Welcome to Basketball Summer in Canada.
Yes, we’re capitalizing that as quasi-official branding, because hoops fans across the country will have an embarrassment of riches to choose from over the next few months as the Canadian Elite Basketball League returns for its eighth season and the WNBA’s Toronto Tempo tip off their inaugural campaign.
But while the Tempo will play games in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, the CEBL has coast-to-coast coverage with 10 teams representing six provinces.
Much has changed from the early days of the CEBL. Every game concludes in a made basket, as target-score endings — also known as Elam Endings — take full effect. Meanwhile, for the first time, the championship series will be a best-of-three, with the lower seed hosting Game 1 before the team with the better record heads home for Games 2 and 3.
The action begins Saturday when the Edmonton Stingers host the Winnipeg Sea Bears in the season opener. Live coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBC-TV and CBC Gem, which will serve as your CEBL home throughout the season.
Here’s everything else you need to know:
What’s at stake?
Each team will play 24 games during the regular season, with the top four teams in each conference advancing to the playoffs.
The post-season format is simple — No. 1 plays No. 4 and No. 2 faces No. 3 in single-elimination games in each conference. The winners play each other in another one-game knockout, and the last teams standing meet in the final.
The Niagara River Lions are the two-time defending champions, joining the Edmonton Stingers (who went back-to-back in 2020 and 2021) as the only multi-time winners in league history.
The billionaire business icon speaks with Donnovan Benett to share why he’s investing in Canadian basketball, why he thinks basketball in Canada is “top notch,” and how he’ll bring what he learned from his time with the Dallas Mavericks to the CEBL.
Whether the River Lions can pull off the first ever CEBL three-peat will come down to a key transition as longtime captain Kimbal Mackenzie moves to head coach, while ex-coach Victor Raso slides into an advisory role with the franchise.
However, there is continuity among the River Lions roster with star player Khalil Ahmad returning to the ranks. Ahmad, the 29-year-old from Corona, Calif., owns one of the most impressive resumés in the league, with two Finals MVPs, a Player of the Year and a Defensive Player of the Year nod to his name.
Ahmad has also hit the most target-score winners of all-time with 25 and sits third in league scoring.
Who are the other contenders?
The Vancouver Bandits are the most successful franchise without a title — twice, coach Kyle Julius’ squad has lost in the final. Yet it’s possible neither was as painful as last season’s conference semifinal defeat, when the Bandits lost to the Calgary Surge on a three-point foul — after three previous potential game-winning fouls against the Surge were rescinded on review.
Now, the Bandits are bringing back another solid group and are sure to be among the hungriest teams in the league.
They’ll have to contend with a rebuilt Sea Bears squad, featuring a new head coach in Mike Raimbault and a pair of former MVPs in Xavier Moon and Teddy Allen.
Speaking of rebuilt, the Brampton Honey Badgers have gone on all in on turned around their franchise, including Thursday’s announcement of Mark Cuban joining the ownership group. On the court, the Honey Badgers made some big splashes as well, including adding last year’s MVP runner-up in Sean East II and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Jameer Nelson Jr., who, yes, is the son of the longtime NBAer.
5 Canadians worth watching
Every roster must be at least 75 per cent Canadian, while two Canadians must always be on the floor for each team.
Some names to know…
Tyrese Samuel, Bandits: A Montreal native, the reigning Canadian Player of the Year and Clutch Player of the Year returns to B.C. with an even bigger role in the absence of MVP Mitch Creek.
Rugzy Miller-Moore, Surge: The Brampton, Ont., native stands as the all-time leading Canadian scorer through four seasons with the Surge franchise. He came close to earning his first title last season, only for his Calgary squad to fall to Niagara in the final.
Quincy Guerrier, Montreal Alliance: Toronto Raptors fans will be familiar with Guerrier, who returns to his hometown squad after spending the past two seasons with the G League’s Raptors 905.
Simon Hildebrandt, Sea Bears: A shining example of how the CEBL can aid Canadian player development, Hildebrandt grew from a standout U Sports career at the University of Manitoba to a key player for his hometown Sea Bears and NCAAer at both High Point and Washington State.
Charles Bediako, Scarborough Shooting Stars: Another Brampton native, Bediako made headlines earlier this year when he briefly returned to the University of Alabama following three seasons in the G League, only for a court ruling to later deny his NCAA eligibility.
And one import to watch…
Xavier Moon, Sea Bears: The three-time MVP makes his return to the CEBL for the first time since 2021 after three seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers. Moon was an early face of the league, leading Edmonton to both of its titles, but now swaps jerseys to rival Winnipeg. How Moon fares in a league that is more talented at the top and deeper throughout from when he left will be a key storyline in the Western Conference.
Other things to know
We mentioned it above, but the biggest difference you’ll see in the CEBL from other basketball is the target-score ending — something the NBA has dabbled with in the all-star game and G League.
In each game, the clock will stop at the first whistle after the four-minute mark of the fourth quarter. From there, the “target score” is set by adding nine points to the winning team’s total. Whichever squad hits the target first wins the game.
Otherwise, the CEBL plays mostly under FIBA rules, so quarters are 10 minutes each (other than the semi-untimed fourth) and officiating may closer resemble international ball, which allows for more physicality.
Add it all up, and you get one of the most unique and exciting brands of basketball across the world.
Source link
