HISTORY OF THE WORLD BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Contibutors - Chris Anderson, David Bender, Robert Bradley, James Clark and
David Stewart-Candy.
The World Basketball League was founded as the International Basketball
Association in November 1987, but changed its name prior to the 1988 season.
The league allowed only players under 6'5" tall, changing the restriction to
6'7" in 1992.
WBL FRANCHISE CHRONOLOGY 1988 - 1992
1988
In- Calgary 88s 1988 - 1992 (charter franchise)
Chicago Express 1988 (charter franchise)
Fresno Flames 1988 (charter franchise)
Las Vegas Silver Streaks 1988 - 1990 (charter franchise)
Vancouver Nighthawks 1988 (charter franchise)
Youngstown Pride 1988 - 1992 (charter franchise)
1989
In- Illinois Express 1989 - 1990 (formerly Chicago Express)
Worcester Counts 1989 (disbanded)
Out- Chicago Express (to Illinois Express)
1990
In- Erie Wave 1990 - 1992 (expansion franchise)
Memphis Rockers 1990 - 1992
Saskatchewan Storm 1990 - 1992 (expansion franchise)
Out- Worcester Counts 1989
1991
In- Dayton Wings 1991 - 1992 (expansion franchise)
Florida Jades 1991 - 1992 (expansion franchise)
Halifax Windjammers 1991 - 1992 (expansion franchise)
Nashville Stars 1992 (formerly Las Vegas Silver Streaks)
Out- Illinois Express (disbanded)
Las Vegas Silver Streaks (to Nashville Stars)
1992
In- Hamilton Skyhawks 1992 (expansion franchise)
Jacksonville Stingrays 1992 (expansion franchise)
Winnipeg Thunder 1992 (expansion franchise)
Out- Erie Waves (disbanded during season)
Florida Jades (disbanded during season)
Jacksonville Stingers (disbanded during season)
Nashville Stars (disbanded)
WBL FRANCHISES BY SEASON 1988 - 1992
CAL - Calgary 88's [Calgary, AB] 1988 - 1992
CHI - Chicago Express [Chicago, IL] 1988
DAY - Dayton Wings [Dayton, OH] 1991 - 1992
ERI - Erie Wave (Erie, PA] 1990 - 1992
FLO - Florida Jades [Boca Raton, FL] 1991 - 1992
FRE - Fresno Flames [Fresno, CA] 1988
HAL - Halifax Windjammers [Halifax, NS] 1991 - 1992
HAM - Hamilton Skyhawks [Hamilton, ON] 1992
ILL - Illinois Express [Springfield, IL] 1989 - 1990
JAC - Jacksonville Stingrays [Jacksonville, FL] 1992
LVS - Las Vegas Silver Streaks [Las Vegas, NV] 1988 - 1990
MEM - Memphis Rockers [Memphis, TN] 1990 - 1991
NAS - Nashville Stars [Nashville, TN] 1991
SAS - Saskatchewan Storm [Saskatoon, Saskatchewan] 1990 - 1992
VAN - Vancouver Nighthawks [Vancouver, BC] 1988
WIN - Winnipeg Thunder [Winnipeg, Manitoba] 1992
WOR - Worcester Counts [Worcester, MA] 1989
YOU - Youngstown Pride [Youngstown, OH] 1988 - 1992
1988 - CAL CHI* FRE LVS VAN YOU
1989 - CAL ILL LVS WOR* YOU
1990 - CAL ERI ILL* LVS* MEM SAS YOU
1991 - CAL DAY ERI FLO HAL MEM NAS* SAS YOU
1992 - CAL DAY ERI# FLO# HAL HAM JAC# SAS WIN YOU
Notes:
* - franchise disbanded or relocated after season
# - franchise disbanded or relocated during season
WBL ARENAS 1988 -1992
CAL - Olympic Saddledome, Calgary, ALB 1988 - 92
CHI - Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, IL 1988
DAY - Ervin J. Nutter Center, Dayton, OH 1990 - 92
ERI - Louis J. Tullio Center, Erie, PA 1990 - 92
FLO - Florida Atlantic University Arena, Boca Raton, FL 1991 - 92
FRE - Selland Arena, Fresno, CA 1988
HAL - Halifax Metro Center, Halifax, NS 1991 - 92
HAM - Copps Colisium, Hamilton, ON 1992
ILL - Praire Capital Convention Center, Springfield, IL 1989 - 90
JAC - Jacksonville Coliseum, Jacksonville, FL 1992
LVS - Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV 1988 - 90
MEM - Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, TN 1991
NAS - Nashville Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, TN 1991
SAS - Saskatchewan Place, Saskatoon, SK 1990 - 92
VAN - S.C. Place Stadium, Vancouver, BC 1988
WIN - Winnipeg Arena, Winnipeg, Manitoba 1992
WOR - Worcester Centrum, Worcester, MA 1989
YNG - Beeghlt Center, Youngstown, OH 1988 - 92
WBL YEARLY STANDINGS 1988 - 1992
1988 WBL W L Pct. GB
Calgary 88's 32 22 .593 ..
Las Vegas Silver Streaks 32 22 .593 ..
Youngstown Pride 28 26 .519 4
Chicago Express 27 27 .500 5
Fresno Flames 25 29 .463 7
Vancouver Nighthawks 18 36 .333 14
WBL SEMIFINALS
8Sep88 Chicago 109, Calgary 107
8Sep88 Las Vegas 105, Youngstown 103
WBL CHAMPIONSHIP
9Sep88 Las Vegas 102, Chicago 95
1989 WBL W L Pct. GB
Calgary 88's 31 13 .704 ..
Youngstown Pride 30 14 .681 1
Illinois Express 29 15 .659 2
Las Vegas Silver Streaks 26 18 .591 5
Worcester Counts 18 26 .409 13
International Teams* 1 49 .020 ..
*Composite record of Finland, Greece, Holland, Italy, Norway and Soviet Union
WBL SEMIFINALS
27Aug89 Youngstown 100, Illinois 95
28Aug89 Youngstown 99, Illinois 97
27Aug89 Calgary 122, Las Vegas 115
28Aug89 Las Vegas 116, Calgary 115
29Aug89 Calgary 120, Las Vegas 115
WBL CHAMPIONSHIP
30Aug89 Youngstown 107, Calgary 98
1Sep89 Youngstown 118, Calgary 116
1990 WBL W L Pct. GB
Youngstown Pride 38 8 .826 ..
Las Vegas Silver Streaks 32 14 .696 6
Calgary 88's 29 17 .630 9
Illinois Express 27 19 .587 11
Memphis Rockers 27 19 .587 11
Saskatchewan Storm 19 27 .413 19
Erie Wave 12 34 .261 26
International Teams* 5 51 .089 38
*Composite record of Finland, Greece, Holland, Italy, Norway and Soviet Union
WBL FIRST ROUND
25Aug90 Calgary 113, Erie 98
26Aug90 Calgary 135, Erie 105
25Aug89 Illinois 110, Memphis 108 (OT)
26Aug89 Memphis 105, Illinois 101
28Aug89 Memphis 108, Illinois 98
27Aug90 Las Vegas 128, Saskatchewan 124 (OT)
28Aug89 Las Vegas 120, Saskatchewan 107
WBL SEMIFINALS
30Aug90 Memphis 92, Youngstown 89
31Aug90 Youngstown 106, Memphis 97
2Sep90 Youngstown 107, Memphis 104 (OT)
31Aug90 Las Vegas 125, Calgary 112
1Sep90 Calgary 125, Las Vegas 114
2Sep90 Calgary 127, Las Vegas 121
WBL CHAMPIONSHIP
4Sep90 Youngstown 111, Calgary 102
5Sep90 Calgary 111, Youngstown 106
7Sep90 Calgary 105, Youngstown 104
8Sep90 Youngstown 123, Calgary 104
11Sep90 Youngstown 109, Calgary 99
1991 WBL
NORTHERN DIVISION W L Pct. GB
Calgary 88's 37 14 .725 ..
Youngstown Pride 26 25 .510 11
Saskatchewan Storm 25 26 .490 12
Halifax Windjammers 21 30 .412 16
Eire Wave 18 33 .353 19
SOUTHERN DIVISION W L Pct. GB
Dayton Wings 36 15 .706 ..
Florida Jades 30 21 .588 6
Memphis Rockers 29 22 .569 7
Nashville Stars 23 28 .451 13
International Teams* 7 38 .156 ..
*Composite record of Finland, Greece, Holland, Italy, Norway and Soviet Union
WBL FIRST ROUND
24Aug91 Saskatchewan 105, Youngstown 99
26Aug91 Saskatchewan 108, Youngstown 99
24Aug91 Florida 115, Memphis 111 (OT)
25Aug91 Memphis 120, Florida 107
27Aug91 Florida 114, Memphis 98
WBL SEMIFINALS
29Aug91 Calgary 146, Saskatchewan 93
31Aug91 Calgary 108, Saskatchewan 103
29Aug91 Dayton 111, Florida 107
30Aug91 Dayton 125, Florida 112
WBL CHAMPIONSHIP
3Sep91 Dayton 112, Calgary 96
4Sep91 Dayton 135, Calgary 110
6Sep91 Dayton 120, Calgary 89
1992 WBL W L Pct. GB
Dayton Wings 26 7 .788 ..
Calgary 88's 22 12 .647 4.5
Youngstown Pride 22 13 .629 5
Halifax Windjammers 19 14 .576 7
Hamilton Skyhawks 17 17 .500 9.5
Winnipeg Thunder 15 22 .405 13
Saskatchewan Storm 12 21 .364 14
Florida Jades* 9 10 .474 ..
Erie Wave** 12 16 .429 ..
Jacksonville Stingrays* 5 14 .263 ..
Esonian Nationals 1 14 .067 ..
Abruzzo (Italy) All-Stars 1 14 .067 ..
Kiev All-Stars 1 14 .067 ..
Bahamas Nationals 1 14 .067 ..
*Florida and Jacksonville disbanded 15Jun92
**Erie disbanded 20Jul92
Dayton disbanded 31Jul92
League disbanded 1Aug92
WBL AWARD WINNERS 1988 - 1991
ALL-WBL TEAMS
1988
Jamie Waller, LVS
Anthony Jones, LVS
Jim Les, CHI
Carlos Clark, CAL
Bryan Pollard, VAN
1989
Willie Bland, YOU
Dave Henderson, CAL
Alfredrick Hughes, ILL
Andre Turner, CAL
Jamie Waller, LVS
1990
Fred Cofield, YOU
Mario Elie, YOU
Chip Engelland, CAL
Alfredrick Hughes, ILL
Jamie Waller, LVS
1991
Joe Dawson, MEM
Alfredrick Hughes, DAY
Tracy Moore, FLO
Milt Wagner, MEM
Daren Queenan, NAS
WBL ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
1988
Barry Mitchell, YOU
Juden Smith, FRE
Johnny Brown, LVS
Bryan Pollard, VAN
Jim Thomas, CAL
1989
Barry Mitchell, YOU
Carlos Clark, CAL
Cedric Hunter, LVS
Perry McDonald, ILL
Keith Smart, WOR
1990
Barry Mitchell, YOU
Mark Wade, YOU
Carlos Clark, CAL
Cedric Hunter, LVS
Perry McDonald, ILL
1991
Dudley Bradley, SAS
Willie Glass, YOU
Darryl McDonald, NAS
Perry McDonald, DAY
Keith Smart, HAL
WBL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
1988
22May88 - Jim Thomas, CAL
29May88 - Jose Slaughter, VAN
5Jun88 - Jim Les, CHI
12Jun88 - Clyde Vaughan, YOU
19Jun88 - Jamie Waller, LVS
26Jun88 - Kenny Natt, FRE
3Jul88 - Alfredrich Hughes, CHI
10Jul88 - Barry Mitchell, YOU
17Jul88 - Anthony Jones, LVS
24Jul88 - Greg Jones, YOU
31Jul88 - Prerry Young, FRE
7Aug88 - Sidney Lowe, CAL
14Aug88 - Mark Wade, LVS
21Aug88 - Willie Bland, YOU
28Aug88 - Anthony Jones, LVS
Jamie Waller, LVS
1991
7May89 - Freddie Banks, LVS
21May89 - Alfredrick Hughes, ILL
28May89 - David Henderson, CAL
4Jun89 - Jamie Waller, LVS
11Jun89 - Doug Lee, ILL
18Jun89 - Sherman Williams, WOR
25Jun89 - Andrew Moten, ILL
2Jul89 - Willie Bland, YOU
9Jul89 - Dale Blaney, YOU
16Jul89 - Darryl Kennedy, LVS
23Jul89 - Barry Mitchell, YOU
30Jul89 - George Jackson, CAL
6Aug89 - Kenny Natt, YOU
14Aug89 - Willie Bland, YOU
20Aug89 - David Henderson, CAL
3Sep89 - Barry Mitchell, YOU
1990
13May90 - Mario Elie, YOU
20May90 - Andre Turner, MEM
27May90 - Perry Young, CAL
3Jun90 - Bryan Pollard, SAS
10Jun90 - Alfredrick Hughes, ILL
17Jun90 - Jamie Waller, LVS
24Jun90 - Fred Cofield, YOU
1Jul90 - Chip Engelland, CAL
8Jul90 - Mario Elie, YOU
15Jul90 - Vincent Askew, MEM [WBL All-Star Game MVP]
22Jul90 - Sherman Williams, ERI
29Jul90 - Kenny Sanders, SAS
5Aug90 - Jamie Waller, LVS
12Aug90 - Jim Barton, MEM
19Aug90 - Perry McDonald, ILL
26Aug90 - Barry Mitchell, YOU
WBL SIXTH MAN AWARD
1988 - Chip Engelland, CAL
1989 - Keith Smart, WOR
1990 - Troy Lewis, YOU
1991 - Kelsey Weems, CAL
WBL COACH OF THE YEAR
1988 - Mike Thibault, CAL
1989 - Bob Patton, YOU
1990 - Sonny Allen, LVS
1991 - Pat Haley, DAY
WBL CHAMPIONSHIP MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
1988 - Jamie Waller, LVS
1989 - Barry Mitchell, YOU
1990 - Barry Mitchell, YOU
1991 - Perry McDonald, DAY
WBL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
1991 - Tracy Moore, FLO
WBL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
1991 - J.J. Eubanks, NAS
WBL ALL-STAR GAME MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
1988 - Jose Slaughter, VAN
1989 - Darryl Kennedy. LVS
1990 - Vincent Askew, MEM
1991 - Craig Neal, FLO
WBL SLAM DUNK CHAMPION
1988 - Jeff Collins, LVS
1989 - Willie Bland, YOU & Tim Legler, YOU [2-man competition]
1990 - Mario Donaldson, SAS
1991 - Milt Newton, HAL
WBL 3-POINT CHAMPION
1988 - Chip Engelland, CAL
1989 - Chip Engelland, CAL
1990 - Fred Cofield, YOU
1991 - Fred Cofield, YOU
WBL ALL-STAR GAMES
7Jul88 - Calgary, AB WBL West 131, WBL East 120
12Jul89 - Las Vegas, NV Las Vegas 144, WBL All-Stars 148
11Jul90 - Youngstown, OH WBL West 150, WBL East 123
10Jul91 - Halifax, NS WBL South 130, WBL North 120
WBL LEAGUE LEADERS
SCORING AVERAGE
1988 - Jamie Waller, LVS 26.7
1989 - Jamie Waller, LVS 21.7
1990 - Jamie Waller, LVS 26.5
1991 - Jamie Waller, NAS/ERI 26.3
REBOUNDING AVERAGE
1988 - David Boone, CAL 9.8
1989 - Alfredrich Hughes, ILL 11.5
1990 - Vincent Askew, MEM 9.8
1991 - Willie Bland, HAL 12.3
ASSISTS AVERAGE
1988 - Mark Wade, LVS 12.8
1989 - Cedric Hunter, LVS 11.0
1990 - Mark Wade, YOU 11.5
1991 - Mark Wade, YOU 8.7
STEALS AVERAGE
1988 - Mark Wade, LVS 1.83
1989 - Darryl Johnson, ILL 1.86
1990 - Andre Turner, MEM 2.43
1991 - Darryl McDonald, NAS 2.47
BLOCKED SHOTS AVERAGE
1988 - Andre Patterson, VAN 2.18
1989 - Perry Young, CAL 1.33
1990 - John Hegwood, CAL 1.30
1991 - Willie Glass, YOU 1.65
FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
1988 - Don Jacobs, LVS/FRE .601
1989 - Willie Bland, YOU .608
1990 - Vincent Askew, MEM .606
1991 - Mack Joyner, FLO .696
3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
1988 - Jim Les, CHI .467
1989 - Chip Engelland, CAL .513
1990 - Chip Engelland, CAL .513
1991 - Chip Engelland, CAL .494
FREE THROW PERCENTAGE
1988 - Scott Brooks, FRE .884
1989 - Chip Engelland, CAL .864
1990 - Chip Engelland, CAL .936
1991 - Chip Engelland, CAL .935
WBL COACHES 1988 - 1991
CAL - Mike Thibault, 1988
Cory Russell, 1989
Roger Lyons, 1989 - 1992
DAY - Pat Haley, 1991
Mike Sylvester, 1992
ERI - Steve Hayes, 1990
Bill Kalbaugh, 1990, 1991 - 1992
Denny Hovanec, 1990
FLO - Matt Creamer, 1991 - 1992
FRE - Ted Owens, 1988
HAL - Ian MacMillan, 1991
Mickey Fox, 1991 - 1992
HAM - Kevin Billerman, 1992
CHI/ILL - Rich Falk, 1988
Walt Perrin, 1988
Dave Robisch 1989 - 1990
JAC - Eric Dennis, 1992
LVS - Sonny Allen, 1988, 1990
Denny Hovanec, 1989 - 1990
MEM - Tom Nissalke, 1990
Ron Ekker, 1991
NAS - Ron Greene, 1991
SAS - Mike Frink, 1990
Mike Riley, 1991 - 1992
VAN - Mike Frink, 1988
WIN - Tom Nissalke, 1992
WOR - John Clark, 1989
YOU - Mike Rice, 1988
Bob Patton, 1988 - 1991
Floyd Kerr, 1992
WBL VS. INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION 1988 - 1991
1988 3-0 1.000 Belgium SunAir Tournament
1989 3-0 1.000 Belgium SunAir Tournament
5-1 .833 Haarlem [Holland] Basketball Week
49-1 .980 WBL regular season
1990 2-1 .667 Belgium SunAir Tournament
5-0 1.000 Haarlem [Holland] Basketball Week
51-5 .911 WBL regular season
1991 4-1 .800 Singapore Merlion Cup
1-1 .500 Belgium SunAir Tournament
2-2 .500 Haarlem Basketball Week
38-7 .844 WBL regular season
1992 56-4 .933 WBL regular season
Total 25-6 .806 International Tournaments
138-17 .890 WBL regular season games
218-31 .876 All games