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| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1985 |
| Ceased | 2008 |
| Motto | "The League of Opportunity" |
| Country | US |
| Continent | FIBA Americas (Americas) |
| Last champion(s) | Kansas Cagerz (1st title) |
| Most titles | Atlantic City Seagulls Dodge City Legend Miami Tropics (3 titles each) |
| Official website | www.USBL.com (archived) |
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.[1][2][3] 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,[4] the league announced that it would sit out the 2008 season and consider its options for the future.[5] In January 2010, the league expressed hopes to resume play in April 2010.[6] 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.
- ^ Goldaper, Sam (June 25, 1985). "N.B.A. Hopfuls Find a Showcase". The New York Times. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
- ^ Bernucca, Chris (July 21, 1991). "The League of Opportunity". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
- ^ "USBL Players Playing in Europe". usbl.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2004. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 5, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "United States Basketball League - News". Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
- ^ "United States Basketball League - News". Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2010.