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.
History The United States Basketball League was founded in December 1984 by Daniel T. Meisenheimer, from Connecticut. 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 referee Richie Powers was named the league's vice president and director of operations, while Earl Monroe was the commissioner. Meisenheimer introduced a salary cap of $250,000 per team. The teams for the first season were the 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. The first ever game in USBL was played on May 25, 1985, between Rhode Island Gulls and Springfield Fame (94-101) at the Springfield Civic Center. 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, 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. 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 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.
Salary cap In 1985, the league introduced a salary cap of $250,000 per team. In 1992, the salary cap was $40,000, with rookies being paid $315 per week.Pro Basketball Comes to Lakewood (28/6/1992) - nytimes.com In 1998 it had remained the same, as each franchise had a regular season salary cap of $40,000, which meant that an average player earned roughly around $400 a week during the 2-month season of the league (rosters of 10 players).- washingtonpost.com As reported in 2000, the annual salary cap of the league was $47,500 for a franchise, for all its players. No player was allowed to receive more than $1,000 per week as salary.UNITED STATES BASKETBALL LEAGUE, INC. - edgar-online.com
USBL Draft
First picks are as below:
USBL 1st overall picks
+YearPlayerUSBL pick byCollege1985 United States Basketball League Draft (1985) - upi.com Jeff Allen Connecticut SkyhawksSt. John's Red Storm1986 SPORTS PEOPLE; U.S.B.L. Holds Draft (1986) - nytimes.com John "Hot Rod" WilliamsRhode Island GullsTulane Green Wave1992 Tony Smith made top USBL pick (1992) - upi.com Tony Smith New Jersey JammersPfeiffer Falcons1995 SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Dream Comes True (1985) - nytimes.com Arthur Agee Florida SharksArkansas State Red Wolves1996 Marbury drafted by USBL Long Island Surf (1996) - upi.com Stephon MarburyLong Island SurfGeorgia Tech Yellow Jackets1998 1998 USBL draft (1998) - nbahoopsonline.com Doug Gottlieb Oklahoma StormOklahoma State Cowboys2000 USBL Basketball Storm might take Gottlieb with top pick (2000) - oklahoman.com Detric GoldenGulf Coast SunDogs SunDogs make Golden their first-round pick in league draft (2000) - newscoast.comTroy Trojans2001 USBL completes 2001 draft (2001) - oursportscentral.com George EvansMaryland MustangsGeorge Mason Patriots2002 USBL Draft in 2002 (2002) - usbl.com John LinehanSt. Joseph ExpressProvidence Friars2003 2003 USBL draft (2003) - nbahoopsonline.com Bingo Merriex Texas Rim RockersUSBL Completes 2003 Draft (2003) - oursportscentral.comTCU Horned Frogs2004 2004 USBL draft (2004) - nbahoopsonline.com R. T. GuinnCedar Rapids River Raiders2004 USBL Draft (2004) - oursportscentral.comBaylor Bears2005 USBL Draft (2005) - insidehoops.com Jared HomanNebraska CranesIowa State Cyclones2006 USBL Draft (2006) - usbl.com Gerry McNamaraNEPA BreakersSyracuse Orange2007 USBL Draft (2007) - insidehoops.com Michael HaddixAlbany PatroonsSiena Saints
USBL Champions Source:nbahoopsonline.com
Championship finals Teams played a single championship game at the end of the playoffs to name the league champions
+YearChampionScoreRunner-upRegular season championFinals MVPWinning coachNotes1985Springfield Fame - New Jersey JammersSpringfield Fame - Gerald Oliver Springfield Fame record (19–6), won regular season, no playoffs1986Tampa Bay Flash - Springfield FameTampa Bay Flash - Gordon Gibbons Tampa Bay Flash record (22–8), won regular season, no playoffs1987Miami Tropics 103 - 99 Rhode Island Gulls Tampa Bay Stars World B. Free Sam Worthen 1988New Haven Skyhawks 134 - 126 Palm Beach StingraysJacksonville Hooters Bobby Parks Murray Knox 1990Jacksonville Hooters - New Haven SkyhawksJacksonville HootersN/A Rex Morgan Jacksonville Hooters record (15–1), won regular season, no playoffs1991Philadelphia Spirit 110 - 108Miami TropicsPhiladelphia Spirit Paul Graham Bill Lange 1992Miami Tropics 116 - 116 Philadelphia SpiritPhiladelphia Spirit Duane Washington John Lucas 1993Miami Tropics (3) 139 - 127 Westchester StallionsDaytona Beach Hooters Ken Bannister John Lucas (2) 1994Jacksonville Hooters (2) 117 - 109 Atlanta TrojansMississippi Coast Gamblers Fred Lewis Rex Morgan (2)1995Florida Sharks 109 - 104 Atlanta TrojansFlorida Sharks Charles Smith Eric Musselman1996Florida Sharks (2) 118 - 115 Atlantic City Seagulls Atlantic City Seagulls Charles Smith (2) Eric Musselman (2)1997Atlantic City Seagulls 114 - 112 Long Island Surf Atlantic City Seagulls Mark Baker, Brent Scott Kevin Mackey1998Atlantic City Seagulls 100 - 96 Long Island Surf Atlantic City Seagulls Adrian Griffin Kevin Mackey1999Atlantic City Seagulls (3) 83 - 77 Connecticut Skyhawks Atlantic City Seagulls Adrian Griffin (2) Kevin Mackey (3)2000Dodge City Legend 89 - 86 Oklahoma StormPennsylvania ValleyDawgs Artie Griffin Kent Davidson2001Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs 100 - 91 Dodge City LegendMaryland Mustangs Frantz Pierre-Louis, Ace Custis Darryl Dawkins2002Oklahoma Storm 122 - 109 Kansas CagerzBrevard Blue Ducks Ira Clark Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2003Dodge City Legend 97 - 96 Pennsylvania ValleyDawgsWestchester Wildfire Darrin Hancock Cliff Levingston2004Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs (2) 118 - 116 Brooklyn KingsPennsylvania ValleyDawgs Marcus Fleming Darryl Dawkins (2)2005Dodge City Legend (3) 97 - 84 Kansas Cagerz Brooklyn Kings Jermaine Boyette Dale Osbourne2006Nebraska Cranes 100 - 92 Dodge City Legend Brooklyn Kings Alex Sanders Brian Walsh2007Kansas Cagerz 95 - 92 Brooklyn Kings Dodge City Legend Nate Johnson Francis Flax
In 1989 and 2008, USBL suspended operations.
Division champions Northern - Southern era
+YearNorthern Winning coachSouthernWinning coachMid-Atlantic DivisionWinning coach1991Philadelphia Spirit Bill LangeMiami Tropics John Lucas1992Philadelphia Spirit (2) Bill Lange (2)Miami Tropics (2) John Lucas (2)1996 Atlantic City Seagulls Mike GatleyFlorida Sharks Eric Musselman1997 Atlantic City Seagulls (2) Kevin Mackey Atlanta Trojans Derek Howard1998Long Island Surf James Ryans Jacksonville Barracudas Rex Morgan Atlantic City Seagulls Kevin Mackey1999Connecticut Skyhawks Roy Hodge Kansas Cagerz Tom Hughes Atlantic City Seagulls (2) Kevin Mackey2000 Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs Darryl Dawkins Dodge City Legend Kent Davidson2001 Maryland Mustangs Robert Parish Oklahoma Storm Bryan Gates
Eastern - Mid-West era +YearEastern Winning coachMid-WestWinning coach2002Brevard Blue Ducks Harvey Grant Kansas Cagerz Francis Flax2003 Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs Darryl Dawkins Dodge City Legend Cliff Levingston2004 Brooklyn Kings Ken Charles Dodge City Legend (2) Dale Osbourne2005 Brooklyn Kings Ken Charles Oklahoma Storm Bryan Gates2006 Brooklyn Kings (3) Ken Charles (3) Oklahoma Storm (2) Bryan Gates (2)
Division groups started in 1991. There were not held (one single group) between 1993 and 1995 and in 2007. The Mid-Atlantic Division lasted for only two seasons (1998 and 1999).
Complete team list
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)