Keeping Guys Honest: Road From TBL To BSL Is Paved With Hardwork and A Potential Shot at NBA G League or Beyond
Antonio Davis is watching. So be careful to get his story straight as it's a testimony to the Detroit, Michigan natives' perpetual grind and arrival in BSL with Montreal.
Montreal, Québec, Canada — There’s a number of aspects that can be throughly enjoyed by spending two years covering The Basketball League exclusively, extensively, and independently.
First, is the deep and unwavering dedication that’s shown for the love of the game from the bottom up and the top down across TBL in North America. Over the past 9 months, we’ve seen that translate also to Canada’s launch of the Basketball Super League and with the first season now underway. Players want to get better. Coaches want to get better. Organizations want to get better. Owners want to get better. Both leagues want to get better.
And for sure, fanbases spread from coast to coast want to get better or at least want the opportunity to compete for a championship once again. There’s that word again — opportunity. It was ever present in TBL last season in a historic year that saw the Potawatomi Fire earn a title in their second year of existence. That’s no easy task, but they made it look that way in 2023. The same can be said for their banner hanging brothers up North. The London Lightning not only have the distinction of wining the very last NBLC Championship but now have a chance to win the first-ever BSL Championship this season.
That’s what teams are fighting for.
Guys want that recognition and respect. Matter of fact, after all of the hard work that goes into chasing and living out some hoop dreams on the hardwood, they deserve that and more.
That’s why when I received a DM on social media from Montreal Toundra’s guard Antonio Davis calling me out for not adding him to the list of TBL players who have earned their spot rightfully in the BSL following my last article — The Numbers Game: Growing Amount of Former TBL Players Set To Shine In BSL — I was both disappointed and proud.
Disappointed in myself for missing that important detail. Writers and reporters pride themselves on getting the story right. I missed an easy lay-up on this one (an update to the story was made immediately).
Proud for the fact that aspiring and current pros take the time to read what’s being written about the leagues and feel comfortable reaching out, during the good stories and even when I botch one (thanks for the assist AD).
In both instances, the truth came out and a wrong was righted.
Certainly, Antonio’s story is a testament to his own passions and prowess to grow from signing with the Detroit Hustle, playing for the Flint United and Lebanon Leprechauns in TBL after the past two years, before testing his skills and talents in training camp with Montreal and a shot at playing in BSL this season. But the road to playing professionally in Canada didn’t start overnight. That road was paved by growing up in Detroit, Michigan, attending Oak Park as a National Honors Society student, being named 2014 Player of the Year after earning a Division and District Champion that same year, before moving on to play at Northwood University. Needless to say — Antonio is making the most of his professional shot.
“Good article even though I was left out of it…[I] would love to share my story because it’s a great one, honestly,” Davis said, “ coming from Flint United my first year and barely playing then transitioning to Lebanon and being in the All-Star Weekend last year, to now in the Basketball Super League…I went through the combine in Detroit and made the Detroit Hustle team at first, but I was cut right away before training camp before getting picked up by Flint United.”
Combine. Signed. Cut. Signed. All-Star. A higher league and lofty goal to chase. That’s a story worth tuning in for in ‘24.
Today, that lanky 6’1 kid who simply goes by “Tone” makes up 32% of players that have made the sojourn from TBL to BSL.
Tomorrow, that number could grow.
Tomorrow, a jersey number on a TBL and BSL roster could become a potential name on a NBA G League watch-list if all goes right. Or perhaps the watchful eye of an international organization who wisely keeps tabs on TBL and BSL leagues alike for future talent considerations. That’s a key take away here.
Someone is always watching.
And now we know, someone is always reading.
Wendell Maxey is the author of Around The Basketball League and has written about professional basketball and sports for 20 years. He’s been featured on NBA.com, ESPN.com, USA Today, FOX Sports, and SLAM Magazine among other publications and media outlets. You can connect with him on Twitter and LinkedIn or read through his archive on Linktree. This 2024 season, Wendell will also be a featured writer with the Basketball Super League.