American Basketball Association to welcome Lansing team this fall

Eric Lacy | Lansing State Journal

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LANSING -- A new brand of basketball is coming to Lansing this fall.

The American Basketball Association, the league where NBA Hall of Famer Julius Erving started his pro career, confirmed Wednesday that Lansing is its newest team.

"Yes, the ABA is coming to Lansing," said Joseph Newman, the ABA's commissioner, in an email to the State Journal.

Newman leads the semi-pro basketball organization that he said has 150 teams that are either active or expected to be active this year.

The teams are broken up into six regions: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, North Central, South Central and Far West.

Lansing's team, nicknamed the Legends, will hold tryouts from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 23-24 at Olivet College.

The cost to try out is $125 per person.

"We’re trying to bring basketball back," said James Manuel, a Lansing native who is the Legends' founder. "We’re going to try and bring some love back to the city.”

The launch of the team probably won't be easy.

Efforts to field similar teams in the Lansing region have failed for several years due to a variety of factors ranging from financial challenges to a lack of fan interest.

Manuel, 52, is determined to start small. He wants to compose a roster of about 15 players by August before the inaugural season starts this fall.

The Legends, still seeking a coach, will have a schedule with 10 home games against ABA competition and at least a few others on the road. If this season is a success, the 2019 season could have more than 20 games.

The ABA season starts in November, ends in April and includes playoffs.

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A venue hasn't been confirmed yet, but Manuel said he is eyeing either the Don Johnson Fieldhouse adjacent to Eastern High School or the Alfreda Schmidt Southside Community Center. The community center is the former site of Harry Hill High School.

Legends players are expected to get paid per game, but wages have yet to be determined, Manuel said.

Newman, the ABA commissioner, said the league doesn't have any per game pay or salary requirements teams must follow. Compensation for players on established teams can range from $50 to $1,000 a game, depending and the market and franchise's success, Newman said.

To start an ABA franchise, a person or ownership group must pay the league a one-time $2,500 market reservation fee. The franchise isn't subject to any monthly or annual league dues.

Legends players and team officials will be expected to get involved in the community. Manuel has a goal to support at least 40 local charities, school groups and other organizations.

"This is more than just basketball," said Manuel, who played professionally in Europe.

Manuel and Maurice Benson, the Legends' director of basketball operations, envision the new franchise as a feeder program for the G League, the NBA's minor league affiliate.

Benson, 34, played at Everett High School and then went to Indiana Tech. After college, he played a few seasons overseas and had a stint in the Premier Basketball League.

Benson said he doesn't see the team having any problem identifying at least 20 players by August who have the credentials to compete.

It may take several rounds of cuts to whittle the roster down, he said.

Lansing native LaDontae Henton (a 6-foot-6 forward) played 49 games last season in the G League and is the type of player Benson is looking for.

"I know a lot of them still love to play," Benson said of Henton and other hometown standouts. "I think this could be something fun."

For at least two years, Demario Davis, 33, also of Lansing, shelved his game, gained weight and thought his playing career was over.

Now the former Eastern High player is getting back in shape. Davis said he has no problem paying the $125 tryout feel to see if he can handle a new challenge.

"I'm a gym rat," he said.

A few years ago, Davis played for the Lansing Capitals, a now-defunct International Basketball League team that played its home games outside the city.

If the promotion is consistent and the team engages with the community, Lansing's new ABA team may find its niche, Davis said.

"It has a lot of potential," he said. "Hopefully everyone comes out (at the tryouts) and gives their best. Then we'll see where it goes from there."

For information about the Legends and tryouts, call Benson at (517) 507-2378.

About the ABA

The American Basketball Association is a guard-driven, fast-paced, high-scoring league with 150 teams placed in six regions and two conferences.

A few rules:

Games are 48 minutes.

Players have seven seconds to get ball past half-court line.

There are 2-point, 3-point, 4-point and 5-point shots under certain game conditions.

A "3-D light" goes on after opposing team fails to get ball past half-court line in seven seconds.

When the light is on, traditional 2-pointers are worth 3, 3-pointers are 4 and half-court shots are 5.

The 3-D light remains on until a team scores, attempts a free throw for a personal foul or the other teams gets control of the ball.

Players can’t foul out, but six personal fouls results in a technical foul and ball given to opposing team.

Eric Lacy is a reporter for the Lansing State Journal. Contact him at 517-377-1206 or elacy@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @EricLacy.