Maximum Basketball League
FormerlyMidwest Basketball League (2015-19)
SportBasketball
Founded2015
FounderMichael A. Wright
Inaugural season2015
No. of teams45
CountryUnited States
Most recent
champion(s)		CHICAGO FURY (2023)
Most titles2 (Cedar Valley CourtKings)
Official websiteofficialMBL.org

The Maximum Basketball League (MBL) is a semi-professional men's basketball league which operates in the United States.

History

Established in 2015 by founder Michael A. Wright, the Midwest Basketball League (MBL) was rebranded the Maximum Basketball League following the 2019 season when Wright stepped away.[1]

Eleven teams competed in the inaugural 2016 season. Regular season games began in April 2016 followed by a post-season in August 2016.[2][3]

After five games the Chicago Clovers were removed from the league. Lincoln Lions, who were playing a limited schedule as a "branding" team, took the place of the Clovers. Northern Indiana Monarchs also were removed after playing seven games although they would return to the league as Indy Show.

New management took command after the 2019 season which was followed by 13 teams leaving MBL. For the 2020 season 34 new teams are scheduled to compete. Only the Indiana Dream and Naptown Pros (formerly the Indy Show) remain from the inaugural season.

Teams

MidWest Division City 1st season
Brownstown Bears South Bend, Indiana 2021
Chicago Fury Chicago, Illinois 2016
Chicago Knights Chicago, Illinois 2017
Chicago Legends Chicago, Illinois 2017
Detroit Panthers Redford, Michigan 2022
Elkhart Mavericks Elkhart, Indiana 2020
Fort Wayne Visions Fort Wayne, Indiana 2018
Foundation Bulldogs 2019
Grand Rapids Fusion Grand Rapids, Michigan 2019
Midwest Storm
Michigan Avengers St. Clair Shores, Michigan 2020
Wayne County Roadrunners 2018
Northeast Division City 1st season
Bronx Holy Storm Bronx, New York 2020
Brooklyn Sentinels Brooklyn, New York 2021
Crotona Hawks Bronx, New York 2021
Kitsap Admirals Bremerton, Washington 2022
Montrose Veterans Bronx, New York 2021
Mount Vernon Power Mount Vernon, New York 2020
NYC Black Eagles New York City, New York 2021
South Division City 1st season
DFW Just Hoop Fort Worth, Texas 2020
Fort Worth Wolves Fort Worth, Texas 2018
Foundation Bulldogs Dallas, Texas 2019
Hills have Eyez 2021
North Texas Prowlers Argyle, Texas 2020
Texas Empire 2020
Texas Tsunami 2020
Ultra Instinct Dallas, Texas 2021
Waco Terrior Waco, Texas 2018
Southeast Division City 1st season
Atlanta Wildcats Atlanta, Georgia 2020
Birmingham Miners Birmingham, Alabama 2021
Wolverton Wolves Roswell, Georgia 2023
Hub City Cyclones Bartlett, Tennessee 2021
Memphis Lions Memphis, Tennessee 2021
Music City Kings Memphis, Tennessee 2020

Former teams

  • Atlanta Grizzlies (2020)
  • ArkLaTex Takeover (2020)
  • Cincinnati Crush (2020)
  • Charleston Panthers (2020)
  • Dallas Kings (2018-2020)
  • Dayton Eagles (2020)
  • Delta Elite (2020)
  • Derby City Flash (2020)
  • DFW Kingsmen (2020)
  • Fayetteville Flight (2020)
  • Flower City Monarchs (2020)
  • Fort Wayne Vision (2017-2020)
  • Georgia Bombers (2020)
  • Indiana Dream (2016-2020)
  • Midwest Storm (2020)
  • Kentucky Enforcers (2020)
  • Kentucky Rebels (2020)
  • Milwaukee Wizards (2020)
  • Naptown Pros (2016-2020)
  • Nationwide Hoops (2020)
  • North Minneapolis Eagles (2017-2020)
  • Oklahoma Tatanka (2020)
  • Philadelphia Pioneers (2020)
  • Questlife Warriors (2018-2020)
  • Rockers International (2020)
  • Savannah Cavaliers (2020)
  • Southeast Shooters (2020)
  • Team NetWork (2020)
  • Texas Revelation (2018-2020)
  • Arlington Dream Chasers (2018-2019)
  • Bay Area Titans (2018-2019)
  • Cedar Valley CourtKings (2016-2019)
  • Central Indiana Crusaders (2016-2019)
  • Chicago Clovers (2016) - removed from the league after five games
  • Chicago Fury (2016-2019)
  • Chicago Knights (2017-2019)
  • Dallas Kings (2018-2020)
  • Dayton Air Strikers (2016-2018)
  • Game Solid (2020)
  • Hamilton Heroes (2016)
  • Illinois Bulldogs (2017)
  • Indiana Fury (2016-2019)
  • Iowa Elite Pro (2018-2019)
  • Kentucky Flash (2016-2018)
  • Lincoln Lions (2016-18)
  • Milwaukee Wizards (2017) - returned in 2020
  • Minnesota Arctic Blast (2017)
  • Minnesota Broncos (2016-2019)
  • Minnesota Lakers (2016-2019)
  • Minnesota Pitbulls (2017)
  • North Minneapolis Eagles (2017-2019) - returned in 2020
  • Rochester Roadrunners (2017-2019)
  • Springfield Panthers (2017-2019)
  • TC Elite (2017-2019)
  • Wisconsin Game Changers (2017)
  • Wisconsin/Milwaukee Storm (2016-2017)
  • Wolverton Wolves (2023)

Champions

Season Winner Runner-up Result
2016 Cedar Valley CourtKings Minnesota Rangers 108-98 [4]
2017 Cedar Valley CourtKings Fort Wayne Vision 121-106 [5][6]
2018 Twin Cities Elite Fort Wayne Vision 106-104 [7]
2019 Fort Wayne Vision Eagan Bulldogs 107-106

References

  1. ↑ "MBL makes name change". Maximum Basketball League. August 19, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Professional basketball returning to Cedar Valley". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. December 18, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Welcome to the new home of the MBL". Midwest Basketball League. July 23, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Ellison's pro team wins championship". USA Today High School Sports. August 22, 2016.
  5. ↑ "MBL champion CourtKings return to Comet Gym on Saturday". Charles City Press. March 26, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Midwest Basketball League: CourtKings eye three-peat". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. April 1, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Former Gopher Gaston Diedhiou Wins Semi-Pro Basketball Championship". Zone Coverage. July 29, 2018.
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