The United States Basketball League (USBL) was a professional men's spring basketball league. The league was formed in 1985 and ceased operations in 2008. On 6 November 2025, the USBL announced that it will return for the 2026 season.[1]
Several players with NBA experience joined the USBL: among them Ken Bannister, Jim Bostic, Tracy Jackson, Lowes Moore, Eddie Lee Wilkins and Sam Worthen. Other players who played in the 1985 USBL season would later play in the NBA, such as Michael Adams, Manute Bol, Ron Crevier, Spud Webb and John "Hot Rod" Williams. The first ever game in USBL was played on May 25, 1985, between Rhode Island Gulls and Springfield Fame (94-101) at the Springfield Civic Center. After the regular season ended after each team played 25 games, the league management decided not to organize postseason games, since many players were going to join other teams for the start of the regular season of other leagues such as the NBA or the CBA.[7] The first USBL champions were the Springfield Fame, that had ended the regular season leading the league with a 19–6 record. Hot Rod Williams and Tracy Jackson were named co-MVPs, while Manute Bol led the league both in rebounds per game (14.2) and blocks per game (11.2).
The top teams of the regular season advanced to the USBL Postseason Festival, a playoffs system that saw teams play single elimination games in order to advance to the final game. On three occasions (1985, 1986 and 1990) no postseason was held, and the team with the best regular season record won the championship. In 1989 the USBL ceased operations temporarily in order to improve its organization, and resumed the following season, in 1990.[12]
From 1985 until 2008, the USBL played a late-spring/early-summer schedule. The league was re-activated in 2025, and a 24 game season is scheduled for 2026. According to the Salem Capitals owner, Jason Conrad, “The new league is called the United States Basketball League, which was actually one of the original feeder leagues for the NBA from the mid-’80s until 2008... “We resurrected it. We retained all the rights to the URLs, history, and logos."[13] The USBL relaunched with 15 teams, including the Bakersfield Majestics, Baltimore Rhythm, Capital Seahawks, Frederick Flying Cows, Las Vegas Stars, Lilac City Legends, Long Beach Blue Waves, New Jersey Shore Breaks, New York Phoenix, Reading Rebels, Salem Capitals, San Diego Sharks, Seattle Superhawks, Vancouver Bears, and Virginia Valley Vipers.
Salary cap
In 1985, the league introduced a salary cap of $250,000 per team. In 1992, the salary cap was $40,000, with rookies being paid $315 per week.[14] In 1998 it had remained the same, as each franchise had a regular season salary cap of $40,000, which meant that an average player earned roughly around $400 a week during the 2-month season of the league (rosters of 10 players).[15] As reported in 2000, the annual salary cap of the league was $47,500 for a franchise, for all its players. No player was allowed to receive more than $1,000 per week as salary.[16]
Norris Coleman, a four-time USBL All Star, was the USBL All-time leading Scorer with 3,104 points until 2001.[57] He became the all-time scorer with the conclusion of the 1994 USBL season with 2,949 points.
On June 6, 2001, Kwan Johnson who was only 13 pts short, broke his all-time record in the game Westchester Wildfire - Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs.
By June 21, 2005, Kwan Johnson was the USBL's All-Time (1985-2009) leading scorer overall with 3,453 points. Herman Alston is 3d on the list with 2,639 pts. Other leading scorers: Ron Matthias scored 2,293 points and he is 6th of all-time, Ken Bannister with 2,052 points is ninth (in 99 games) and Michael Lloyd is 10th with 2,031 points)
By June 21, 2005, Don Collins had the highest scoring average (31.4 pg), of any player scored over 1,000 pts in USBL's history.
By June 21, 2005, John Strickland was the All-Time leader in playoff points with 213. Michael Lloyd is second on the list as he has recorded 206 career playoff points.
Games leaders
Norris Coleman became the all-time scorrecordman in total games played with the conclusion of the 1994 USBL season with 111 points.
On June 6, 2001, Kwan Johnson became the All -time leader in games played with 145 breaking Norris Coleman record of 144.
By June 21, 2005, Kwan Johnson was the overall recordman in games played with 177 (in 8 seasons). Herman Alston had 144 games (in 7 seasons)
Roy Tarpley who played 16 games for the Miami Tropics in 1992, holds the record for the longest time span between seasons played (13) as he played for the Dodge City Legends in 2005.
Steals leaders
By June 6, 2001, Kwan Johnson was also the All-time leader in steals with 279.
By June 21, 2005, Johnson was overall the USBL's All-Time recordman with 316 steals. Darrell Armstrong was all-time third in steals with 259.
Assists leaders
By June 21, 2005, Charles Smith had 549 assists (in 46 games). Darrell Armstrong was 10th in assists with 491.
Rebounds leaders
By June 21, 2005, Johnny Jackson was the all-time leader in rebounds with 1,311. Andre Perry was third with 1,179.
Norris Coleman became the top rebounder with the conclusion of the 1994 USBL season with 891 rebounds.
Manute Bol (in 1985) and Anthony Mason (in 1991) hold the record for the most rebounds in a game with 28.
Free throws leaders
By June 6, 2001, Kwan Johnson was also the All -Time Leader in free throws scoring 803 (out of 1,132).
By June 21, 2005, Johnson remained on top with 905 (out of 1,286).
Top scorers in a single game
Byron Strickland holds the record for most points scored in a single game.[58]
The league also had a USBL All-Star Travel Team. In 1991 they won the silver medal in the Winston world basketball cup (July 26–28, San Juan, Puerto Rico) under coach Rex Morgan,[65] competeding against 6 national teams (Soviet Union, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Cuba) and KK POP 84. The USBL All-Stars lost to Puerto Rico in the final in front of 12,000 fans.
The USBL All-Stars also played at the 1992 Puerto Rico invitational tournament (June 17–22).[66]
In 2001 the USBL asked its fans to vote online for a USBL "All-15 Team", to celebrate the league's 15th anniversary.[67] The USBL finally presented 19 players.
Players
An alphabetical listing of 19 voted players is as follows:
On 21 July 2005, the league announced the players of its "Top 20 and Beyond Anniversary Team" were chosen by a vote of executives, coaches, and administrators that had served over the years in the USBL.[68]
Players
An alphabetical listing of 20 voted players is as follows:
↑"Fame 1986 schedule". The Morning Union - Springfield, Massachusetts. June 8, 1986. p.21. Archived from the original on November 19, 2025. Retrieved November 19, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
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