The Continental Basketball Association (CBA)—and its previous incarnations as the Eastern Pennsylvania Basketball League, the Eastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL) and the Eastern Basketball Association (EBA)—was a professional basketball league which lasted 63 seasons from 1946 to 2009.

1978–79 season

Timeline

• July 1978: the CBA board of directors unanimously approved the admittance of the Rochester Zeniths to the league. The Zeniths were previously members of the All-American Basketball Alliance. The EBA announced that the Providence Shooting Stars were folding due to unpaid debts. The league allowed the Long Island Ducks and the Brooklyn Dodgers to attempt to find financial backing.^[1]
• February 17, 1979: the Anchorage Northern Knights set CBA records for team points in a game with 183 and, points in a single half with 99 in the second half, and field goals in a game with 74.^[2]

Postseason

NBA affiliates

• Baltimore Metros: Baltimore Bullets, Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks^[3]

1979–80 season

Timeline

• April 1, 1980: Maine Lumberjacks player Charles Jones had a CBA record 26 rebounds in a game. Maine lost the Eastern Conference Finals game to the Rochester Zeniths, 140–132.^[4]

Postseason

1980–81 season

Timeline

• July to October 1980: After Darryl Dawkins shattered two basketball backboards during his 1979–80 NBA season, the CBA implemented a collapsible hinged rim for the 1980–81 season. The design was chosen from 10 prototypes which were set up in a New York City high school gymnasium in the summer of 1980. Unidentified college basketball players were asked to try to break the rims and the three strongest designs were chosen for a trail run in the CBA. All three rims broke away from the backboard and snapped back in place.^[5] The NBA implemented one of the CBA's designs the following season.^[6]

1981–82 season

NBA affiliates

• Billings Volcanos: Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz^[7]

1982–83 season

Timeline

• January 30, 1982: The 1982 CBA All-Star Game at Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey was the first nationally televised CBA game. It was broadcast on the USA Network.^[8]

Partoons

Albuquerque

Volcanos

Spirits

Lightning

Las Vegas

Lumberjacks

Golden Nuggets

Mixers

Zeniths

Bighorns

Flyers

Wildcatters

Locations of CBA teams during the 1982–83 season

1983–84 season

NBA affiliates

• Albany Patroons: Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks^[9]
• Albuquerque Silvers: Los Angeles Lakers, Seattle SuperSonics^[9]
• Bay State Bombardiers: Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets^[9]
• Detroit Spirits: Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks^[9]
• Lancaster Lightning: Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers^[9]
• Louisville Catbirds: Washington Bullets, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz^[9]
• Ohio Mixers: Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs^[9]
• Puerto Rico Coquis: New Jersey Nets, Portland Trail Blazers^[9]
• Sarasota Stingers: Kansas City Kings, Utah Jazz^[9]
• Toronto Tornados: Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors^[9]
• Wisconsin Flyers: Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks^[9]
• Wyoming Wildcatters: Phoenix Suns, San Diego Clippers^[9]

1984–85 season

Timeline

• February 1984: To keep travel costs down, the CBA barred teams from bringing their assistant coach(s) on road trips. The Albany Patroons were fined $1,200 after assistant coach Charley Rosen accompanied the team on a road trip to Puerto Rico. The Partoons later skirted the rule by classifying Rosen as a trainer, as teams were permitted to have a trainer travel with them.^[10]
• May 21, 1984: During the annual board of directors meeting CBA commissioner Jim Drucker announced plans for expansion to at least 13 cities. Drucker also unveiled his plans for "CBA East", a developmental league for the CBA which would be the third-tier men's professional basketball league in the United States behind the CBA and the NBA, respectively. Possible sites for the CBA East franchises were Columbia, Maryland; Trenton, New Jersey; Springfield, Massachusetts; Syracuse, New York; Scranton, Pennsylvania; Allentown, Pennsylvania; Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; Wilmington, Delaware; and Long Island, New York. Drucker was quoted by UPI reporter David Nathan, "This year the CBA will take off [...] We're moving into larger markets and I have no doubt the CBA East will exist". Rule changes were adopted which included a change to three point fouls where the shooter would be granted three free throws as opposed to two. A rule similar to the clear path foul was adopted where a foul on a "uncontested breakaway" would result in an automatic two points and possession of the ball. Rosters were decreased from 10 spots to nine. The board of directors approved an expansion franchise in Evansville, Indiana and another in Hartford, Connecticut contingent on the required ticket sales. Changes to the CBA drug policy were described by UPI's David Nathan, "a tough drug policy, much like the NBA's".^[11][12]
• May 22, 1984: The CBA board of directors approved the re-location of the Ohio Mixers from Lima, Ohio to Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati's last professional basketball team was the NBA Cincinnati Royals who left the city in 1972 for Kansas City.^[13]
• September 7, 1984: The CBA announced it had signed a broadcasting agreement with Black Entertainment Television to air 15 games during the 1984–85 season.^[14]
• October 28, 1984: A game between the Soviet Union men's national basketball team and a team composed of CBA players was held in Albany, New York. The Soviet team was without Arvydas Sabonis who was sidelined with a foot injury. The Soviet team defeated the CBA team by a score of 77–72. Vladimir Tkachenko and Šarūnas Marčiulionis of the Soviet team led all scorers with 18 points a piece. Kenny Natt of the CBA club led his team with 16 points. Other CBA players included Billy Goodwin, Derrick Rowland, Lowes Moore and Cozell McQueen.^[15]
• February 16, 1985: CBA commissioner Jim Drucker and the league was profiled in a UPI article by Joe Juliano titled "CBA is providing games, gimmicks". Juliano notes that one of Drucker's strategies for promotions are unique like the "Ton of Money CBA Free Throw" in which a randomly selected spectator is given a chance to make two shots from the free throw line for a chance at 5,000 pennies ($5,000). When asked about the gimmicks and promotions Drucker responded, "You can't touch anything at a basketball game [...] so we've got to be able to guarantee our fans 10 memorable moments, five of which are totally detached from the game. We have to guarantee that our fans go home happy." Other promotions included "The 1 Million Dollar CBA Supershot" where a spectator could win $50,000 a year over 20 years if they made a shot from 69 feet and 9 inches away from the basket. The "Fly In, Drive Away" promotion gave spectators a chance to fly a paper airplane into the sunroof of a vehicle for a chance to win its title. During the 1977 season the expansion franchise fee was $5,000 as opposed to the $500,000 fee in 1985. Drucker laid out his plans for further expansion to the UPI telling Juliano there was inquiries from investors in San Diego, California; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Vancouver, British Columbia and Tacoma, Washington. Drucker also announced plans for a league called the "CBA East" which would be a developmental league for the CBA. He said the CBA East would begin during the 1985–86 season.^[16]

NBA affiliates

• Albany Patroons: New York Knicks, Houston Rockets^[17]
• Albuquerque Silvers: Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz^[17]
• Bay State Bombardiers: Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics^[17]
• Cincinnati Slammers: Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs^[17]
• Detroit Spirits: Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics^[17]
• Lancaster Lightning: Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Bullets^[17]
• Louisville Catbirds: Denver Nuggets, Washington Bullets^[17]
• Puerto Rico Coquis: New Jersey Nets, Seattle SuperSonics^[17]
• Sarasota Stingers: Kansas City Kings, San Antonio Spurs^[17]
• Tampa Bay Thrillers: Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers^[17]
• Toronto Tornados: Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors^[17]
• Wisconsin Flyers: Milwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets^[17]
• Wyoming Wildcatters: Phoenix Suns, San Diego Clippers^[17][18]

1985–86 season

NBA affiliates

• Kansas City Sizzlers: San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers^[19]

1986–87 season

1987–88 season

NBA affiliations

• Albany Patroons: Boston Celtics, New York Knicks^[20]
• Charleston Gunners: Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors^[20]
• La Crosse Catbirds: Milwaukee Bucks, Washington Bullets^[20]
• Mississippi Jets: Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings^[20]
• Pensacola Tornados: Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs^[20]
• Quad City Thunder: Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers^[20]
• Rapid City Thrillers: Indiana Pacers, Washington Bullets^[20]
• Rochester Flyers: Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets^[20]
• Rockford Lightning: Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns^[20]
• Savannah Spirits: Atlanta Hawks, New Jersey Nets^[20]
• Topeka Sizzlers: Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers^[20]
• Wyoming Wildcatters: Utah Jazz, Seattle SuperSonics^[20]

1988–89 season

NBA affiliates

• Albany Patroons: New York Knicks, Washington Bullets^[21]
• Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets: Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings^[21]
• Charleston Gunners: Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers^[21]
• La Crosse Catbirds: Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks^[21]
• Pensacola Tornados: Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers^[21]
• Quad City Thunder: Houston Rockets, Seattle SuperSonics^[21]
• Rapid City Thrillers: Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers^[21]
• Rochester Flyers: Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz^[21]
• Rockford Lightning: Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics^[21]
• Topeka Sizzlers: Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers^[21]
• Tulsa Fast Breakers: New Jersey Nets, San Antonio Spurs^[21]
• Wichita Falls Texans: Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns^[21]

1989–1990 season

Patroons

Bullets

Horizon

Hoops

Catbirds

Racers

Tornados

Thunder

Thrillers

Lightning

Jammers

Islanders

Skyforce

Sizzlers

Fast Breakers

Texans

Locations of CBA teams during the 1989–1990 season

NBA affiliates

• Albany Patroons: New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers^[22]
• Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets: Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz^[22]
• Columbus Horizon: Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics^[22]
• Grand Rapids Hoops: Detroit Pistons, Phoenix Suns^[22]
• La Crosse Catbirds: Milwaukee Bucks, Sacramento Kings^[22]
• Omaha Racers: Cleveland Cavaliers, New Jersey Nets^[22]
• Pensacola Tornados: Cleveland Cavaliers, New Jersey Nets^[22]
• Quad City Thunder: Charlotte Hornets, Seattle SuperSonics^[22]
• Rapid City Thrillers: Miami Heat, Portland Trail Blazers^[22]
• Rockford Lightning: Chicago Bulls, Seattle SuperSonics^[22]
• San Jose Jammers: Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings^[22]
• Santa Barbara Islanders: Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers^[22]
• Sioux Falls Skyforce: Minnesota Timberwolves, Washington Bullets^[22]
• Topeka Sizzlers: Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers^[22]
• Tulsa Fast Breakers: San Antonio Spurs, New Jersey Nets^[22]
• Wichita Falls Texans: Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics^[22]

1990–91 season

Partoons

Bullets

Horizon

Hoops

Catbirds

Cavalry

Racers

Tornados

Thunder

Thrillers

Lightning

Jammers

Skyforce

Fast Breakers

Texans

Sun Kings

Locations of CBA teams during the 1990–91 season

1991–92 season

Partoons

Jammers

Bandits

Horizon

Fury

Hoops

Catbirds

Cavalry

Racers

Thunder

Thrillers

Lightning

Skyforce

Chinook

Zone

Texans

Sun Kings

Locations of CBA teams during the 1991–92 season
Eastern Division teams — Midwest Division teams — Northern Division teams — Southern Division teams

NBA affiliates

• Albany Patroons: New York Knick, Phoenix Suns (M–Z)^[23]
• Bakersfield Jammers: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers (A–L)^[23]
• Birmingham Bandits: Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs (A–L)^[23]
• Columbus Horizon: Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers (M–Z)^[23]
• Fort Wayne Fury: Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers (M–Z)^[23]
• Grand Rapids Hoops: Detroit Pistons, Phoenix Suns (A–L)^[23]
• La Crosse Catbirds: Milwaukee Bucks, Washington Bullets (A–L)^[23]
• Oklahoma City Cavalry: Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets^[23]
• Omaha Racers: Sacramento Kings, Utah Jazz (A–L)^[23]
• Quad City Thunder: Charlotte Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers (A–L)^[23]
• Rapid City Thrillers: Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers (A–L)^[23]
• Rockford Lightning: Chicago Bulls, Utah Jazz (M–Z)^[23]
• Sioux Falls Skyforce: Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers (M–Z)^[23]
• Tri-City Chinook: Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic^[23]
• Tulsa Zone: New Jersey Nets, Washington Bullets (M–Z)^[23]
• Wichita Falls Texans: Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs (M–Z)^[23]
• Yakima Sun Kings: Portland Trail Blazers, Seattle SuperSonics^[23]

1992–93 season

1993–94 season

1994–95 season

1995–96 season

1996–97 season

1997–98 season

Fury

Thunder

Pride

Sun Kings

Hoops

Stampede

Bobcats

Lightning

Skyforce

Locations of CBA teams during the 1997–98 season

1998–99 season

1999–2000 season

2000–01 season

2001–02 season

Wizards

Beez

Fuze

Steelheads

Hoops

Lightning

Locations of CBA teams during the 2001–02 season

2002–03 season

Wizards

Steelheads

Hoops

Lightning

Storm

Stampede

Skyforce

Sun Kings

Locations of CBA teams during the 2002–03 season

2003–04 season

2004–05 season

Wizards

Steelheads

Storm

Stampede

Skyforce

Sun Kings

Lightning

Patroons

Mayhem

Locations of CBA teams during the 2004–05 season

2005–06 season

2006–07 season

Patroons

Daredevils

Explorers

Alley Cats

Skyrockets

Xplosion

Eagles

Dragons

Sun Kings

Locations of CBA teams during the 2006–07 season

2007–08 season

Partoons

Miners

Cavalry

Skyrockets

Sun Kings

Krunk

Daredevils

Explorers

Xplosion

Silverados

Locations of CBA teams during the 2007–08 season

American Conference teams — National Conference teams

2008–09 season

Patroons

Miners

Cavalry

Skyrockets

Locations of CBA teams during the 2008–09 season

CBA franchise timeline

Italics denote a team that was re-located or re-branded; Bold denotes a team that played in the last full CBA season

• Albany Patroons (1982–1992) → Capital Region Pontiacs (1992–93) → Hartford Hellcats (1993–94) → Connecticut Pride (1994–2000)^[25]
• Albany Patroons (2005–09)
• Alberta Dusters (1980–82) → Las Vegas Silvers (1982) → Albuquerque Silvers (1982–85)^[25]
• Allentown Jets (1978–79) → Lehigh Valley Jets (1979–1981)^[25]
• Anchorage Northern Knights (1978–1983)^[25]
• Atlanta Krunk (2007–08)
• Baltimore Metros (1978–79) → Mohawk Valley Thunderbirds (1979) → Utica Olympics (1979–1980) → Atlantic City Hi-Rollers (1980–83)^[25]
• Butte Daredevils (2006–08)
• Dakota Wizards (2001–06)
• Detroit Spirits (1982–86) → Savannah Spirits (1986–88) → Tulsa Fast Breakers (1988–1991) → Tulsa Zone (1991–92) → Fargo-Moorhead Fever (1992–94) → Mexico City Aztecas (1994–95) → San Diego Wildcards (1995)^[25]
• East Kentucky Miners (2007–09)
• Evansville Thunder (1984–86)^[25]
• Fargo-Moorhead Beez (2001–02)
• Flint Fuze (2001–02) → Great Lakes Storm (2002–05)
• Fort Wayne Fury (1991–2001)^[25]
• Gary Steelheads (2000–06)
• Grand Rapids Hoops (1989–1994) → Grand Rapids Mackers (1994–96) → Grand Rapids Hoops (1996–2003)^[25]
• Great Falls Explorers (2006–08)
• Hawaii Volcanos (1979–1980) → Billings Volcanos (1980–84)^[25]
• Idaho Stampede (1997–2006)^[25]
• Indiana Alley Cats (2006–07)
• Jersey Shore Bullets (1978–79)^[25]
• Kansas City Sizzlers (1985–86) → Topeka Sizzlers (1986–1990) → Yakima Sun Kings (1990–2008)^[25]
• Lancaster Red Roses (1978–1980) → Philadelphia Kings (1980–81) → Lancaster Lightning (1981–85) → Baltimore Lightning (1985–86) → Rockford Lightning (1986–2006)^[25]
• Louisville Catbirds (1983–85) → La Crosse Catbirds (1985–1994) → Pittsburgh Piranhas (1994–95)^[25]
• Maine Lumberjacks (1978–1983) → Bay State Bombardiers (1983–86) → Pensacola Tornados (1986–91) → Birmingham Bandits (1991–92) → Rochester Renegade (1992–94) → Harrisburg Hammerheads (1994–95)^[25]
• Michigan Mayhem (2004–06)
• Minot SkyRockets (2006–2009)
• Montana Golden Nuggets (1980–83) → Puerto Rico Coquis (1983–85)^[26] → Maine Windjammers (1985–86)^[25]
• Ohio Mixers (1982–84) → Cincinnati Slammers (1984–87) → Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets (1988–1991) → Tri-City Chinook (1991–95)^[25]
• Oklahoma Cavalry (2007–08) → Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry (2008–09)
• Oklahoma City Cavalry (1990–97)^[25]
• Pittsburgh Xplosion (2006–08)
• Quad City Thunder (1987–2001)
• Reno Bighorns (1982–83)^[25]
• Rio Grande Valley Silverados (2007–08)
• Rochester Zeniths (1978–1984)^[25]
• Rockford Lightning (2007–09)
• San Jose Jammers (1989–1991) → Bakersfield Jammers (1991–92)^[25]
• Santa Barbara Islanders (1989–1990)^[25]
• Sarasota Stingers (1983–85) → Florida Stingers (1985–86) → Charleston Gunners (1986–89) → Columbus Horizon (1989–1994) → Shreveport Crawdads (1994–95) → Shreveport Storm (1995–96)^[25]
• Sioux Falls Sky Force (1989–2000, 2001–06)^[25]
• Saskatchewan Hawks (2001–02)
• Tampa Bay Thrillers (1984–86) → Rapid City Thrillers (1986–1995) → Florida Beachdogs (1995–97)^[25]
• Toronto Tornados (1983–85) → Pensacola Tornados (1985–86) → Jacksonville Jets (1986) → Mississippi Jets (1986–87) → Wichita Falls Texans (1988–1994) → Chicago Rockers (1994–96) → LaCrosse Bobcats (1996–2001)^[25]
• Utah Eagles (2006–07)
• Wilkes-Barre Barons (1978–79) → Pennsylvania Barons (1979–1980) → Scranton Aces (1980–81)^[25]
• Wisconsin Flyers (1982–87) → Rochester Flyers (1987–89) → Omaha Racers (1989–1998)^[25]
• Wyoming Wildcatters (1982–88)^[25]