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World Basketball League

Basketball league in the US and Canada

Summary

Basketball league in the US and Canada

FieldValue
titleWorld Basketball League
sportBasketball
foundedNovember 1987
founderMickey Monus
inaugural1988
foldedAugust 1, 1992
countriesUnited States
Canada
championDayton Wings
champ_season1992
most successful clubYoungstown Pride and Dayton Wings (2 Titles)

World Basketball League (WBL) was a minor professional basketball league in the United States and Canada which operated from 1988 to 1992. It was founded as the International Basketball Association in November 1987, before changing its name prior to the 1988 season. One of the major differences between it and other leagues was that it had a height restriction. Players over 6 ft 5 in (1.95 m) were not allowed to play; this restriction was raised to 6 ft 7 in (2.0 m) in 1991.

Canada

History

The league was founded in November 1987. Basketball Hall-of-Famer and Boston Celtic great Bob Cousy (6'1" tall) was one of the league's founders. Norm Drucker, a 25-year veteran referee with the National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association, and a former supervisor of officials for the NBA, served as the WBL's supervisor of officiating. One of the league's founders, Michael Monus, was eventually convicted of having embezzled $10 million to finance the league, from a privately owned company he had founded, Phar-Mor. He was sentenced to nine (9) years in federal prison. The league was run from April to August each year.

In July 1988, the annual WBL All-Star Game was launched. In addition to games against other teams in the league, games were also played against international teams. The league had several of its games broadcast on television. In Canada, the games were broadcast on the CanWest Global System. In the United States, the games were broadcast on SportsChannel America. Mike Rice was the primary analyst for the SportsChannel broadcasts.

After the league folded in 1992, the surviving Canadian-based teams formed the National Basketball League. This league played two seasons before it folded as well.

Teams

Source:

Youngstown PrideYoungstown, OhioBeeghly Center1988–1992

International Teams

Soviet UnionUSSR1989–1991

Champions of WBL

SeasonWinning teamLosing teamSeries/score
1988Las Vegas Silver StreaksChicago Express102–95
1989Youngstown PrideCalgary 88's2–0
1990Youngstown PrideCalgary 88's3–2
1991Dayton WingsCalgary 88's3–0
1992Dayton WingsN/ADayton Wings were declared leaders of the regular season (due to league folding August 1)

Personnel

League President

  • Dr. John Geletka 1991–1992 League Commissioner

  • Steve Ehrhart 1988–1992

Awards

WBL Championship MVP

SeasonPlayerTeam
1988Jamie WallerLas Vegas Silver Streaks
1989Barry MitchellYoungstown Pride
1990
1991Perry McDonaldDayton Wings

Player of the Year

This award was established in 1991.

SeasonPlayerTeam
1991Tracy MooreFlorida Jades

Rookie of the Year

This award was established in 1991.

SeasonPlayerTeam
1991J. J. EubanksNashville Stars

Sixth Man of the Year

SeasonPlayerTeam
1988Chip EngellandCalgary 88's
1989Keith SmartWorcester Counts
1990Troy LewisYoungstown Pride
1991Kelsey WeemsCalgary 88's

Coach of the Year

SeasonCoachTeamGPWLPct.
1988Mike ThibaultCalgary 88's
1989Bob PattonYoungstown Pride
1990Sonny AllenLas Vegas Silver Streaks
1991Pat HaleyDayton Wings

Statistical leaders

YearPointsReboundsAssistsStealsBlocks
1988Jamie Waller, 26.7David Boone, 9.8Mark Wade, 12.8Mark Wade, 1.8Andre Patterson, 2.2
1989Jamie Waller, 21.7Alfredrick Hughes, 11.5Cedric Hunter, 11.0Darryl Johnson, 1.9Perry Young, 1.3
1990Jamie Waller, 26.5Vincent Askew, 9.8Mark Wade, 11.5Andre Turner, 2.4John Hegwood, 1.3
1991Jamie Waller, 26.3Willie Bland, 12.3Mark Wade, 8.7Darryl McDonald, 2.5Willie Glass, 1.7

Notable players

NBA players

These players played at least 1 game in the NBA

  • Vincent Askew
  • Dudley Bradley
  • Scott Brooks
  • Carlos Clark
  • Fred Cofield
  • Mario Elie
  • David Henderson
  • Alfredrick Hughes
  • Cedric Hunter
  • Darryl Johnson
  • Anthony Jones
  • Doug Lee
  • Tim Legler
  • Jim Les
  • Sidney Lowe
  • Kenny Natt
  • Craig Neal
  • Jose Slaughter
  • Keith Smart
  • John Starks
  • Jim Thomas
  • Andre Turner
  • Mark Wade
  • Milt Wagner
  • Jamie Waller
  • Perry Young

Other leagues

These players have won at least 1 individual award while playing in professional leagues

  • Joe Dawson
  • Aivar Kuusmaa
  • Darryl McDonald
  • Igors Miglinieks
  • Barry Mitchell
  • Clyde Vaughan

International players

  • Keith Smart, USA National team (1987) - 7 appearances
  • James Blackwell, USA National team (1999) - 5 appearances
  • James Martin, USA National team (1999) - 4 appearances
  • A.J. Wynder, USA National team (1995) - 6 appearances
  • Jim Thomas , USA National team (1982) - 6 appearances
  • Kelsey Weems, USA National team (1993-95)
  • Aivar Kuusmaa, USSR and Estonia National team (1989-2001)

References

References

  1. [http://www.apbr.org/wbl88-92.html WBL Stats]
  2. Dayton had the best record overall with 26 wins and only 7 losses
  3. "John Geletka (2000) - Hall of Fame".
  4. "World Basketball League (1988-1992)".
Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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