HONG KONG — The East Asian Super League tapped the New Taipei Kings to replace the Bay Area Dragons for its 2023-2023 season.
EASL chief executive officer Matt Beyer welcomed the inclusion of the New Taipei Kings following the disbandment of the Dragons last week.
"EASL is ecstatic to welcome the New Taipei Kings to our inaugural home-and-away season and to grow our partnership with the P. LEAGUE+. We look forward to bringing top Japan B. League, Korea Basketball League and Philippine Basketball Association teams to New
Taipei in front of the Kings' sellout crowds."
The New Taipei Kings took second place in the 2022-23 P. LEAGUE+ season, hosting a series of electrifying, sold-out games in the Finals series.
They boast Joseph Lin and Byron Mullens among a stacked roster coached by Ryan Marchand.
"The New Taipei Kings are focused on building a tradition of excellence and part of that is playing in the toughest competition available to us," New Taipei team owner Phil Chen said.
"We're very excited to join EASL in the upcoming season to face off against the top professional teams from around the region."
Beyer, P. LEAGUE+ founder Charles Chen, and the entire EASL and P. LEAGUE+ upper management have been in long-term discussions about increasing the presence of P. LEAGUE+
in EASL.
The addition of the New Taipei Kings in 2023-24 significantly expands EASL's reach and market in Chinese Taipei.
With the 2023-24 season approaching fast, EASL has also taken a significant decision to increase its focus on its core competency, which is running a league and maximizing its use of resources to make the league as dynamic and as electrifying
as possible, as well as commercially successful.
Following consultation with stakeholders regarding conflict-of-interest issues due to running both a league and owning a team, EASL management has decided to immediately cease the operations of the Bay Area Dragons team and has offered
all players and coaches a generous termination package.
Dragons coach Brian Goorjian will stay with EASL as a league ambassador for the remainder of his contract.