National Basketball League (Canada) - Definition

This league isn't to be confused with the National Basketball League of the 1930s and 1940s. Nor is it to be confused with the National Basketball League (Australia).

The National Basketball League that was based in Canada lasted only one and a half seasons. The first game was played on May 1, 1993 when the Cape Breton Breakers visited the Halifax Windjammers. The following teams participated during the 1993 season:

• Cape Breton Breakers (Sydney, Nova Scotia)
• Halifax Windjammers
• Hamilton SkyHawks
• Montreal Dragons (folded in mid-season)
• Saskatoon Slam
• Winnipeg Thunder

The league teams also played games against some touring teams which counted in the league standings. These teams were:

• Atlantic Coast Conference All-Stars (replaced Atlantic 10 All-Stars)
• Athletes in Action
• Big East All-Stars
• Canadian National Team

Cape Breton won the regular season championship with a 30-16 record. But they lost the championship finals to Saskatoon three games to one. Also, before the playoffs the Hamilton Skyhawks moved to Edmonton, Alberta. The next season the league added the Calgary Outlaws as an expansion team. During the 1994 season there were rumours that the Cape Breton team was going to move to Saint John, New Brunswick in mid-season. The league folded on July 9, 1994. Halifax, which finished last in 1993, was in first place at the time the league had folded.