Tag: Leicester Riders
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Victor Ndoukou’s Long Route
Leicester run one of the few pathways in the country that carries players from junior basketball all the way to the professional game. The structure is simple, with each stage feeding the next clearly. Pathway Stage Age Range Competitions Junior Academy 10 to 16 Junior NBL Charnwood College (Men) 16 to 18 EABL, NBL Division…
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Leicester’s Early-Season Reset
Leicester opened last season with a clarity few teams in the league could match. Their starting lineup stayed untouched for nine straight games, the rotation barely shifted, and then Rob Paternostro made one adjustment: Ethan Wright moved to the bench and Spencer Johnson stepped into the starting five. Johnson’s role was simple and useful —…
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Talent Is Everywhere, Opportunity Isn’t
British basketball has no problem getting kids onto the court. Sport England’s Active Lives Children and Young People survey shows basketball is the second most-played team sport among children, helped by outdoor courts — varied in quality but found nationwide — that make it easy to pick up a ball and play. The challenge comes…
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It’s Messy and It’s Real
Back in June, there wasn’t supposed to be a league at all. The British Basketball League had collapsed. The British Basketball Federation (BBF) had revoked the league licence. And suddenly, the sport was staring into the abyss—no structure, no plan, no clear future. What followed wasn’t clean or comfortable. But it was real. The clubs…
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Eye of the Storm
Since 2008, Rob Paternostro has been the heartbeat of Leicester Riders. Seventeen trophies. Seven Coach of the Year awards. Nearly two decades at the helm. Under his watch, Leicester haven’t just won—they’ve known who they are at every step. Now they’ve added another to their trophy haul. But nothing about this year was easy. Leicester…
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The Rim Belongs to Charles Thompson
In a league filled with scorers and playmakers, Charles Thompson has carved out an identity as the SLB’s premier defensive anchor. With a league-best 3.00 blocks per game, Thompson’s shot-blocking prowess makes him a nightmare for opposing offences. But what truly sets him apart is the mental side of his game—his anticipation, discipline, and decision-making.…
