The Florida Sharks was a professional basketball club in the United States Basketball League (USBL) from 1995 to 1997. They won two USBL titles during their three seasons with league.
History The team was based in Bradenton, Florida. The team debuted in 1995, winning the USBL title by defeating the Atlanta Trojans 109–104 in the final.
In 1996 the Sharks won the USBL again, after beating Atlantic City Seagulls 118–115 in the final. Despite their back-two-back championships the team showed up weakened in 1997 without their key players. As a result, they did not qualify to the USBL play-offs for the first time. The Sharks disbanded at the end of the 1997 season.
They played their home games at the Manatee Civic Center, now known as the Bradenton Area Convention Center, in Bradenton, Florida.Bradenton Area Convention Center - bradentongulfislands.com
Notable players like former NBAers, Terence Stansbury, Charles Smith, Sylvester Gray, Irving Thomas, Nate Johnston and Wes Matthews played for the franchise.
Seasons StagioneLeagueNameWL%PlacePlay-offCoach1995USBLFlorida Sharks25292,61ºChampions Eric Musselman1996USBLFlorida Sharks28196,61ºChampionsEric Musselman1997USBLFlorida Sharks91734,64º- Rory White
Notable players
Terence Stansbury Charles Smith Sylvester Gray Chuck Evans Irving Thomas Jarvis Lang Wes Matthews Stanley Jackson Travis Williams Nate Johnston Kevin Salvadori Darvin Ham
Rosters 1995 season Charles Smith, Jay Edwards, Sylvester Gray, Larry Lewis, Jesse Salters, Stanley Jackson, Wes Matthews, Louis Rowe, Kevin Salvadori, Travis Williams.1995 Florida Sharks Roster - statscrew.com
1996 season Jarvis Lang, Tom Kleinschmidt, Larry Lewis, Dwayne Morton, Charles Smith, Louis Rowe, Daniel Watts, Howard Porter, Jesse Salters, Phil Handy, Roger Crawford, Darvin Ham.1996 Florida Sharks Roster - statscrew.com1996 Florida Sharks Stats per player - statscrew.com
1997 season James Hunter, Artie Griffin, Mark Neal, Dennis Edwards, Keenan Jourdon, Lorenzo Pearson, Craig Buchanan, Chris Ward, Terence Stansbury, Louis Rowe, Chuck Evans, Howard Porter, Johnny Tyson.1997 Florida Sharks Roster - statscrew.com1997 Florida Sharks Stats per player - statscrew.com
See also Miami Majesty
References
External links USBL at atapbr.org United States Basketball League 1985-2007 at funwhileitlasted.net Florida Sharks at usbasket.com Florida Sharks Basketball at oursportscentral.com