The International Basketball League (IBL) was a short-lived professional men's basketball league in the United States. The IBL was headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. The league started in 1999 and ended in 2001.

History

Background

The International Basketball League (IBL) was first proposed in 1996 as a single-structure organization similar to Major League Soccer. Because of this players were paid by the league and not the team's owners. The IBL also had classes they called "Player Education/Life Readiness Plan" in which IBL players were informed about scholarship opportunities and how to balance school and professional basketball. Plans for the league to begin play were tentatively set for November 1997 with 10 unidentified franchise in the United States.

The league sought to have college players or high school players join their league instead of playing in the NCAA, where they could not receive compensation for their play. NCAA spokesperson Katherine Rice responded to the IBL by saying, "As an educational program, we prefer young people to get an education as a basis for their sports activities."

Founding

A two-day meeting was held in St. Louis, Missouri on January 19, 1999 with over 50 IBL owners, executives and advisers in attendance. They were briefed on several things including potential television contracts, the IBL draft and the playoffs.

On February 15, 1999 IBL president Thaxter Trafton announced the team would begin the season on November 26, 1999. Paul Martha served as the IBL vice president and general legal council.

Salary cap

During the league's first season the salary cap was $525.000 for a 10-player roster. While a CBA player made roughly $22,000 a year at the time, an average IBL player would make about $50,000 (while ABA 2000 players would get paid significantly more).

Clubs

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+List of teams

! Team

! City

! Arena(s)

! Joined

! Folded

|-

| Baltimore Bayrunners

| Baltimore, Maryland

| Baltimore Arena

|

|

|-

| Cincinnati Stuff

| Cincinnati, Ohio

| Firstar Center

|

|

|-

| Connecticut Pride

| Hartford, Connecticut

| Hartford Civic Center

|

|

|-

| Gary Steelheads

| Gary, Indiana

| Genesis Convention Center

|

|

|-

| Grand Rapids Hoops

| Grand Rapids, Michigan

| DeltaPlex Arena

|

|

|-

| Las Vegas Silver Bandits

| Paradise, Nevada

| Thomas and Mack Center

|

|

|-

| New Mexico Slam

| Albuquerque, New Mexico

| Tingley Coliseum

|

|

|-

| Richmond Rhythm

| Richmond, Virginia

| Siegel Center

|

|

|-

| Rockford Lightning

| Rockford, Illinois

| BMO Harris Bank Center

|

|

|-

| Trenton Shooting Stars

| Trenton, New Jersey

| Sovereign Bank Arena

|

|

|-

| San Diego Stingrays

| San Diego, California

| San Diego Sports Arena

|

|

|-

| St. Louis Swarm

| St. Charles, Missouri

| Family Arena

|

|

|-

| Sioux Falls Skyforce

| Sioux Falls, South Dakota

| Sioux Falls Arena

|

|

|}

: The Gary Steelheads folded in 2008 after last playing in the International Basketball League, which had no association with the 1999 to 2001 IBL

: The Grand Rapids Hoops joined the re-organized Continental Basketball Association (CBA) in 2001 and played until 2003

: The Rockford Lightning joined the re-organized CBA in 2001 and played until 2006

: The only franchise from the IBL that is still in existence are the Sioux Falls Skyforce, who now play in the NBA G League.

;Map

Postseason results

2000 IBL Playoffs

2001 IBL Playoffs

League awards

Most valuable player

{| class="wikitable"

|+

!Season

!Player

!Team

|-

|1999–00

|Doug Smith

|rowspan="2"|St. Louis Swarm

|-

|2000–01

|Danny Johnson

|}

Playoffs MVP

{| class="wikitable"

|+

!Season

!Player

!Team

|-

|1999–00

|

|

|-

|2000–01

|Maurice Carter

|St. Louis Swarm

|}

Rookie of the year

{| class="wikitable"

|+

!Season

!Player

!Team

|-

|1999–00

|Danny Johnson

|St. Louis Swarm

|-

|2000–01

|Neil Edwards

|Gary Steelheads

|}

Coach of the year

{| class="wikitable"

|+

!Season

!Player

!Team

|-

|1999–00

|rowspan="2"|Bernie Bickerstaff

|rowspan="2"|St. Louis Swarm

|-

|2000–01

|}

All–IBL teams

1999–2000

  • First team:

{| class="wikitable"

|+

!Player

!Team

|-

|Danny Johnson

|St. Louis Swarm

|-

|Ryan Lorthridge

|Trenton Shooting Stars

|-

|Tremaine Fowlkes

|Cincinnati Stuff

|-

|J. R. Henderson

|Las Vegas Silver Bandits

|-

|Doug Smith

|St. Louis Swarm

|}

  • Second team:

{| class="wikitable"

|+

!Player

!Team

|-

|Isaac Burton

|Las Vegas Silver Bandits

|-

|Jason Sasser

|New Mexico Slam

|-

|Alex Sanders

|Cincinnati Stuff

|-

|Ray Tutt

|Trenton Shooting Stars

|-

|Rocky Walls

|Las Vegas Silver Bandits

|}

2000–2001

  • First team:

{| class="wikitable"

|+

!Player

!Team

|-

|Antonio Smith

|Grand Rapids Hoops

|-

|Danny Johnson

|St. Louis Swarm

|-

|Ray Tutt

|Trenton Shooting Stars

|-

|Roderick Blakney

|Cincinnati Stuff

|-

|Jeff Sanders

|Rockford Lightning

|}

Statistical leaders

{| class="wikitable"

|-

! Year !! Points !! Rebounds !! Assists !! Steals !! Blocks

|-

| 1999–00 || J. R. Henderson, 22.6 || Rocky Walls, 12.3 || Ryan Lorthridge, 7.8 || Isaac Burton, 2.5 || Soumaila Samake, 2.7

|-

| 2000–01 || Sam Mack, 23.1 || Antonio Smith, 13.9 || Ryan Lorthridge, 8.6 || Roderick Blakney, 2.4 || N/A

|}

Notable players

International players

  • Carl Thomas, USA National team (1995-1999) - 12 appearances
  • Byron Houston, USA international player (5 appearances in 1999)
  • Michael Hawkins, USA international player (14 appearances in 1998-99)
  • Kermit Holmes, USA international player (14 appearances in 1997-99)
  • Todd Lindeman, USA international player (5 appearances in 1999)
  • Doug Smith, USA international player (21 appearances in 1989-99)
  • Harold Ellis, USA international player (1993)
  • Evers Burns, USA international player (9 appearances in 1997)
  • Jason Sasser, USA international player (18 appearances in 1997-98)
  • Kiwane Garris, USA international player (9 appearances in 1998)

References

  • INTERNATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE HISTORY on apbr.org