Continental Basketball Association

Continental Basketball Association (1978-2009)

Tombstone

Formed: 1978
Folded: February 8, 2001
Re-Formed: 2001
Folded Again: February 3, 2009 (Announced)

First Game: October 27, 1978
Last Game: February 8, 2009

Seasons: 31
States & Provinces:

Leadership

Commissioner:

  • April 1991 – August 1993: Terdema Ussery II
  • February 1994 – August 1994: Mark Lamping
  • August 1994 – May 1996: Tom Valdiserri
  • July 1996 – June 1998: Steve Patterson (Los Angeles Times obituary)
  • September 1998 – ?: Gary Hunter
  • 2001-2006: Gary Hunter
  • May 2007 – September 2008: Jim Coyne (Acting)
  • September 2008 – February 2009: Dennis Truax

Attendance

We are missing Continental Basketball Association attendance figures for the league’s final three seasons from 2006 through 2009.

 

 

Sources:

  • 1991-92 Official CBA Guide & Register (La Crosse Catbirds record regular attendance figure for 1980’s)
  • 2005-06 Official CBA Guide & Register (1978-2005 CBA league figures & Rapid City Thrillers record regular season attendance figure for 1990’s)
  • Whitney, Stu. “Skyforce could be part of possible merger”. The Argus Leaders (Sioux Falls, SD). March 22, 2006). (2005-06 CBA league figure)

Trophy Case

CBA Most Valuable Player

Year Player Position Team
1978-79 Andre McCarterRochester Zeniths
1979-80 Ron DavisAnchorage Northern Knights
1980-81 Willie SmithMontana Golden Nuggets
1981-82 Ron ValentineMontana Golden Nuggets
1982-83 Robert SmithMontana Golden Nuggets
1983-84 Geff Crompton Center Puerto Rico Coquis
1984-85 Steve HayesTampa Bay Thrillers
1985-86 Michael YoungDetroit Spirits
1986-87 Joe BinionTopeka Sizzlers
1987-88 Michael BrooksAlbany Patroons
1988-89 Anthony BowieQuad City Thunder
1989-90 Vince Askew Forward Albany Patroons
1990-91 Vince Askew Forward Albany Patroons
1991-92 Barry MitchellQuad City Thunder
1992-93 Derek StrongQuad City Thunder
1993-94 Ronnie GrandisonRochester Renegades
1994-95 Eldridge RecasnerYakima Sun Kings
1995-96 Shelton JonesFlorida Beachdogs
1996-97 Dexter BoneyFlorida Beachdogs
1997-98 Jimmy KingQuad City Thunder
1998-99Adrian GriffinConnecticut Pride
1999-00 Jeff McInnisQuad City Thunder
2000-01 No AwardLeague folded midseason
2001-02 Mike SimonDakota Wizards
2002-03 Andy PankoDakota Wizards
2003-04 Josh DavisIdaho Stampede
2004-05 Sam ClancyIdaho Stampede
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09

 

OUR FAVORITE STUFF

Continental Basketball Association
Logo T-Shirt

This Old School Shirts release is strictly for the hardcore hoop heads. 
Before the NBA had the G-League, it had the CBA with teams stretched from Puerto Rico to Honolulu. During the CBA’s 1980’s and 90’s heyday, the league provided a launching pad for future NBA All-Stars such as John Starks and  Michael Adams as well as coaching legends Phil Jackson and George Karl. 
 
When you make a purchase through an affiliate link like this one, Fun While It Lasted earns a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!

 

Background

For most of the 1980′s and 1990′s, the Continental Basketball Association was the Official Developmental League of the NBA. The league was a launching pad for the careers of several prominent coaches and players, including Phil Jackson, George Karl, Michael Adams, John Starks and Tim Legler.

The CBA also became a destination of last resort for a number of faded stars whose careers were derailed by personal troubles, injury or outsized expectations. This list is much longer and includes names such as Lloyd Daniels, John Drew, Michael Ray Richardson, Roy Tarpley, and Chris Washburn.

During it’s 30-year existence, the league had teams in dozens of cities and truly lived up to its “continental” ambitions, with teams from Honolulu to Anchorage to Mexico City to Puerto Rico. Most of these teams were very short-lived and often under-capitalized. The pursuit of CBA memorabilia presents a daunting but rewarding challenge for collectors.

Continental Basketball Association Franchise List

Franchise Years Active CBA Champions
Albany Patroons 1982-1992 1984-1988
Albany Patroons 2005-2009 None
Alberta Dusters 1980-1982 None
Albuquerque Silvers 1983-1985 None
Allentown Jets 1978-79 None
Anchorage Northern Knights 1978-1982 1980
Atlanta Krunk 2007-2008 None
Atlantic City Hi Rollers 1980-1982 None
Bakersfield Jammers 1991-1992 None
Baltimore Lightning 1985-1986 None
Baltimore Metros 1978-1979 None
Bay State Bombardiers 1983-1986 None
Billings Volcanos 1980-1983 None
Birmingham Bandits 1991-1992 None
Butte Daredevils 2006-2008 None
Capital Region Pontiacs 1992-1993 None
Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets 1988-1991 None
Charleston Gunners 1986-1989 None
Chicago Rockers 1994-1996 None
Cincinnati Slammers 1984-1987 None
Columbus Horizon 1989-1994 None
Connecticut Pride 1995-2001 1999
Dakota Wizards 2001-2006 2002-2004
Detroit Spirits 1982-1986 1983
East Kentucky Miners 2007-2009 None
Evansville Thunder 1984-1986 None
Fargo-Moorhead Beez 2001-2002 None
Fargo-Moorhead Fever 1992-1994 None
Flint Fuze 2001-2002 None
Florida Beachdogs 1995-1997 None
Florida Stingers 1985-1986 None
Fort Wayne Fury 1991-2001 None
Gary Steelheads 2000-2006 None
Grand Rapids Hoops 1989-1994 & 1996-2003 None
Grand Rapids Mackers 1994-1996 None
Great Falls Explorers 2006-2008 None
Great Lakes Storm 2001-2005 None
Harrisburg Hammerheads 1994-1995 None
Hartford Hellcats 1993-1995 None
Hawaii Volcanos 1979-1980 None
Idaho Stampede 1997-2001 & 2002-2006 2001
Indiana Alley Cats 2006-2007 None
Jacksonville Jets 1986-1987 None
Jersey Shore Bullets 1978-1979 None
Kansas City Sizzlers 1985-1986 None
La Crosse Bobcats 1996-2001 None
La Crosse Catbirds 1985-1994 1990-1992
Lancaster Lightning 1981-1984 1982
Lancaster Red Roses 1978-1980 None
Las Vegas Silvers 1982-1983 None
Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry 2008-2009 2009
Lehigh Valley Jets 1979-1981 None
Louisville Catbirds 1983-1985 None
Maine Lumberjacks 1978-1983 None
Maine Windjammers 1985-1986 None
Mexico City Aztecas 1994-1995 None
Michigan Mayhem 2004-2006 None
Minot Sky Rockets 2006-2009 None
Mississippi Jets 1987-1989 None
Mohawk Valley Thunderbirds 1979 None
Montana Golden Nuggets 1980-1983 None
Ohio Mixers 1982-1984 None
Oklahoma Cavalry 2007-2008 2008
Oklahoma City Cavalry 1990-1997 1997
Omaha Racers 1989-1997 1993
Pennsylvania Barons 1979-1980 None
Pensacola Tornados 1986-1991 None
Philadelphia Kings 1980-1981 None
Pittsburgh Piranhas 1994-1995 None
Pittsburgh Xplosion 2006-2008 None
Puerto Rico Coquis 1983-1985 None
Quad City Thunder 1987-2001 1994-1998
Rapid City Thrillers 1987-1995 1987
Reno Bighorns 1982-1983 None
Rio Grande Valley Silverados 2007-2008 None
Rochester Flyers 1987-1989 None
Rochester Renegade 1992-1994 None
Rochester Zeniths 1978-1983 1979-1981
Rockford Lightning 1986-2006 None
San Diego Wildcards 1995-1996 None
San Jose Jammers 1989-1991 None
Santa Barbara Islanders 1989-1990 None
Sarasota Stingers 1983-1985 None
Saskatchewan Hawks 2001-2002 None
Savannah Spirits 1986-1988 None
Scranton Aces 1980-1981 None
Shreveport Crawdads 1994-1995 None
Shreveport Storm 1995-1996 None
Sioux Falls Skyforce 1989-2006 1996-2005
Tampa Bay Thrillers 1984-1987 1985-1986
Topeka Sizzlers 1986-1990 None
Toronto Tornados 1983-1986 None
Tri-City Chinook 1991-1995 None
Tulsa Fast Breakers 1988-1991 1989
Tulsa Zone 1991-1992 None
Utah Eagles 2006-2007 None
Utica Olympics 1979-1980 None
Wichita Falls Texans 1988-1994 1991
Wilkes-Barre Barons 1978-1979 None
Wisconsin Flyers 1982-1987 None
Wyoming Wildcatters 1982-1988 None
Yakama Sun Kings 2005-2008 1995-2006-2007
Yakima Sun Kings 1990-2001 & 2002-2005 2000-2003

 

Continental Basketball Association Shop

 

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Comments

14 Responses

  1. As a resident of Bangor from 77 to 81 I watched some Maine Lumberjack games at the Bangor Auditorium.
    One night after a game, in bitter cold, blizzard conditions my car would not start. This was before cell phones and the net. Soon a man, leaving the auditorium and going to his car, saw me sitting in mine. He asked if I needed help. He used his AAA Card to get me emergency service, then gave me a ride to my home near the University of Maine when my car had to be towed to a local garage for work the next day. What a superb gesture from a perfect stanger in miserable conditions.

    Well, I found out it was Lumberjack Head Coach Michael Uporsky. He was fired two weeks later.
    He was the man who brought Billy Ray Bates to Bangor and built the franchise roster only to be run out of
    town by the the likes of the ownership of the Jacks.

    What ever became of Michael, I will never forget his
    act of helping me in dire straits. NOT A WORD mentioned on him about the original Jacks and he was the man who assembled and coached them.

    Joe Rebholz

  2. The guys on espn PTI were discussing the former 7ft 5 inch player Chuck Nevitt. I know he played a back up role on a number of NBA teams. He was very clumsy and not agile but I remember him playing for the CBA team the rapid city thrillers for at least a year or two but I can’t find any reference to it online. Does anyone else remember him playing in the CBA in the early 90’s?

    1. I don’t think Chuck Nevitt played for the Thrillers. But he did play for the Capital Region (NY) Pontiacs and the Hartford Hellcats of the CBA in the early 1990’s. The Pontiacs were a new name (based on a sponsorship with a local Pontiac car dealer group) for a team better known as the Albany Patroons. Both Phil Jackson and George Karl got their head coaching starts in the CBA and coached the Patroons to league championships during the 1980’s. – Drew

  3. I think Chuck Nevitt played for more than one CBA team. Yes, you are right about Georgle Karl and Phil Jackson. I also watched Tim Legler the NBA shooting star and now ESPN analyst play CBA ball. I did find this roster of players that played for the rapid city thrillers and yes Chuck Nevitt was listed. I knew he had played for the Thrillers at some point in the late 80’s to early 90’s. The CBA was kinda like the wild west, players came and went on a whim. It was fun to watch and I miss it. Thanks to Isiah Thomas, the former Detroit Piston All star, the CBA died a quick death. Here is the site i refered to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Rapid_City_Thrillers_players

  4. I was on the stat crew for the Oklahoma City Cavalry for all but the final season of their seven year existence. The strongest memory I have of them occured in a contest where they hosted the Yakima (WA) Sun Kings. A melee broke out near where I was seated and it resulted in Yakima’s coach (ex-Celtic Robert Reid) and Cavalry center Jawaan Oldham being ejected. The exact date (as well as the final outcome) is lost in history, but the bizarre double-ejection remains etched in my memory to this day.

  5. WAS THE CBA TEAM.. THE THUNDER.. WHICH WAS IN EVANSVILLE INDIANA THE SAME FRANCHISE AS THE QUAD CITY THUNDER? IT WAS BASED IN EVANSVILLE UNTIL 1986. THEN IN THE QUAD CITIES IN 1987.

  6. Loved the CBA – I recruited players from there to play overseas. . some great players and great coaching. . Several of the coaches of that era moved up to NBA as hc, assistants, directors of player personnel, scouts. . Dan Panaggio (Quad City Thunder), Mike Thibault (Omaha Racers),Bill and Eric Musselman (Rapid City Thrillers), John Treloar (Wichita Falls) and Jim Sleeper (Sioux Falls). . to name a few. Dave Adkins Overseas Basketball Services. Corpus Christi, TX

  7. HELLO JOE REBHOLZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I hope you get this and thank you for your words regarding our meeting in Bangor.
    Yes, it destroyed my career but comments like yours tell me that helping people is still the career we should all have. Peace and good health to you. 3/1/2020

  8. The Sun Kings and Cavalry played three times in OKC in 1992-93 (the only year Reid would have been in Yakima and Oldham in OKC) and the game stories in the OKC paper the next day don’t reference a melee in any of them.

    January 8, 1993 – Cavs won, 117-114
    March 2, 1993 – Sun Kings won, 128-118
    March 13, 1993 – Cavs won, 118-102

  9. Our family was privileged to see both LaCrosse Catbird and LaCrosse Bobcat games at the home court. The venue was terrific and for the 4 hour drive there was beautiful lodging and great dining. High level of play and attractive cheerleaders. Overall a memorable experience that we sorely miss !!

  10. I Love this site, I still have several of my old CBA Guide and Registers from 1989 to 1997, I have an old CBA Jacket, still have all my Sioux Falls Skyforce Game Programs, and I even kept all my statistics I would keep from each game from Skyforce history from 1989 to 1996. I kept game stats for every game for nearly 6 years.

    I miss the old Quarter Point System, Skyforce Head Coaches were: Ron Ekker (1989-90), Kevin McKenna (1990-93), Roger Lyons (1993-94), Flip Saunders (1994-95), Mo McHone (1995-1999), Jim Sleeper (1999-00)..

    The best year we had was 1996-97 when we won 47 games and only lost 9 games, the third best record ever in the CBA behind the 1990-91 Albany Patroons (George Karl) 50-6 record, and the Bill Musselmans Albany Patroons 1987-88 record of 48-6

    I remember the one game when Flip Saunders was the Head Coach of the Skyforce, we had just lost a game the nigth before in Omaha after blowing a 20 point lead, the two teams came back the next night in Sioux Falls, and we never gave the Omaha Racers a shot, ‘we led from start to finish, winnig 158 to 88, one of the largest point margins ever by 70 points.

    I remember once in 1991-92 the Sioux Falls Skyforce played a game vs Tulsa Zone in Tulsa-OKLA, we made a franchise record 17 3 pointers, out of 24 attempts, still our team record today.

    The Skyforce longest losing streak was 9 games, when we began our team history in 1989-90 starting 0 for 0, and our largest winning streak was 13, when we started the 1996-97 season 13-0

    Mike Zitterich @ [email protected]

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