There was a time when my minor league basketball appetite was insatiable. Follow along with me on this.
Two years ago, the Albany Patroons and New York Phoenix battled in an incredible regular season and playoff matchup, and I was there for all of it. The Phoenix ownership were former Patroons owners, and the rivalry was absolutely incredible.
Meanwhile, the Saratoga Racers of the American Basketball Association had their own success, playing out of a gymnasium in Mechanicville and holding their own against several regional ABA squads.
Last year, the Phoenix moved into a new league, while the Patroons sat out the 2025-26 season. The Racers continued on, and I helped out at the Racers and Phoenix games whenever possible.
Unfortunately … that hoop action ain’t happening this year. And I’m bummed.
The Racers couldn’t work out a deal with their gym, so they’re sitting out the season.
The Patroons are still working on renovations and upgrades to the Washington Avenue Armory, so they’re sitting out the season.
And yesterday, news from the Phoenix … ugh.
Yeah. I’m not happy about this.
I mean, I should be used to it. The Albany Patroons have come and gone so many times in their existence, it’s almost expected. The team operated from 1982 to 1993, then they moved away. They returned in 2005, played until 2009, then the league folded. The Patroons returned in 2018, played two and a half seasons, then went dormant during the COVID-19 pandemic. They returned in 2022, and stayed active until 2025.
Meanwhile, the Racers are sitting out the season, so they won’t have a chance to correct getting SCREWED OUT of the ABA playoffs due to inconsistent officiating and an “Oh, well, tough luck” attitude from ABA CEO and resident roach-brain Joe Newman.
That left the Phoenix. The team played the 2024-25 season at Armory Studios in Schenectady, then moved into the spacious M&T Bank Center in 2025-26, just on the other side of Rivers Casino. Things looked good. Things looked promising.
This, however, does not look promising.
Then again, I understand. I don’t like it – hell, I don’t HAVE to like it – but I understand.
I’m just essentially screwed out of professional independent local basketball for another year. 😦
And you can say to me, “But Chuck, there’s UAlbany basketball, there’s Siena basketball, isn’t that good enough for you?”
Yeah, no. If I want college sports, I’ll follow my alma mater and be happy about it. By the way, did you know that the Hamilton’s women’s field hockey team is just a couple of wins away from the NCAA Div III championship, which would make Hamilton’s THIRD NCAA championship in any sport?
But … ugh. No Phoenix, no Racers, no Patroons. At least not for 2026-27.
Not the way I had hoped to spend my sports-watching winter.
Ugh. Not happy about this. Ugh.
