New Semi-Pro League enters Canada Xtreme Basketball League

National Basketball League of Canada

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CJPhillips
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New Semi-Pro League enters Canada Xtreme Basketball League

Post by CJPhillips » Sat Apr 01, 2017 1:52 am

April 1, 2017 (Edmonton, Alberta) - It was announced today that the Xtreme Basketball League (X.B.L.) will tip off its inaugural season October 31, 2017 with 18 teams playing a 48-game schedule, accumulating with the top eight teams qualifying for the three-day Xtreme Cup Tournament.
Teams will be situated in Western Canada and Northwest USA with franchises in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Montana, North Dakota, Saskatchewan and Washington.
Commissioner of the Xtreme will be Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member Julius "Dr. J." Erving.
"I feel like when I was just out of college and playing with the Virginia Squires in the old ABA," said Erving, 67, from his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. "You were scared and excited at the same time. You saw the league grow and the players grow with it."
Erving stated that teams will consist of a seven-player roster limit with a six-player limit for road games.
Erving beleives that the National Basketball Association and other major professional basketball leagues will be keeping close tabs on the XBL due to this new roster format: "With our small rosters, scouts and teams will know that these kids will be in shape...not sitting the bench and watching the game."
The XBL is also announcing the signing of five former NBA All Stars, four of which are coming out of retirement. They are Allen Iverson, Stephon Marbury, Tracy McGrady, Jermaine O’Neal and Jason Williams.
Other notable signees to date include former NBA player: Josh Boone, Josh Childress, Norris Cole, Andrew Goudelock, J.J. Hickson, Andrés Nocioni, Robert Sacre and Hakim Warrick.
The league had also adopted new rules in order to attract a large fan base.
- No foul out limit. After a sixth-personal foul, an automatic two points and possession of the ball will be given to the team that was fouled.
- Instead of a 24 or 20-second shot clock, there will be a 18-second shot clock
- Steals in the front court, during the last minute of each quarter, that lead to a converted basket are worth an extra point. Example: two pointers are now worth three and three pointers are worth four.
- If a player makes a basket from his side of the court, it is worth four points. Exception to the rule is if the shot is made within the last 12 seconds of any quarter, it is worth five points.
- Via social media, fans will be able to vote on the starting lineups prior to the game.
- For technical or flagrant fouls, the offending player will be ejected and his team will have to play with four men for a two minute period before a fifth player is allowed back on the floor.
- For diversity and inclusion, each team has at least one Asian, Black, Caucasian, First Nations and LGTQ player on roster.
- Salary cap for teams will be $285,000. Players will also have shares in their respective clubs.

ESPN and SportsNet have agreed to televise 18 league games along with semi-finals and finals of the Xtreme Cup Tournament.

Wild West Division
Dakota Wizards (Bismark)
Fargo-Moorehead Beez
Grand Forks Launch
Regina Capitals
Saskatoon Slam
Winnipeg Golden Boys
Naismith Division
Billings Bulls
Calgary Cowboys
Edmonton Explosion
Great Falls Legend
Lethbirdge Longhorns
Medicine Hat Mad
Red Deer Red
Pacific Rim Division
Kelowna Kings
Seattle Skyforce
Spokane Wham
Vancouver Wave
Victoria Vs
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Media Contact: Fro Sloapil 1-780-743-4853

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