World Basketball League

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.

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.

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

Team	City	Arena	Seasons	Notes
Calgary 88's	Calgary, Alberta	Olympic Saddledome	1988–1992
Chicago Express	Chicago, Illinois	Rosemont Horizon	1988	Moved to Springfield, Illinois following the 1988 season.
Dayton Wings	Dayton, Ohio	Ervin J. Nutter Center	1991–1992	Team folded July 31, 1992.
Erie Wave	Erie, Pennsylvania	Louis J. Tullio Center	1990–1992	Team folded July 20, 1992.
Florida Jades	Boca Raton, Florida	Florida Atlantic University Arena	1991–1992	Team folded June 15, 1992.
Fresno Flames	Fresno, California	Selland Arena	1988
Halifax Windjammers	Halifax, Nova Scotia	Halifax Metro Centre	1991–1992	Joined the National Basketball League for 1993.
Hamilton Skyhawks	Hamilton, Ontario	Copps Coliseum	1992	Joined the National Basketball League for 1993.
Illinois Express	Springfield, Illinois	Prairie Capital Convention Center	1989–1990
Jacksonville Stingrays	Jacksonville, Florida	Jacksonville Coliseum	1992	Team folded June 15, 1992.
Las Vegas Silver Streaks	Las Vegas, Nevada	Thomas & Mack Center	1988–1990	Moved to Nashville following 1990 season.
Memphis Rockers	Memphis, Tennessee	Mid-South Coliseum	1990–1991
Nashville Stars	Nashville, Tennessee	Nashville Municipal Auditorium	1991
Saskatchewan Storm	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan	Saskatchewan Place	1990–1992	Joined the National Basketball League in 1993. Franchise name changed by ownership to the "Saskatoon Slam."
Vancouver Nighthawks	Vancouver, British Columbia	BC Place	1988
Winnipeg Thunder	Winnipeg, Manitoba	Winnipeg Arena	1992	Joined the National Basketball League for 1993.
Worcester Counts	Worcester, Massachusetts	Worcester Centrum	1989
Youngstown Pride	Youngstown, Ohio	Beeghly Center	1988–1992

International Teams

Team	City	Seasons	Notes
Abruzzo All-Stars	Abruzzo, Italy	1992
Bahamas Nationals	The Bahamas	1992
Estonian Nationals	Estonia	1992
	Finland	1989–1991
	Greece	1989–1991
Holland	Netherlands	1989–1991
	Italy	1989–1991
Kyiv All-Stars	Kyiv, Ukraine	1992
	Norway	1989–1991
Soviet Union	USSR	1989–1991

Champions of WBL

• 1988 Las Vegas Silver Streaks 102 Chicago Express 95 (one-game playoff)
• 1989 Youngstown Pride won best of three series two games to none over Calgary 88's
• 1990 Youngstown Pride won best of five championship series three games to two over the Calgary 88's
• 1991 Dayton Wings won best of five championship series three games to none over the Calgary 88's
• 1992 Dayton Wings declared champions as leaders of regular season (due to league folding on August 1)

Awards

WBL Championship MVP

• 1988: Jamie Waller, Las Vegas Silver Streaks
• 1989: Barry Mitchell, Youngstown Pride
• 1990: Barry Mitchell, Youngstown Pride
• 1991: Perry McDonald, Dayton Wings

Player of the Year

This award was established in 1991.

• 1991: Tracy Moore, Florida Jades

Rookie of the Year

This award was established in 1991.

• 1991: J. J. Eubanks, Nashville Stars

Sixth Man of the Year

• 1988: Chip Engelland, Calgary 88s
• 1989: Keith Smart, Worcester Counts
• 1990: Troy Lewis, Youngstown Pride
• 1991: Kelsey Weems, Calgary 88s

Coach of the Year

• 1988: Mike Thibault, Calgary 88s
• 1989: Bob Patton, Youngstown Pride
• 1990: Sonny Allen, Las Vegas Silver Streaks
• 1991: Pat Haley, Dayton Wings

Statistical leaders

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

External links

• History of the league