International Basketball League (1999–2001)

International Basketball League (IBL)
Sport	Basketball
Founded	1999
First season	1999-2000
Ceased	2001
No. of teams	13
Country	United States
Continent	FIBA Americas
Last; champion(s)	St. Louis Swarm (2nd title)
Most titles	St. Louis Swarm (2 titles)

The International Basketball League (IBL) was a short-lived professional men's basketball league in the United States. The IBL was headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. The league started in 1999 and ended in 2001.

History

The International Basketball League was founded in early 1999 and made plans to begin play in fall of that year. The first season did not quite meet expectations with attendance, but the league was still largely functional, with the Saint Louis Swarm winning the first championship. The second season was significantly rougher, with the league losing the Baltimore and San Diego franchises and merging with teams from the Continental Basketball Association after that league folded early in 2000. The Swarm won the championship of that league in the second season, and although the league had stated that it would return for a third season, this was not to be the case, and all the teams folded soon after the season ended, although the teams from the former CBA ultimately restarted the CBA the following year. Although the league had some innovations such as playing the international three-point line and trapezoid lane, and with the intention to offer professional basketball and more reasonable ticket prices, the cost structure of the league was simply too great for the revenue and attendance figures that it received.

The International Basketball League (IBL) was first proposed in 1996 as a single-structure organization similar to Major League Soccer. Because of this players were paid by the league and not the team's owners. The IBL also had classes they called "Player Education/Life Readiness Plan" in which IBL players were informed about scholarship opportunities and how to balance school and professional basketball. Plans for the league to begin play were tentatively set for November 1997 with 10 unidentified franchise in the United States.^[1]

The league sought to have college players or high school players join their league instead of playing in the NCAA, where they could not receive compensation for their play. NCAA spokesperson Katherine Rice responded to the IBL by saying, "As an educational program, we prefer young people to get an education as a basis for their sports activities."^[2]

A two-day meeting was held in St. Louis, Missouri on January 19, 1999 with over 50 IBL owners, executives and advisers in attendance. They were briefed on several things including potential television contracts, the IBL draft and the playoffs.^[3]

On February 15, 1999 IBL president Thaxter Trafton announced the team would begin the season on November 26, 1999. Paul Martha served as the IBL vice president and general legal council.^[3]

Clubs

Team	City	Arena(s)	Joined	Folded
List of teams
Baltimore Bayrunners	Baltimore, Maryland	Baltimore Arena	1999	2000
Cincinnati Stuff	Cincinnati, Ohio	Firstar Center	1999	2001
Connecticut Pride	Hartford, Connecticut	Hartford Civic Center	2001	2001
Gary Steelheads	Gary, Indiana	Genesis Convention Center	2001	2008^†
Grand Rapids Hoops	Grand Rapids, Michigan	DeltaPlex Arena	2001	2003^♯
Las Vegas Silver Bandits	Paradise, Nevada	Thomas and Mack Center	1999	2001
New Mexico Slam	Albuquerque, New Mexico	Tingley Coliseum	1999	2001
Richmond Rhythm	Richmond, Virginia	Siegel Center	1999	2001
Rockford Lightning	Rockford, Illinois	BMO Harris Bank Center	2001	2006^‡
Trenton Shooting Stars	Trenton, New Jersey	Sovereign Bank Arena	1999	2001
San Diego Stingrays	San Diego, California	San Diego Sports Arena	1999	2001
St. Louis Swarm	St. Charles, Missouri	Family Arena	1999	2001
Sioux Falls Skyforce	Sioux Falls, South Dakota	Sioux Falls Arena	2001	—^§

^† The Gary Steelheads folded in 2008 after last playing in the International Basketball League, which had no association with the 1999 to 2001 IBL

^♯ The Grand Rapids Hoops joined the re-organized Continental Basketball Association (CBA) in 2001 and played until 2003

^‡ The Rockford Lightning joined the re-organized CBA in 2001 and played until 2006

^§ The only franchise from the IBL that is still in existence are the Sioux Falls Skyforce, who now play in the NBA G League.

Map

Locations of teams in the International Basketball League from 1999 to 2001

Postseason results

2000 IBL Playoffs

First Round			Conference Championship			IBL Championship

			1	St. Louis Swarm	2
2	New Mexico Slam	2	2	New Mexico Slam	0
3	Las Vegas Silver Bandits	1				1	St. Louis Swarm	3
						3	Richmond Rhythm	0
			1	Cincinnati Stuff	0
2	Trenton Shooting Stars	1	3	Richmond Rhythm	2
3	Richmond Rhythm	2

2001 IBL Playoffs

Semifinals			IBL Championship

1	St. Louis Swarm	2

2	Rockford Lightning	1
			1	St. Louis Swarm	2

			1	Grand Rapids Hoops	1
1	Grand Rapids Hoops	2

2	Trenton Shooting Stars	1

League awards

Most valuable player

1999–00: Doug Smith, St. Louis Swarm
2000–01: Danny Johnson, St. Louis Swarm

Playoffs MVP

1999–00: not named
2000–01: Maurice Carter

Rookie of the year

1999–00: Danny Johnson, St. Louis Swarm
2000–01: Neil Edwards, Gary Steelheads

Coach of the year

1999–00: Bernie Bickerstaff, St. Louis Swarm
2000–01: Bernie Bickerstaff, St. Louis Swarm

All–IBL teams

1999–2000

First team:
- Danny Johnson, St. Louis Swarm
- Ryan Lorthridge, Trenton Shooting Stars
- Tremaine Fowlkes, Cincinnati Stuff
- J. R. Henderson, Las Vegas Silver Bandits
- Doug Smith, St. Louis Swarm

Second team:
- Isaac Burton, Las Vegas Silver Bandits
- Jason Sasser, New Mexico Slam
- Alex Sanders, Cincinnati Stuff
- Ray Tutt, Trenton Shooting Stars
- Rocky Walls, Las Vegas Silver Bandits

2000–2001

First team:
- Antonio Smith, Grand Rapids Hoops
- Danny Johnson, St. Louis Swarm
- Ray Tutt, Trenton Shooting Stars
- Roderick Blakney, Cincinnati Stuff
- Jeff Sanders, Rockford Lightning

Statistical leaders

Year	Points	Rebounds	Assists	Steals	Blocks
1999–00^[4]	J. R. Henderson, 22.6	Rocky Walls, 12.3	Ryan Lorthridge, 7.8	Isaac Burton, 2.5	Soumaila Samake, 2.7
2000–01	Sam Mack, 23.1	Antonio Smith, 13.9	Ryan Lorthridge, 8.6	Roderick Blakney, 2.4	N/A

References

^ "International Basketball League to debut in 1997". PR Newswire. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. June 18, 1996.
^ Sipe, Jefrey R. (January 6, 1997). "A 'minor' league with conscience". Insight on the News. Vol. 13, no. 1. News World Communications. p. 42.
^ ^a ^b Powell, Tom (February 15, 1999). "International Basketball League To Debut In November With 12 Teams". Amusement Business. Vol. 111, no. 2. VNU. p. 12.
^ "IBL LEADERS THROUGH GAMES OF 05/02/00". usatoday.com. Archived from the original on June 19, 2000. Retrieved July 26, 2020.