USBL Basketball League (United States Basketball League) History
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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 NBA and many more playing in Europe after stints here.
League name history
1985 until now: United States Basketball League 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2026
Title holders
- 1984-85:
Springfield Fame - 1985-86: Tampa Bay Flash
- 1986-87: Miami Tropics
- 1987-88:
New Haven Skyhawks - 1988-89: Not held [+]
- 1989-90:
Jacksonville Hooters - 1990-91:
Philadelphia Spirit - 1991-92: Miami Tropics
- 1992-93: Miami Tropics
- 1993-94: Jacksonville Hooters
- 1994-95:
Florida Sharks - 1995-96: Florida Sharks
- 1996-97:
Atlantic City Seagulls - 1997-98: Atlantic City Seagulls
- 1998-99: Atlantic City Seagulls
- 1999-00:
Dodge City Legend - 2000-01:
Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs - 2001-02:
Oklahoma Storm
- 2002-03: Dodge City Legend
- 2003-04: Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs
- 2004-05: Dodge City Legend
- 2005-06:
Nebraska Cranes - 2006-07:
Kansas Cagerz - 2020-21: Not held
- 2025-26:
Seattle Super Hawks
- 1984-85: Springfield Fame
- 1985-86: Tampa Bay Flash
- 1986-87: Miami Tropics
- 1987-88: New Haven Skyhawks
- 1988-89: Not held [+]
- 1989-90: Jacksonville Hooters
- 1990-91: Philadelphia Spirit
- 1991-92: Miami Tropics
- 1992-93: Miami Tropics
- 1993-94: Jacksonville Hooters
- 1994-95: Florida Sharks
- 1995-96: Florida Sharks
- 1996-97: Atlantic City Seagulls
- 1997-98: Atlantic City Seagulls
- 1998-99: Atlantic City Seagulls
- 1999-00: Dodge City Legend
- 2000-01: Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs
- 2001-02: Oklahoma Storm
- 2002-03: Dodge City Legend
- 2003-04: Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs
- 2004-05: Dodge City Legend
- 2005-06: Nebraska Cranes
- 2006-07: Kansas Cagerz
- 2020-21: Not held
- 2025-26: Seattle Super Hawks
Championships by club
| Titles | Club | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 3 |  Z*Atlantic City S. | 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99 |
| 3 | Z*Dodge City L. | 1999-00, 2002-03, 2004-05 |
| 3 | Z*Treasure Coast | 1986-87, 1991-92, 1992-93 |
| 3 |  Z*Brevard BD | 1989-90, 1993-94, 2024-25 |
| 2 | Z*Pennsylvania | 2000-01, 2003-04 |
| 2 | Z*Florida S. | 1994-95, 1995-96 |
| 1 |  Z*Connecticut S. | 1987-88 |
| 1 | Z*Oklahoma S. | 2001-02 |
| 1 |  Z*Kansas C. | 2006-07 |
| 1 | Z*Nebraska C. | 2005-06 |
| 1 | Z*Philadelphia S. | 1990-91 |
| 1 | Z*Tampa Bay | 1985-86 |
| 1 | Z*Springfield F. | 1984-85 |
| 1 | Seattle SH | 2025-26 |
Finals year-by-year
Finals participants
| Club | W | L | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Z*Dodge City L. | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Z*Atlantic City S. | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Z*Treasure Coast | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Z*Pennsylvania | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Z*Kansas C. | 1 | 2 | 3 |
 Z*Atlanta T. | 0 | 2 | 2 |
 Z*Long Island S. | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Z*Connecticut S. | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Z*Oklahoma S. | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Z*Florida S. | 2 | 0 | 2 |
 Z*Brooklyn K. | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Z*Philadelphia S. | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Z*Brevard BD | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Z*Palm Beach S. | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Z*Nebraska C. | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Z*Rhode Island | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Z*Westchester S. | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Salem C. | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Seattle SH | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Final Four participants
| Club | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z*Dodge City L. | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Z*Atlantic City S. | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Z*Treasure Coast | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Z*Pennsylvania | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Z*Kansas C. | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Z*Connecticut S. | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Z*Nebraska C. | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Z*Brevard BD | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Z*Florida S. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seattle SH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Z*Long Island S. | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Z*Brooklyn K. | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Z*Atlanta T. | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Z*Oklahoma S. | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Z*Palm Beach S. | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Z*Rhode Island | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Z*Philadelphia S. | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Z*Westchester S. | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Salem C. | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Z*Westchester W. | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Z*Tampa Bay | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Z*Philadelphia A. | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Z*Mississippi CG | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Z*Portland W. | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Z*Gary S. | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Z*Florida S. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Z*Raleigh C. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Z*New Jersey S. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Yakima H. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Players with the most appearances in the USBL Finals
| Player | Finals Appearances | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Lloyd | 3 | 1997, 1998, 1999 |
| Darrell Waters | 3 | 2003, 2005, 2006 |
| Cedric McGinnis | 3 | 2003, 2005, 2006 |
| Donte Quinine | 3 | 2003, 2005, 2006 |
| Brian Reese | 2 | 1997, 1998 |
| Antonio Smith | 2 | 2001, 2003 |
| Darrin Hancock | 2 | 2001, 2003 |
| Artie Griffin | 2 | 2001, 2003 |
| Travis Robinson | 2 | 2003, 2004 |
| Gordon Malone | 2 | 2004, 2007 |
Players with the most USBL titles
| Player | Count | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Lloyd | 3 | 1997, 1998, 1999 |
| Cedric McGinnis | 2 | 2003, 2005 |
| Darrell Waters | 2 | 2003, 2005 |
| Donte Quinine | 2 | 2003, 2005 |
