93)Atlantic City Seagulls (1996–2001)Brevard Blue Ducks (1988, 1990–2004, as Jacksonville Hooters in 1988, 1990–92; as Daytona Beach Hooters in 1993; as Jacksonville Hooters in 1994; as Jacksonville Shooters in 1995; as Jacksonville Barracudas in 1996–98; as Gulf Coast SunDogs in 1999–2000; as Lakeland Blue Ducks in 2001; back to being the Brevard Blue Ducks in 2002–2004)Brooklyn Kings (1999–2007)Camden Power (1997–98, as Philadelphia Power in 1997)Carolina Cardinals (1996)Cedar Rapids River Raiders (2004)Connecticut Skyhawks (1985, 1988, 1990–2001, as Connecticut Colonels in 1985; as New Haven Skyhawks in 1988, 1990–92)Delaware Stars (2007)Dodge City Legend (2000–2007)Empire State Stallions (1991)Florence Flyers Florida Sea Dragons (2000–02, as Tampa Bay Windjammers in 1996–99)Florida Sharks (1995–97)Gary Steelheads (2007)Jackson Jackals (1995)Jackson Wildcats (2007), as Adirondack Wildcats (2002–04)Jersey Shore Bucs (1988)Jersey Turnpikes (1995)Kansas Cagerz (1998–2007, as Columbus Cagerz in 1998)Long Island Surf (1985, 1987–88, 1991–2001, as Long Island Knights in 1985, 1987–88)Maryland Mustangs (2001)Memphis Fire (1994–95)Miami Tropics (1987–88, 1991–1995)Mississippi Coast Gamblers (1994)Nebraska Cranes (2005–2006)
New Hampshire Thunder Loons (1996–99)New Jersey Jammers (1985–88, 1992, as Jersey Jammers in 1986–88)New Jersey Flyers (2004–05, as Florence Flyers in 2004)New Jersey Meteors (2007)New Jersey ShoreCats (1998–2001)New York Whitecaps (1991)Northeast Pennsylvania Breakers (2006–2007)Oklahoma Storm (2000–2007)Palm Beach Stingrays (1986–88, 1990, 1992–94, as Gold Coast Stingrays in 1986; as West Palm Beach Stingrays in 1987)Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs (1999–2006)Philadelphia Aces (1985–88, 1990 as Wildwood Aces in 1985–86)Philadelphia Spirit (1991–92)Portland Wave (1996–97, as Portland Mountain Cats in 1996)Raleigh Cougars (1997–99)Rhode Island Gulls (1985, 1987)Saint Joseph Express (2002, 2004)Saint Louis Skyhawks (2002–2004)Springfield Fame (1985–86)Staten Island Stallions (1986–87)Suncoast Sunblasters (1991)Tampa Bay Stars (1986–87, as Tampa Bay Flash in 1986)Tampa Bay Sunblasters (1992)Texas Rim Rockers (2003–04), no relationship to the American Basketball Association (2000-present) team of the same nameTreasure Coast Tropics (1996, as Miami Tropics in 1987–88, 1991–95)Tulsa Tough-Necks (1999–2000)Washington Congressionals (1998–2000)Westchester Golden Apples (1985–86)Westchester Kings (1997)Westchester Stallions (1993–94)Westchester Wildfire (2003–05)
USBL Champions
Teams played a single championship game at the end of the playoffs to name the league champions
League awards
Player of the Year
1985: John "Hot Rod" Williams , Rhode Island Gulls & Tracy Jackson , Springfield Fame
1986: Don Collins , Tampa Bay Flash
1987: Don Collins (2), Tampa Bay Stars
1988: Lewis Lloyd , Philadelphia Aces
1990: Jerry Johnson, Jacksonville Hooters
1991: Michael Anderson , Philadelphia Spirit
1992: Roy Tarpley , Miami Tropics
1993: Ken Bannister , Miami Tropics
1994: Stan Rose, Atlanta Trojans
1995: Charles Smith , Florida Sharks
1996: Brent Scott , Portland Mountain Cats
1997: Dennis Edwards , Florida Sharks
1998: Curt Smith , Washington Congressionals
1999: Adrian Griffin , Atlantic City Seagulls
2000: Sean Colson , Dodge City Legend
2001: Jason Lampa , Brooklyn Kings
2002: Kwan Johnson , Brevard Blue Ducks[ 17]
2003: Albert Mouring , Oklahoma Storm[ 18]
2004: Chudney Gray , Brooklyn Kings[ 19]
2005: Nate Johnson , Kansas Cagerz[ 20]
2006: Quannas White , Oklahoma Storm[ 21]
2007: Anthony Richardson , Kansas Cagerz[ 22]
Postseason MVP
1987: World B. Free , Miami Tropics
1988: Bobby Parks , New Haven Skyhawks
1991: Paul Graham , Philadelphia Spirit
1992: Duane Washington , Miami Tropics
1993: Ken Bannister , Miami Tropics
1994: Fred Lewis , Jacksonville Hooters
1995: Charles Smith , Florida Sharks
1996: Charles Smith (2), Florida Sharks
1997: Mark Baker , Atlantic City Seagulls & Brent Scott , Atlantic City Seagulls
1998: Adrian Griffin , Atlantic City Seagulls[ 23]
1999: Adrian Griffin (2), Atlantic City Seagulls[ 24]
2001: Frantz Pierre-Louis , Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs & Ace Custis , Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs
2002: Joe Ira Clark , Oklahoma Storm[ 17]
2003: Darrin Hancock , Dodge City Legend[ 18]
2004: Marcus Fleming , Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs[ 19]
2005: Jermaine Boyette , Dodge City Legend[ 20]
2006: Alex Sanders , Nebraska Cranes[ 25]
2007: Nate Johnson , Kansas Cagerz
Rookie of the Year
1985: John "Hot Rod" Williams , Rhode Island Gulls
1986: Marty Embry , Jersey Jammers
1987: Muggsy Bogues , Rhode Island Gulls
1988: Ricky Grace , Jersey Shore Bucs
1990: Randy Henry , Jacksonville Hooters
1991: Greg Sutton , Empire State Stallions
1992: Fred Lewis , Jacksonville Hooters
1993: Khari Jaxon , Palm Beach Stingrays
1994: Randy Carter , Memphis Fire
1995: Roger Crawford , Memphis Fire
1996: Mike Lloyd , Atlantic City Seagulls
1997: Mikki Moore , Atlanta Trojans
1998: Kerry Thompson, Tampa Bay Windjammers
1999: Adrian Pledger , New Hampshire Thunder Loons
2000: Jason Lampa , Long Island Surf
2001: George Evans , Maryland Mustangs
2002: Devin Brown , Kansas Cagerz & Corsley Edwards , Adirondack Wildcats[ 17]
2003: Lenny Cooke , Brooklyn Kings[ 18]
2004: Tony Bland , Brevard Blue Ducks[ 19]
2005: Badou Gaye , Westchester Wildfire & John Allen , New Jersey Flyers[ 20]
2006: Tristan Smith, Long Island PrimeTime[ 21]
2007: Adam Schaper , Gary Steelheads[ 26]
Coach of the Year
1985: Gerald Oliver , Springfield Fame
1986: Henry Bibby , Springfield Fame
1987: Gordon Gibbons , Tampa Bay Stars
1988: Dave Ervin , Philadelphia Aces
1990: Rex Morgan , Jacksonville Hooters
1991: Bill Lange, Philadelphia Spirit
1992: Al Outlaw , Atlanta Eagles
1993: John Lucas II , Miami Tropics
1994: Al Outlaw (2), Atlanta Trojans
1995: Mike Mashak , Jersey Turnpikes
1996: Eric Musselman , Florida Sharks
1997: Kevin Mackey , Atlantic City Seagulls
1998: Ray Hodge , Connecticut Skyhawks
1999: Darryl Dawkins , Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs & Kevin Mackey (2), Atlantic City Seagulls
2000: Kent Davidson , Dodge City Legend
2001: Robert Parish , Maryland Mustangs
2002: Francis Flax , Kansas Cagerz & Harvey Grant , Brevard Blue Ducks[ 17]
2003: Cliff Levingston , Dodge City Legend[ 18]
2004: Dale Osbourne , Dodge City Legend[ 19]
2005: Ken Charles , Brooklyn Kings[ 20]
2006: Bryan Gates , Oklahoma Storm[ 21]
2007: Dale Osbourne (2), Dodge City Legend[ 22]
Defensive Player of the Year
Man of the Year
Statistical leaders
Scoring leaders
Rebounding leaders
Season
Player
Pos
Team
Rebounds per
1985
Manute Bol
C
Rhode Island Gulls
14.2[ 27]
1986
Jim Bostic
F
Westchester Golden Apples
10.1[ 28]
1987
Hank McDowell
F/C
Rhode Island Gulls
10.7[ 29]
1988
Michael Brooks
F
Philadelphia Aces
13.5[ 30]
1990
Alex Roberts
F
New York Whitecaps
15.3[ 31]
1991
Anthony Mason
F
Long Island Surf
11.2[ 32]
1992
Roy Tarpley
C
Miami Tropics
17.0[ 33]
1993
Fred Lewis
F
Daytona Beach Hooters
9.3[ 34]
1994
Keith Lee
F/C
Memphis Fire
14.5
1995
Brent Scott
C
Miami Tropics
12.0[ 35]
1996
Shawnelle Scott
C
Long Island Surf
13.5
1997
Brent Scott (2)
C
Atlantic City Seagulls
11.4
1998
Andre Perry
F
Atlanta Trojans
11.0
1999
Andre Perry (2)
F
Atlanta Trojans
11.6
2000
Andre Perry (3)
F
Florida Sea Dragons
11.4
2001
John Jackson
F
Kansas Cagerz
12.0[ 36]
2002
John Jackson (2)
F
Kansas Cagerz
11.7
2003
Antonio Smith
C
Dodge City Legend
11.3
2004
Mario Woodson
F
Florence Flyers
10.5
2005
Roderick Riley
C
Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs
10.2
2006
Steve Castleberry
F
Northeast Pennsylvania Breakers
10.7
2007
Jason Miller
F/C
Kansas Cagerz
8.0
Assists leaders
20th Anniversary Team
On 21 July 2005 the League announced the players of its "Top 20 and Beyond Anniversary Team" were chosen by a vote of executives, coaches, and administrators that have served over the years in the USBL.[ 38]
Players
An alphabetical listing of 20 voted players is as follows:
Honorable mention by USBL (2005) :
Lloyd Daniels - "Sweet Pea" first showed the world his talents in the USBL.Darrin Hancock - Is one of only two players with 3 USBL Championship Rings.Tim Legler - The ESPN analyst played 4 great seasons with the Philadelphia franchise.
Coaches
Notable past players
Source [ 39]
See also
References
^ a b c Goldaper, Sam (June 25, 1985). "N.B.A. Hopfuls Find a Showcase" . The New York Times . Retrieved May 16, 2019 . ^ Bernucca, Chris (July 21, 1991). "The League of Opportunity" . The Los Angeles Times . Retrieved May 16, 2019 . ^ "USBL Players Playing in Europe" . usbl.com . Archived from the original on July 24, 2004. Retrieved May 16, 2019 .^ "Archived copy" . Archived from the original on February 5, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2016 .{{cite web }}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link )^ "United States Basketball League - News" . Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2016 .^ "United States Basketball League - News" . Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2010 .^ "Daniel T. Meisenheimer" . twst.com . Retrieved October 15, 2019 .^ a b "Summer baskets loop set". New York Daily News ^ "New Pro Basketball League Will Have Old Pros' Touch". Philadelphia Daily News ^ "Hoop team a name with which to conjure". New York Daily News . February 28, 1985. p. 88. ^ "Daniel T. Meisenheimer III, president and founder of the U.S. Basketball League, announced Friday that the first-year league will not conduct any type of playoffs or championship series this season" . UPI . July 20, 1985. Retrieved October 15, 2019 .^ a b Lidz, Franz (June 23, 1986). "Mixing It Up With the Guys" . Sports Illustrated . Retrieved October 15, 2019 . ^ Camillone, Jude (June 2, 1987). "Seeking Jobs in the NBA, The USBL Is No Joke" . Sun-Sentinel . Retrieved October 15, 2019 . ^ "It's a whole other World for Free in summer USBL". The Akron Beacon Journal ^ "Will Birmingham join the United States Basketball League?" . birminghamprosports.com . Retrieved October 15, 2019 .^ "USBL 1989 Season Recap" . usbl.com . Archived from the original on August 4, 2004. Retrieved May 16, 2019 .^ a b c d e "USBL hands out postseason awards" . oursportscentral.com . July 2, 2002. Retrieved May 16, 2019 .^ a b c d e "USBL hands out post-season awards" . oursportscentral.com . July 2, 2003. Retrieved May 16, 2019 .^ a b c d e "USBL honors All-USBL Teams" . oursportscentral.com . July 6, 2004. Retrieved May 16, 2019 .^ a b c d e "USBL reveals All-USBL teams" . oursportscentral.com . July 5, 2005. Retrieved May 16, 2019 .^ a b c d "Oklahoma's White named player of the year" . oursportscentral.com . June 22, 2006. Retrieved May 16, 2019 .^ a b c "Cagerz Richardson named USBL MVP" . kansascagerz.com . June 28, 2007. Archived from the original on October 21, 2007. Retrieved October 20, 2019 .^ "Atlantic City Seagulls win USBL title". The Philadelphia Inquirer ^ "USBL Unveils 20th Anniversary Team" . oursportscentral.com . June 21, 2005. Retrieved May 16, 2019 .^ "2006 USBL championship game recap" . oursportscentral.com . June 25, 2006. Retrieved May 16, 2019 .^ "Steelheads' Schaper named USBL Rookie of the Year" . oursportscentral.com . June 27, 2007. Retrieved May 16, 2019 .^ a b c "USBL 1985 Season Recap" . usbl.com . Archived from the original on August 23, 2000. Retrieved July 20, 2019 .^ a b c "USBL 1986 Season Recap" . usbl.com . Archived from the original on August 23, 2000. Retrieved July 20, 2019 .^ a b c "USBL 1987 Season Recap" . usbl.com . Archived from the original on August 23, 2000. Retrieved July 20, 2019 .^ a b c "USBL 1988 Season Recap" . usbl.com . Archived from the original on October 28, 2000. Retrieved July 20, 2019 .^ a b c "USBL 1990 Season Recap" . usbl.com . Archived from the original on October 28, 2000. Retrieved July 20, 2019 .^ a b c "USBL 1991 Season Recap" . usbl.com . Archived from the original on October 28, 2000. Retrieved July 20, 2019 .^ a b c "USBL 1992 Season Recap" . usbl.com . Archived from the original on October 28, 2000. Retrieved July 20, 2019 .^ a b c "USBL 1993 Season Recap" . usbl.com . Archived from the original on October 28, 2000. Retrieved July 20, 2019 .^ a b c "USBL 1995 Season Recap" . usbl.com . Archived from the original on October 28, 2000. Retrieved July 20, 2019 .^ a b c "United States Basketball League Standings" . usbl.com . Archived from the original on October 25, 2001. Retrieved July 20, 2019 .^ Farrey, Tom (July 10, 2012). "Buyer Beware Lenny Cooke Thought He Would Have It All. Now He Wonders What's Left" . ESPN.com . Retrieved February 10, 2021 . ^ "USBL Unveils 20th Anniversary Team" . oursportscentral.com . July 21, 2005.^ "All-Time USBL Roster" . usbl.com . Archived from the original on August 4, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2019 .
External links
