Super League Basketball
Founded | 2024 |
---|---|
First season | 2024–25 |
Country | Great Britain |
Federation | British Basketball |
Confederation | FIBA Europe (Europe) |
Number of teams | 9 |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
International cup(s) | Champions League FIBA Europe Cup |
Website | SLB.org.uk |
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Super League Basketball (SLB) is a men's professional basketball league. Established in 2024, the competition replaces the former British Basketball League (BBL) as the top-level men's basketball competition in Great Britain.
History
[edit]From 1987, the British Basketball League (BBL) was the pre-eminent basketball competition in Great Britain. By 2024, Basketball League Ltd (BLL), the operating company behind the BBL, was in severe financial difficulties.[1] Due to this uncertainty, the British Basketball Federation (BBF) terminated BLL's operating license to run the men's professional league, with immediate effect.[2] On the same day a new organisation, Premier Basketball Limited, was formed by a consortium of existing basketball teams formerly of the BBL. The consortium, led by Sarah Backovic, director of Sheffield Sharks, was granted a three-year license by the BBF to operate the top-level men's basketball competition, in place of the former BBL.[3]
On 2 August, Super League Basketball was announced as the name for the new competition.[4]
Teams
[edit]Current teams
[edit]Team | Location | Arena | Capacity | Founded |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bristol Flyers | ![]() |
SGS College Arena | 750 | 2006 |
Caledonia Gladiators | ![]() |
Playsport Arena | 1,800 | 1998 |
Cheshire Phoenix | ![]() |
Cheshire Oaks Arena | 1,400 | 1984 |
Leicester Riders | ![]() |
Mattioli Arena | 2,400 | 1967 |
London Lions | ![]() |
Copper Box Arena | 6,000 | 1977 |
Manchester Basketball | ![]() |
National Basketball Centre | 2,000 | 2011 |
Newcastle Eagles | ![]() |
Vertu Motors Arena | 2,800 | 1976 |
Sheffield Sharks | ![]() |
Canon Medical Arena | 2,500 | 1991 |
Surrey 89ers | ![]() |
Surrey Sports Park | 970 | 2024 |
Corporate structure
[edit]Chairpersons
[edit]- Vaughn Millette (2024-present)
Players
[edit]Import players
[edit]Rules currently allow for each team to have a maximum of six non-British qualified players per game. This excludes players with naturalisation and leave to remain.
Salary cap
[edit]There is a salary cap, reportedly £500,000 per season, for all SLB teams.
Transfer regulations
[edit]Teams must field no more than nine import players in any one season. Signings are allowed to be made throughout the pre-season and during the regular season until the league's transfer deadline on 28 February, or if during a leap year, 29 February.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Sam Neter (21 May 2024). "BBL engages with new investors amidst 777 controversy". Hoopsfix.com. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ "Company running BBL has licence terminated". BBC Sport. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ "Consortium of clubs awarded licence to run men's basketball league". BBC Sport. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ "Super League Basketball Launched In Great Britain". riders.basketball. 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.