British Championship Basketball

British Championship Basketball (BCB) is a men's professional basketball league. Established in 2025, the competition replaces Division One of the National Basketball League (NBL) as the second-tier men's basketball competition in Great Britain.

History

In 1987, there was a breakaway by the elite clubs of the time, looking to form a fully professional league in Great Britain. The new league, operated by a new body, British Basketball League, was established as the country's top and only fully professional basketball league. Division One of the National Basketball League (NBL) became the country's second tier competition. From 1987, the British Basketball League (BBL), and latterly from 2024, and Super League Basketball (SLB) have been the pre-eminent, top level basketball competitions in Great Britain.

In June 2025, all 13 NBL Division One men’s clubs from the previous season, as well as Bristol Flyers II, promoted from NBL Division Two, proposed coming together to set up their own competition, called British Championship Basketball, or BCB for short, as a new second-tier professional British basketball league. [1] [2]

Teams

Teams

Team Location Colours Arena Capacity Founded
Bristol Flyers II England Bristol       SGS College Arena 750 2006
Bristol Hurricanes England Bristol     UWE Centre for Sport - 2017
City of Birmingham Rockets England Birmingham       Nechell Wellbeing Centre 400 2003
Derby Trailblazers England Derby       University of Derby 600 2000
Essex Rebels England Colchester       Essex Sport Arena 1,655 2014
Hemel Storm England Hemel Hempstead     Hemel Leisure Centre 600 2006
London Cavaliers England London (Uxbridge)       Uxbridge College 300 2011
Loughborough Riders England Loughborough     Sir David Wallace Centre 600 2011
Milton Keynes Breakers England Milton Keynes     Bletchley Leisure Centre 300 2017
Newcastle Knights England Newcastle upon Tyne     University Sport Centre - 2014
Nottingham Hoods England Nottingham       Nottingham Wildcat Arena 300 2009
Reading Rockets England Reading       Loddon Valley Leisure Centre 500 1997
Worthing Thunder England Worthing       Worthing Leisure Centre 600 1999
Yorkshire Dragons England Halifax       Calderdale College 300 2001
  • Two Scottish teams are also proposed to join the KitKing Trophy competition in the inaugural season in 2025-26, with intentions to join the league in full in 2026-27. [3]

See also

References

  1. ^ Sam Neter (25 June 2025). "NBL D1 clubs prepare to launch new league, British Championship Basketball". Hoopsfix. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  2. ^ "British Basketball Federation and Home Country Associations address media reports about the formation of a new second-tier British basketball league". British Basketball Federation. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  3. ^ Sam Neter (25 June 2025). "NBL D1 clubs prepare to launch new league, British Championship Basketball". Hoopsfix. Retrieved 26 June 2025.