When the Salem Capitals take the court next season, they won’t just be playing for another championship — they’ll be helping write a new chapter in basketball history.
The Capitals have joined the United States Basketball League (USBL), a revived professional league once linked to the NBA’s early development system. The move, officially signed on October 22, places Salem among the founding members of a modern reboot that aims to raise the standard for mid-tier pro basketball in the U.S.
“The new league is called the United States Basketball League, which was actually one of the original feeder leagues for the NBA from the mid-’80s until 2008,” said Jason Conrad, owner of the Salem Capitals. “We resurrected it. We retained all the rights to the URLs, history, and logos.”
The USBL once provided a launching pad for players like Manute Bol and Muggsy Bogues before folding in the late 2000s. Its rebirth, with Salem among its first franchises, connects small-market teams to a rich legacy of opportunity and competition.
A League Built by Teams
Unlike most professional organizations, the new USBL will be team-owned, giving each franchise a financial stake and a voice in league operations. Conrad said the structure encourages unity off the court and fair competition on it.
“Each team will have ownership within the league,” he explained. “Everyone has some buy-in and some skin in the game. We’ll collaborate off the court — and then, of course, compete on it.”
That cooperative model, he added, ensures teams share responsibility for the league’s growth while maintaining their own local identities.
From TBL to USBL
The Capitals previously played in The Basketball League (TBL) from 2021 through last season, but Conrad said the fit wasn’t ideal for West Coast teams. The shift began when Cliff Levingston, a two-time NBA champion who once coached in the original USBL, suggested bringing the league back.
In July, representatives from several western teams met in Las Vegas to explore the idea. By the end of the meeting, they had agreed to revive the brand — and the Salem Capitals became one of the founding members of the reborn USBL.
Raising the Level of Play
The USBL will stand just below the NBA’s G League, creating a pathway for athletes seeking elite exposure. Conrad said fans can expect a higher level of play, stronger competition, and a more professional presentation than in previous seasons.
From salaries to media production, everything will scale up. “This will be as close to G League competition as you can get in the United States,” Conrad said.
Affordable Family Basketball
While the on-court product improves, the fan experience will stay familiar — and affordable. The Capitals averaged about 1,100 fans per home game last season, up from 400 in their first year, and Conrad hopes to push that to 1,500 next year.
Ticket prices will remain family-friendly: general admission at $12, reserved seats at $15, floor seats at $35, and the OxBox 21+ area also at $15.
“Our whole philosophy is affordable family fun,” Conrad said. “That’s what’s made us successful — we belong to the community first.”
A City on the Rise
For Conrad, the Capitals’ move is about more than basketball. He sees it as a reflection of Salem’s growing identity as a sports hub.
“Salem is becoming that sports hub,” he said, noting the city’s expanding roster of teams, from the Marion Berries baseball club to Capital Football Club. The Capitals, meanwhile, have already sent players like Kylor Kelley — who earned opportunities with the Lakers and Mavericks — into the professional ranks.
“It’s a cool spotlight for the city,” Conrad added. “It puts Salem on the map in a different way.”
Community Culture at the Core
As the Capitals prepare for their 2026 debut in the USBL, Conrad remains committed to the principles that built the franchise.
“I own a community organization that just happens to play basketball,” he said. “We’ll always be the community’s team.”
That philosophy — part pride, part promise — has become the franchise’s brand. And as Salem enters this new era of professional basketball, it’s clear the Capitals’ biggest victory may be off the scoreboard: strengthening the bond between the city and the sport it loves.
