Sport Basketball Inaugural season 2013 Country USA | Founded 2012 No. of teams 4 | |
Continent FIBA Americas (Americas) | ||
The American Basketball League (ABL) is a semi-professional men's basketball league that began play in January 2013. It is the fourth league to use the ABL name. The league now plays a summer schedule, beginning in June.
Contents
Steven A. Hanley, former agent of Magic Johnson, is ABL President and CEO. Former assistant athletic director at Florida Atlantic University Eric Newsome holds the position of league commissioner. Newsome played college basketball at Miami University (1983–88), including three seasons with five-time NBA champion Ron Harper. He is fourth leading all-time scorers for the RedHawks.
2013
Twelve teams (based in Florida and Texas) in two divisions (Lone Star and Tropics) competed in the inaugural season of 2013. The first season of the ABL began in January with a planned 24-game schedule. The season was never completed due to a number of factors, including allegations of unpaid players and coaches and game day incidents.
2014
The second season featured a slimmed-down league with four south Florida-based teams competing. Two original teams, Fort Lauderdale Sharks and Palm Beach Hurricane, were joined by newcomers Orlando Lightning and Pompano Beach Cobras. After a 14-game regular season, Fort Lauderdale defeated Orlando 90-84 to win the first-ever ABL championship. Both teams finished 8-6 in the regular season, with the Sharks winning four-of-five matchups.
2015
Season 3 again had four teams competing with the expansion Orlando Whalers replacing the Palm Beach Hurricane. Orlando Lightning went 4-0 before defeating the Whalers in the championship game to capture the summer league title.
The league is reportedly in negotiations with The Bahamas Basketball Federation to form a division on the island.