NBA clubs or the players’ association (NBAPA) in using it.
The CBA had been the sanctioned development league, and it was still being widely used by the NBA. The comissioner's office also had to tread gently because of the NCAA's multi-billion-dollar collegiate development system, which is the dominant source for players in the sport.
Fans in the basketball-savvy college markets, where the NBDL debuted, largely ignored it.
The NBDL’s top-down ownership by the NBA, without substantial local investment to network the clubs into the fabric of the the towns where they played, was a bad business model that didn’t incentivize being involved in the community.
Television coverage via the NBA’s network, where fans were moved around to the televised side of the court to mask the scads of empty seats in the background, barely kept the league on the radar. Most of the founding franchises of the NBDL have failed or been moved to better markets.
After negionation with the PA, the league evolved last year as the NBA Development League (D-League).
Major changes made to the D-League model were its ability to move players under PA contracts, and its new found understanding of community-based team ownership.
The league is also learning to navigate politely within the waters of the NCAA juggernaut. Slowly, there is the notion evolving that the D-League is a good venue to develop both players who are not academically suitable for a college career, and those from many great college rosters that need further maturation before they are ready for the NBA.
While the league has planned to organically grow its own clubs, nothing kick starts the development process like three of the most established clubs in indy pro basketball.
If you can’t buy the CBA, open the doors to their best clubs instead.
In April, the Idaho Stampede, Dakota Wizards, and the Sioux Falls SkyForce bolted to the D-League. An announced CBA expansion club, the Colorado 14ers was able to go along as well.
The moves set off a major realignment in indy hoops.
Into the Indy Abyss
The CBA, like an airplane with a wing suddenly ripped off, found itself in a freefall.
"The CBA extends its best wishes to the departing clubs and thanks them for their contributions to the league," said Commissioner Gary Hunter in a brief, and dignified statement.
In the following days the franchise tide rolled in: Eight clubs, including three expansion and five clubs that migrated from the ABA, would bolster the CBA roster and expand it. The league seemed to be positioning itself at the AA level between the NBA and the ABA.
Then the tide rolled out. The Gary Steelheads, another core team, pulled out of the league.
“The team wishes the CBA luck in the new direction it has taken,” said Jewell Harris Sr., Owner/Chief Executive Officer. “However, the Steelheads are going to take a year off to continue to pursue investors who are committed to taking the organization to the next level.”
Four other clubs, one expansion and three ABA teams, were forced to sideline themselves with operational issues, usually stated to revolve around venue availability, causing the CBA to have to rebalance its schedule as late as last week.
The venerable CBA will enter the season with a likely eight clubs, barring further defections, spread from Albany, New York to Yakima, Washington, through the wilds of Montana.
Nyuck, Nyuck, Nyuck
The American Basketball Association (ABA), with low franchise fees and the Newman playbook for market success, has been spinning out basketball franchises at a frantic rate since the league reappeared in 2000.
It has expanded and contracted, but it has endured past the five-season...
CONTINUED...
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