Draft:NBA Entertainment League
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| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 |
| Owners | National Basketball Association (1999–2008) Entertainment League Productions (from 2008) |
| Commissioner | Shane Duffy |
| No. of teams | 8–16 (NBA era) 16 (2010) 10 (2014) |
| Country | United States |
The NBA Entertainment League (also styled NBAE League), known after 2008 as the Entertainment League or E-League, was a private celebrity basketball league in Los Angeles. It was owned and operated by the National Basketball Association (NBA) until 2008 as an entertainment-marketing venture. Its teams were made up of actors, musicians, directors, producers, talent agents and studio executives, who played a scheduled season under the identities of real NBA franchises and in uniforms issued by the league.[1][2][3]
The league was run by Shane Duffy, the NBA's director of entertainment marketing, who served as its commissioner. Regular-season games were played at Crossroads School in Santa Monica and were closed to the public.[3][4] The director Ted Demme died after taking part in a game at the school in 2002, and the league subsequently named its championship trophy in his memory.[5]
In 2008 Duffy and Felisa Israel, the NBA's director of live programming and entertainment, left the NBA to form Entertainment League Productions, after which the competition continued independently under Entertainment League and E-League branding.[2]
History
[edit]Origins and NBA era
[edit]The league was launched in 1999.[3][6] Duffy was hired by the NBA in 1997 to work on product placement; informal pickup games with entertainment clients led to the creation of the formal league. It began with eight teams and later expanded to 16.[7][3]
By 2007 the league had 16 teams playing a 15-game regular season followed by playoffs. Teams took the identity of existing NBA franchises and received official gear; referees wore NBA uniforms.[1] Entry was selective: Duffy held tryouts and required a minimum game commitment. Rosters were assembled by the commissioner and often revealed only days before the season at a kickoff party.[3][7][6]
The 2007–08 season concluded on April 12, 2008, with a Doublemint Super Saturday event at Crossroads School. Will Ferrell, Donald Faison, Dean Cain, Terry Crews, Geoff Stults and Morris Chestnut took part. The Denver Nuggets defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 54–46 for the championship; Chestnut was photographed celebrating the victory with his teammates.[3][8][9]
Death of Ted Demme
[edit]On January 13, 2002, film director Ted Demme collapsed after a celebrity basketball game at Crossroads School. He was taken to Santa Monica–UCLA Medical Center in cardiac arrest and pronounced dead at age 38.[5][10] The league's championship trophy was subsequently named the Ted Demme Memorial Trophy.[11]
Separation from the NBA
[edit]In 2008 Duffy and Felisa Israel formed Entertainment League Productions. Duffy told Variety that organizers had feared participation would fall after the split but that it instead increased, growing to 16 teams and more than 200 players. NBA logos could no longer be used; some jerseys were temporarily worn inside out until Nike supplied new uniforms. Teams were thereafter identified by city name rather than NBA nickname.[2]
Independent era
[edit]In 2011 CBS Los Angeles described the E-League as a 16-team competition that had kept its locations confidential for more than a decade. New Orleans defeated Orlando for the 2011 championship.[4][12]
By 2014 the league played at the Equinox Sports Club in West Los Angeles. The Hollywood Reporter described it as being in its 17th year and noted that it imitated the NBA with sideline reporters, commentators and team uniforms. Players were organized into teams representing major American cities.[13]
The league held an E-League Tip Off and NBA Viewing Party at Equinox on June 11, 2015.[14] Its website identified Indiana as the 2015 champion; by September 2017 the site had been reduced to a single page describing an “ultra private” celebrity basketball league. [15][16]
 | Parts of this draft (those related to Independent era) need to be updated. The reason given is: What is the league history after 2017?. Please help update this draft to reflect recent events or newly available information. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. (September 2026) |
Format and organization
[edit]During the NBA era the league used a 15-game regular season followed by playoffs.[1][17] After independence it continued a roughly 15-week schedule with Tuesday practices and Sunday games.[2]
Teams used NBA franchise identities while under NBA control. After the separation they used city names only. Documented NBA-era identities included the Lakers and Hawks (2007 championship) and the Nuggets and Cavaliers (2008 championship).[1][3]
Ordinary games were closed to the public. Attendance was limited to friends and family. Some championship and special events received press coverage.[3][2][4]
Championships
[edit]| Season | Champion | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–07 | Los Angeles Lakers | Defeated Atlanta Hawks 65–63; Aaron Courseault named game MVP. Nana Gbewonyo was season MVP; Cylk Cozart won the three-point contest.[1] |
| 2007–08 | Denver Nuggets | Defeated Cleveland Cavaliers 54–46.[3] |
| 2011 | New Orleans | Defeated Orlando.[12] |
| 2015 | Indiana | Latest championship identified in archived league material.[15] |
The championship trophy was the Ted Demme Memorial Trophy. During the NBA era the end-of-season program was called Super Saturday and combined the title game, three-point contest and East–West All-Star game.[1][3]
Related events
[edit]On December 10, 2005, the Los Angeles Clippers and Paramount Home Entertainment presented an NBA Entertainment League charity game at Staples Center. Participants included Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Tyrese, Frankie Muniz, Flex Alexander and Donald Faison.[18]
On June 2, 2009, an Entertainment League team played the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association at the UIC Pavilion in a “Basketball Battle of the Sexes” exhibition under WNBA rules. The Sky won 102–55. Tia Mowry coached the Entertainment League side; participants included Michael Clarke Duncan, Larenz Tate, Frankie Muniz, Donald Faison, Brian McKnight, Nelly and Bill Bellamy.[17]
The league also took part in a celebrity shootout associated with the Phoenix Suns and a three-on-three tournament at L.A. Live.[2]
Sponsorship
[edit]Documented partners during the NBA era included T-Mobile, Doublemint, Paramount Home Entertainment and the Los Angeles Clippers. After the formation of Entertainment League Productions, associated brands included Nike, Gatorade, Power Balance, Core Performance, Fatburger, New Era Cap and Delta Air Lines.[3][2]
Participants
[edit]Participants reported by the Los Angeles Times included Justin Timberlake, Adam Sandler, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ashton Kutcher, Jamie Foxx and Don Cheadle.[3] CBS Los Angeles identified Jamie Foxx, Dean Cain, Joel McHale, Common, Adam Sandler, Tim Daly, Casper Van Dien, Joshua Morrow, Brian McKnight, Zac Efron and Taye Diggs.[4] Additional participants named in other secondary coverage included Will Ferrell, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Donald Faison, Michael B. Jordan, Kevin Hart, James Van Der Beek, Terrell Owens, Ty Burrell and Michael Clarke Duncan.[7][6][2][13][1]
Related leagues
[edit]The league was distinct from the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. In 2011 the American Basketball Association announced a separate ABA E League during the 2011 NBA lockout.[19]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Booher, Shannon (April 3, 2007). "NBA Entertainment League Super Saturday". SLAM. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Graser, Marc (May 5, 2010). "Duffy's Entertainment League nets celebrities". Variety. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Hollywood's fast break". Los Angeles Times. April 20, 2008. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "E-League Puts Hollywood Stars On The Hardwood". CBS Los Angeles. March 5, 2011. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- 1 2 "Director Ted Demme dies while playing basketball". Deseret News. Associated Press. January 15, 2002. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Hollywood hoopsters jump in". Page Six. December 16, 2007. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "NBA Entertainment League: Where Hollywood stars can act like NBA stars". The Plain Dealer. January 27, 2008. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Will Ferrell of the NBA Entertainment League participates in the Doublemint Super Saturday event". Getty Images. April 12, 2008. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Morris Chestnut of the NBA Entertainment League celebrates with his teammates after winning the Championship Game". Getty Images. April 12, 2008. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Ted Demme dies age 38". Variety. January 14, 2002. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Atmosphere during Los Angeles Lakers vs Atlanta Hawks – NBAE League Championship Game". Getty Images. March 31, 2007. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- 1 2 "E League in Los Angeles: Celebrity Entertainment Basketball League". InsideHoops.com. May 4, 2011. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- 1 2 Emery, Debbie (February 25, 2014). "Hollywood's E-League Players Talk Making Baskets, Jason Collins' NBA Debut". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- ↑ "E-League founder Shane Duffy and actor Bill Bellamy attend the E-League Tip Off and NBA viewing party". WireImage. June 11, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- 1 2 "E-League". Entertainment League Productions. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- ↑ "E-League". Entertainment League Productions. Archived from the original on September 13, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- 1 2 Riley, Marcus (June 1, 2009). "Basketball Battle of the Sexes". NBC Chicago. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Frankie Muniz, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Tyrese, and the rest of the NBAE League team pose on court". Getty Images. December 10, 2005. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- ↑ "ABA to Launch Entertainment League". SLAM. September 8, 2011. Retrieved September 18, 2026.