The UK Basketball Hub

GB basketball legend and former captain Drew Sullivan has retired from the sport of basketball. The two time MVP and the Great Britain Olympic Captain has announced his retirement from basketball as one of the most successful player in BBL history.  Sullivan played in over 300 BBL games in his 12 seasons of play in the BBL as well as time in Europe throughout his career. He said:  “I have been playing basketball for over two decades, “I have had an amazing time representing my county, some amazing clubs and playing here [Leicester] for the five seasons but today I am announcing my retirement. “It is bitter sweet as I enjoy playing here for this club so much but it has to happen at some stage and the time is right and I look forward to starting the next chapter of my life.  “There have been some amazing moments, representing Great Britain at the Olympics and play in London a stone’s throw from where I grew up with family and friends able to w...

Following on from Azania Stewart's interview with BBC Sport's Chris Mitchell - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/basketball/32843015 - The UK Basketball Hub have decided to run an ambitious Go Fund Me campaign which will try and raise £100,000 for the sport's GB Basketball. This fundraising is aiming to take £100,000 but should we take anywhere near our target it will prove that there is support for the sport, while also raising a bit for the sport in the UK. All money raised will be sent to GB Basketball - whether it's £5 or £5000 every little helps! Tell you friends and family to support the cause! LINK:  http://www.gofundme.com/vamapg

Where it all began..... I had first been introduced to US sports when Channel 4 in the UK started showing American Football and I saw my first of 30 Super Bowls in January 1986 when the Chicago Bears blew out the New England Patriots (Patriots are a far cry from that team back then). Then I was channel surfing on a Saturday one night a few years later and came across Basketball on BBC 1. This wasn't the British League but a professional league in the United States. You have to remember this was a time when you didn't have the various means to keep up with sports like we can today so I wasn't even aware of such a league. The BBC showed a weekly programme from memory of the NBA Playoffs and I became hooked. I didn't pick a team to root for straight away but I began to really enjoy watching the likes of Magic (Johnson), (Larry) Bird and Michael (Jordan). There was something about MJ and it became a natural thing for me to root for the team he played for much like...

The women's wheelchair basketball team appointed a new coach recently, hoping to build on recent successes and challenge at the next Paralympic games. Miles Thompson comes into the fold having worked with the US national team and will be hoping to lead GB to medals at the Paralympics in Brazil. British Wheelchair Basketball's Performance Director Paul Davies believes that the sport is moving in the right direction under the new coach. He said: "London was very, very big, the crowd, the level of support, not just in the park but across the country the profile of the sport is higher as it has ever been." "We only came 7th in London and we were disappointed with the results but not the performance, we've retained the gold medal at the Europeans." "We've got a couple of young girls in the squad and they are motivated not just to go to Rio but to come home with a medal around their necks." Davies believes that Thompson w...

Friday 22nd February (All 19:30 TO) Manchester Giants v Cheshire Pheonix (Wright Robinson College) Plymouth Raiders v Durham Wildcats (Plymouth Pavillions) Worcester Wolves v Surrey Heat (Worcester Sports Centre Mersey Tigers v London Lions (Knowsley Leisure Centre) Sunday 24th February (17:00 TO unless stated) Durham Wildcats v Worcester Wolves (Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre, 16:00 TO) Glasgow Rocks v Leicester Riders (Emirates Arena) London Lions v Manchester Giants (Crystal Palace National Sports Centre) Cheshire Pheonix v Sheffield Sharks (17:30 TO, Northgate Arena)* *BBL Trophy Fixture (First Leg) All stadia in brackets.

The 2012 Olympics' Basketball stadium's outer shell is being sold by Barr Construction after they failed to find a use for the temporary building. The arena is one of the biggest ever temporary buildings for any games and the 12,000 seater stadium does not come with the shell. There are rumours that it could be transported to Rio for the 2016 Olympic games and used potentially for different sports. Barclay Chalmers the managing director of Barr Construction said: 'The basketball arena was one of the showpiece structures for the games, but it was clear there would be no legacy use for a permanent basketball venue, hence the use of the temporary building'. He continued: 'It could be used to hold conferences or events, perhaps like The O2 in Greenwich'. Formal bids for the frame are due on the 30th April this year.

NBA star Luol Deng has admitted today that he doesn't think he will be taking part in the Eurobasket tournament this year due to tiredness. The Chicago Bulls man was influential in getting the decision to not fund GB Basketball overturned and this could be a blow to the chances of future funding. The funding is based on the success of the national team and the loss of their best player could be a hammer blow to the chances of progression. Deng told BBC Sport  at the All-Star Game Deng said: 'I haven't made the decision 100% [but] most likely I'm not [playing]'. Since Deng's GB debut in 2007 he has been extremely busy with NBA games, Eurobaskets, friendlies and of course the Olympics so the rest would be well-earned, however it could jeopardise Team GB's hopes.  

Friday 15th February (7:30pm Tip Off) Sheffield Sharks v Manchester Giants (EIS Sheffield) Newcastle Eagles v Cheshire Pheonix (Sport Central) Worcester Wolves v Mersey Tigers (Worcester University) Saturday 16th February (7:30pm Tip Off Unless Stated) Worcester Wolves v London Lions (7pm, Worcester University) Leicester Riders v Manchester Giants (John Sandford Centre) Plymouth Raiders v Surrey Heat (Plymouth Pavilions) Sunday 17th February (4:00pm Tip Off Unless Stated) Durham Wildcats v Glasgow Rocks (Durham University Sport) Plymouth Raiders v Newcastle Eagles (Plymouth Pavilions) Cheshire Pheonix v Leicester Riders (5:30pm, Northgate Arena) (Stadiums/Locations in brackets)

Plymouth Raiders' Matthew Schneck leads the way for average rebounds with 10.4 per game, he also has the best two-point percentage with 63.2% and the best total two pointers made with 146. Newcastle Eagles' Joe Chapman leads average assists with 6.0 and has made the most three pointers with 61. Andrew Kelster of the Durham Wildcats has the most rebounds with 220. Chavis Holmes of Surrey Heat leads average steals with 3.5 Charles Smith of Newcastle Eagles has the best three-point percentage with 49% Chez Marks of Cheshire Pheonix has the most free throws made with 88 Ralph Bucci of the Durham Wildcats has the most assists with 121.

The Newcastle Eagles and Leicester Riders lead the way in the British Basketball League with 34 points and only four defeats between them. Both teams have played 19 games and Newcastle averaging a better scoring record. Leicester have beaten the Eagles twice this season once in the BBL and once in the Cup final to take the first silverware of the season. Glasgow Rocks represent Scotland in the BBL and they are third in the division four points off of the two leaders. They are closely followed by Surrey Heat and the Plymouth Raiders who both have games in hand on the Rocks. The Final three play-off spots (the top eight teams) are taken currently (15th Feb) by Worcester Wolves, London Lions and Sheffield Sharks. The Sharks are level on points with the Manchester Giants, Cheshire Pheonix and the Durham Wildcats  but have played two games less than them three teams. Mersey Tigers prop-up the BBL with no victories thus far losing 22 of the 22 they have played. You can view ...

This is the newest and therefore freshest blog on British Basketball - something overlooked by many and appreciated by a few. Basketball is now booming in the United Kingdom with it being the second most popular sport for 11-15 year olds in Britain. The sport managed to overturn a ruling on funding for the Olympics following a letter from Chicago Bulls player and All-Star reserve Luol Deng to the PM David Cameron. Deng is the Team GB International - who is the star man in the current crop of British players; for those who don't know. This is basically to welcome all and sundry to the blog and get people backing British Basketball. For more information visit the 'About Me' tab or to ask any questions visit the 'Contact' tab.

The first song on Valentines Day is from the film Love and Basketball (2000). It is the song Complete Beloved by The Black-Eyed Peas and Les Nubians.