WS Chronicle

For the last two years, The League, brought to you by the Josh Howard Foundation, has been one of the most competitive adult basketball leagues in the city. On April 1, The League will begin its new season at the W.R. Anderson Community Center.

Steve Nivens, The League commissioner, came up with the idea several years ago. He partnered with W.R. Anderson senior supervisor, Bryant McCorkle, and The League was soon born.  

Over the past couple of years, The League has continued to grow and garner more attention. The play on the court has been competitive and the teams get better every season, as they attempt to be the next champions of the league.

“News about the league has things pumping right now,” said Nivens. “There is a team from Winston-Salem State that is supposed to come in, I have some guys coming back from last year that are trying to up the ante, and a couple of teams from Greensboro.

“Things are really starting to click right now because the teams know that April will be here right before you know it,” he continued. “They really don’t have much time to waste.”

Like last year, games will be played Monday through Thursday, starting at 6 p.m. There will be three games per evening. 

Nivens said his goal is to improve the play in the league every year by attracting the best players available. According to Nivens, his inspiration for The League came from watching men’s leagues like the one held at Rucker Park in New York City.

“I am just trying to continue to make The League better, because the first year, guys didn’t know what to expect, but after, guys knew that The League wasn’t no joke,” he said. “I am pretty sure after these first couple of years, guys are trying to beef up their teams because they know they can’t come into the gym and run the court without the best team possible.”

Last year’s champion, Team Truth, will be returning to play in the league, Nivens said. The fact teams come back year after year shows they are “doing something right,” he went on to say.

With the number of men’s adult leagues around the city, Nivens knew his league had to be top notch in order to attract the best talent around. Nivens said he knew he had to get it right immediately in order to build some credibility.

“This is exactly what I anticipated. I didn’t want a subpar league because there are other leagues that guys can play in around the area,” Nivens said. “This isn’t a new idea with putting a men’s league together and I knew what I was up against, so I knew I had to make it right.”

If The League continues to grow at this level, Nivens says he is not against expanding the league by adding more teams and even playing at an additional location. “With the competition, environment and vibes, this league will continue to get better and grow,” he said.