NBL‑US Announces Fourth Louisiana Franchise as League Expansion Accelerates Under FIBA-Sanctioned Development Model
January 9, 2026 — New Orleans, Louisiana — The National Basketball League – United States (NBL‑US) today formally announces the newest addition to its growing national footprint: the New Orleans Krewe, who will join the league for the 2026 season, tipping off May 2, 2026. The Krewe become the fourth team from Louisiana to enter NBL‑US competition, strengthening one of the league’s most rapidly emerging regional markets and reinforcing the league’s mission to create an elite, accessible pathway for unsigned athletes to compete under international standards.
With Louisiana’s basketball culture, deep talent pool, and passion for community-driven sports, the arrival of the New Orleans Krewe marks a major milestone for both the franchise and the league—bringing a new professional platform to one of America’s most iconic sports and cultural cities.
Key Announcement Highlights
- Team: New Orleans Krewe
- League: National Basketball League – United States (NBL‑US)
- League Status: FIBA-sanctioned
- Season Start Date: May 2, 2026
- Regular Season Format: 15-game season
- Louisiana Market Milestone: Krewe become the 4th Louisiana team in NBL‑US
- Louisiana Teams in NBL‑US:
- Gueydan Flying Ducks — 2025 NBL‑US Champions
- Lake Charles Aces — entering their 2nd season
- Louisiana Roughnecks — expansion team joining for 2026
- New Orleans Krewe — newest Louisiana franchise, joining for 2026
- League Identity: College + Professional Development League for unsigned athletes ages 16 and up
- Unique National Differentiator: NBL‑US is the only United States league that features unsigned high school athletes, unsigned post‑graduate athletes, and college graduates in one unified platform.
A New Chapter for Louisiana Basketball: The Krewe Become the Fourth Franchise in the State
The NBL‑US continues to see Louisiana emerge as a powerful growth corridor for player development and professional opportunity. With the Gueydan Flying Ducks’ championship success in 2025, the continued rise of the Lake Charles Aces entering year two, and the addition of the Louisiana Roughnecks for 2026, the New Orleans Krewe now round out a four‑team Louisiana contingent that reflects the state’s expanding influence within the league.
The Krewe identity reflects New Orleans’ tradition of unity, pride, and celebration—an ethos the franchise intends to carry into competition. The team’s introduction is expected to broaden the league’s exposure across the Gulf South while giving local and regional athletes an opportunity to compete on a professional stage without leaving their home communities.
About the NBL‑US: A FIBA‑Sanctioned League Built for Opportunity
The NBL‑US is a FIBA-sanctioned league built to serve as a college and professional development platform for unsigned athletes, providing structure, visibility, and competitive standards aligned with global professional basketball.
The league is designed for:
- Unsigned high school athletes (16+) seeking high-level competition and visibility
- Unsigned post‑graduate athletes looking to extend development and recruitment/pro opportunities
- College graduates and unsigned collegiate-level athletes pursuing professional pathways
By featuring these athlete groups within one professionally operated league ecosystem, the NBL‑US fills a critical gap in the U.S. basketball landscape—providing a credible competitive platform that supports player growth while maintaining professional expectations.
What makes NBL‑US distinct nationally:
The NBL‑US is recognized as the only United States league that combines unsigned high school athletes, unsigned post‑grad athletes, and college graduates in a single competitive pipeline—creating a development environment where athletes can be evaluated, grow in real time, and earn opportunities at the next level.
Commissioner Statement: Lillian Countee on the New Orleans Krewe
Lillian Countee, Commissioner of the NBL‑US, shared the following statement regarding the New Orleans Krewe joining the league and what the franchise represents for the city:
“Today is a proud day for the NBL‑US and an even bigger day for the state of Louisiana and the city of New Orleans. The New Orleans Krewe joining our league is more than an expansion announcement—it’s a commitment to opportunity, development, and community impact in one of the most culturally significant cities in America.”
“Louisiana has shown, year after year, that it produces elite basketball talent and elite basketball character. The Gueydan Flying Ducks set a championship standard as our 2025 title winners. The Lake Charles Aces have shown what building a foundation looks like entering their second season. The Louisiana Roughnecks represent the forward momentum of our expansion efforts. And now, the New Orleans Krewe become the fourth Louisiana franchise—bringing New Orleans’ energy, pride, and identity into our competitive landscape.”
“New Orleans is a city that understands passion. It understands pageantry. It understands resilience. The word ‘Krewe’ itself speaks to unity—people coming together with purpose. That’s exactly what we want this team to represent: a professional platform built around togetherness, discipline, and belief in the next generation. The Krewe will give young, hungry, unsigned athletes a stage to compete, grow, and be seen—while also giving the city something it can proudly rally behind.”
“The NBL‑US is a FIBA‑sanctioned league with a development mission that is very clear: we exist to create paths for unsigned athletes ages 16 and up—unsigned high school athletes, unsigned post‑graduate athletes, and college graduates—so they can compete under real standards and earn real opportunities. When you place that mission in a city like New Orleans, you create something powerful: you create access, you create visibility, and you create hope.”
“We’re excited about what the New Orleans Krewe will bring to our league—competitiveness, local pride, and a community-first approach. We’re equally excited about what the NBL‑US will bring to New Orleans: a new professional platform, a new destination for talent, and a new opportunity for families, schools, and communities to be connected through basketball. This is the beginning of something special.”
2026 Season Information
The 2026 NBL‑US season begins May 2, 2026, featuring a 15‑game regular season format designed to deliver high-intensity competition while prioritizing athlete development, exposure, and readiness for the next step—whether that next step is collegiate placement, professional signing, or international opportunity.
Additional schedule announcements, team operations updates, roster information, and league programming details will be released through official NBL‑US channels.
About the New Orleans Krewe
The New Orleans Krewe are the newest professional franchise joining the NBL‑US for the 2026 season. Built around New Orleans’ spirit of unity and tradition, the Krewe represent a city known for culture, resilience, and community pride—now bringing that identity to the professional basketball stage within a FIBA-sanctioned environment.
About NBL‑US
The National Basketball League – United States (NBL‑US) is a FIBA-sanctioned professional league and development ecosystem for unsigned athletes ages 16 and up. The league is structured to provide competitive standards, visibility, and advancement opportunities for:
- Unsigned high school athletes
- Unsigned post‑graduate athletes
- College graduates
NBL‑US is committed to expanding access to professional-level competition and bridging critical gaps in athlete development within the United States.
For More Information / Media Inquiries
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