The Basketball League


The Basketball League is a minor professional basketball league operating in North America that began play in 2018 as North American Premier Basketball.

History

On July 7, 2017, Dr. 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. Dr. Sev 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.
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 midseason by the Ohio Bootleggers, a team operated by the former ownership of the Vancouver Knights.
On February 25, 2018, Dave Magley stated 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.
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 rebranded as The Basketball League. 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. 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 rebranded 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. The league cut its season short, with the New York Court Kings and Kansas City Tornadoes either folding or ceasing operations for the season.
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. 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. 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.

Teams

TeamCityArenaCapacityFoundedJoinedHead coach
Albany PatroonsAlbany, New YorkWashington Avenue Armory3,600–4,30020172018Derrick Rowland
Columbus CondorsColumbus, OhioOtterbein University4,00020162020Darrell Miller
Dallas SkylineAddison, TexasAlfred J. Loos Fieldhouse7,00020192020Chris Terrell
Dayton FlightDayton, OhioStivers School for the Arts20192020Gary Armstrong
Gulf Coast LionsSarasota, FloridaBooker High School20192020Ed Corporal
Indy ExpressIndianapolis, IndianaThomas Howe High School20192020Andre Owens
Jamestown JackalsJamestown, New YorkJamestown Community College1,40020152019Ken Crosby
Lewisville LeopardsLewisville, TexasMacedonia C.A.R.E. Center20192020Mathis Crowder
Owensboro ThoroughbredsOwensboro, KentuckyOwensboro Sportscenter5,00020172018Mark Anderson
Raleigh FirebirdsRaleigh, North CarolinaWord of God Christian Academy20182019Robert Brickey
Tampa Bay TitansNew Port Richey, FloridaPasco–Hernando State College20182019Lazarus Sims
Tri-State AdmiralsJersey City, New JerseyJersey City Armory20192020

Future teams

Former teams

Team timeline

Current teams in tan
Former teams in dark tan
Announced future teams in green


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bar:1 color:tan1 from:01/01/2018 till:end text:Albany Patroons
bar:2 color:tan2 from:01/01/2018 till:07/01/2019 text:Kansas City Tornadoes
bar:3 color:tan1 from:01/01/2018 till:end text:Kentucky/Owensboro Thoroughbreds
bar:4 color:tan2 from:01/01/2018 till:07/01/2019 text:Nevada/Mesquite Desert Dogs
bar:5 color:tan2 from:01/01/2018 till:03/27/2018 text:Ohio Cardinals
bar:6 color:tan2 from:01/01/2018 till: 07/01/2018 text:Rochester Razorsharks
bar:7 color:tan2 from:01/01/2018 till:07/01/2018 text:Vancouver Knights
bar:8 color:tan2 from:01/01/2018 till:07/01/2019 text:Yakima SunKings
bar:9 color:tan2 from:03/27/2018 till:07/01/2018 text:Ohio Bootleggers
bar:9 color:tan1 from:01/01/2020 till:end text:Columbus Condors
bar:10 color:tan1 from:01/01/2019 till:end text:Jamestown Jackals
bar:11 color:tan2 from:01/01/2019 till:04/08/2019 text:New York Court Kings
bar:12 color:tan1 from:01/01/2019 till:end text:Raleigh Firebirds
bar:13 color:tan2 from:01/01/2019 till:07/01/2019 text:San Diego Waves
bar:14 color:tan1 from:01/01/2019 till:end text:Tampa Bay Titans
bar:15 color:tan1 from:01/01/2020 till:end text:Dallas Skyline
bar:16 color:tan1 from:01/01/2020 till:end text:Dayton Flight
bar:17 color: tan1 from:01/01/2020 till:end text:Gulf Coast Lions
bar:18 color:tan1 from:01/01/2020 till:end text:Indy Express
bar:19 color:tan1 from:01/01/2020 till:end text:Lewisville Leopards
bar:20 color:tan1 from:01/01/2020 till:end text:Tri-State Admirals
bar:21 color:limegreen from:09/05/2019 till:end text:Little Rock Lightning
bar:22 color:limegreen from:05/01/2020 till:end text:Syracuse Stallions
bar:23 color:limegreen from:06/15/2020 till:end text:Anderson Aces
bar:24 color:limegreen from:07/06/2020 till:end text:Fresno Fire]
bar:25 color:limegreen from:07/06/2020 till:end text:South Shore Monarchs]
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Seasons