Established in May, 2011, by three members of Premier Basketball League (the Saint John Mill Rats, Halifax Rainmen and Quebec Kebs) and four new franchises (the London Lightning, Moncton Miracles, Oshawa Power and Summerside Storm). League CEO Andre Levingston said the three defectors from the Premier Basketball league were disgruntled about the level of officiating. Unsuccessful attempts were made to establish franchises in Fredericton and Kingston.

        The league announced that it would follow FIBA rules and play 36 regular season games in its inaugural year. Rosters could have 10-12 players, at least two of which had to be Canadian. A team salary cap was established at $150,000. An individual player could earn up to $70,000.

        The first Canadian to be drafted in the NBL’s first draft was Jerome Brown, chosen 5th overall by the Saint John Mill Rats. The first Canadian to be signed by the league was Yannick Anzulini, by the Quebec Kebs, to a three-year contract.

        MEMBERSHIP

        Brampton A’s/Orangeville A’s 2014-2017. Moved to Orangeville for 2015-16 campaign, and then folded after the 2016-17 campaign.

        Cape Breton Highlanders 2017-present

        Halifax Rainmen/Hurricanes 2012-present (The Rainmen declared bankruptcy in July, 2015 and were reconstituted as the Hurricanes just prior to the 2015-16 campaign).

Kitchener-Waterloo Titans 2017-present

        London Lightning 2012-present

        Moncton Miracles/Magic 2012-present (Shut down after 2016-17 season and reconstituted as the Magic commencing in 2017-18).

        Montreal Jazz 2013 (Sat out 2014, and then folded).

        Niagara River Lions 2016-2018. Bolted for the newly-established Canadian Elite Basketball League after 2017-18 campaign.

        Oshawa Power/Mississauga Power 2012-2016. Relocated to Mississauga in 2013-14, operated for two years before folding after the 2014-15 campaign to make room in the city for the NBA D-League franchise, the Raptors 905.

        Ottawa Skyhawks 2014 (Turfed by the league after their sole campaign in 2013-14 for failing to repay a loan that they had received from the league midway through the season).

        Quebec Kebs 2012 (moved to Laval but folded before start of 2012-13 campaign).

        Saint John Mill Rats/Riptide 2012- present (Renamed the Riptide in 2016-17).

        St. John’s Edge 2017-present

        Sudbury Five 2018-present

        Summerside Storm/Island Storm 2012-present (Moved to Charlottetown and renamed in 2013-14)

        Windsor Express 2013-present

       After the 2022-23 campaign, the NBL was dissolved and joined the newly created Basketball Super League.

       In its inaugural season, the BSL was comprised of four former National Basketball League Canada teams (Kitchener-Waterloo Titans, Sudbury Five, Windsor Express, and the London Lightning), as well as two former teams (Montreal Tundra and Newfoundland Rogues) of The Basketball League (TBL). The six played head-to-head matchups, as well as interlocking games with American TBL teams. The regular season schedule was imbalanced, with teams playing a differing number of games against NBL foes (with all such interlocking games counting toward each league’s standings), while the postseason was confined to the top four finishers among the six Canadian teams.

       Unlike its predecessors, the league had no salary cap and no minimum Canadian requirements.