Binghamton, New York – The Pro Basketball Association announced on Saturday that the Lionheart Kings had been awarded a franchise for the 2021 PBA Spring-Summer Season. Team owner Chris Cartwright is a successful entrepreneur, AAU club team owner and organizer, and has a long history in the Binghamton area as an accomplished pro level athlete playing point guard for the Binghamton Bulldogs in the ABA. “Lionheart” Cartwright has something that those in Binghamton can really cheer for.
Prior to his ABA experience, Chris was All-SUNYAC First Team twice at Buffalo State, has an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance and was All-East Region in 2015. For the 5’9 point guard to dominate at the collegiate and professional levels like he has in Upstate New York for a decade is amazing in itself, competing against giants and starring on his successful teams; but to transition so quickly to adept businessman, now working with multiple teams at varying age groups, hosting tournaments, taking teams around the State just a few years removed from his playing experience really illustrates his skill set on and off the basketball court.
Now bringing the Pro Basketball Association to his hometown of Binghamton really brings his journey full circle. Two years ago he was the point guard for the Binghamton Bulldogs and now he owns his own professional team. So if you’re asking yourself about the name of the team – Lionheart Kings – You only need to go so far as the article below to know, the Captain for those years for the Bulldogs nickname was “Lionheart” because he played with the heart of a lion and did whatever the team needed to win averaging 24.4ppg and 6.2apg. He’s winning in business now too Binghamton. Hometown hero makes good!
Chris Cartwright – 12 Sports Athlete of the Week (wbng.com)
The Lionheart Kings join the Pro Basketball Association’s Northeast Division and in doing so join the Pennsylvania Peacemakers just an hour down 81 as the Peacemakers make the Scranton-Wilkes Barre area home. The division also features the Rochester Razorsharks who are the 7x PBL Champions, the Buffalo Blaze, the MidCoast Sternmen in Maine, New York Generals in the White Plains (Westchester County area of New York), Akron Aviators, and Buckhannon Bears. There is expected to be another couple announcements coming out about the division shortly. Later this month on March 27, Rochester will be the home of the 2021 PBA Draft Combine where 96 players will hear their names called as players selected in the pro draft to the 48 current professional teams Nationwide in the PBA.
If you want Pro – You want the PBA
The Pro Basketball Association 2021 PBA Pro Combine and Draft will be held in two locations beginning with 3/27 in Rochester, New York and then 4/3 in Dallas, Texas. With pending announcements the PBA will have a minimum of 42 teams (From Seattle to New York City and everywhere in between – America) in the two round draft which means 84 draft eligible players will become a part of the Pro Basketball Association. Players and/or their representation is encouraged to email profile/video to [email protected] or visit Pro Basketball Association Combine and Draft – Pro Basketball Association (pbaplayers.com) or follow FB/IG @probasketballassociation
