The United States Basketball League (USBL) was a professional men's spring
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. 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
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...
(NBA) and many more playing in
Europe
Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
.
In 1996, the league made a
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
Kansas ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...
,
Nebraska
Nebraska ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Ka ...
, and
Oklahoma
Oklahoma ( ; Choctaw language, Choctaw: , ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Texas to the south and west, Kansas to the north, Missouri to the northea ...
. After speculation that the USBL might fold after the 2007 season, the league announced that it would sit out the 2008 season and consider its options for the future. In January 2010, the league expressed hopes to resume play in April 2010. However, no further news has surfaced from the league. The final champions are the
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
A stockbroker is an individual or company that buys and sells stocks and other investments for a financial market participant in return for a commission, markup, or fee. In most countries they are regulated as a broker or broker-dealer and ...
from
Connecticut
Connecticut ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York (state), New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. ...
.
The league management initially planned to schedule about 40 games during the summer, and started to look for new teams to join the newly formed USBL. Former
NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...
referee
Richie Powers
Richard Francis Powers (October 14, 1930 – July 31, 1998) was an American professional basketball referee in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1979. He worked 25 NBA Finals games, including the triple-overtime Game 5 contes ...
was named the league's vice president and director of operations, while
Earl Monroe
Vernon Earl Monroe (born November 21, 1944) is an American former professional basketball player. He played for two teams, the Baltimore Bullets and the New York Knicks, during his career in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Both teams ...
was the commissioner.
Meisenheimer introduced a
salary cap
In professional sports, a salary cap (or wage cap) is an agreement or rule that places a limit on the amount of money that a team can spend on players' salaries. It exists as a per-player limit or a total limit for the team's roster, or both. Seve ...
of $250,000 per team.
The teams for the first season were the
Connecticut Colonials from
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is a city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound. With a population of 135,081 as determined by the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, New Haven is List ...
; the
New Jersey Jammers from
; the
Long Island Knights from
Long Island, New York
Long Island is a densely populated continental island in southeastern New York (state), New York state, extending into the Atlantic Ocean. It constitutes a significant share of the New York metropolitan area in both population and land are ...
(owned by Meisenheimer himself); the
Rhode Island Gulls from
Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick ( or ) is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States, and is the third-largest city in the state, with a population of 82,823 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. Warwick is located approximately south of downtown Pr ...
; the
Springfield Fame from
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, and its county seat. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers: the western Westfield River, the ea ...
; the
Westchester Golden Apples from
Westchester, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of New York, bordering the Long Island Sound and the Byram River to its east and the Hudson River on its west. The county is the seventh most populous coun ...
; 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
Manute Bol ( ; June 19, 2010) was a Sudanese-American professional basketball player and political activist. Listed at or tall, Bol was one of the two tallest players in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
After he p ...
,
Ron Crevier,
Spud Webb
Anthony Jerome "Spud" Webb (born July 13, 1963) is an American former professional basketball player. A point guard, Webb played college basketball at Midland College and at North Carolina State University. He then played for four teams in the N ...
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. The first USBL champions were the Springfield Fame, that had ended the regular season leading the league with a 19–6 record. Hot Rod Williams and Tracy Jackson were named co-MVPs, while Manute Bol led the league both in rebounds per game (14.2) and blocks per game (11.2).
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
West Palm Beach is a city in and the county seat of Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It is located immediately to the west of the adjacent Palm Beach, Florida, Palm Beach, which is situated on a barrier island across the Lake Worth Lag ...
, the
Staten Island Stallions from
Staten Island, New York
Staten Island ( ) is the southernmost of the boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Richmond County and situated at the southernmost point of New York (state), New York. The borough is separated from the ad ...
and the
Tampa Bay Flash from
Tampa, Florida
Tampa ( ) is a city on the Gulf Coast of the United States, Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. Tampa's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and t ...
. In the same year
Nancy Lieberman
Nancy Ilizabeth Lieberman (born July 1, 1958), nicknamed "Lady Magic", is an American former professional basketball player and coach in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) who is currently a broadcaster for the Oklahoma City Thun ...
joined the
Springfield Fame and became the first female player to play in a professional league with men.
Lieberman debuted in June 1986 in a game against the
Staten Island Stallions, playing 3 minutes during which she did not score.
In 1987 another woman joined the USBL:
Lynette Richardson, who had played
college basketball
College basketball is basketball that is played by teams of Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. In the Higher education in the United States, United States, colleges and universities are governed by collegiate athle ...
at
Florida International, signed for the
Miami Tropics.
On June 13, 1987, Richardson and Lieberman played against each other during a game between the Miami Tropics and the
Long Island Knights: Richardson scored 3 points while Lieberman scored 2.
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.
Complete team list
USBL Champions
''Teams played a single championship game at the end of the playoffs to name the league champions''
*1985
Springfield Fame (19–6) won regular season, no playoffs
*1986
Tampa Bay Flash (22–8) won regular season, no playoffs
*1987
Miami Tropics 103
Rhode Island Gulls 99
*1988
New Haven Skyhawks 134
Palm Beach Stingrays 126
*1989 ''USBL suspended operations''
*1990
Jacksonville Hooters (15–1) won regular season, no playoffs
*1991
Philadelphia Spirit 110
Miami Tropics 108
*1992
Miami Tropics 116
Philadelphia Spirit 114
*1993
Miami Tropics 139
Westchester Stallions 127
*1994
Jacksonville Hooters 117
Atlanta Trojans 109
*1995
Florida Sharks 109
Atlanta Trojans 104
*1996
Florida Sharks 118
Atlantic City Seagulls 115
*1997
Atlantic City Seagulls 114
Long Island Surf 112
*1998
Atlantic City Seagulls 100
Long Island Surf 96
*1999
Atlantic City Seagulls 83
Connecticut Skyhawks 77
*2000
Dodge City Legend 89
Oklahoma Storm 86
*2001
Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs 100
Dodge City Legend 91
*2002
Oklahoma Storm 122
Kansas Cagerz 109
*2003
Dodge City Legend 97
Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs 96
*2004
Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs 118
Brooklyn Kings 116
*2005
Dodge City Legend 97
Kansas Cagerz 84
*2006
Nebraska Cranes 100
Dodge City Legend 92
*2007
Kansas Cagerz 95
Brooklyn Kings 92
*2008 ''USBL suspended operations''
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
Dennis Edwards Jr. (February 3, 1943 – February 1, 2018) was an American soul and R&B singer who was best known as the frontman in The Temptations for Motown Records. Edwards joined the Temptations in 1968, replacing David Ruffin and sang w ...
, Florida Sharks
*1998:
Curt Smith
Curt Smith (born 24 June 1961) is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is best known as the co-lead vocalist, bassist, and co-founding member of the pop rock band Tears for Fears along with childhood friend Roland ...
, Washington Congressionals
*1999:
Adrian Griffin
Adrian Darnell Griffin Sr. (born July 4, 1974) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who most recently served as the head coach for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played in the NBA a ...
, Atlantic City Seagulls
*2000:
Sean Colson, Dodge City Legend
*2001:
Jason Lampa, Brooklyn Kings
*2002:
Kwan Johnson, Brevard Blue Ducks
*2003:
Albert Mouring, Oklahoma Storm
*2004:
Chudney Gray, Brooklyn Kings
*2005:
Nate Johnson, Kansas Cagerz
*2006:
Quannas White, Oklahoma Storm
*2007:
Anthony Richardson, Kansas Cagerz
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
Adrian Darnell Griffin Sr. (born July 4, 1974) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who most recently served as the head coach for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played in the NBA a ...
, Atlantic City Seagulls
*1999: Adrian Griffin (2), Atlantic City Seagulls
*2001:
Frantz Pierre-Louis, Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs &
Ace Custis, Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs
*2002:
Joe Ira Clark, Oklahoma Storm
*2003:
Darrin Hancock, Dodge City Legend
*2004:
Marcus Fleming, Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs
*2005:
Jermaine Boyette, Dodge City Legend
*2006:
Alex Sanders, Nebraska Cranes
*2007:
Nate Johnson, Kansas Cagerz
Rookie of the Year
*1985:
John "Hot Rod" Williams, Rhode Island Gulls
*1986:
Marty Embry
Marty Embry (born March 28, 1964) is an American chef, entrepreneur and former professional basketball player.
Basketball career
At 6'9, 270 lbs., he was drafted out of DePaul University in the 4th round of the 1986 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz ...
, Jersey Jammers
*1987:
Muggsy Bogues
Tyrone Curtis "Muggsy" Bogues (born January 9, 1965) is an American former basketball player. The shortest player ever to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Bogues played point guard for four teams during his 14-season care ...
, 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 George Evans may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* George "Honey Boy" Evans (1870–1915), American songwriter and entertainer
* George Evans (bandleader) (1915–1993), English jazz bandleader, arranger and tenor saxophonist
* George Evans (sin ...
, Maryland Mustangs
*2002:
Devin Brown, Kansas Cagerz &
Corsley Edwards, Adirondack Wildcats
*2003:
Lenny Cooke, Brooklyn Kings
*2004:
Tony Bland
Anthony David Bland (21 September 1970 – 3 March 1993) was a supporter of Liverpool F.C. who was injured in the Hillsborough disaster. He suffered severe brain damage that left him in a persistent vegetative state; as a consequence of that, t ...
, Brevard Blue Ducks
*2005:
Badou Gaye, Westchester Wildfire &
John Allen, New Jersey Flyers
*2006: Tristan Smith, Long Island PrimeTime
*2007:
Adam Schaper, Gary Steelheads
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
John Harding Lucas II (born October 31, 1953) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who most recently served as an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played basketba ...
, 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
Ray or RAY may refer to:
Fish
* Ray (fish), any cartilaginous fish of the superorder Batoidea
* Ray (fish fin anatomy), the bony or horny spine on ray-finned fish
Science and mathematics
* Half-line (geometry) or ray, half of a line split at a ...
, Connecticut Skyhawks
*1999:
Darryl Dawkins, Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs & Kevin Mackey (2), Atlantic City Seagulls
*2000:
Kent Davidson, Dodge City Legend
*2001:
Robert Parish
Robert Lee Parish (born August 30, 1953) is an American former professional basketball player. A 7'1" Center (basketball), center, nicknamed "the Chief", Parish played for four teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1976 to 199 ...
, Maryland Mustangs
*2002:
Francis Flax, Kansas Cagerz &
Harvey Grant, Brevard Blue Ducks
*2003:
Cliff Levingston
Clifford Eugene Levingston (born January 4, 1961) is an American professional basketball coach and former player.
Professional playing career
A former power forward, Levingston played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Levingston s ...
, Dodge City Legend
*2004:
Dale Osbourne, Dodge City Legend
*2005:
Ken Charles, Brooklyn Kings
*2006:
Bryan Gates
Bryan Gates is an American professional basketball coach who has been an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers since 2023. Gates began his coaching experience with the Idaho Stampede and the Rapid City Thrillers during the late 1990s. In th ...
, Oklahoma Storm
*2007: Dale Osbourne (2), Dodge City Legend
Defensive Player of the Year
*2002:
Johnny Jackson, Kansas Cagerz
*2003:
Kevin Freeman, Westchester Wildfire
*2004:
Immanuel McElroy, Dodge City Legend
*2005:
Eric Coley, Oklahoma Storm
*2006: Anthony Johnson, Kansas Cagerz
*2007:
Ronald Ross
Sir Ronald Ross (13 May 1857 – 16 September 1932) was a British medical doctor who received the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1902 for his work on the transmission of malaria, becoming the first British Nobel laureate, and the f ...
, Albany Patroons
Man of the Year
*1986:
Jim Bostic, Westchester Golden Apples
*1987:
World B. Free, Miami Tropics
*1988:
Michael Brooks, Philadelphia Aces
*1992:
John Lucas II
John Harding Lucas II (born October 31, 1953) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who most recently served as an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played basketba ...
, Miami Tropics
*1993:
Al Outlaw, Atlanta Eagles
*1996:
Roy Jones Jr.
Roy Levesta Jones Jr. (born January 16, 1969) is an American professional boxer. He has held multiple world championships in four weight classes, including middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight. As an amateur he r ...
, Jacksonville Barracudas
Statistical leaders
Scoring leaders
Rebounding leaders
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.
Players
An alphabetical listing of 20 voted players is as follows:
*
Michael Adams - Guard
*
Herman Alston - Guard
*
Darrell Armstrong - Guard
*
Ken Bannister - Forward
*
Manute Bol
Manute Bol ( ; June 19, 2010) was a Sudanese-American professional basketball player and political activist. Listed at or tall, Bol was one of the two tallest players in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
After he p ...
- Center
*
Don Collins - Forward
*
Tyrone Bogues - Guard
*
Adrian Griffin
Adrian Darnell Griffin Sr. (born July 4, 1974) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who most recently served as the head coach for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played in the NBA a ...
- Guard
* Johnny Jackson - Forward
*
Avery Johnson - Guard
*
Kwan Johnson - Guard
*
Jason Lampa - Guard
*
Michael Lloyd - Guard
*
Anthony Mason - Forward
*
Andre Perry - Forward
*
Brent Scott - Forward
*
Charles Smith - Guard
*
John Strickland - Forward
*
Roy Tarpley - Center
*
John "Hot Rod" Williams - Center
''Honorable mention by USBL (2005)'':
*
Chris Childs - Spent two years with the
Miami Tropics and then a long
NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...
career.
*
Norris Coleman - Second All-Time leading scorer in the USBL.
*
Lloyd Daniels
Lloyd "Swee'Pea" Daniels (born September 4, 1967) is an American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Early life
Daniels grew up in Brooklyn, and was raised by his relatives from the age ...
- "Sweet Pea" first showed the world his talents in the USBL.
*
Richard Dumas
Richard Wayne Dumas Jr. (born May 19, 1969) is an American former professional basketball player. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he is the son of former American Basketball Association (ABA) player Rich Dumas.
Basketball career
Dumas, a 6' 7" smal ...
- Proved that his troubles were behind him with the 1992
Miami Tropics.
*
Mario Elie
Mario Antoine Elie (born November 26, 1963) is an American former professional basketball coach and player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Elie grew up in New York City and played college basketball for the American International ...
- A short stint in 1987 was parlayed into a 12 year
NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...
career.
*
Dennis Edwards
Dennis Edwards Jr. (February 3, 1943 – February 1, 2018) was an American soul and R&B singer who was best known as the frontman in The Temptations for Motown Records. Edwards joined the Temptations in 1968, replacing David Ruffin and sang w ...
- The 1998 Player of the Year.
*
Darrin Hancock - Is one of only two players with 3 USBL Championship Rings.
*
Damon Jones - The
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern C ...
guard played on a talented 1998 Jacksonville squad.
*
Tim Legler - The
ESPN
ESPN (an initialism of their original name, which was the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by the Walt Disney Company (80% and operational control) and Hearst Commu ...
analyst played 4 great seasons with the Philadelphia franchise.
*
Sam Mitchell -
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), E ...
Head Coach played two season in Westchester in 1985-85.
*
Kareem Reid - Known as "The Best Kept Secret".
*
Lazarus Sims - Known as "Z".
*
Curt Smith
Curt Smith (born 24 June 1961) is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is best known as the co-lead vocalist, bassist, and co-founding member of the pop rock band Tears for Fears along with childhood friend Roland ...
- The 1998 Player of the Year.
*
Jermaine Walker - A scoring force for 5 seasons for
Rex Morgan's coached teams.
*
Spud Webb
Anthony Jerome "Spud" Webb (born July 13, 1963) is an American former professional basketball player. A point guard, Webb played college basketball at Midland College and at North Carolina State University. He then played for four teams in the N ...
- Set the stage for Arkansas Little men becoming a force in the
NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...
.
Coaches
*
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ( ; born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. , April 16, 1947) is an American former basketball player. He played professionally for 20 seasons for the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Associatio ...
*
Ken Charles
*
Darryl Dawkins
*
Francis Flax
*
Gordon Gibbons
*
Ray Hodge
*
John Lucas
*
Rex Morgan
*
Eric Musselman
*
Gerald Oliver
Notable past players
''Source''
USA
*
Michael Adams – (
Springfield Fame)
*
Michael Anderson – (
Philadelphia Aces,
Philadelphia Spirit)
*
Darrell Armstrong – (
Atlanta Trojans)
*
Raja Bell – (
Tampa Bay Windjammers)
*
Henry Bibby - (
Springfield Fame)
*
Mark Blount – (
Atlantic City Seagulls,
New Jersey Shorecats
The New Jersey ShoreCats were a professional basketball team in the United States Basketball League (USBL) from 1998 to 2000. The team was based in Asbury Park, New Jersey and played home games at Asbury Park Convention Hall.
The ShoreCats wer ...
)
*
Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues – (
Rhode Island Gulls)
*
Devin Brown – (
Kansas Cagerz)
*
Chris Childs – (
Miami Tropics)
*
Lloyd Daniels
Lloyd "Swee'Pea" Daniels (born September 4, 1967) is an American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Early life
Daniels grew up in Brooklyn, and was raised by his relatives from the age ...
– (
Miami Tropics)
*
Mark Davis – (
Long Island Knights)
*
Waliyy Dixon
Waliyy Dixon (born February 27, 1974), better known by his streetball nickname "Main Event", is an American professional basketball player. He was born and raised in Linden, New Jersey.
Early life
Dixon spent his youth honing his streetball skill ...
– (
Atlantic City Seagulls)
*
Richard Dumas
Richard Wayne Dumas Jr. (born May 19, 1969) is an American former professional basketball player. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he is the son of former American Basketball Association (ABA) player Rich Dumas.
Basketball career
Dumas, a 6' 7" smal ...
– (
Miami Tropics)
*
Mario Elie
Mario Antoine Elie (born November 26, 1963) is an American former professional basketball coach and player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Elie grew up in New York City and played college basketball for the American International ...
– (
Miami Tropics)
*
LeRon Ellis – (
Connecticut Skyhawks)
*
World B. Free – (
Miami Tropics)
*
Doug Gottlieb – (
Oklahoma Storm)
*
Darrin Hancock – (
New Jersey Shore Cats,
Dodge City Legend,
Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs,
Kansas Cagerz)
*
Antonio Harvey – (
Atlanta Eagles)
*
Vince Hizon
Vicente Paul Bowie Hizon (born November 25, 1970) is an American-born Filipino retired professional basketball player. He is the former commissioner of the Filsports Basketball Association. FBA, a community-based grassroots basketball league in ...
– (
Pennsylvania Valleydawgs)
*
Craig Hodges
Craig Anthony Hodges (born June 27, 1960)
''basketball-reference.com''. Retrieved March 19, 2011 is an ...
– (
Washington Congressionals)
*
Anderson Hunt – (
Miami Tropics)
*
Mike James – (
Long Island Surf)
*
Keith Jennings – (
Jacksonville Hooters)
*
Avery Johnson – (
Palm Beach Stingrays)
*
Anthony Jones – (
Palm Beach Stingrays)
*
Roy Jones Jr.
Roy Levesta Jones Jr. (born January 16, 1969) is an American professional boxer. He has held multiple world championships in four weight classes, including middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight. As an amateur he r ...
– (
Brevard Blue Ducks)
*
Eddie Jordan – (
Jersey Jammers)
*
R. Kelly – (
Atlantic City Seagulls)
*
Shawn Kemp
Shawn Travis Kemp Sr. (born November 26, 1969) is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Seattle SuperSonics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers, and Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association ( ...
-
Oklahoma Storm
*
Rusty LaRue – (
Carolina Cardinals)
*
Nancy Lieberman
Nancy Ilizabeth Lieberman (born July 1, 1958), nicknamed "Lady Magic", is an American former professional basketball player and coach in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) who is currently a broadcaster for the Oklahoma City Thun ...
– (
Springfield Fame)
*
Anthony Mason – (
Long Island Surf)
*
Cheryl Miller
Cheryl Deann Miller (born January 3, 1964) is an American former basketball player. She was formerly a sideline reporter for NBA on TNT, NBA games on Turner Sports, TNT Sports and also works for NBA TV as a reporter and analyst, having worked ...
– (
Staten Island Stallions)
*
Jamario Moon
Jamario Raman Moon (born June 13, 1980) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for one season at Meridian Community College and began his professional career with teams in the United States Basketbal ...
– (
Dodge City Legend), (
Gary Steelheads)
*
Moochie Norris
Martyn Bernard "Moochie" Norris (born July 27, 1973) is an American former professional basketball player who played several seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as well as other leagues. He is the head coach of the Houston Push ...
– (
Washington Congressionals)
*
Kevin Ollie – (
Connecticut Skyhawks)
*
Terrell Owens – (
Adirondack Wildcats)
*
Victor Page – (
Washington Congressionals)
*
Simeon Rice – (
Philadelphia Power)
*
Lynette Richardson – (
Miami Tropics)
*
Micheal "Sugar" Ray Richardson – (
Long Island Knights)
*
Cliff Robinson – (
Miami Tropics)
*
LaMont "ShowBoat" Robinson - (
Long Island Knights)
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Jim Rowinski - (
Long Island Surf)
*
Shawnelle Scott – (
Long Island Surf)
*
Charles Smith – (
Florida Sharks)
*
Curt Smith
Curt Smith (born 24 June 1961) is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is best known as the co-lead vocalist, bassist, and co-founding member of the pop rock band Tears for Fears along with childhood friend Roland ...
– (
Washington Congressionals)
*
Mark Strickland – (
Philadelphia Spirit,
Atlanta Trojans,
Atlantic City Seagulls)
*
Derek Strong
Derek Lamar Strong (born February 9, 1968) is an American former professional basketball player who played in ten National Basketball Association (NBA) seasons from 1991 to 2001 for six different teams. A 6'8" forward from Xavier University (Cin ...
– (
Miami Tropics)
*
Roy Tarpley – (
Miami Tropics)
*
Kelvin Upshaw – (
Palmbeach Stingrays)
*
Chris Washburn – (
Miami Tropics,
Westchester Stallions)
*
Anthony "Spud" Webb – (
Rhode Island Gulls)
*
Freeman Williams
Freeman Williams Jr. (May 15, 1956 – April 19, 2022) was an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Portland State Vikings, where he was a two-time All-Americ ...
– (
Miami Tropics)
*
John "Hot Rod" Williams – (
Rhode Island Gulls)
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Lorenzo Williams – (
Palmbeach Stingrays)
*
Ime Udoka – (
Adirondack Wildcats)
Rest of the World
*
Bong Alvarez - (
Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs)
*
Marcelo Nicola – (
Long Island Surf)
*
Manute Bol
Manute Bol ( ; June 19, 2010) was a Sudanese-American professional basketball player and political activist. Listed at or tall, Bol was one of the two tallest players in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
After he p ...
– (
Rhode Island Gulls)
*
Nate Archibald
Nathaniel "Tiny" Archibald (born September 2, 1948) is an American former professional basketball player. He spent 14 years playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA), most notably with the Cincinnati Royals/ Kansas City–Omaha King ...
– (
Jersey Shore Bucs)
*
Yinka Dare – (
New Jersey Shorecats
The New Jersey ShoreCats were a professional basketball team in the United States Basketball League (USBL) from 1998 to 2000. The team was based in Asbury Park, New Jersey and played home games at Asbury Park Convention Hall.
The ShoreCats wer ...
)
See also
*
List of developmental and minor sports leagues
This is a list of developmental and minor sports leagues, two concepts which are largely restricted to North American sports. Note that this does not include teams in leagues that include promotion and relegation.
North America
Baseball
* Minor ...
References
External links
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES BASKETBALL LEAGUEon apbr.org
Press Releases from USBasket
{{Men's professional basketball leagues
Defunct basketball leagues in the United States
Defunct professional sports leagues in the United States
Publicly traded sports companies
Sports leagues established in 1985
Organizations disestablished in 2008
1985 establishments in the United States