Super League Basketball (SLB) today reaffirmed its commitment to the sustainable, longterm development of professional basketball in the United Kingdom, welcoming recent global developments and outlining its role in shaping the future structure of the sport domestically.
Following its multi-year recognition agreement with FIBA, SLB continues to operate as a recognised men’s professional basketball league in GreatBritain. This recognition reinforces SLB’s efforts to maintain a stable, credible, and investable league structure that supports elite performance, commercial development, and a clear pathway from grassroots to the professional game.
The agreement provides stability, clarity, and certainty for clubs, players, partners, and supporters, ensuring not only that British basketball remains aligned with the international governance framework, but that SLB can make long-term plans for the future based on its continuing participation in the global basketball ecosystem. The agreement also allows SLB and its Clubs to continue their investments in the SLB Women’s league and their women’s teams, as well as their arena development, associated junior development and community programmes.
NBA Europe Developments
SLB has noted the NBA’s recent public updates regarding a new basketball league in Europe in partnership with FIBA, with current indications that the competition could begin as early as 2027. SLB recognises the significance of this development for European basketball as a whole, and the potential impact on participation and engagement for British basketball.
The proposed competition is expected to be structured in alignment with the current European basketball calendar, allowing clubs to participate across existing domestic and international competitions, while ensuring players remain available for both club duties and national team commitments.
The NBA-FIBA project explores teams in London and Manchester — two of the UK’s great sporting cities with rich basketball histories and passionate fan bases. SLB sees this as an exciting opportunity to further develop elite sporting rivalries, raise the profile of the game nationally, and inspire new audiences across the country.
SLB looks forward to welcoming UK-based teams in the new European league to participate within SLB competitions.
Working Towards a Unified Future
SLB remains committed to working collaboratively with FIBA, the Home Nations (Basketball England, Basketball Scotland, and Basketball Wales),and the Government, as discussions continue around the future structure of basketball in Great Britain. These conversations are focused on ensuring the sport has a clear, sustainable framework that supports participation, performance, and commercial growth at all levels.
SLB Independent Chair Sanjay Bhandari MBE said:
“Our focus remains on long-term stability and progress for British basketball. FIBA recognition provides certainty and credibility, while ongoing dialogue with international and domestic stakeholders ensures that we are building a structure fit for the future of the game.”
Super League Basketball will continue to engage openly with all partners as the landscape develops, ensuring that British basketball is well-positioned to thrive within the global game while delivering high-quality competition for fans at home and in direct support of Team GB.