The London Lions captured their second piece of silverware this season with an 83–74 victory over Manchester in the SLB Cup Final at the AO Arena, using a dominant second-half defensive performance to turn the game around.
Trailing 40–32 at halftime after a slow offensive start, the Lions responded with intensity and physicality after the break, leaning on their defence to generate momentum and ultimately take control of the contest.
Kam McGusty led the Lions with 21 points and was named MVP of the game, delivering key baskets down the stretch, while Joel Scott recorded 15 points and 12 rebounds in a commanding two-way performance. Chaundee Brown Jr. and Tarik Phillip each added 12 points, with Deane Williams contributing 11 points and crucial plays on both ends.
Head Coach Tautvydas Sabonis emphasised the team’s identity following the win.
“They understood that without doing what we do every day, without playing with the defence that we do, we are not a good team,” Sabonis said. “But when we do that, we are an amazing team.”
Manchester opened the game with strong defensive pressure, limiting London’s offensive rhythm and building a 19–11 lead after the first quarter. Despite early scoring from Phillip, the Lions struggled to generate clean looks, while Manchester found success through Jordan Johnson and PJay Smith.
The second quarter followed a similar pattern, with Manchester maintaining control and extending their lead to double digits. London showed flashes, including strong defensive plays from Scott and timely scoring from Brown and McGusty, but still trailed by eight at the break.
The game shifted in the third quarter.
London came out of halftime with renewed energy, tightening defensively and attacking with more purpose. Scott’s presence inside and Williams’ activity on the glass helped spark a run, while McGusty and Phillip created key scoring opportunities. The Lions chipped away at the deficit before taking the lead late in the quarter, entering the fourth up 58–57.
“We knew what we needed to do from the get-go,” Scott said. “It was just doing the little things, playing with energy, and we did that. Little by little we chipped away and followed the game plan.”
The final quarter showcased London at their best.
McGusty knocked down multiple clutch shots, including a step-back three to extend the lead, while Williams added a key block and three-pointer during a decisive stretch. Phillip’s defensive pressure led to transition scoring, and the Lions began to break down Manchester’s zone with improved ball movement and shot-making.
Despite a strong scoring performance from Johnson, London’s defence held firm in the closing minutes. Key stops and composed free-throw shooting allowed the Lions to maintain control and close out the 83–74 victory.
“I think that’s the best part about this team,” Scott added. “Anyone can go off at any point, and that’s why we’re so special. We trust each other.”
The Lions now sit on the brink of a historic season, having secured their second trophy and continuing their pursuit of a domestic quadruple.
London return to action on Wednesday at the Copper Box Arena, where they will face Sheffield as they shift focus back to league play.
Words & Image courtesy of The London Lions
We’re excited to announce that Tautvydas Sabonis has officially joined the London Lions as our new Head Coach ahead of the 2025/26 season.
At just 33 years old, Sabonis brings elite experience, sharp tactical vision, and a passion for player development — having spent the last five years rising through the ranks at Žalgiris Kaunas, one of the top clubs in European basketball. Most recently serving as Assistant Coach in the EuroLeague, he now takes the reins in London for his first head coach role.
“The London Lions really excite me. I see a team with huge ambition — not just to rebuild, but to go further than any British club has before,This is a city with incredible potential for basketball, and I’m honoured to take on this challenge.”
With investment in a new stadium, a return to BKT EuroCup, and a renewed focus on building something truly special for the capital, Sabonis will lead the next chapter of our journey — and we want you with us from the start.
Early bird access to 2025/26 season tickets: available now.
A new scheme has been launched by the Department for Business and Trade, the Women’s Sport Investment Accelerator, in association with Deloitte’s Sports Business Group and supported by the International Working Group on Women and Sport, tobenefit elite UK women’s sport competitions. The new programme will provide a series of sessions offering marketing insights, connections and networking events alongside mentoring for rights holders (leagues, teams, competitions and events) who are looking for investment.
The application process is open to rights holders of any UK-based women’s sports leagues, teams, competitions or events aiming to attract investment and boost their growth and will run for one year starting from autumn 2023. The Women’s Super League (WSL) and the Netball Super League were among the competitions sounded out as potential beneficiaries for this scheme, however it is also hoped that it will aid the growth of often overlooked sports and leagues such as women’s basketball and the Women’s British Basketball League.
The post-2012 Olympics funding disparity for basketball, despite its popularity, high youth participation rates and being the most diverse sport in the UK, further highlights the need for a fairer and more long-term approach to funding allocation. After the London Olympics in 2012, basketball received just £9.25 per participant between 2013 and 2017 as cricket gained £70.72 and rugby union almost £60, despite both sports having fewer participants among young people.
Despite these challenges, British basketball continues to showcase its talent globally, with numerous players excelling in prestigious leagues like the NCAA’s Division I and the NBA. The Women’s British Basketball League has continued to grow at a rapid pace over the past few years with record-breaking attendances last season as the London Lions completed their second-consecutive domestic clean sweep and achieved a 52-game winning streak. The announcement of the new scheme will hopefully provide a further platform for the league and sport to grow, as the new season approaches with the Lions building one of the most impressive rosters ever seen in British basketball.
The sport’s popularity remains strong among the British population, making it one of the nation’s top team sports after football as according to the Active Lives survey, more than one million Brits regularly play basketball while 14% of those aged 18-34 play it every week. However, the lack of appropriate funding for British basketball hampers its growth and potential to develop further talent. Adding to this, research from The London Lions – one of the UK’s premier basketball clubs – shows that 26% of Brits would like to play more and watch more basketball in the UK.
Vanja Cernivec, General Manager of the London Lions women’s team comments:
“The first thing that needs to be addressed is that women’s sport needs to develop high-level coaches alongside investment into the performance staff and facilities. By investing in the national teams, it will also enhance the number of role models for young sports players in women’s sport. But I think it all comes back to investing into coaches in the sport specific side and also on the performance side. Also, for high-level athletes to be exposed to international competitions. Not only government funding is needed, but also private funding – I think companies need to realise the potential of women’s sport, it cannot be popular if it’s not accessible and not on tv.
“There is a lot that we can do in the sporting eco-system and I think we are only scratching the surface of the potential of women’s sport, not only women being professional athletes but also women being coaches and involved in the business side of sport. The one thing that needs to be focused on is sharing the stories of successful women in sport so that young girls and boys can identify with their stories and see it as something possible to emulate. Adding to this, investing in girls and women is important at some stage I hope it is the norm that whatever is invested in men’s sport is also invested in women’s.”
The London Lions, the premier basketball team in the UK, is set to launch a first-of-its kind youth teams initiative, set to provide to a series of unique opportunities for aspiring basketball players and coaches to progress professionally throughout the country. This initiative marks a major step forward for the sport in the UK, as the Lions will be one of the only clubs to create an independent youth team structure, distinct from any existing school or college partnership. Trials will commence on July 31 at the University of East London, targeting talented players in the U12, U14, and U16 age groups for both boys’ and girls’ sides.
Recognising the need for increased opportunities and support for aspiring athletes and coaches in the UK, the Lions are committed to nurturing talent and providing a platform for growth that culminates in professional success. Testament to this, recent data from the club reveals that a staggering 62% of Brits were unaware of available avenues to pursue a career in sports during their school years. With basketball’s popularity on the rise in the UK, boasting an estimated 1.3 million regular players – serving as the second most popular team sport – the need for avenues to develop into elite opportunities has now come to the fore with the new initiative.
The players will embark on an intensive game schedule, competing against sides from across Europe, other British Basketball League (BBL) clubs, and in European tournaments. By exposing young players to high-level competition, the Lions aim to provide a suitable pathway for their development, eliminating the necessity for them to seek opportunities elsewhere.
The current landscape of UK basketball presents a unique challenge for coaches, particularly due to visa restrictions that limit the presence of elite professionals from around the world. Presently, only Head Coaches in the Women’s British Basketball League, British Basketball League, and Division One on the men’s side are granted a visa endorsement letter by Basketball England, the governing body of the sport. This restrictive environment has resulted in a lack of exposure to different coaching styles, hindering the growth and evolution of aspiring players.
To address this issue, the Lions launched a pioneering coaching development program, sending coaches to leading clubs across Europe for a fully paid three-month learning experience. The participants will now assume full-time paid roles managing the youth teams, bringing with them new ideologies and perspectives that will benefit the development of young players throughout the UK. By diversifying coaching approaches and sharing European basketball insights, the Lions seek to unlock the hidden potential within British basketball, evolving players, coaches, and clubs alike.
In addition to their commitment to youth development, the London Lions recently competed in the inaugural Jr. NBA European Finals in Valencia, Spain. This elite competition hosted six U-15 boys’ teams and six U-15 girls’ teams, with one exceptional Lions player, Emmanuel Ahamefule, being selected to compete at the prestigious Jr. NBA World Showcase in Las Vegas. These achievements underline the abundance of hidden talent prevalent in the UK, further motivating the Lions to create a nurturing environment where players can thrive. The Lions are proud to pioneer this ground-breaking initiative, providing aspiring players and coaches in the UK with unparalleled opportunities to excel in the sport they love. With their new youth teams and commitment to cultivating talent, the Lions hope to aid in elevating British basketball to new heights.
Emmanuel Ahamefule, who played for the Lions at the JR NBA European Finals said:
“Valencia helped a lot with my development as a player as I was able to express myself on the court. I had amazing teammates by my side and amazing coaches there supporting me. I’m looking forward to Las Vegas as I will be competing with the top players in the world, and I will be able to show my ability on such a high stage. London Lions taught me the importance of next play mentality and always keeping my head up no matter the circumstances. This will really benefit me in the long run, and I would like to thank London Lions for helping me with this opportunity.”
Head Coach of the London Lions Women’s Team, Stella Kaltsidou, said:
“I believe it’s important for all the clubs to have the youth teams under the pro team structure that requires the cooperation of the coaches from the pro team in order to build a plan based on the philosophy of the team. That doesn’t need to include the strategies of the pro team but more the philosophy on spacing and individual and team defence. That takes communication, observation and adjustments by the coaches in order to evaluate the progress and help the young players get ready for their transfer to the pro team.
“Investing in coaches is the number one priority in order to be able to invest successfully on young athletes. Coaches, especially at the young ages, work as a role model for the players, so what is most important is to teach them work ethic, discipline, respect, patience, sportsmanship, mental toughness, help them love what they do and show them the way to be the best they can be on everything they do.”
William Twigg who attended the Lions’ International Coaching Programme and will be a full-time coach of the youth teams said:
“The coaching development journey with the London Lions has been a remarkable experience, marked by growth, learning, and countless moments of inspiration. I am very fortunate to work alongside a dedicated and visionary staff at the Lions. Their expertise and mentorship have been instrumental in honing my skills, expanding my knowledge, and instilling a deep passion for the game.
“The Lions organisation has provided invaluable support and resources, enabling me to grow both professionally and personally. Transitioning into a full-time role with the Lions has been a privilege. Being able to dedicate myself to the development of our youth teams is a testament to the trust and belief the organisation has placed in us, and we are deeply grateful for their unwavering support. Really excited to get the program off the ground and see the professionalism run throughout the whole organisation.”
George Vaz Rocha who also attended the Lions’ International Coaching Programme said:
“My journey over the last 5 months with the London Lions coaching programme and now leading up to begin working with the kids in the youth academy has been educational, eye opening, and more than anything, FUN. I thought I knew a lot about basketball and coaching before starting this journey but I was so, so, wrong and I’m glad.
“Having an opportunity to work with coaches so highly regarded in their fields has been extremely motivating. Just to be in the same room with coaches I follow, respect and admire is awesome and not something you can do anywhere. Learning from them has been invaluable and a lot of the learning has been what they don’t teach but how they conduct themselves. How they speak to players or coaches, or how they prepare for practices and games, for example.”
The London Lions competed in the inaugural Jr. NBA European Finals on June 21 – June 24 in Valencia, Spain, a top-level competition that hosted six U-15 boys’ teams and six U-15 girls’ teams (players born in 2008 or younger). The teams competed in a championship-format tournament of 24 total games, NBA skills challenge and a 3-point contest. As part of their growth and development, the players were given the chance to participate in an NBA media day and life skills sessions with an NBA Ambassador.
The London Lions sent an U-15 boys’ team and an U-15 girls’ team to the finals to participate amongst some of the best players of their generation. The top 12 players were selected for each team after trials and were led at the finals by London Lions captain and Commonwealth silver medallist Shanice Beckford-Norton, Alex Sarama and coaches from the Lions’ recent International Coaching Development Programme.
By providing a chance to compete in one of the most prestigious stages in Europe for youth players, the Lions hope to further develop young players and coaches and highlight the opportunities to pursue a career in sport in the UK. This comes alongside a landmark study from the Lions showing that 21% of Brits say they want to pursue a career in sports, but 44% say they were not made aware of opportunities at school.
The Lions launched a first-of-its kind programme International Coaching Programme earlier this year in which aspiring coaches from the UK had a fully paid three-month learning trip to another leading club in Europe. By exposing the aspiring coaches to different European styles, the Lions hope that this can be passed on to academies and young players around the UK – ultimately developing the sport and evolving players, coaches and clubs. This comes as data from the Lions highlights the importance of sports coaches as 18% of Brits say a sports coach was one of the biggest positive influences in their life growing up alongside 37% of parents saying their child’s sports coach has helped their child develop in ways they could not.
Alongside this, the Lions have teamed with University of East London (UEL) and New City College (NCC) to deliver basketball programmes and aim to inspire the next generation by reaching out to schools and inviting them to their men’s and women’s fixtures. The team have also partnered under the ONE TEAM umbrella with Safe Haven to deliver numerous clinics as well as offering their coaching staff to support in their weekly sessions, in order to inspire the next generation of basketball stars.
Coaches from the Lions’ International Coaching Programme and the JR. NBA European Finals comment:
William Twigg:
“Incredible opportunity to coach against European teams along with highly developed and skilled players & coaches. It’s great to understand and see how the Jr. NBA are developing the game in Europe. It’s exciting that London Lions are a part of the opportunity and growing the game of British basketball and giving further exposure for players and coaches. I have taken away many special moments on the trip. Looking forward to continuing to grow as a coach through the Lions’ pathway.”
George Vaz:
“It was an amazing experience to coach such talented players and watch some of the best kids in Europe competing at a high level. Being a part of the players journey, working with and competing against other talented and experienced coaches taught me a lot, as well as, motivated me to keep growing in my own coaching career.”
Gurhan Gurses:
“Real eye opening experience as a coach, to test ourselves against and to learn from some of the greatest basketball nations, with the opportunity to network with coaches from all around the world. An unforgettable journey!”
The London Lions women’s team have announced former Greek international Stella (Styliani) Kaltsidou as their new Head Coach as they look to emulate their domestic dominance with FIBA EuroLeague qualification next year. Kaltsidou brings a wealth of experience with her after a 27-year playing career where she played for Europe’s elite teams and a coaching career which has seen her become the assistant coach of Olympiacos and the Slovenian women’s national team. The new Head Coach will take charge of her first game on the 19th of February as the Lions take on the Caledonia Gladiators at the Copper Box Arena.
Kaltsidou joins a Lions team who are considered as one of the most successful teams in women’s sport, having achieved an unprecedented feat of 50 consecutive wins in the Women’s British Basketball League (WBBL) earlier this season and going unbeaten domestically for over 650 days. This is the latest in a string of accomplishments for the team after they achieved invincibility in the WBBL Championship last season – winning all 34 domestic games by an average margin of 40 points. They also completed a domestic clean sweep by winning the WBBL Cup, Trophy, Championship and Play-Off titles.
The Lions consider Kaltsidou’s appointment – and the wealth of experience she brings as both a player and coach at an elite level – to be integral in reaching the FIBA EuroLeague and developing the sport in the UK. The new coach’s style has been influenced by her experience in playing in France, Greece, Turkey and Poland and these new ideas and ideologies will now be shared with the rest of the Lions’ existing coaching staff – all of whom hail from the UK – including David Lavinier, Gary Maitland, Jacob Lloyd and Lauren Milligan.
The Lions’ impressive roster serves as a clear reflection of the rapid growth of the women’s basketball in the UK after the team completed a number of standout signings for this season including Mikiah ‘Kiki’ Herbert-Harrigan, Katsiaryna Snytsina and Taylor Murray.
New Head Coach of the London Lions women’s team, Stella (Styliani) Kaltsidou, comments:
“I’m really happy to become a member of London Lions family! I would like to thank the organisation for trusting me and giving me the opportunity to work for British basketball, which grows stronger every year. The club has already proven its dynamic in Europe this season, so the target is to continue the excellent job of coach Clark and work hard every day to improve and get ready to compete on the highest level.
“The goal is to build a team based on the best British players which, with patience and hard work, will succeed to become a stable power in Europe. I believe that this way this project can have a continuity over the years and become a pole of attraction for the next generations of British basketball. I’m really looking forward to start working with all the team on the court!”
General Manager of the London Lions women’s team, Vanja Cernivec, comments:
“We’re delighted to announce the signing of Stella as our new women’s team Head Coach. We have our sights set entering qualifiers for the FIBA EuroLeague next year, and Stella has invaluable experience both coaching and playing at that level. She has an incredible basketball mind, doesn’t leave anything to chance or luck and will bring so much energy and motivation to the team.
“When you talk to players Stella has played with or coached, you hear just how highly regarded she is by everyone and that speaks volumes. We are happy she has agreed to take on this challenge with us and we look forward to her bringing her wealth of experience and professionalism to the job “
London Lions have become the first-ever UK team to qualify for the EuroCup playoffs after beating Veolia Towers Hamburg 83-66 at the Copper Box Arena last night. The Lions were led in points by Kosta Koufos, who registered a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds, Sam Dekker also continued his brilliant form in the competition scoring 15 points – taking his average points per game to 19.0. The win improves the London team’s record to six wins and eight losses as they sit seventh in Group B.
The Lions have four games left in the group stage of the competition before they enter the playoff rounds, with each remaining game being vital to improve the Lions’ position in Group B – resulting in securing a lower-placed side in the playoffs, with the higher ranked regular season team in each matchup also enjoying home court advantage.
Head Coach Ryan Schmidt’s side now have a chance to secure qualification to the EuroLeague – the most prestigious European basketball competition – if they reach the final of the EuroCup. Fundamentally, last night’s momentous win and the subsequent progression to the next round shows that the Lions can compete with Europe’s best teams.
The game was watched in front of a crowd of just under 4,000 as British basketball continues its rapid growth in popularity. This comes after the Lions have boasted several sold-out crowds for their previous EuroCup games at both the Copper Box Arena and the OVO Arena Wembley.
The team boast a plethora of talent, including former Miye Oni, Sam Dekker, Kosta Koufos and Aaron Best. The London team has assembled a star-studded roster with a hybrid of homegrown tier-one talent, in addition to ex-NBA and further international signings, with the diverse squad boasting an abundance of experience playing in major basketball leagues around the world.
Head Coach of the London Lions, Ryan Schmidt said:
“I was pleased with our overall effort and to me, the thing that stands out is just the contributions from the entire team. That’s something I think we’ve been struggling with in this competition, especially as of late. We made some adjustments to our rotation, it wasn’t that anyone did anything wrong but I felt we needed some more balance. I thought the balance was really good and I also thought it helped us with our consistency on the defensive end as well as being able to play and sustain that effort. Anytime you get a win in this competition it’s satisfying and to be able to do it at home was really cool. We just have to continue to build on it again, we have a few games left before playoffs but we want to continue this trajectory.”
The London Lions women’s team have now achieved an unprecedented feat of 50 consecutive wins in the WBBL after defeating the Newcastle Eagles on Saturday. The team won the game 123-43 and now haven’t experienced a domestic loss for 637 days. This is the latest in a string of accomplishments for the team after they achieved invincibility in the WBBL Championship last season – winning all 34 domestic games by an average margin of 40 points. They also completed a domestic clean sweep by winning the WBBL Cup, Trophy, Championship and Play-Off titles.
Beyond what was a momentous season for women’s basketball, these accolades also cemented a historic moment for women’s sport in general, with the Lions arguably positioned as one of the most successful teams in women’s sport. The team is determined to provide a pathway for aspiring young sportswomen in the UK amidst a landmark study from the Lions showing that a quarter of females in the UK feel like progressing in a sport, either at a player or management level is not attractive as there are no role models that look like them.
The team has been buoyed this season by the historic appointment of Vanja Cernivec as the new women’s team General Manager and Global Director of London Lions Academy. Cernivec joins from her previous role as an international scout for the Chicago Bulls – where she became the first female in the NBA’s history to fulfil this position. Vanja’s appointment serves as a legacy moment for women in sport, as Cernivec becomes the first-ever female WBBL General Manager amidst a study from the Lions showing that 63% of females were not made aware of opportunities to work in sports at school.
The Lions’ impressive roster serves as a clear reflection of the rapid growth of the women’s basketball in the UK, as the team completed a number of standout signings for this season including Mikiah ‘Kiki’ Herbert-Harrigan, Katsiaryna Snytsina and Taylor Murray. These are all additionally supporting a stacked roster as the London-based side aim to repeat their monumental achievements last season.
Women in Sport states that 41% of girls aged 5-16 participate in team sports in their last published report in 2021 – a decrease of 7% from the previous year, with black British girls seeing the biggest decrease in activity levels – falling 8% from the previous year. After the Lionesses’ victory in the European Championships last year, the FA set out an aim of 75% of schools to provide access to girls’ football and for 75% of grassroots clubs to have at least one girls’ team. This is an important step to take, but there are still women’s sports that continue to feel neglected in the UK, including basketball.
Although it is estimated that 1.3 million people play basketball on a regular basis in the UK – the sport boasts the highest percentage of players from a non-white British background (47%) – it still ranks 12th for grassroots funding over the last decade with the women’s sport battling further obstacles to receive the funding it deserves. According to UK Sport, Basketball received just £25,000 p.a. between 2018 and 2021 – compared to the £10m p.a. British Rowing received, despite it being the second most popular team sport – marking a strong disparity between its popularity and level of monetary backing.
The team beat Greek side Promitheas Patras 77-67 last night
The London team now sit fifth in Group B of the prestigious European competition – with the top eight teams qualifying after the group stage.
The London Lions continued their historic EuroCup run as they beat Promitheas Patras 77-67 in Greece last night. The win marks the team’s third consecutive victory in the European competition and moves them up to fifth in Group B. This represents the latest landmark achievement for the London side as they became the first UK team since 2004 to win away from home in the competition earlier in the season – beating Veolia Hamburg Towers 75-103.
The game, played at the Dimitris Tofalos Arena in Patras, was tied at 64-64 midway through the final period as the Lions’ quality shone through in the final few minutes to clinch victory. The team were led by Sam Dekker who scored 20 points and supported by Vojech Hruban scoring 14.
The Lions are hitting form at just the right time, with their next game in the competition being another tough away clash in Turkey against Turk Telekom on December 14. Their campaign in the competition this season marks a historic moment not just for the London-based side, but also a potential turning point for the growth of British basketball as the Lions are the first UK team to be included in the EuroCup since 2007. The London team has assembled a star-studded roster with a hybrid of homegrown tier-one talent, in addition to ex-NBA and further international signings, with the diverse squad boasting an abundance of experience playing in major basketball leagues around the world.
London Lions Head Coach, Ryan Schmidt, said:
“It was a great, well-fought game and I’m really proud of our guys. It wasn’t pretty and we struggled on the offensive end – we had some of our better offensive players, Zubcic and Nelson who really struggled hitting shots, but I thought the resiliency was impressive from our group. I’m really proud of our group to register this big road win, to get to four wins in the competition and to continue to trying to build on it and keep improving.”
Newer Posts