Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll have noticed that one of the most exciting names in the British game has a new home for the inaugural Super League Basketball season.
Yes, Aaryn Rai – one of the stars of Cheshire Phoenix’s outstanding 2023/24 campaign – has made the move to the south-east to join Petar Bozic’s London Lions, in a move that has certainly grabbed headlines since it was announced.
In his first interview since switching to the Copper Box club, the 26-year-old wing discussed how he has dealt with reaction to the announcement of his new adventure.
“It’s been an interesting few days, for sure, and I totally get where all the fans are coming from – whether they’re Cheshire fans, London fans or just British basketball fans. I loved my time with the Phoenix. Their fans and everybody at the club are wonderful. I wouldn’t have got here without them, and I wish them every success – except when they’re playing against us!
“It’s been a bit of a shock in some ways because a year or two ago nobody would have looked twice at this kid called Aaryn Rai who was signing anywhere, but with this it has been a big deal and I’ve got to adjust to that and embrace it because it shows how far I’ve come.
“I’ve been honoured by all the messages and kind words I’ve had from fans. To be able to have this platform to do what I love and create an impact is a privilege for every single one of us and I’m looking forward to continuing my journey this season in London.”
Buying into the vision
Over the summer the Lions were acquired by Tesonet, a tech hub and shareholder of EuroLeague powerhouses Zalgaris Kaunas, ushering in a new era for a franchise which has made British basketball history on several fronts in recent years.
The most high-profile new acquisition of Tesonet’s tenure thus far, Rai discussed what about the opportunity to move to the capital attracted him and how his signing transpired.
“I’m excited about the vision they’re pursuing. They have plans to build something special in London that can compete not just in the Super League but in Europe again in years to come, and to be here on a longer-term deal and help build that is exciting.
“After an enjoyable season with Cheshire I was looking for a new opportunity to try and test myself in Europe, so I had a good conversation with the staff at the Phoenix about my decision and they went ahead and finalised their roster.
“Whilst I was in Niagara [playing in the Canadian Elite Basketball League] I had offers from teams in Europe, including London’s proposal which was appealing because it’s a league I know, the environment is exciting and they have the European ambitions for the near future, so it felt like the right place for me and I’m excited by the opportunity to get going.”
Learning with the Lions
A thorn in the side of Coach Bozic in his debut season at the top level of British basketball, Rai was a regular triple-double threat in his outings against the Lions for the Phoenix, so the Serbian play-caller will be delighted to have the Dartmouth graduate on his side this season.
The 6’6” British-Canadian discussed his own admiration for Bozic and how he feels the play-caller and his new Lions teammates are uniquely placed to help the versatile hooper take his game to another level.
“After playing against them several times last year, I liked the way the Lions did their business on the court. Coach Bozic has a fluid system in place where the ball moves well and the team can adapt and utilise the skills of all their players, very similar to Cheshire.
“There are great players and coaching staff here that have played at the level I want to reach, so learning exactly what it takes to do that and what I need to improve to reach that level is something that is very valuable. I never want to stop learning and I’m not the sort of person to get complacent so I’m going to keep pushing.
“Wherever I’ve been, whether it’s NCAA, NBL, or here, I’ve learnt a lot along the way and I’m never going to change or lose that desire to ask questions of people who are far smarter than I am, so I’m excited for that process and to be around those people who can help me grow.”
Just getting started
Preparing for his sophomore campaign in the topflight of British basketball, Rai’s rookie year will be a tough act to follow as he surpassed all expectations – even his own lofty ambitions in some cases – to become a Most Valuable Player candidate whilst with the Phoenix.
Coming into his second season fresh from winning the CEBL title after a super summer with the Niagara River Lions, Rai detailed his ambitions for the future and how he has managed expectations thus far in his career.
“My first year in the league went a lot better than I expected. There’s always ups and downs, but I really did appreciate all the support and kind words from fans at Cheshire and across the league, as well as my teammates, coaches and everybody else. The confidence it gave me helped enormously.
“I know I’m only just starting on my journey and there’s so much more I need and want to improve on. I’m far from the finished product and I see a tonne of areas where I can get better and keep growing, and London feels like the place to do that work and learn what I need to learn to make that next step.
“Coming from the NBL, maybe there was less external expectation of me, but I always hold myself to the highest standard and I expected a lot from myself last year, holding myself accountable every day to make sure I could put my best foot forward for my team. I feel like I achieved that, but I’m not satisfied at all and I know there’s more to come.”