The Los Angeles Lightning was a professional basketball team in the Independent Basketball Association (IBA). The Lightning was owned by Mark Harwell, an entertainment industry executive, and played at the Gilbert Sports Arena on the campus of California Lutheran University.
Founded in 2007, the Lightning first played in the International Basketball League for four years (2007–10). LA joined the IBA for the 2012 Spring season, which would also be their last.
In 2012, the Lightning joined the Independent Basketball Association and captured the spring season regular-season title (12-2) behind the solid play of Trayvon Lathan (26 ppg), Chris Ayer (21 ppg, 12.6 rpg) and ex-UCLA star Billy Knight (20 ppg, 48.5% on 3-pointers). The team also played the 2012 Los Angeles Summer Pro League (SPL) finishing with a 4–2[2] record. In 2013, they claimed the International Championship hosted by the Elite Talent Exchange of China.[3]