Basketball Super League (North America)

Last updated
Basketball Super League
Logo of the Basketball Super League.png
Sport Basketball
Founded2023;2 years ago (2023)
First season2023–24
Owner(s) Dave Magley
Evelyn Magley
CEO Evelyn Magley
President Dave Magley
CommissionerDevin Kinsella
No. of teams9
Countries Canada
United States
Continents North America
Most recent
champion(s)		 London Lightning (1st title)
Most titles London Lightning (1)
TV partner(s) BeIN Sports Xtra
BSL TV
Official website basketballsuperleague.com

The Basketball Super League (BSL) is a professional basketball league based in Canada and the United States that was formed in 2023.

Contents

It was started by the ownership of The Basketball League (TBL) after the National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC) dissolved and left several Canadian teams without a home.

BSL teams engage in interleague play with TBL franchises, and their regular season runs from November through March.

History

For their 2021–22 season, the National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC) announced that they had agreed to interleague play with several teams from The Basketball League (TBL). [1] On June 18, 2022, the NBLC announced that Dave Magley, president of TBL, would work alongside NBLC commissioner Audley Stephenson in overseeing the growth of both leagues. [2]

After the dissolution of NBLC following their 2022–23 season, Dave Magley announced the formation of the Basketball Super League (BSL) to begin play in December 2023. [3] BSL teams have no salary cap and play in venues with a minimum capacity of 2,500, unlike TBL teams which have a salary cap and play in smaller venues. [4]

In April 2023, the Newfoundland Rogues of the TBL were announced as the first BSL franchise. [5] The KW Titans, London Lightning and Sudbury Five of the defunct NBLC joined in May 2023. [3] The Quebec Pioneers were originally announced as the fifth team in June 2023, but folded before the season began. [6] The Windsor Express, another former NBLC franchise, announced in August 2023 that they would also join the league. [7] Montréal Toundra, formerly of the TBL, rounded out the inaugural 2023–24 BSL season's six teams. [8]

BSL's six teams engaged in interleague play with TBL franchises in addition to their intraleague games, and the top four teams were awarded a playoff birth. [8] The London Lightning defeated the KW Titans 3–1 in their May 2024 finals series to become inaugural BSL champions. [9]

Devin Kinsella was appointed as the league's first commissioner in August 2024. [10]

American teams from TBL joined the BSL for its 2024–25 season, including the Glass City Wranglers, Jamestown Jackals, and Pontiac Pharaohs. [11] [12] The Montréal Toundra announced it was taking a hiatus from the league in November 2024. [13]

Teams

Canada location map 2.svg
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Canadian-based BSL teams as of the 2024-25 season
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U.S.-based teams in the BSL as of the 2024-25 season. Dot colors correspond to the divisional alignment.
TeamCityArenaCapacityFoundedJoinedHead coach
Glass City Wranglers Toledo, Ohio Maumee Valley Country Day School 250 [14] 20212024Freddie Zamora
Jamestown Jackals Jamestown, New York Jamestown Community College 1,400 [15] 20162024Raheem Singleton
KW Titans Kitchener, Ontario Kitchener Memorial Auditorium 7,241 [16] 20162023 Cliff Clinkscales
London Lightning London, Ontario Canada Life Place 10,000 [17] 20112023 Jerry Williams
Newfoundland Rogues St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador Mary Brown's Centre 6,750 [18] 20212023 Reece Gaines
Pontiac Pharaohs Pontiac, Michigan Pontiac High School 2,000 [19] 20222024Scott Newman
Sudbury Five Greater Sudbury, Ontario Sudbury Community Arena 5,000 [20] 20182023 Logan Stutz
Windsor Express Windsor, Ontario WFCU Centre 6,900 [21] 20122023 Bill Jones
On hiatus
Montreal Tundra Montreal, Quebec Centre Pierre Charbonneau 2,501 [22] 20232023Damian Buckley

Former teams

Former teams in Basketball Super League
TeamCityArenaSeasonsNotes
Québec Pioneers Québec City, Québec N/AN/AAnnounced as participating in 2023–24, but folded prior to season starting.

Seasons

Overview of Basketball Super League seasons
SeasonRegular season championRegular season MVPPlayoff championPlayoff runner-upPlayoff MVP
2023–24 KW Titans Armani Chaney (Newfoundland) London Lightning KW Titans Chris Jones

Media coverage

All games stream live on the league's BSL TV subscription website, with many games simulcast for free on BeIN Sports Xtra. [23]

References

  1. ↑ "NBL Canada Returns to Celebrate 10th Season with Inter-League Play". OurSports Central. November 4, 2021.
  2. ↑ "NBL Canada Expands Partnership With TBL, Eyes Expansion In Near Future". nblcanada.ca/ (Press release). National Basketball League of Canada. June 18, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "NBL Canada Teams To Join Basketball Super League". nblcanada.ca/ (Press release). National Basketball League of Canada. May 11, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  4. ↑ "THE BASKETBALL SUPER LEAGUE IS BORN". Newswire. April 11, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  5. ↑ Mercer, Nick (April 25, 2023). "Newfoundland Rogues look to tame Bobcats in St. John's as they start final homestand of regular season". PNI Atlantic News. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  6. ↑ Lapinski, Jessica (June 6, 2023). "Une équipe de basketball professionnelle jouera à Québec à compter du mois de décembre". Le Journal de Québec (in French). Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  7. ↑ Parker, Jim (August 29, 2023). "After months or research, Windsor Express have a new basketball home". Windsor Star. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  8. 1 2 "2023-24 Basketball Super League". From Naismith to Nash. August 14, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  9. ↑ Sebastian-Scott, James (May 26, 2024). "KW Titans lose to London Lightning in series". CityNews Kitchener. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  10. ↑ Pyette, Ryan (August 27, 2024). "Sudbury native to lead Basketball Super League". Sudbury Star. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  11. ↑ Winders, Jason (August 28, 2024). "Two familiar foes join BSL for Year 2". Gameday London. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Jackals Join Basketball Super League For Upcoming Season". post-journal.com. October 3, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  13. ↑ Yanez-Leyton, Cassandra; Oduro, Kwabena (November 3, 2024). "Montreal Toundra cancels its upcoming pro basketball season". CBC. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Newfoundland Rogues vs. Glass City Wranglers". Basketball Super League Stats. November 26, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Physical Education Complex". Jamestown Community College. February 17, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Kitchener Memorial Auditorium". Venue Coalition. June 12, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  17. ↑ Place, Canada Life. "Arena Info". Canada Life Place. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Mary Brown's Centre, St. John's". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Windsor Express vs. Pontiac Pharaohs". Basketball Super League Stats. January 17, 2025. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Rentals and Special Events". Home. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  21. ↑ Viquez, Marc (December 12, 2023). "Windsor Spitfires". Stadium Journey. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Montreal, QC Meeting Venues and Event Space". Cvent. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  23. ↑ "beIN SPORTS Announce Partnership with The Basketball Super League and The Basketball League". Basketball Super League. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
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