The Basketball League (TBL), formerly North America Premier Basketball (NAPB), is a professional basketball league. The league began operating in North America in 2018 with eight teams, and has since expanded.
TBL's regular season runs from February through May, and their teams engage in interleague play with franchises of the Basketball Super League (BSL).
History Launch as NAPB, 2017–2018 In July 2017, Dave Magley and Severko Hrywnak announced the formation of North America Premier Basketball (NAPB). Magley previously served as commissioner for the National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC), and Hrywnak was co-founder of the Premier Basketball League (PBL).
The league launched its inaugural 2018 season with eight teams: Albany Patroons, Kansas City Tornados, Kentucky Thoroughbreds, Nevada Desert Dogs, Ohio Cardinals, Rochester Razorsharks, Vancouver Knights, and the Yakima SunKings. The Yakima SunKings defeated the Albany Patroons in a best-of-three series to become inaugural NAPB champions.
Magley purchase and rebranding, 2018–2021
After the first season, Dave Magley and his wife Evelyn acquired the league as sole owners, and rebranded as The Basketball League (TBL). Paul Mokeski was named commissioner of the league for its 2019 season, which commenced with ten teams. The league's second season was ended prematurely, as many teams were struggling financially. In a rematch from the prior year, the Albany Patroons defeated the Yakima SunKings in a best-of-three series to become TBL champions. Paul Woolpert was fired as Yakima's head coach prior to the final game, as he had protested the team owner refusing to pay for his coaching staff's flights to Albany.
The 2020 season began with twelve teams, but ended prematurely with no playoffs held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Carlnel Wiley replaced Paul Mokeski as league commissioner prior to this season.
Twenty-nine teams played during the 2021 season, with the Enid Outlaws defeating the Syracuse Stallions in a best-of-three series to capture the league championship.
NBLC dissolution and BSL formation, 2022–2024
National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC) teams engaged in interleague play with TBL franchises during the 2022 season, including the 2022 TBL All-Star Game. Forty-four teams competed that season, and the Shreveport Mavericks defeated the Albany Patroons in a best-of-three series to become TBL champions.
Forty-nine teams played during the 2023 season, with the Potawatomi Fire defeating the St. Louis Griffins in their best-of-three series to become TBL champions.
After the dissolution of NBLC following their 2022–23 season, Dave Magley announced the formation of the Basketball Super League (BSL), whose teams would engage in interleague play with TBL franchises beginning in 2024. The 2024 season saw thirty-nine teams compete, with the Potawatomi Fire once again defeating the St. Louis Griffin in a best-of-three series to win the TBL championship.
Defections to USBL and 94x50, 2025–present
Following the 2025 season, thirteen TBL teams left to form two rival leagues. The Capital Seahawks, Frederick Flying Cows, Jersey Shore Breaks, New York Phoenix, Reading Rebels, San Diego Sharks, and Virginia Valley Vipers left to form the 94x50 League. The Bakersfield Majestics, Los Angeles Blue Waves, Salem Capitals, Seattle SuperHawks, and Vancouver Volcanoes left to form the United States Basketball League. With their crosstown rival New York Phoenix gone to 94x50 League and no local TBL teams remaining, the Albany Patroons chose to leave the league and go on hiatus.
The departing owners likened the TBL to a pyramid scheme, saying the Magley family had too much control.
The current entry fee for a TBL franchise is $600,000, payable on installment, along with a $10,000 annual fee for officiating. Owners are expected to have annual operating budgets of $200,000 to $300,000, and are entitled to receive 50% of the league's sponsorship earnings through revenue sharing.
Teams
Current teams +The Basketball League teams Division Team City Arena Capacity Founded Joined Head coachAtlantic Canada Halifax Hoopers Halifax, Nova Scotia Zatzman Sportsplex3,00020242025 Augy JonesNewfoundland Rogues St John's, NewfoundlandMary Brown's Centre6,7502021 (in the ABA)2026Doug PartridgePort City Power Saint John, New Brunswick Rothesay Netherwood School TBA2024 2026 Rob SponTri-City Tide Moncton, New Brunswick Crandall University60020242025Todd McKillopCentral ADS SentinelsConverse, Texas ADS Sportsplex TBA20252026 Brian BenjaminCreating Young Minds Leopards Little Elm, TexasHerschel Zellars Early Childhood Learning CenterTBA Mathis CrowderEnid OutlawsEnid, OklahomaStride Bank Center5,00020202021 Burshaud WilliamsLittle Rock LightningLittle Rock, ArkansasHall High School 1,70020202021 Brian Rowsom Muskogee SkykingsMuskogee, Oklahoma Ron D. Milam Gymnasium20202024 TBALenny BertPotawatomi FireShawnee, OklahomaFireLake Arena5,00020212022Mark Dannhoff Dallas Stampede Dallas, TexasSinging Hills Center TBA2025 2026Ronell MurrayMid AtlanticPrince William Heat Haymarket, VirginiaBattlefield High SchoolTBA2025 2026 William McLaughlinDMV Soldiers Charles County, Maryland St. Charles High School2,00020242026Byron MoutonFirst State Misfits Frankford, DelawareThe Factory Sports IncTBA2025 2026 Andre MathewsLehigh Valley Flight Allentown, Pennsylvania Lower Macungie Community Center TBA2025 2026 Anthony JenkinsNew England Kraken Boston, Massachusetts Kroc Center 1,135 2025 2026 Jason LombardTri-State AdmiralsElizabeth, New Jersey Saint Elizabeth University 420 2020 2020 Daniel JacobMidwestColumbus Wizards Westerville, Ohio Rike Center 3,1002023 (in the ABA)2026Bradley RaderGlass City WranglersToledo, OhioGlass City Center1,50020242025Ben ScofieldGrove City Whitetails Grove City, Ohio Central Crossing High School3,10020252026Raevonne BlueKokomo BobKats Kokomo, Indiana Memorial Gymnasium 5,200 20202021 Cliff LevingstonLake County Legacy Lake County, Illinois Waukegan High School TBA2024 2025 Henry FrenchLebanon Leprechauns Lebanon, IndianaFarmers Bank Fieldhouse 1,0002021 2022 John BensonHamilton County Huskers Arcadia, Indiana SAC Arena 3,0002025 2026 Doug MitchellSt. Louis Griffins St. Louis, Missouri Normandy High SchoolSaint Louis Priory School 3,000 TBA2022 2023 Nate GriffinSouth AtlanticFayetteville LibertyFayetteville, North CarolinaCrown Coliseum 10,0002024 2026 Don GardnerJacksonville 95ersJacksonville, Florida First Coast High School1,500 2023 2024 Kevin WatersKissimmee Lambs Kissimmee, Florida Poinciana High School3,1002023 (in the ABA)2026Edgar VasquezCarolina Firebirds Raleigh, North Carolina St. Augustine's University 750 2018 2019Kenny CollinsTampa Bay TitansTampa, Florida Tampa Preparatory School TBA2020 2025 Khali DaleyWest4 Bears Roar New Town, North Dakota 4 Bears Casino Event Center 1,50020252026Wayne CaseyGC Red Tails Mattawa, WashingtonWahluke High School 1.8002025 2026 Larry StepterGreat Falls ElectricGreat Falls, MontanaBison Fieldhouse 3,6002023 2024 Steve KellerTri Cities Sun Devils Pasco, WashingtonHAPO Center 5,0002025 2026 Marcus BenavidezWillamette Valley JaguarsWillamette Valley, OregonCorvallis High SchoolCrescent Valley High SchoolMcArthur Court 1,0501,5009,087 2023 2024 John Tyson
Affiliate teams The following teams play select 2026 TBL games to fill out the schedule. +The Basketball League teams Team City Arena Capacity Founded Joined Head coachFlorida Flight Davie, Florida Raiders CenterTBA2010 (in the FBA)2026Mark KingMesquite Desert Dogs Mesquite, Nevada travel team n/a2019 2026 Carnel WileyMemphis Lions Memphis, Tennessee travel teamn/a2021 (in the MBL)2026Larry StepterMesa Monsoons Chandler, Arizona Mesa, ArizonaParagon Charter Academy Mesa Community College 600 2,0002025 2026 Brannon Gates
Seasons +Overview of The Basketball League seasons Season Regular season champion Regular season MVP Playoff champion Playoff runner-up Playoff MVP 2018 Yakima SunKings Edwin Ubiles (Albany) Yakima SunKings Albany Patroons Renaldo Major 2019 Yakima SunKings Robert Duncan (Yakima) Albany Patroons Yakima SunKings Shadell Millinghaus 2020 Indy Express* Corey Taite (Tri-State) Season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic 2021 Enid Outlaws Chance Comanche (Enid) Enid Outlaws Syracuse Stallions Chance Comanche 2022 Shreveport Mavericks Deshawn Munson (Potawatomi) Shreveport Mavericks Albany Patroons PJ Meyers 2023 Potawatomi Fire Chris Darrington (Glass City) Potawatomi Fire St. Louis Griffins Daylon Guy and Deshawn Munson 2024 Potawatomi Fire Daylon Guy (Potawatomi) Potawatomi Fire St. Louis Griffins Deshawn Munson 2025 Frederick Flying Cows Javon Adams (Frederick) and Daylon Guy (Potawatomi) Potawatomi Fire Capital Seahawks Ricardo Artis II2026Potawatomi FirePotawatomi FireTri-City TideJahmal McMurray Shortened season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Indy Express had the best overall record at the time of cancellation.
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