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Florida Basketball Association

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Florida Basketball Association (FBA)
SportBasketball
Founded2012
First season2012
No. of teams8
CountryUnited States
ContinentFIBA Americas (Americas)
Most recent
champion(s)		Palm Beach Knights (2018)
Most titlesMiami Midnites (3)
Official websitewww.theFBA.com

The Florida Basketball Association (FBA) is a semi-professional men's basketball league that began play in the fall of 2012 with teams in Orlando, Lake Wales, and Palm Beach Gardens.[1]

The commissioner of the FBA is former NBA player Greg Kite.[2]

History

The inaugural season of 2012 was played with four teams. Tampa Bay Rebels defeated Heartland Prowl to win the first FBA championship.

The Rebels (10-2) and Prowl (9-3) dominated league play in 2013 and met in the championship game once again. Heartland Prowl avenged their first season loss by defeating Tampa Bay 111-109. Prowl forward Arnold Lewis was named FBA Finals MVP, scoring 27 points.[3][4]

In October 2013 the owners of the FBA voted to accept the expansion application of the Miami Midnites, owned by Jeffrey Rosen.[5] Rosen also owns Maccabi Haifa B.C.[6] of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.

Miami (11-1) stormed through the 2014 season, losing just once (104-103) to Tampa Bay on May 25, 2014. The teams met in the championship game in August with the Midnites capturing the FBA title in their inaugural season.

In October 2014 the expansion Marion County Showtime Stallions were added as a FBA member.[7] Marion County played out of Ocala in the 2015 season, but ceased operations before the end of their season.

Miami Midnites[8][9] repeated as FBA champion in 2015, finishing with a perfect 14-0 record. Guard Amir Celestin was named MVP after scoring a game-high 39 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. After the season Celestin signed a three-year contract with Maccabi Haifa B.C.[10]

Space Coast Stars were announced as the newest FBA expansion club in October 2015. The Stars are owned by former FBA player (Florida Flight) Corey Williams, who also serves as head boys basketball coach at Bethany Christian School in Melbourne (home of the Stars). Just before the new season Tampa Bay Saints were added after the Heartland Prowl ceased operations.

Teams

Team City Arena Founded First season in FBA
Florida Flight Orlando, Florida RDV Sportsplex 2010 2012
Fort Lauderdale Herd Fort Lauderdale, Florida Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex 2018 2019
Palm Beach Knights Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Mandel Jewish Community Center 2012 2012
Poinciana Pride Poinciana, Florida Mary Jane Arrington Gym 2018 2018
Space Coast Stars Melbourne, Florida Bethany Christian School 2015 2016
St. Pete Tide St. Petersburg, Florida St. Petersburg Catholic High School 2016 2017
Tampa Gunners Tampa, Florida travel team 2019 2019
Winter Park Storm Winter Park, Florida Winter Park Community Center 2019 2019

Former teams

  • Bradenton GymRats (2015-2017)
  • Heartland Prowl (2012-15)
  • Jacksonville Royals (2017-2018)
  • Marion County Showtime Stallions (2015)
  • Miami Midnites (2014-2016)
  • Palm Beach Titans (2013)
  • Tampa Bay Rebels (2012-14)[11]

Champions

Season Champion Runner-up Result
2012 Tampa Bay Rebels Heartland Prowl 131-106[12]
2013 Heartland Prowl Tampa Bay Rebels 111-109[13]
2014 Miami Midnites Tampa Bay Rebels 98-82[14]
2015 Miami Midnites Palm Beach Knights 151-131[15]
2016 Miami Midnites Space Coast Stars 126-108[16]
2017 St. Pete Tide Space Coast Stars 141-129; 110-102
2018 Palm Beach Knights Space Coast Stars 121-118; 120-100

References

  1. ^ "Tampa Bay Rebels extend the dream for basketball players". Tampa Bay Times. 31 July 2013.
  2. ^ "Like old times, Disney tournament gives former Magic center Greg Kite chance to play". Orlando Sentinel. 26 August 2015.
  3. ^ "FBA 2013". USbasket. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  4. ^ "Heartland Prowl Face Do-or-Die Finale". TheLedger.com. 24 July 2014.
  5. ^ "2013 FBA Owners Meeting Recap". USbasket. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  6. ^ "Basketball farm team in Miami to feed Israeli league". San Diego Jewish World. 8 April 2014.
  7. ^ "Tryouts Concluded". Marion County Showtime Stallions. 3 November 2014.
  8. ^ "Semi-pro Miami Midnites chase basketball dreams". Miami New Times. 7 July 2015.
  9. ^ "Miami Midnites Making Noise in South Florida". Florida International University Student Media. 4 February 2016.
  10. ^ "Maccabi Bazan Haifa Call Up Guard Amir Celestin from Miami Midnites". Maccabi Haifa. 25 August 2015.
  11. ^ "Tampa Bay Rebels Withdraw From The FBA". Florida Basketball Association. 22 October 2014.
  12. ^ "Tampa Bay Rebels Win Florida Basketball Association Championship". New Tampa Patch. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  13. ^ "Prowl Wins 2013 FBA Championship". Heartland Prowl. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  14. ^ "Miami Midnites of Maccabi Haifa win Florida Basketball Association title". Miami Herald. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  15. ^ "Israeli basketball team's local minor league affiliate repeat as champs". Sun Sentinel. 24 August 2015.
  16. ^ "Maccabi Haifa affiliate Miami Midnites three-peat". Sun Sentinel. 22 August 2016.
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