With the launch of Super League Basketball (SLB), British basketball has entered a new era. Alongside a fresh identity, the SLB’s reintroduction of a salary cap aims to bring greater parity across teams, challenging franchises to adapt as they balance continuity and reinvention.
This inaugural SLB season reveals significant variation in the percentage of minutes played by players who were with their teams last season. This metric, which ranges from Cheshire Phoenix’s high continuity to Leicester Riders and Manchester Basketball’s low percentages, highlights the different levels of stability and change each team is experiencing. Here’s how teams stack up:
| Team | % Minutes Played by Returning Players |
|---|---|
| Cheshire Phoenix | 45.05% |
| Caledonia Gladiators | 42.77% |
| Surrey 89ers | 32.54% |
| B. Braun Sheffield Sharks | 32.21% |
| Bristol Flyers | 26.50% |
| London Lions | 19.77% |
| Newcastle Eagles | 18.89% |
| Leicester Riders | 15.97% |
| Manchester Basketball | 10.55% |
*The percentage of returning players for Manchester Basketball and Surrey 89ers is based on the rosters of the dissolved Manchester Giants and Surrey Scorchers, respectively.
Leicester Riders: Success Through Stability
For the Leicester Riders, stability comes from more than just returning players; it’s rooted in a deeply embedded system under head coach Rob Paternostro, who has led the team since 2008. Despite only 15.97% of minutes played by returning players, Leicester boasts the league’s best net rating of 18.18 and an offensive rating of 119.6, highlighting their ability to efficiently integrate new players into an established framework.
Paternostro’s long-standing leadership has cultivated a defined playing philosophy where each new player adapts to a well-honed system. This continuity is less about individual players and more about a cohesive style of play that persists regardless of roster changes. The Riders have built a reputation for attracting players who fit their team-first model, ensuring consistent performance on the court. Even with limited roster continuity, Leicester’s structured approach allows them to remain a top contender in the SLB, demonstrating that stability can come as much from coaching and philosophy as from player retention.
Manchester Basketball: Challenges of a Fresh Start
In contrast to Leicester’s stability, Manchester Basketball faces the challenges of a complete rebuild. Formed as a new franchise to replace the dissolved Manchester Giants, Manchester Basketball brings back only 10.55% of minutes from last season and is forging a fresh identity under head coach Callum Jones. With one of the lowest continuity levels in the league and the lowest net rating of -12.2, Manchester’s struggles, particularly on defence (with a defensive rating of 119.4), reflect the difficulties of building chemistry and cohesion from scratch.
Creating a cohesive roster, establishing a team culture, and fostering on-court communication are hurdles Manchester must overcome as they lay a new foundation. Under Jones’s guidance, the team’s immediate goal is to establish a clear system and style that players can build upon. While the legacy of the historic Manchester Giants creates expectations, Manchester Basketball is focused on setting realistic goals, recognising that building a strong identity and fostering team chemistry will take time. Though they face a steep learning curve, Manchester’s approach aims to lay the groundwork for a cohesive and competitive unit in the seasons ahead.
Stability and Fresh Starts
As the SLB progresses, the contrasting paths of Leicester Riders and Manchester Basketball offer valuable lessons on how continuity—or the lack thereof—can shape a team’s fortunes. Leicester’s stability demonstrates that coaching continuity can drive consistent results even amidst roster changes, while Manchester’s rebuilding journey highlights the patience and resilience required to build from the ground up. For SLB franchises, these examples underline that success in the league can come from different foundations, whether rooted in established systems or emerging through reinvention.
