It was less than a year ago, we chose to bring this team to the attention of Florida and to the world. Since then they have continued to rapidly ascend and prove that they are a force to be reckoned with for years to come. To understand this time you have to understand this legendary league.
The American Basketball Association (ABA) is a men’s professional basketball league. The league has grown to become the largest professional sports league in the world! In 1999 Joe Newman and Richard P. Tinkham founded the league. It is the re-launch of the original ABA which merged with the NBA in 1976. Tinkham co-founded both the original ABA and the Indiana Pacers. Joe Newman was the CEO of Joe Newman Advertising, Inc. and Alliance Broadcasting Group, Inc. The ABA was established in 1967 and merged with the National Basketball Association in 1976 [New Jersey Nets, San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets]. Some of the ABA notable players where: Julius Irving (Dr. J) George Gervin (The Iceman), Ricky Barry, Moses Malone along with, many others that came to be NBA players. The ABA was reformed in 2000 in partnership with the NBA and has been operating in harmony for the past 16 years.
The Tampa Bay real has always attracted great athletes, competitiveness and much more, there has always been a culture of working hard on the field, but this metro unlike it’s northern and western peers has never been known as a basketball hub, over the past decade that has shifted. Florida has become one of the most active basketball states in the world. Tampa in itself grew a vibrant hoops culture that has produced a multitude of professional basketball players, from NBA to FIBA and the ABA. These players have traveled the globe and represented Tampa well. This team in particular has done some amazing things in only it’s first season. The team coached by Tavaris Davis consist of 9 to 11 players, Ashley Thomas, Saladeem Dewberry, Idell Bell , Ezequiel Colon, Marcus Russell, Quennel Francis, Arthur Barnes, Jerome Harrison, Travorus Williams. The shooting, the defense and tenacity has changed the league. The ABA known as a league with high scores not focused on defense has watched this defensive minded team hold teams to under 110 a game or less and win in overtime on multiple occasions during the season and during the playoffs. This is a team that plays tough away and at home. They do not operate out of fear, but operate out of hunger, how else can you explain being ranked consistently in the Top 30 in a league with over 200 teams across the globe. How else can one explain becoming winning the Florida division and becoming State Champions within the first season of play. This team won 2 over games and another 4 quarter barn burner just this past weekend to win the state championship and move on to the regionals and Elite 8 in the ABA hosted in Georgia and St. Louis. If you haven’t watched a game, hop on facebook, youtube and find this team. For specific information the team is on social media as @813fury and you can visit 813furynation.com