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Remembering The Eastern Professional Basketball League

Eli Brooks

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Published in Boxed Out Of The NBA: Remembering The Eastern Professional Basketball League

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Boxed out of the NBA: Remembering the Eastern Professional Basketball League

by Syl Sobel

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Language	:	English
File size	:	5667 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	241 pages

The Eastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL) was a minor league basketball league that operated in the United States from 1954 to 1975. The league was founded by Leo Ferris and was headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The EPBL was one of the first professional basketball leagues to integrate African American players.

The EPBL was a major force in the development of professional basketball in the United States. The league helped to popularize the game and provided a platform for some of the greatest players of the era, including Wilt Chamberlain, Connie Hawkins, and Earl Monroe. The EPBL also played a role in the integration of professional basketball, signing its first African American player, Earl Lloyd, in 1954.

The EPBL folded in 1975, but its legacy lives on. The league helped to pave the way for the modern NBA and is still remembered by fans of basketball history.

The Founding of the EPBL

The EPBL was founded in 1954 by Leo Ferris, a former basketball player and promoter. Ferris had a vision of creating a professional basketball league that would be open to all players, regardless of race. The EPBL was one of the first professional basketball leagues to integrate African American players, and it quickly became a popular destination for some of the best players in the country.

The EPBL's first season featured eight teams: the Allentown Jets, the Baltimore Bullets, the Camden Bullets, the Easton Madisons, the Harrisburg Senators, the Lancaster Red Roses, the Philadelphia Warriors, and the Pottstown Packers. The league played a 60-game schedule, and the Allentown Jets won the championship.

The Rise of the EPBL

The EPBL quickly became one of the most popular minor league basketball leagues in the United States. The league expanded to 12 teams in 1955 and 16 teams in 1956. The EPBL also began to attract some of the best players in the country, including Wilt Chamberlain, Connie Hawkins, and Earl Monroe.

The EPBL's popularity was due in part to its fast-paced, high-scoring style of play. The league also benefited from the fact that it was one of the only professional basketball leagues that was open to African American players. The EPBL's integration helped to pave the way for the integration of the NBA in 1950.

The Decline of the EPBL

The EPBL began to decline in the late 1960s. The league was facing competition from the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). The EPBL also lost many of its best players to the NBA. As a result, the EPBL folded in 1975.

The Legacy of the EPBL

The EPBL played a major role in the development of professional basketball in the United States. The league helped to popularize the game and provided a platform for some of the greatest players of the era. The EPBL also played a role in the integration of professional basketball, signing its first African American player, Earl Lloyd, in 1954.

The EPBL's legacy lives on today. The league helped to pave the way for the modern NBA and is still remembered by fans of basketball history.