History of the World Basketball Association from Wikipedia.com

World Basketball Association

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

World Basketball Association (WBA)

Logo WBA
Sport	Basketball
Founded	2004
Motto	"The next best thing to the NBA"
No. of teams	7
Country(ies)	United States
Continent	FIBA Americas (Americas)
Most recent champion(s)	Gwinnett Majic (3rd Title)
Most titles	Gwinnett Majic (3 Titles)
Official website	www.WBABall.net

The World Basketball Association, often abbreviated to the WBA, is a professional men's spring basketball league in the United States.

Contents 1 History 2 Franchises 2.1 Current clubs 2.2 Complete club list 3 WBA champions 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

History

The WBA was conceived in 2004, with seven teams scheduled to play. One of these, the Chattanooga Majic, did not start the season, and was replaced by the Bristol Crusaders.
The WBA consists of players with 5 years or less experience and each team is limited to 2 players with 5 years on their final 10 man roster. The WBA holds that the window of opportunity for NBA hopefuls is 3 years.
The WBA exists to prepare players to play in the CBA, NBA D-League, NBA, and international scouts.^[1]

Franchises

Current clubs

Team	City	Arena	Head Coach
Atlanta Blaze	Brookhaven, Georgia	Lynwood Gymnasium	Lionel Garrett
Conyers Court Kings	Conyers, Georgia	J.P. Carr Gynmnasium	Nolley Larry
Gastonia Gamers	Gastonia, North Carolina	Ashbrook High School Gynasium	TBA
Gwinnett Majic	Gwinnett County, Georgia	Bogan Park Gymnasium	David Akin
Mauldin Stars	Greenville, South Carolina	TBA	TBA
Rome Gladiators	Rome, Georgia	Winthrop-King Centre	Jackie Copeland
Upstate Heat	Anderson, South Carolina	Anderson Recreation Center	Frederick Summer

Complete club list

Anderson Heat (2005-05) Arkansas ArchAngels (2005–2006) Atlanta Hardhats Magic City Court Kings (2005–2006) (withdrew during season), as Birmingham Bulldogs (2004–05) Birmingham Steel (2010) (never played) Bristol Crusaders (2004-04) Chattanooga Majic (2004-04) (never played) Cleveland Majic (2005–06) Decatur Court Kings Druid City Dragons (2006-06) Florida Flight (2010) Floyd County Rage Fort Worth Star Prospects Franklin Knights (2010) Gainesville Knights (2005–2006) (withdrew during season), as Raleigh Knights (2004-04) Georgia Warriors (2006–2008) (spent 2006 as Cartersville Warriors) Gulf Coast Bandits (2005-05) Gwinnett Ravia-Rebels Jackson Rage (2004-04)

Kentucky Reach (2004–05) Macon Blaze (2005-05) Marietta Storm (2006–present) Mayas-USA Mississippi Hardhats (2004–2009) Mississippi Miracles Murfreesboro Musicians (2006–2008) Newport News Wildcats (2005-05) (never played) North Mississippi Tornadoes (2006–present) Rome Gladiators (2004–present) Southern Crescent Lightning (2004–05) Texas Tycoons Tunica Gamblers (2004–05) Tupelo Rock-n-Rollers(2009–2010)

WBA champions

• Year Champion, score Runner-up, score

• 2004 Southern Crescent Lightning 82 Jackson Rage 79
• 2005 Rome Gladiators 103 Mississippi Hardhats 100
• 2006 Rome Gladiators 125 Cartersville Warriors 114
• 2007 Mayas-USA 114 Gwinnett Ravia-Rebels 104
• 2008 Decatur Court Kings 131 Buford Majic 128 (2OT)
• 2009 Buford Majic 95 Tupelo Rock-n-Rollers 93
• 2010 Gwinnett Majic 133 Franklin Knights 113
• 2011 Gwinnett Majic 113 Conyers Court Kings 91
• 2012 No Championship Game Held