London Lions NBL
The London Lions run senior teams in the National Basketball League (NBL) — the competitive bridge between our academy programmes and the professional game. Every NBL team we field exists for one reason: developing London Lions players.
London Lions II
Our NBL Division 1 side is, in essence, London Lions II — a competitive outlet for our elite academy players, supplemented by two or three experienced senior players whose job is to raise the level and help develop the next generation. It's where academy talent gets real senior minutes against grown men, week in, week out.
NBL Division 1 is the third tier of basketball in England, sitting below Super League Basketball (SLB) and BCB. Home games are played at NCC Hackney.
The Development Squad
Our NBL Division 3 team is the development squad for players from our development programmes across all three NCC campuses — Hackney, Epping and Havering. It's the first taste of senior basketball: a place to learn the speed and physicality of the men's game with development, not results, as the priority.
Where NBL Fits
Our senior NBL teams are all part of the development pathway for the London Lions. From development programmes to the professional stage, the route runs through the same club.
1. Academy & Development
NCC programmes across Hackney, Epping and Havering.
2. NBL Division 3
The development squad — first senior minutes.
3. NBL Division 1
London Lions II — elite academy players competing in England's third tier.
4. London Lions
The professional stage — Super League Basketball and the EuroCup.
Junior NBL Teams
Junior NBL teams are on the way. Once our community programmes are established across the four regions, we'll enter junior NBL teams as the competitive next step for club players. Watch this space.
Want to play your way onto an NBL roster? It starts in the academy.