United States Basketball League

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. 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 (NBA) and many more playing in Europe after stints here. 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, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. 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 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. 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.

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

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, Florida Sharks
 * 1998: Curt Smith, Washington Congressionals
 * 1999: Adrian Griffin, 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, 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, Jersey Jammers
 * 1987: Muggsy Bogues, 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, Maryland Mustangs
 * 2002: Devin Brown, Kansas Cagerz & Corsley Edwards, Adirondack Wildcats
 * 2003: Lenny Cooke, Brooklyn Kings
 * 2004: Tony Bland, 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, 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, Connecticut Skyhawks
 * 1999: Darryl Dawkins, Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs & Kevin Mackey (2), Atlantic City Seagulls
 * 2000: Kent Davidson, Dodge City Legend
 * 2001: Robert Parish, Maryland Mustangs
 * 2002: Francis Flax, Kansas Cagerz & Harvey Grant, Brevard Blue Ducks
 * 2003: Cliff Levingston, Dodge City Legend
 * 2004: Dale Osbourne, Dodge City Legend
 * 2005: Ken Charles, Brooklyn Kings
 * 2006: Bryan Gates, 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, 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, Miami Tropics
 * 1993: Al Outlaw, Atlanta Eagles
 * 1996: Roy Jones Jr., Jacksonville Barracudas

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 - Center
 * 🇺🇸 Don Collins - Forward
 * 🇺🇸 Tyrone Bogues - Guard
 * 🇺🇸 Adrian Griffin - 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 career.


 * 🇺🇸 Norris Coleman - Second All-Time leading scorer in the USBL.


 * 🇺🇸 Lloyd Daniels - "Sweet Pea" first showed the world his talents in the USBL.


 * 🇺🇸 Richard Dumas - Proved that his troubles were behind him with the 1992 Miami Tropics.


 * 🇺🇸 Mario Elie - A short stint in 1987 was parlayed into a 12 year NBA career.
 * 🇺🇸 Dennis Edwards - The 1998 Player of the Year.


 * 🇺🇸 Darrin Hancock - Is one of only two players with 3 USBL Championship Rings.


 * 🇺🇸 Damon Jones - The Miami Heat guard played on a talented 1998 Jacksonville squad.


 * 🇺🇸 Tim Legler - The ESPN analyst played 4 great seasons with the Philadelphia franchise.


 * 🇺🇸 Sam Mitchell - Toronto Raptors 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 - The 1998 Player of the Year.
 * 🇺🇸 Jermaine Walker - A scoring force for 5 seasons for Rex Morgan's coached teams.
 * 🇺🇸 Spud Webb - Set the stage for Arkansas Little men becoming a force in the NBA.

Coaches

 * 🇺🇸 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
 * 🇹🇹 Ken Charles
 * 🇺🇸 Darryl Dawkins
 * 🇺🇸 Francis Flax
 * 🇺🇸 Gordon Gibbons
 * 🇺🇸 Ray Hodge
 * 🇺🇸 John Lucas
 * 🇺🇸 Rex Morgan
 * 🇺🇸 Eric Musselman
 * 🇺🇸 Gerald Oliver

Notable past players
Source


 * Flag of the United States.svg Michael Adams – (Springfield Fame)
 * Flag of the Philippines.svg Bong Alvarez - (Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Michael Anderson – (Philadelphia Aces, Philadelphia Spirit)
 * Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Nate Archibald – (Jersey Shore Bucs)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Darrell Armstrong – (Atlanta Trojans)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Raja Bell – (Tampa Bay Windjammers)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Henry Bibby - (Springfield Fame)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Mark Blount – (Atlantic City Seagulls, New Jersey Shorecats)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues – (Rhode Island Gulls)
 * Flag of Sudan.svg Manute Bol – (Rhode Island Gulls)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Devin Brown – (Kansas Cagerz)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Chris Childs – (Miami Tropics)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Lloyd Daniels – (Miami Tropics)
 * Flag of Nigeria.svg Yinka Dare – (New Jersey Shorecats)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Mark Davis – (Long Island Knights)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Waliyy Dixon – (Atlantic City Seagulls)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Richard Dumas – (Miami Tropics)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Mario Elie – (Miami Tropics)
 * Flag of the United States.svg LeRon Ellis – (Connecticut Skyhawks)
 * Flag of the United States.svg World B. Free – (Miami Tropics)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Doug Gottlieb – (Oklahoma Storm)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Darrin Hancock – (New Jersey Shore Cats, Dodge City Legend, Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs, Kansas Cagerz)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Antonio Harvey – (Atlanta Eagles)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Vince Hizon – (Pennsylvania Valleydawgs)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Craig Hodges – (Washington Congressionals)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Anderson Hunt – (Miami Tropics)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Mike James – (Long Island Surf)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Keith Jennings – (Jacksonville Hooters)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Avery Johnson – (Palm Beach Stingrays)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Anthony Jones – (Palm Beach Stingrays)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Roy Jones Jr. – (Brevard Blue Ducks)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Eddie Jordan – (Jersey Jammers)
 * Flag of the United States.svg R. Kelly – (Atlantic City Seagulls)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Shawn Kemp - Oklahoma Storm
 * Flag of the United States.svg Rusty LaRue – (Carolina Cardinals)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Nancy Lieberman – (Springfield Fame)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Anthony Mason – (Long Island Surf)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Cheryl Miller – (Staten Island Stallions)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Jamario Moon – (Dodge City Legend), (Gary Steelheads)
 * Flag of Argentina.svg Marcelo Nicola – (Long Island Surf)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Moochie Norris – (Washington Congressionals)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Kevin Ollie – (Connecticut Skyhawks)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Terrell Owens – (Adirondack Wildcats)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Victor Page – (Washington Congressionals)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Simeon Rice – (Philadelphia Power)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Lynette Richardson – (Miami Tropics)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Micheal "Sugar" Ray Richardson – (Long Island Knights)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Cliff Robinson – (Miami Tropics)
 * Flag of the United States.svg LaMont "ShowBoat" Robinson - (Long Island Knights)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Jim Rowinski - (Long Island Surf)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Shawnelle Scott – (Long Island Surf)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Charles Smith – (Florida Sharks)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Curt Smith – (Washington Congressionals)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Mark Strickland – (Philadelphia Spirit, Atlanta Trojans, Atlantic City Seagulls)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Derek Strong – (Miami Tropics)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Roy Tarpley – (Miami Tropics)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Kelvin Upshaw – (Palmbeach Stingrays)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Chris Washburn – (Miami Tropics, Westchester Stallions)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Anthony "Spud" Webb – (Rhode Island Gulls)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Freeman Williams – (Miami Tropics)
 * Flag of the United States.svg John "Hot Rod" Williams – (Rhode Island Gulls)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Lorenzo Williams – (Palmbeach Stingrays)
 * Flag of the United States.svg Ime Udoka – (Adirondack Wildcats)