The Basketball League
North American basketball league From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Basketball League (TBL), formerly North America Premier Basketball (NAPB), is a professional basketball league. The league began operating in North America in 2018 with eight teams, and has since expanded.
Current season, competition or edition: 2025 TBL season | |
| |
| Formerly | North America Premier Basketball |
|---|---|
| Sport | Basketball |
| Founded | 2017 |
| First season | 2018 |
| Owner(s) | Dave Magley Evelyn Magley |
| CEO | Evelyn Magley |
| President | Dave Magley |
| Commissioner | Carlnel Wiley |
| Motto | Where the spirit of the game lives |
| No. of teams | 33 |
| Countries | United States Canada |
| Continent | North America |
| Most recent champion(s) | Potawatomi Fire (2nd title) |
| Most titles | Potawatomi Fire (2) |
| Broadcaster(s) | TBL TV |
| Official website | thebasketballleague |
TBL's regular season runs from February through May, and their teams engage in interleague play with franchises of the Basketball Super League (BSL).
History
Summarize
Perspective
In July 2017, Dave Magley and Severko Hrywnak announced the formation of North America Premier Basketball (NAPB).[1] Magley previously served as commissioner for the National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC), and Hrywnak was co-founder of the Premier Basketball League (PBL).[1]
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 Yakima SunKings defeated the Albany Patroons in a best-of-three series to become inaugural NAPB champions.[2]
After the first season, Dave Magley and his wife Evelyn acquired the league as sole owners, and rebranded as The Basketball League (TBL).[3] Paul Mokeski was named commissioner of the league for its 2019 season, which commenced with ten teams.[4] The league's second season was ended prematurely, as many teams were struggling financially.[5] In a rematch from the prior year, the Albany Patroons defeated the Yakima SunKings in a best-of-three series to become TBL champions.[6] Paul Woolpert was fired as Yakima's head coach prior to the final game, as he had protested the team owner refusing to pay for his coaching staff's flights to Albany.[7]
The 2020 season began with twelve teams, but ended prematurely with no playoffs held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] Carlnel Wiley replaced Paul Mokeski as league commissioner prior to this season.[9]
Twenty-nine teams played during the 2021 season, with the Enid Outlaws defeating the Syracuse Stallions in a best-of-three series to capture the league championship.[10]
We are a showcase league, trying to provide players with opportunities. We don’t have buyout clauses, so players can leave if they find another opportunity. We provide video and stats, which is important for players who want to go overseas, because those are the two things that you need to get a chance.[11]
—Evelyn Magley, CEO
National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC) teams engaged in interleague play with TBL franchises during the 2022 season, including the 2022 TBL All-Star Game.[12] Forty-four teams competed that season, and the Shreveport Mavericks defeated the Albany Patroons in a best-of-three series to become TBL champions.[13]
Forty-nine teams played during the 2023 season, with the Potawatomi Fire defeating the St. Louis Griffins in their best-of-three series to become TBL champions.[14]
After the dissolution of NBLC following their 2022–23 season, Dave Magley announced the formation of the Basketball Super League (BSL), whose teams would engage in interleague play with TBL franchises beginning in 2024.[15] The 2024 season saw thirty-nine teams compete, with the Potawatomi Fire once again defeating the St. Louis Griffin in a best-of-three series to win the TBL championship.[16]
The current entry fee for a TBL franchise is $600,000, payable on installment, along with a $10,000 annual fee for officiating.[17] Owners are expected to have annual operating budgets of $200,000 to $300,000, and are entitled to receive 50% of the league's sponsorship earnings through revenue sharing.[17]
Teams
Halifax
Tri City
Lightning
Fire
Clutch
Breaks
Phoenix
Crusaders
95ers
Titans
Seahawks
BobKats
Legacy
Leprechauns
Iron Horses
Griffins
Majestics
Jaguars
Electric
Sharks
Super Hawks
Volcanoes
Bighorns
Capitals
Blue Waves
Base locations of teams in The Basketball League. Colors represent conference alignment as of the 2025 season.
Former teams
| Team | City | Arena | Seasons | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City Gambits | Atlantic City, New Jersey | Atlantic City High School | 2021–2023 | Folded after season ended. |
| California Sea-Kings | San Jose, California | Silicon Valley Sports | 2021–2022 | Joined from the ABA. Folded after season ended. |
| Carolina Coyotes | Columbia, South Carolina | Glenforest School | 2020–2022 | Folded after season ended. |
| Central Alabama Jaguars | Montgomery, Alabama | Garrett Coliseum | 2022 | Folded after season ended. |
| Central Florida Force | Orlando, Florida | Barnett Park Recreation Complex | 2021–2023 | Folded after season ended. |
| Charlotte Purple Jackets | Charlotte, North Carolina | Curry Court | 2021–2023 | Folded after season ended. |
| Cincinnati Warriors | Cincinnati | multiple | 2019–2025 | Folded mid-season. |
| Columbus Condors | Columbus, Ohio | multiple | 2020–2021 | Joined from the PBL. Folded after season ended. |
| Dayton Flight | Dayton, Ohio | Dayton Sports Complex | 2020–2022 | Folded after season ended. |
| Derby City Distillers | Louisville, Kentucky | Gardner Gymnasium | 2022–2024 | Folded after season ended. |
| Detroit Hustle | Detroit, Michigan | Loyola High School | 2020–2022 | Folded after season ended. |
| Fayetteville Stingers | Fayetteville, North Carolina | Crown Complex | 2023 | Folded after season ended. |
| Flint United | Flint, Michigan | Dort Financial Center | 2021 | Folded after season ended. |
| Georgia Soul | Augusta, Georgia | HEAL Complex | 2021–2023 | Folded after season ended. |
| Glass City Wranglers | Toledo, Ohio | Student Health and Activities Center | 2022–2024 | Moved to the BSL. |
| Gulf Coast Lions | Sarasota, Florida | Newtown Estates Gym | 2020–2023 | Folded after season ended. |
| Houston Push | Houston, Texas | Fallbrook Church | 2021 | Folded after season ended. |
| Indiana All-Americans | New Castle, Indiana | Blue River Valley High School | 2022 | Folded after season ended. |
| Indy Express | Indianapolis, Indiana | Municipal Gardens | 2020–2021 | Folded after season ended. |
| Jamestown Jackals | Jamestown, New York | Jamestown Community College | 2019–2024 | Joined from the NABL. Moved to the BSL. |
| Kalamazoo Galaxy | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Wings Event Center | 2022–2023 | Folded after season ended. |
| Kansas City Tornadoes | Kansas City, Missouri | multiple | 2018–2019 | Folded mid-season. |
| Kentucky Enforcers | Edgewood, Kentucky | Thomas More University | 2021–2023 | Joined from the PBL. Folded after season ended. |
| L'Academie D'Alma | Alma, Quebec | L'Academie D'Alma | 2023 | Folded after season ended. |
| Lehigh Valley Legends | Easton, Pennsylvania | Kirby Sports Center | 2021–2023 | Folded after season ended. |
| Lewisville Leopards | Lewisville, Texas | Creating Young Minds Academy | 2020 | Folded after season ended. |
| Los Angeles Ignite | Los Angeles, California | California State University | 2024 | Folded after season ended. |
| Massachusetts Monarchs | Taunton, Massachusetts | Taunton High School | 2020–2022 | Folded after season ended. |
| Medora Timberjacks | Medora, Indiana | Medora Junior-Senior High School | 2022–2024 | Folded after season ended. |
| Mesquite Desert Dogs | Mesquite, Nevada | multiple | 2018–2019 | Folded after season ended. |
| Midtown Prestige | Wichita, Kansas | Charles Koch Arena | 2021 | Folded after season ended. |
| Montréal Toundra | Montreal, Quebec | Centre Pierre Charbonneau | 2023 | Moved to the BSL. |
| Newfoundland Rogues | St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador | Mary Brown's Centre | 2023 | Joined from the ABA. Moved to the BSL. |
| New York Court Kings | Queens, New York | Elmcor Youth and Adult Activities Center | 2019 | Joined from the ABA. Folded mid-season. |
| Ohio Bootleggers | Westerville, Ohio | Otterbein University Rike Center | 2018 | Joined from the NABL. Folded after season ended. |
| Ohio Cardinals | Akron, Ohio | LeBron James Arena | 2018 | Folded mid-season. |
| Oklahoma Panthers | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Putnam City High School | 2021–2023 | Folded after season ended. |
| Omaha's Finest | Omaha, Nebraska | Millard North High School | 2021 | Folded after season ended. |
| Owensboro Thoroughbreds | Owensboro, Kentucky | Owensboro Sportscenter | 2018–2023 | Folded after season ended. |
| Pearland Texas Warriors | Pearland, Texas | Pearland Nortorium | 2022 | Folded after season ended. |
| Pontiac Pharaohs | Pontiac, Michigan | Pontiac High School | 2022, 2024 | Moved to the BSL. |
| Port City Power | Saint John, New Brunswick | multiple | 2025 | Folded before season started. |
| Rhode Island Kraken | Warwick, Rhode Island | multiple | 2017–2023 | Folded after season ended. |
| Rochester Kingz | Rochester, New York | James Monroe High School | 2025 | Joined from the ABA. Folded mid-season. |
| Rochester Razorsharks | Rochester, New York | Blue Cross Arena | 2018 | Joined from the PBL. Left to rejoin the PBL. |
| Rocket City Flight | Huntsville, Alabama | Oakwood University | 2024 | Folded after season ended. |
| San Diego Guardians | San Diego, California | Victory Christian Academy | 2021 | Joined from the ABA. Folded after season ended. |
| San Diego Waves | San Diego, California | San Diego Mesa College | 2019 | Folded after season ended. |
| Santa Ana Thunder | Santa Ana, New Mexico | Bernalillo High School | 2024 | Folded after season ended. |
| Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks | Shreveport, Louisiana | Gold Dome | 2021–2024 | Joined from the PBL. Folded mid-season. |
| SoCal Moguls | San Diego North County | Canyon Crest Academy | 2021–2022 | Folded after season ended. |
| Sugarland Imperials | Sugar Land, Texas | Wheeler Field House | 2022 | Folded after season ended. |
| Syracuse Stallions | Syracuse, New York | Liverpool High School | 2017–2023 | Joined from the ABA. Folded after season ended. |
| Tallahassee Southern Kings | Tallahassee, Florida | TCC Eagle Dome | 2022 | Folded after season ended. |
| Texas 7ers | Terrell, Texas | Southwestern Christian College | 2024 | Folded after season ended. |
| Vancouver Knights | Richmond, British Columbia | Richmond Olympic Oval | 2018 | Folded after season ended. |
| Vegas Ballers | Las Vegas, Nevada | Tarkanian Basketball Center | 2021 | Folded after season ended. |
| Waco Royals | Chilton, Texas | Chilton High School | 2020–2022 | Folded after season ended. |
| West Coast Breeze | San Marcos, California | multiple | 2021, 2023 | Folded after season ended. |
| Western Oklahoma SkyKings | Altus, Oklahoma | El Reno High School | 2023–2024 | Folded after season ended. |
| West Virginia Grind | Charleston, West Virginia | Walker Convocation Center | 2023–2024 | Folded after season ended. |
| Yakima SunKings | Yakima, Washington | Yakima SunDome | 2018–2019 | Folded after season ended. |
| York Mighty Ants | York, Pennsylvania | William Penn Senior High School | 2023 | Joined from the TTBL. Folded after season ended. |
Seasons
| Season | Regular season champion | Regular season MVP | Playoff champion | Playoff runner-up | Playoff MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Yakima SunKings | Edwin Ubiles (Albany) | Yakima SunKings | Albany Patroons | Renaldo Major |
| 2019 | Yakima SunKings | Robert Duncan (Yakima) | Albany Patroons | Yakima SunKings | Shadell Millinghaus |
| 2020 | Indy Express* | Corey Taite (Tri-State) | Season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||
| 2021 | Enid Outlaws | Chance Comanche (Enid) | Enid Outlaws | Syracuse Stallions | Chance Comanche |
| 2022 | Shreveport Mavericks | Deshawn Munson (Potawatomi) | Shreveport Mavericks | Albany Patroons | PJ Meyers |
| 2023 | Potawatomi Fire | Chris Darrington (Glass City) | Potawatomi Fire | St. Louis Griffins | Daylon Guy and Deshawn Munson |
| 2024 | Potawatomi Fire | Daylon Guy (Potawatomi) | Potawatomi Fire | St. Louis Griffins | Deshawn Munson |
* Shortened season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Indy Express had the best overall record at the time of cancellation.
Notes
References
External links
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