USBL Championship History
The United States Basketball League began play in
1985 as a summer professional basketball league. The USBL operated
primarily during the NBA offseason and became known as a developmental
league for players, coaches and basketball personnel.
In most seasons, the USBL championship was decided by a single
championship game following the playoffs. In 1985, 1986 and 1990,
however, the regular-season champion was recognized as league champion
because no playoffs were held.
The USBL suspended operations in 1989 and again in 2008. The league
did not return after the 2008 suspension.
USBL Champions by Year
| Year |
Champion |
Score |
Runner-Up |
Notes |
| 1985 |
Springfield Fame |
— |
New Jersey Jammers |
Springfield finished 19-6 and won the regular season; no playoffs were held. |
| 1986 |
Tampa Bay Flash |
— |
Springfield Fame |
Tampa Bay finished 22-8 and won the regular season; no playoffs were held. |
| 1987 |
Miami Tropics |
103-99 |
Rhode Island Gulls |
|
| 1988 |
New Haven Skyhawks |
134-126 |
Palm Beach Stingrays |
|
| 1989 |
USBL suspended operations. |
| 1990 |
Jacksonville Hooters |
— |
New Haven Skyhawks |
Jacksonville finished 15-1 and won the regular season; no playoffs were held. |
| 1991 |
Philadelphia Spirit |
110-108 |
Miami Tropics |
|
| 1992 |
Miami Tropics |
116-114 |
Philadelphia Spirit |
|
| 1993 |
Miami Tropics |
139-127 |
Westchester Stallions |
|
| 1994 |
Jacksonville Hooters |
117-109 |
Atlanta Trojans |
|
| 1995 |
Florida Sharks |
109-104 |
Atlanta Trojans |
|
| 1996 |
Florida Sharks |
118-115 |
Atlantic City Seagulls |
|
| 1997 |
Atlantic City Seagulls |
114-112 |
Long Island Surf |
|
| 1998 |
Atlantic City Seagulls |
100-96 |
Long Island Surf |
|
| 1999 |
Atlantic City Seagulls |
83-77 |
Connecticut Skyhawks |
|
| 2000 |
Dodge City Legend |
89-86 |
Oklahoma Storm |
|
| 2001 |
Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs |
100-91 |
Dodge City Legend |
|
| 2002 |
Oklahoma Storm |
122-109 |
Kansas Cagerz |
|
| 2003 |
Dodge City Legend |
97-96 |
Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs |
|
| 2004 |
Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs |
118-116 |
Brooklyn Kings |
|
| 2005 |
Dodge City Legend |
97-84 |
Kansas Cagerz |
|
| 2006 |
Nebraska Cranes |
100-92 |
Dodge City Legend |
|
| 2007 |
Kansas Cagerz |
95-92 |
Brooklyn Kings |
|
| 2008 |
USBL suspended operations and did not return. |
USBL Championship Facts
Springfield Fame won the first USBL championship in
1985 after finishing the regular season with a 19-6 record.
Miami Tropics won three championships, capturing the
title in 1987, 1992 and 1993.
Atlantic City Seagulls won three consecutive USBL
championships from 1997 through 1999.
Dodge City Legend also won three championships,
taking the title in 2000, 2003 and 2005.
Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs won championships in 2001
and 2004, while the Florida Sharks won consecutive
titles in 1995 and 1996.
The final USBL championship was won by the
Kansas Cagerz, who defeated the Brooklyn Kings
95-92 in 2007.
