# World Basketball League

World Basketball League (WBL) was a minor professional basketball league in the United States and Canada which operated from 1988 to 1992. It was founded as the International Basketball Association in November 1987, before changing its name prior to the 1988 season. One of the major differences between it and other leagues was that it had a height restriction. Players over 6 ft 5 in (1.95 m) were not allowed to play; this restriction was raised to 6 ft 7 in (2.0 m) in 1991.
Basketball Hall-of-Famer and Boston Celtic great Bob Cousy (6'1" tall) was one of the league's founders. Norm Drucker, a 25-year veteran referee with the National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association, and a former supervisor of officials for the NBA, served as the WBL's supervisor of officiating. One of the league's founders, Michael Monus, was eventually convicted of having embezzled $10 million to finance the league, from a privately owned company he had founded, Phar-Mor. He was sentenced to nine (9) years in federal prison.
In addition to games against other teams in the league, games were also played against international teams. The league had several of its games broadcast on television. In Canada, the games were broadcast on the CanWest Global System. In the United States, the games were broadcast on SportsChannel America. Mike Rice was the primary analyst for the SportsChannel broadcasts.
After the league folded in 1992, the surviving Canadian-based teams formed the National Basketball League. This league played two seasons before it folded as well.

## Teams

| Team | City | Arena | Seasons | Notes |
| Calgary 88's | Calgary, Alberta | Olympic Saddledome | 1988–1992 | |
| Chicago Express | Chicago, Illinois | Rosemont Horizon | 1988 | Moved to Springfield, Illinois following the 1988 season. |
| Dayton Wings | Dayton, Ohio | Ervin J. Nutter Center | 1991–1992 | Team folded July 31, 1992. |
| Erie Wave | Erie, Pennsylvania | Louis J. Tullio Center | 1990–1992 | Team folded July 20, 1992. |
| Florida Jades | Boca Raton, Florida | Florida Atlantic University Arena | 1991–1992 | Team folded June 15, 1992. |
| Fresno Flames | Fresno, California | Selland Arena | 1988 | |
| Halifax Windjammers | Halifax, Nova Scotia | Halifax Metro Centre | 1991–1992 | Joined the National Basketball League for 1993. |
| Hamilton Skyhawks | Hamilton, Ontario | Copps Coliseum | 1992 | Joined the National Basketball League for 1993. |
| Illinois Express | Springfield, Illinois | Prairie Capital Convention Center | 1989–1990 | |
| Jacksonville Stingrays | Jacksonville, Florida | Jacksonville Coliseum | 1992 | Team folded June 15, 1992. |
| Las Vegas Silver Streaks | Las Vegas, Nevada | Thomas & Mack Center | 1988–1990 | Moved to Nashville following 1990 season. |
| Memphis Rockers | Memphis, Tennessee | Mid-South Coliseum | 1990–1991 | |
| Nashville Stars | Nashville, Tennessee | Nashville Municipal Auditorium | 1991 | |
| Saskatchewan Storm | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | Saskatchewan Place | 1990–1992 | Joined the National Basketball League in 1993. Franchise name changed by ownership to the "Saskatoon Slam." |
| Vancouver Nighthawks | Vancouver, British Columbia | BC Place | 1988 | |
| Winnipeg Thunder | Winnipeg, Manitoba | Winnipeg Arena | 1992 | Joined the National Basketball League for 1993. |
| Worcester Counts | Worcester, Massachusetts | Worcester Centrum | 1989 | |
| Youngstown Pride | Youngstown, Ohio | Beeghly Center | 1988–1992 | |

### International Teams

| Team | City | Seasons |
| Abruzzo All-Stars | Abruzzo, Italy | 1992 |
| Bahamas Nationals | The Bahamas | 1992 |
| Estonian Nationals | Estonia | 1992 |
| | Finland | 1989–1991 |
| | Greece | 1989–1991 |
| Holland | Netherlands | 1989–1991 |
| | Italy | 1989–1991 |
| Kyiv All-Stars | Kyiv, Ukraine | 1992 |
| | Norway | 1989–1991 |
| Soviet Union | USSR | 1989–1991 |

## Champions of WBL

* 1988 Las Vegas Silver Streaks 102 Chicago Express 95 (one-game playoff)
* 1989 Youngstown Pride won best of three series two games to none over Calgary 88's
* 1990 Youngstown Pride won best of five championship series three games to two over the Calgary 88's
* 1991 Dayton Wings won best of five championship series three games to none over the Calgary 88's
* 1992 Dayton Wings declared champions as leaders of regular season (due to league folding on August 1)

## Personnel

League President
* Dr. John Geletka 1991–1992
League Commissioner
* Steve Ehrhart 1988–1992

## Awards
### WBL Championship MVP

* 1988: Jamie Waller, Las Vegas Silver Streaks
* 1989: Barry Mitchell, Youngstown Pride
* 1990: Barry Mitchell, Youngstown Pride
* 1991: Perry McDonald, Dayton Wings

### Player of the Year

This award was established in 1991.
* 1991: Tracy Moore, Florida Jades

### Rookie of the Year

This award was established in 1991.
* 1991: J. J. Eubanks, Nashville Stars

### Sixth Man of the Year

* 1988: Chip Engelland, Calgary 88s
* 1989: Keith Smart, Worcester Counts
* 1990: Troy Lewis, Youngstown Pride
* 1991: Kelsey Weems, Calgary 88s

### Coach of the Year

* 1988: Mike Thibault, Calgary 88s
* 1989: Bob Patton, Youngstown Pride
* 1990: Sonny Allen, Las Vegas Silver Streaks
* 1991: Pat Haley, Dayton Wings

## Statistical leaders

| Year | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks |
| 1988 | Jamie Waller, 26.7 | David Boone, 9.8 | Mark Wade, 12.8 | Mark Wade, 1.8 | Andre Patterson, 2.2 |
| 1989 | Jamie Waller, 21.7 | Alfredrick Hughes, 11.5 | Cedric Hunter, 11.0 | Darryl Johnson, 1.9 | Perry Young, 1.3 |
| 1990 | Jamie Waller, 26.5 | Vincent Askew, 9.8 | Mark Wade, 11.5 | Andre Turner, 2.4 | John Hegwood, 1.3 |
| 1991 | Jamie Waller, 26.3 | Willie Bland, 12.3 | Mark Wade, 8.7 | Darryl McDonald, 2.5 | Willie Glass, 1.7 |

## Notable players
### NBA players

These players played at least 1 game in the NBA
* Vincent Askew
* Dudley Bradley
* Scott Brooks
* Carlos Clark
* Fred Cofield
* Mario Elie
* David Henderson
* Alfredrick Hughes
* Cedric Hunter
* Darryl Johnson
* Anthony Jones
* Doug Lee
* Tim Legler
* Jim Les
* Sidney Lowe
* Kenny Natt
* Craig Neal
* Jose Slaughter
* Keith Smart
* John Starks
* Jim Thomas
* Andre Turner
* Mark Wade
* Milt Wagner
* Jamie Waller
* Perry Young

### Other leagues

These players have won at least 1 individual award while playing in professional leagues
* Joe Dawson
* Aivar Kuusmaa
* Darryl McDonald
* Igors Miglinieks
* Barry Mitchell
* Clyde Vaughan