The 2022 TBL season is the fifth season of The Basketball League (TBL). The league expanded from 29 teams in the 2021 season to 44. For the 2022 season, the National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC) announced that they had agreed to inter-league series play with several teams from The Basketball League. The games played between the teams from the two leagues are included in their respective regular season standings for each league.[1]
On September 27, the Albany Patroons rejoined the league after opting out of the 2021 season.[2] The 2021 teams that withdrew due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic: the Salem Capitals (formerly the San Diego Waves from the 2019 season), Temecula Eagles, and Vancouver Volcanoes (previously announced as the Portland Storm), returned from hiatus.
The league also lost ten teams from the 2021 season: Atlanta Empire, Columbus Condors, Houston Push, Indy Express, Lewisville Leopards, Midtown Prestige, Omaha's Finest, San Diego Guardians, Vegas Ballers, and West Coast Breeze.[6] The Atlanta Empire claim to be returning 2023.[7]
The Avon Aces, which had been announced as 2021 expansion team before withdrawing due to the pandemic, was not mentioned as returning. The Arizona HEET and Topeka Wizards were also announced as a expansion teams, but were removed during the 2021 offseason.[8][9][10][11][12]