is canada ready for a basketball league?

Is this the time to create a developmental league for Canadian basketball players? You've heard many times throughout the year that teams have been upset with officiating. Well it's come to the point in the PBL where teams aren't going to take it any more and have decided to just leave the league leave the league.

The Halifax Rainmen, coached by former NBA head man in Denver and one time Raptor assistant, Mike Evans, decided that it's not worth it to play in a league where one team gets preferential treatment. President and CEO Andre Livingston pulled his team out of the league and his squad wasn't the only one as a couple of teams followed suit. He spoke about the entire situation on Sportsnet Radio The FAN 590.

This could be the start of something big in Canada. It has long been my assertion that Canada needs to have a domestic professional league to help development. College and university players that are 22 or 23 years old see their careers end far too quickly. If there was somewhere to play, it would be far easier to develop players in Canada. Presently, our Canadians have to go and fight for jobs overseas and they don't always find them.

Start a Canadian league similar to the CFL where imports are limited and you would see an increase in the quality of basketball in this country. There are logistics and challenges but its time that we get something going here in Canada. Call on the expertise of men like Livingston in Halifax and recruit the St. John's team that is also looking for a place to play and start it up. No it won't be the NBA but it will provide a place to play at home. The players may not be able to make a living entirely off playing in the six or eight team league and might have to hold down off-season jobs but you know what, it would be a start.

Article by Paul Jones