A Basketball Version of the XFL

[johnnysama 893]

Hey, forum. I was at an XFL game Saturday, and it had me thinking: How would a basketball version of the XFL work?

Post your ideas here.

[sc49erfan15 2,391]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slamball

[waltere 600]

Between the existence of the G-League, and the fact that there are plenty of functioning professional basketball leagues in other countries all round the globe, there isn't really the unfulfilled player pool out there for a "second-tier" pro basketball league in the same way that there is in football.

[dfwabel 4,155]

The Professional Collegiate League, f/k/a Historical Basketball League

 

Andy Schwarz's idea has a lot of famous names "attached" to it and not enough investors as Schwarz has been at this for at least five years.  

[neo_prankster 3,436]

21 minutes ago, johnnysama said:

Hey, forum. I was at an XFL game Saturday, and it had me thinking: How would a basketball version of the XFL work?

Post your ideas here.

 

Have you forgotten about Slamball?

 

[Red Comet 1,758]

The Big 3 kinda counts as this already.

[BryanSmalls 126]

They'd finally put a good professional team in NYC.

[Red Wolf 5,769]

12 minutes ago, BryanSmalls said:

They'd finally put a good professional team in NYC.

 

The XFL's New York team is pretty embarrassing, so I kind of doubt it.

[Sykotyk 954]

1 hour ago, neo_prankster said:

 

Have you forgotten about Slamball?

 

I loved Slamball at the time. I didn't see staying potential. But I enjoyed it 

[DG_ThenNowForever 16,785]

1 hour ago, Red Comet said:

The Big 3 kinda counts as this already.

 

My thought as well, though the Big 3 is more of a retirement league and the XFL developmental.

 

Which begs whether a legends league of old NFL players would draw. For many, many reasons, the answer would likely be a very clear no.

[Red Wolf 5,769]

19 minutes ago, DG_ThenNowForever said:

 

My thought as well, though the Big 3 is more of a retirement league and the XFL developmental.

 

Which begs whether a legends league of old NFL players would draw. For many, many reasons, the answer would likely be a very clear no.

 

As the only person to play All-Pro Football 2K8, I think you're right.

[Red Comet 1,758]

1 hour ago, DG_ThenNowForever said:

 

My thought as well, though the Big 3 is more of a retirement league and the XFL developmental.

 

Which begs whether a legends league of old NFL players would draw. For many, many reasons, the answer would likely be a very clear no.

 

Hence why I said kinda. That and they tour different cities rather than teams being based in a city. 

 

Eh...I'd wait until technology advances enough so that a 45 year old Patrick Mahomes has an actual Mega Man style cannon for a right arm.

[Needschat 222]

I remember there being talk about having a 4 Ball league, only 4 players per team.  That might work, in places like Nashville, Columbus, Albany, Anaheim.  

[Alphabet Man 0]

It would be incredibly difficult to go head to head against the NBA in a sport that is as global as basketball. The NBA is a marketing and sports business behemoth and there isn't much calendar space left.

 

The XFL is probably the last chance for anyone to make meaningful dent against the NFL, but have the slight luxury of being in the offseason. Many other leagues for sprint time football have come and gone over the years, so if the XFL doesn't work then clearly spring football doesn't work. It's too massive to go up against established leagues and brands, especially in this age of media and marketing. 

If you were to rival the NBA, where would you actually start? 

[DG_ThenNowForever 16,785]

1 minute ago, Alphabet Man said:

It would be incredibly difficult to go head to head against the NBA in a sport that is as global as basketball. The NBA is a marketing and sports business behemoth and there isn't much calendar space left.

 

The XFL is probably the last chance for anyone to make meaningful dent against the NFL, but have the slight luxury of being in the offseason. Many other leagues for sprint time football have come and gone over the years, so if the XFL doesn't work then clearly spring football doesn't work. It's too massive to go up against established leagues and brands, especially in this age of media and marketing. 

If you were to rival the NBA, where would you actually start? 

 

LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry, and others pulling an AEW and realizing they can make money by running their own league. I don't think it's beyond the realm of possibility either.

[GDAWG 1,834]

20 minutes ago, DG_ThenNowForever said:

 

LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry, and others pulling an AEW and realizing they can make money by running their own league. I don't think it's beyond the realm of possibility either.

 

We may find out in a few years when the CBA expires.  

[Maroon 533]

There's also already the semi-pro ABA which has, like, 100+ teams. I know it doesn't reach the level of what the XFL is (or is trying to be) for football, but it's not like there aren't other leagues out there.

[Red Comet 1,758]

2 minutes ago, Maroon said:

There's also already the semi-pro ABA which has, like, 100+ teams. I know it doesn't reach the level of what the XFL is (or is trying to be) for football, but it's not like there aren't other leagues out there.

 

>The Nu-ABA

 

 

[Ferdinand Cesarano 4,600]

There was also the USBL, which played more than twenty seasons.  That league's main claim to fame was that both Manute Bol and Spud Webb started there, as teammates on the Rhode Island Gulls.

 

 

 

[4_tattoos 1,514]

Figured The Basketball Tournament was the closest thing to the XFL for basketball based in the US.

 

https://www.thetournament.com/