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 record.