In the summer of 1995, a group of committed basketball-loving
businessmen founded the International Basketball Association. Assembled
by AmeriSport International President Tom Anderson, these owners
realized that there were only about 400 jobs for professional basketball
players in the United States (300 NBA, 100 CBA) and that there was an
overabundance of talent available to further stock professional teams.
The IBA began with five charter teams that operated with the following
goal to bring affordable family entertainment to basketball fans and
also provide an outlet for talented athletes to further their
professional careers.
The
first season featured a 24-game schedule and a championship playoff. The
Fargo Beez captured the inaugural AmeriSport Cup in February 1996. The
other four teams were the Dakota (Bismarck) Wizards, the Black Hills
(Rapid City) Posse, the Winnipeg Cyclone and the St. Cloud Rockn
Rollers.
The
league was a success both on and off the court. League President Earl J.
Barish directed the growth process from Day 1 of the Leagues existence.
He had hoped for an average attendance of 1,200 people per game while
the final tally was an average of 1,696 with Rapid City averaging over
2,500 fans per game. In all, over 110,000 people turned out for the
regular season and playoffs. The IBA also hoped to increase exposure for
the players and did so by providing over 70 playing jobs in the
inaugural season. Player Nate Driggers, who came from tiny Montevallo
College in Alabama, couldnt get a tryout with a professional team. He
came to play in Bismarck and became an IBA All-Star. The NBAs Boston
Celtics noticed Driggers and signed him to play for part of the 1996-97
season. The IBA had been noticed.
Season Awards 95-96
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Townsend Orr
Fargo-Moorhead Beez
COACH OF THE YEAR Duane Ticknor
Black Hills Posse
FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
Isaac Burton Black Hills Posse
Nate Tubbs Minnesota Rockin Rollers
Dave Vik Dakota Wizards
Townsend Orr Fargo-Moorhead Beez
Antoine Gillespie Black Hills Posse
SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
Luther Burks Winnipeg Cyclone
Nate Driggers Dakota Wizards
Todd Johnson Fargo-Moorhead Beez
Alvin Mobley Minnesota Rockin Rollers
Erik Coleman Black Hills Posse
