The IBA's fourth season (1998-99)
was its best ever. The league grew by two teams – the Billings RimRockers
and the Mansfield Hawks – and maintained a 34-game schedule and two
divisions. The league achieved greater prominence in North America by virtue
of the IBA's first-ever national television broadcast, Dec. 12. NBA
backboard-breaking legend Darryl "Chocolate Thunder" Dawkins came
to the IBA as coach of the Winnipeg Cyclone. Dawkins gave the IBA and the
Cyclone heightened popularity as nearly every major media outlet produced
stories and features on him and the league. In 1998-99, the expansion
Mansfield Hawks swept the Magic City Snowbears in three straight games to
claim the President's Cup. The league was the largest professional
basketball league that operated during the winter in North America other
than the NBA. Speaking of the NBA, three IBA grads were featured on NBA
squads during the 1998-99 season: William Cunningham with the New Jersey
Nets, Damon Jones with the Boston Celtics and Trevor Winter with the
Minnesota Timberwolves. As well, IBA scores and standings regularly appeared
on the Associated Press newswire and in USA Today by the season's end. The
inaugural IBA Media Guide was produced, providing reporters and fans with
information about the league and its players. All in all, the year was one
many firsts and triumphs.
