World Basketball League

World Basketball League (WBL) was a minor professional basketball league in the United States and Canada that ran 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 11 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[1]
TeamCityArenaSeasonsNotes
Calgary 88'sCalgary, AlbertaOlympic Saddledome1988–1992
Chicago ExpressChicago, IllinoisRosemont Horizon1988Moved to Springfield, Illinois following the 1988 season.
Dayton WingsDayton, OhioErvin J. Nutter Center1991–1992Team folded July 31, 1992.
Erie WaveErie, PennsylvaniaLouis J. Tullio Center1990–1992Team folded July 20, 1992.
Florida JadesBoca Raton, FloridaFlorida Atlantic University Arena1991–1992Team folded June 15, 1992.
Fresno FlamesFresno, CaliforniaSelland Arena1988
Halifax WindjammersHalifax, Nova ScotiaHalifax Metro Centre1991–1992Joined the National Basketball League for 1993.
Hamilton SkyhawksHamilton, OntarioCopps Coliseum1992Joined the National Basketball League for 1993.
Illinois ExpressSpringfield, IllinoisPrairie Capital Convention Center1989–1990
Jacksonville StingraysJacksonville, FloridaJacksonville Coliseum1992Team folded June 15, 1992.
Las Vegas Silver StreaksLas Vegas, NevadaThomas & Mack Center1988–1990Moved to Nashville following 1991 season.
Memphis RockersMemphis, TennesseeMid-South Coliseum1990–1991
Nashville StarsNashville, TennesseeNashville Municipal Auditorium1991
Saskatchewan StormSaskatoon, SaskatchewanSaskatchewan Place1990–1992Joined the National Basketball League in 1993. Franchise name changed by ownership to the "Saskatoon Slam."
Vancouver NighthawksVancouver, British ColumbiaBC Place1988
Winnipeg ThunderWinnipeg, ManitobaWinnipeg Arena1992Joined the National Basketball League for 1993.
Worcester CountsWorcester, MassachusettsWorcester Centrum1989
Youngstown PrideYoungstown, OhioBeeghly Center1988–1992

International Teams
TeamCitySeasonsNotes
Abruzzo All-StarsAbruzzo, Italy1992
Bahamas NationalsThe Bahamas1992
Estonian NationalsEstonia1992
Finland1989–1991
Greece1989–1991
HollandNetherlands1989–1991
Italy1989–1991
Kyiv All-StarsKyiv, Ukraine1992
Norway1989–1991
Soviet UnionUSSR1989–1991

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)[2]

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.

Rookie of the Year

This award was established in 1991.

Sixth Man of the Year

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
YearPointsReboundsAssistsStealsBlocks
1988Jamie Waller, 26.7David Boone, 9.8Mark Wade, 12.8Mark Wade, 1.8Andre Patterson, 2.2
1989Jamie Waller, 21.7Alfredrick Hughes, 11.5Cedric Hunter, 11.0Darryl Johnson, 1.9Perry Young, 1.3
1990Jamie Waller, 26.5Vincent Askew, 9.8Mark Wade, 11.5Andre Turner, 2.4John Hegwood, 1.3
1991Jamie Waller, 26.3Willie Bland, 12.3Mark Wade, 8.7Darryl McDonald, 2.5Willie Glass, 1.7

Notable players

NBA players

These players played at least 1 game in the NBA

Other leagues

These players have won at least 1 individual award while playing in professional leagues

References
  1. WBL Stats
  2. Dayton had the best record overall with 26 wins and only 7 losses
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