
Manchester Basketball began this summer with a plan that reached beyond domestic competition. Their intended entry into the Basketball Champions League was blocked when the British Basketball Federation refused to issue the required International Letter of Clearance — seemingly ending the chance to test themselves in Europe before it began. But they didn’t change course.

The London Lions have built a team that fits neither competition. In the SLB they’re steady; in EuroCup they’re struggling to stay afloat. The same roster that never looked like losing against Bristol can’t stay in a game against Budućnost. Through the opening weeks, London have beaten every SLB opponent comfortably, posting the league’s highest

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

Last year’s Lions were a juggernaut—stacked with EuroCup talent and a budget no one else could touch. This year’s team was different. Still among the league’s top spenders but no longer operating in a tier of their own. The salary cap narrowed the gap. What set them apart wasn’t money. It was execution. Peter Božić

Peter Božić was at the helm at London last season during the 777-era, leading a talent-laden London squad that had clear advantages over the rest of the league. Now, the budget is smaller, the roster no longer towers over the league, and he’s proving his coaching pedigree in a different way. Instead of winning through

The SLB Championship is beginning to take shape, with three teams separating themselves as the clear frontrunners. Here’s how the league stands in terms of net rating: Team NRtg ORtg DRtg Leicester Riders 12.31 119.81 107.50 London Lions 11.86 115.67 103.81 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 6.06 115.54 109.48 Surrey 89ers -1.53 112.65 114.18 Cheshire Phoenix