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.
| Founded | 2024 |
|---|---|
| First season | 2024–25 |
| Country | Great Britain |
| Federation | British Basketball |
| Confederation | FIBA Europe |
| Number of teams | 9 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| International cup(s) | Champions League FIBA Europe Cup |
| TV partners | DAZN |
| Website | superleaguebasketballm.co.uk |
 2024–25 Super League Basketball season | |
History
editFrom 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
editCurrent 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 | 2024 | |
| 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
editChairpersons
edit- Vaughn Millette (2024-present)
Regulations
editImport players
editRules 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
editThere is a salary cap set at £400,000 per season, excluding the highest paid British-qualified player, for all SLB teams. Teams are fined for exceeding this limit.
Transfer regulations
editTeams 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
editReferences
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.