The UK Basketball Hub

London Lions' Mariusz Karol has been named Molten BBL Coach of the Month for November. The Lions have had a flawless run, going 3-0 throughout the month. Lions started off with an 86-70 victory against Glasgow Rocks at the Copper Box, following it up with a pair of road wins. The first came at Plymouth Raiders with a 75-70 success and they then picked up a tight 67-63 triumph at Bristol Flyers. Karol fought off stiff competition from Rob Paternostro of Leicester Riders who also went 3-0 during November. There were less games in the month due to GB fixtures taking place.

Worcester Wolves head coach Paul James has praised former GB captain Drew Sullivan following his retirement from the game. Sullivan - who made over 100 appearances for his country - announced his decision earlier this year. He led a team to victory one more time yesterday with London beating the World 89-84 in his testimonial. Paul James coach of the Worcester Wolves, has come up against Sullivan as a coach a number of times over the years and says he has a lasting legacy on the British game. James said: "I think he has been phenomenal for the British game, the ultimate professional. I haven't really had the pleasure to work with Drew, but to see the way he handled himself on and off the court, you could see he was very serious about his basketball and his success has happened because of that. "He's won many championships and for sure he has been a real leader on and off the court, for anybody that has worked with him. "It's sad to see such a...

We've made a podcast of you first show with Vince Macauly, Evelyn Adebayo and Luke Hatfield plus Kieron Achara on the phone: The UK Basketball Hubcast by Uk Bb Hub on Mixcloud

There are many elements that come together to make sure that every basketball match is entertaining and enjoyable for everyone. The music played, the dancers, the crowd participation and in particular the commentary are all elements which can be seen as part of the background to the matches foreground. Steven Edwards is a commentator (in-house) for the London Lions and explains to us what the commentator has to do. "Your right in the thick of the action, it's your job to not only act as the mc - introducing the players - but also describing the action that's going on so that fans who haven't been to many games can start understanding what they see in front of them." "Last season the Lions were playing in Crystal Palace and that was getting crowds of up to and around 1,700 people, more and more people were coming." "Now we are at the Copper Box everything has increased, so a much larger crowd and a better atmosphere, so as a commentator...

The London Lions are perhaps the most intriguing of all of the BBL clubs with the arrival at the Olympic Copper Box. The massive arena will be one of the premium basketball venues in the BBL and is the home to the capital's largest club. One person whose job will be made slightly more difficult in a larger stadium will be commentator Steven Edwards, who thinks last season can be a building block. He said: "I think it was very much a success [last season], gradually as the season went on the crowds got bigger and bigger as word got around." "London did extremely well in their home games and now it is a spring board into this season, can they now in a bigger arena, go to that next level to try and get past the first round of the play-offs." "If you can have a successful home team, the crowd can feed off it and make it a fortress, I think people will be looking at that trip to London and be a bit more weary." "The biggest challenge wil...

From the 26th August 2013 The UK Basketball Hub brings you: 'THE BIG BBL PREVIEW!' We will be speaking to someone from every team, trying to cover all angles as the new BBL season starts in a month or so! The Birmingham Knights are new to the BBL, how are they shaping up? The London Lions moved to the Copper Box, are they moving into the big leagues now? The Durham Wildcats and Surrey Heat have changed coach, good or bad move? The Newcastle Eagles want to be back on top, can they do it? Will the Leicester Riders defend their crown? Will Glasgow Rocks or Plymouth Raiders push for the play-off crown? Can Cheshire or Manchester get a play-off spot this time around? Will the Sharks win another BBL Trophy? So many questions and we'll try to give you the answers! Here are our confirmed interviewees: 26th August: Birmingham Knights player Martyn Gayle, coach Paul Douglas 27th August: Birmingham Knights owner Jo Aldridge and Durham Wildcats' Richard Warburton...

Jackman will be hoping to play here a few times over the years Orlan Jackman, who has recently been called up to the Team GB squad will be departing Britain for Germany next season. Jackman who played for the London Lions last season in the BBL will be moving to NOMA Iserlohn Kangaroos. The forward was called up by Joe Prunty for the GB squad and could feature in the friendly clash with Puerto Rico at the Copper Box. Ironically, Jackman's former club London Lions will play at the venue next season as they move into their new home as part of the Olympic Legacy. Jackman scored on average 16 points for the London side and also averaged 7.5 rebounds per game. He will be hoping the move will secure a place in the GB squad in future years, and will join Myles Hesson as a GB player in Germany. The full story from the Kangaroo's website: http://noma-iserlohn-kangaroos.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1128%3Azwei-hochkaraetige-spieler&catid...

The BBL season has come to a close with the Leicester Riders securing the play-off win to the league and cup victories. On the last day of the league season it was a battle between two clubs, two cities for the right to face the Leicester Riders and clinch the final play-off spot. Manchester Giants hosting the London Lions in a clash for 8th place in the BBL. Two big cities who wanted one spot. The London Lions had moved from Milton Keynes at the start of the season and were hoping to build up a fan-base as in the 2013/14 season they would be using the Olympic Copper Box. The Manchester Giants were back in the BBL after a few years out of the premiere league of British basketball. These two big city franchises have the opportunity to attract a large following and become two of the key players in the future of the BBL. The Lions are of course moving to the biggest arena in the BBL so could feasibly attract large crowds and make more money than any of their BBL opponen...

Leicester Riders became the first team to secure a semi-final spot in the 2012/13 play-offs with a double win against London Lions. Riders who have already secured the BBL Title and BBL Trophy are looking to add a play-off success to their trophy haul. The Riders won 73 - 61 against the Lions following the two-legged clash between the 1st and 8th seeds in the BBL championship. Anthony Rowe top scored in Leicester hitting 24 with team-mate Drew Sullivan getting 23 of his own. That gave the Riders a 12 point lead on the night and a 14 point aggregate lead - with an overall 143-129 win. Riders managed a 2 point victory at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre winning 70-68 in front of a capacity crowd with Jay Couisnard hitting 17 to lead the Riders' scoring. They would face a swift turn-around with the second leg of the play-off being the day after at the John Sandford Centre. Riders win 73-61 and advance to the semi-final next weekend!!! #BBLplayoffs #riderup ...

Who will get the chance to make it to Wembley?! On Friday the battle for the final BBL play-off spot will be decided as two of the UK's biggest cities collide! Manchester v London . Giants v Lions. IT IS ON! The Manchester Giants are currently two points behind the Lions having played a game less* and whoever wins will have the overall better head-to-head and therefore will take the 8th and final play-off place. The Manchester Giants returned to the BBL and are looking to use home advantage to get the win over a Lions side which is going through the transition of a move from Milton Keynes. The two face knowing whoever wins will be playing competitive BBL basketball for at least two more games whilst the other will be looking ahead to next season and trying to build upon solid seasons. We cannot contain our excitement. If we win @ london_lions on Friday we will make the play offs #Giants — Manchester Giants(@ManchesterGiant) April 3, 2013 STATS and Tale of the...

The 2012/13 BBL league season is coming to a close with the Leicester Riders closing in on the BBL crown and top seeding in the play-offs. The BBL Trophy and BBL Cup have both been decided going to the Riders and Sheffield Sharks respectively in a season which has seen London and Manchester join the league. But who has been the stand out player in the BBL League, Trophy and Cup? And who has been the top coach? Well the UK Basketball Hub want you to vote who you think is the top player and coach on our pole! We have decided on three managers and ten players who you can vote for which are as follows: The Players Andrew Sullivan (Leicester Riders) Jay Couisnard (Leicester Riders) Chez Marks (Cheshire Pheonix) Matthew Schneck (Plymouth Raiders) BJ Holmes (Sheffield Sharks) Joe Chapman (Newcastle Eagles) Charles Smith (Newcastle Eagles) Chavis Holmes (Surrey Heat) Orlan Jackman (London Lions) Alex Owumni (Worcester Wolves) - Kareem Maddox is someone who has been sugges...

London Lions Centre and former GB U-23 International Adrien Sturt thinks that the future of British Basketball and the London Lions is bright ahead of their move to the Copper Box next season. Sturt is currently in the BBL's team of the week after an impressive display against Manchester Giants last Sunday. He believes that the move will allow the club to expand and take some of the Olympic spirit He said: "The move to the Copper Box will be great as it will give us an opportunity to use the legacy of the Olympics to build on the team." "If you look at the top teams in Europe they all play in top stadiums and hopefully we can start to be a part of that." "I am looking forward to next season and playing in this world class arena." Speaking about his own performances, Sturt credited his team mates for his good form. He added: "Anything I do can be attributed to my team mates, it is a team game, we win together and we lose together....

The BBL continued this weekend with games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and there was a shock or two to be had. Newcastle Eagles started the weekend top of the BBL ladder but suffered a shock defeat to Cheshire Phoenix on Friday. The loss makes it two defeats in a row following the BBL Trophy loss to the Worcester Wolves and gave Leicester Riders the chance to move up to the top with a two point lead. Leicester played the Manchester Giants on Saturday and sent a message to their ladder rivals with an impressive 84-59 victory. Both teams also had a Sunday game with Newcastle beating Plymouth Raiders 79-96 but the Riders would also win against Cheshire Phoenix to stay two points ahead. In the other weekend games, the Sheffield Sharks scored a victory over the Manchester Giants and the Mersey Tiger's losing streak continued with a loss to the Worcester Wolves on the Friday evening. The Wolves would defeat London Lions a day later after two periods of overtime to give the...