The American Basketball League (ABL) was a semi-professional men's
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...
league that began play in January 2013. It is the fourth league to use the ABL name.
Steven A. Hanley, former agent of
Magic Johnson, was ABL President and CEO. Former assistant athletic director at
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University (Florida Atlantic or FAU) is a Public university, public research university with its main campus in Boca Raton, Florida, United States. The university is a member of the State University System of Florida and has s ...
Eric Newsome held the position of league commissioner. He played college basketball at
Miami University
Miami University (informally Miami of Ohio or simply Miami) is a public university, public research university in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the second-oldest List of colleges and universities in Ohio, university in Ohi ...
(1983–88), including three seasons with five-time NBA champion
Ron Harper. Newsome is fourth leading all-time scorers for the
RedHawks.
History
2013
Twelve teams (based in Florida and Texas) in two divisions (Lone Star and Tropics) competed in the inaugural season of 2013. The first season of the ABL began in January with a planned 24-game schedule. The season was never completed due to a number of factors, including allegations of unpaid players and coaches and game day incidents.
2014
The second season featured a slimmed-down league with four south Florida-based teams competing. Two original teams, Fort Lauderdale Sharks and Palm Beach Hurricane, were joined by newcomers Orlando Lightning and Pompano Beach Cobras. After a 14-game regular season, Fort Lauderdale defeated Orlando 90-84 to win the first-ever ABL championship. Both teams finished 8–6 in the regular season, with the Sharks winning four-of-five matchups.
2015
Season 3 again had four teams competing with the expansion Orlando Whalers replacing the Palm Beach Hurricane. Orlando Lightning went 4-0 before defeating the Whalers in the championship game to capture the summer league title.
The league is reportedly in negotiations wit
The Bahamas Basketball Federation to form a division on the island.
No 2016 season was played.
Teams
Former teams
* Corpus Christi Clutch
* Davie Stars
* Emerald Coast Knights
* Heartland Eagles
* Lone Star Law
* Palm Beach Hurricane
* Panama City Breeze
* Pompano Beach Cobras
* South Texas Revolution
* Sugar Land Legends (joined
ABA in Fall of 2014)
* Texas Surge
* Twin City United
Champions
References
External links
Official ABL website@hoopsABL
{{DEFAULTSORT:American Basketball League (2013-2015)
Defunct basketball leagues in the United States
Professional sports leagues in the United States
2012 establishments in the United States
Sports leagues established in 2012
Sports leagues disestablished in 2015
2015 disestablishments in the United States