Springfield Fame


The Springfield Fame were a men's spring-professional basketball team in the United States Basketball League from Springfield, Massachusetts, the hometown of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, which gave the inspiration of the team name.

History

The Springfield Fame were founded in 1985. In their inaugural season, they finished with a record of 19-6 and were the first USBL Champions. The league did not add a playoff system until the 1987 season. In their second season, the Fame made national headlines by signing 27-year-old women's basketball legend Nancy Lieberman. Lieberman thus became the first female basketball player to play regular season minutes in a men's pro league. They would finish second with a 23–10 record and 0.5 game behind the Tampa Bay Flash. The Fame would fold following the 1986 season.

Season-by-season records

Honours

USBL Player of the Year
USBL Coach of the Year
SeasonCoachWL
1985Gerald Oliver196
1986Henry Bibby2310

All-USBL Teams
First Team
SeasonPlayerPosition
1985Tracy Jackson
1986Billy Goodwin

  • Tracy Jackson
  • Billy Goodwin
Second Team
SeasonPlayerPosition
1985Larry Lawrence
1985Michael AdamsPoint Guard
1986Michael AdamsPoint Guard
1986Jerome HendersonCenter/Power Forward

  • Larry Lawrence
  • Michael Adams
  • Jerome Henderson
USBL All-Rookie Team
SeasonPlayerPosition
1985Andre Goode-
1985Michael Adams-
1986Dominic Pressley-

  • Andre Goode
  • Michael Adams
  • Dominic Pressley
USBL All-Defensive Team
  • Michael Adams
  • Jerome Henderson