Premier Basketball League
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Premier Basketball League | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Sport | Basketball |
| Founded | 2007 |
| No. of teams | 10 |
| Country(ies) |  United States Canada Thailand |
| Most recent champion(s) |
Rochester Razorsharks |
| Official website | http://www.pblproball.com/ |
The Premier Basketball League (PBL) is a professional basketball league that began play in January 2008. The league had ten teams for the 2008 season.
Contents |
[edit] History
The PBL was born out of frustrations several former member teams of the modern American Basketball Association (ABA) had with that league.[1] Eight of the initial ten teams either played in or were slated to play in the ABA.
[edit] ABA Controversies
In early 2007, Joe Newman was voted out of his position as CEO of the ABA by the board of directors, which included Maryland Nighthawks owner and then-ABA COO Tom Doyle, due to dissatisfaction with how Newman executed his duties as CEO. Newman responded by using his and other shares that formed a controlling interest to remove the entire board of directors.[2]
Newman then refused to reschedule a weather-delayed playoff game between the Rochester Razorsharks and Wilmington Sea Dawgs although the two teams agreed to a make up date, wanting instead to force Rochester to accept a forfeit.[3]
It was on the heels of these two incidents that the Nighthawks and Razorsharks ownership groups combined forces to create the PBL.
[edit] Commissioner
Former Houston Rockets point guard and current NBA on TNT analyst Kenny Smith is the league's first commissioner. [1][4]
[edit] Second year ABA defections
During the 2008 off season, five more former ABA teams decided to move to the PBL. First, on May 9, the Manchester Millrats and the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 ABA champion Vermont Frost Heaves moved.[5] Then on May 20, the inactive Detroit Panthers re-activated and joined the league. [6] And on May 21, the Quebec Kebs joined.[7] On June 5 another team with an ABA history, the Augusta Groove, joined the league, but from the Continental Basketball Association.[8]
[edit] Teams
[edit] East Division |
[edit] West Division |
[edit] 2008-09 Expansion
- Augusta Groove [8]
- Buffalo Dragons[9]
- Detroit Panthers [6]
- Manchester Millrats[5]
- Montreal Sasquatch[10]
- Quebec Kebs[7]
- Southeast Asian All-Stars [11]
- Toronto Lazers[12]
- Vermont Frost Heaves[5]
[edit] Current PBL Teams with ABA Pasts
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[edit] Defunct Teams/Failed Expansion
- Bridgeport, Connecticut
- Chicago Aztecas - will be PBL representative travel team
- Jacksonville JAM - expelled by league, searching for other options
- Minnesota Ripknees - returned to ABA, folded shortly afterwards
[edit] Original Ten Teams
[edit] East Division |
[edit] West Division |
[edit] Awards
[edit] MVP
- 2008: Jeremy Bell, Arkansas Impact
[edit] Playoffs MVP
- 2008: Keith Friel, Rochester Razorsharks
[edit] Coach of the Year
- 2008: Rod Baker, Rochester Razorsharks
[edit] Championship Game results
- 2008: Rochester Razorsharks defeated Arkansas Impact, 142-112 (Blue Cross Arena)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Rao, Chay (2008-01-02). Nighthawks prep for New Year, new league. Gazette.Net. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
- ^ United States Securities And Exchange Commission Form 8-K (2007-01-31). Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
- ^ George, Rachel (2007-03-24). Sea Dawgs are unlikely hosts. Wilmington Star News. Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
- ^ NBA Legend Kenny Smith Named PBL Commissioner. Premier Basketball League (2007-12-06). Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
- ^ a b c Premier Basketball League Welcomes Vermont Frost Heaves And Manchester Millrats. Our Sports Central (2008-05-09). Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
- ^ a b Detroit Panthers Join Premier Basketball League. Our Sports Central (2008-05-20). Retrieved on 2008-05-20.
- ^ a b Quebec Kebs Join Premier Basketball League. Our Sports Central (2008-05-21). Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
- ^ a b Premier Basketball League Welcomes Augusta Groove. Our Sports Central (2008-06-05). Retrieved on 2008-06-05.
- ^ NexxNow Brings Professional Basketball Back to Buffalo. Yahoo! Finance (2008-04-30). Retrieved on 2008-04-30.
- ^ Montreal Sasquatch Joins Premier Basketball League. Our Sports Central (2008-05-21). Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
- ^ Southeast Asian All-Star Team to Join the Premier Basketball League. Our Sports Central (2008-04-17). Retrieved on 2008-04-17.
- ^ Toronto Lazers Join Premier Basketball League. Our Sports Central (2008-04-17). Retrieved on 2008-04-17.
[edit] External links
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Men's professional basketball leagues
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