National Rookie League

National Rookie League (NRL)
National Rookie League logo
SportBasketball
Founded2001
Ceased2001
No. of teams5
CountryUnited States
Last
champion(s)
Baltimore Blaze (1st title)
Most titlesBaltimore Blaze (1 title)

The National Rookie League (NRL) was an American unaffiliated minor league for the National Basketball Association that completed its first and only season in 2001.

The NRL was exclusive to players under the age of 24 and was designed to help prepare the nation's most talented young athletes for a professional basketball career.

The 2001 season began with five teams: Baltimore Blaze, Delaware Destroyers, Gotham City Knights, Philadelphia Force and Washington Justice.[1] After four games, Gotham City disbanded. On August 9, 2001, the Blaze defeated the Force 100–93 in the NRL Championship Game.[1]

  1. ^ a b "HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL ROOKIE LEAGUE". apbr.org. Retrieved March 9, 2001.