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 | ![]() |
SGS College Arena | 750 | 2006 | |
Bristol Hurricanes | ![]() |
UWE Centre for Sport | - | 2017 | |
City of Birmingham Rockets | ![]() |
Nechell Wellbeing Centre | 400 | 2003 | |
Derby Trailblazers | ![]() |
University of Derby | 600 | 2000 | |
Essex Rebels | ![]() |
Essex Sport Arena | 1,655 | 2014 | |
Hemel Storm | ![]() |
Hemel Leisure Centre | 600 | 2006 | |
London Cavaliers | ![]() |
Uxbridge College | 300 | 2011 | |
Loughborough Riders | ![]() |
Sir David Wallace Centre | 600 | 2011 | |
Milton Keynes Breakers | ![]() |
Bletchley Leisure Centre | 300 | 2017 | |
Newcastle Knights | ![]() |
University Sport Centre | - | 2014 | |
Nottingham Hoods | ![]() |
Nottingham Wildcat Arena | 300 | 2009 | |
Reading Rockets | ![]() |
Loddon Valley Leisure Centre | 500 | 1997 | |
Worthing Thunder | ![]() |
Worthing Leisure Centre | 600 | 1999 | |
Yorkshire Dragons | ![]() |
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
- National Basketball League
- Scottish Basketball Championship Men
- British Basketball League (1987–2024)
- Super League Basketball Women
References
- ^ Sam Neter (25 June 2025). "NBL D1 clubs prepare to launch new league, British Championship Basketball". Hoopsfix. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Sam Neter (25 June 2025). "NBL D1 clubs prepare to launch new league, British Championship Basketball". Hoopsfix. Retrieved 26 June 2025.