The National Basketball League was a professional basketball league based in Canada that lasted only one and a half seasons in 1993 and 1994.Zwarun, Robert; and Anderson, Chris. National Basketball, The Association for Professional Basketball Research. Accessed February 4, 2024. It rose from the ashes of the World Basketball League (WBL), which folded after the 1992 season, and had teams in various Canadian and American cities; the new league combined several former WBL teams based in Canada and new franchises.National Basketball League, From Naismith to Nash. Accessed February 4, 2024. "A short-lived primarily Canadian-based league that folded midway through its second season. It was the Canadian franchises of the World Basketball League, which folded after the 1991-92 season." The NBL's first game was played on May 1, 1993, when the Cape Breton Breakers visited the Halifax Windjammers. The Breakers won the regular season championship with a 30–16 record, but lost the championship finals to Saskatoon three games to one.
During the 1994 season there were rumours that the Cape Breton team was going to move to Saint John mid-season, which never happened before the league folded on July 9, 1994. Halifax, which finished last in 1993, was in first place at the time the league folded.
The league's president was Sam Katz and its commissioner was Tom Nissalke.Morgan, T. Kent. "A breezy history of pro basketball in Winnipeg", Winnipeg Free Press, November 30, 2022. Accessed February 4, 2024. "Thunder then played in the National Basketball League, not to be confused with the NBA, in the 1993 season. The all-Canadian pro league with Katz as president and Nissalke as commissioner had teams from the Maritimes to the Prairies."
Teams Team City Arena Established Folded Notes Calgary Outlaws Calgary, Alberta Jack Simpson Gymnasium (University of Calgary)Olympic Saddledome 1994 1994 Expansion team Cape Breton Breakers Sydney, Nova Scotia Centre 200 1993 1994 Expansion team Halifax Windjammers Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax Metro Centre 1993 1994 Holdover from the WBL Edmonton Skyhawks Edmonton, Alberta Northlands Coliseum 1993 1994 (start of playoffs) Team relocated from Hamilton Hamilton Skyhawks Hamilton, Ontario Copps Coliseum 1993 1993 Holdover from the WBL, moved to Edmonton Montreal Dragons Montreal, Quebec Verdun Auditorium 1993 1993 Expansion team Saskatoon Slam Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Place 1993 1994 Holdover from WBL. Ownership changed the name of the franchise in the new league. Originally known as the “Saskatchewan Storm” in the WBL. Winnipeg Thunder Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg Arena 1993 1994 Holdover from the WBL
Season-by-season records 1993 1993 NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUETEAMGPWLPCTGBCape Breton Breakers463016.652-Winnipeg Thunder462917.6301Saskatoon Slam462521.5435Hamilton Skyhawks462422.5226Halifax Windjammers462026.43510Montreal Dragons17116.647 Canadian National Team24913.409 ACC All-Stars615.167 Big East All-Stars606.000 Athletes in Action707.000 Montréal Dragons folded in mid-season on June 10, 1993 Hamilton Skyhawks transferred to Edmonton prior to the start of the playoffs PLAYOFFS - SEMI-FINALS Cape Breton defeated Edmonton 2 games to 1; Saskatoon defeated Winnipeg 2 games to 1 FINALS Saskatoon defeated Cape Breton 3 games to 1
Touring teams In 1993, league teams also played games against some touring teams which counted in the league standings. These teams were:
Atlantic Coast Conference All-Stars (replaced Atlantic 10 All-Stars) Athletes in Action Big East All-Stars Canadian National Team
1994 1994 NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUETEAMGPWLPCTGBHalifax Windjammers21156.714-Calgary Outlaws241311.5423½ Cape Breton Breakers211110.5244Saskatoon Slam231013.4356Edmonton Skyhawks241014.4176½ Winnipeg Thunder251015.4007 National Basketball League disbanded on July 9, 1994
League champions YearWinnerRunner upResult1993Saskatoon SlamCape Breton Breakers3-1 Series win1994 Halifax WindjammersCalgary OutlawsDeclared champions due to folding mid-season
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