London Lions sealed the inaugural Super League Basketball league title with an emphatic 97-80 victory over the Leicester Riders.

After a turbulent summer in which fanbases had no idea if they would have a club to support for the 2024/25 campaign, newly crowned champions London Lions and Super League Basketball have proved that the British game has the potential to rival top European leagues.

The side, formally known as the ‘Hemel Hempstead Lakers’ in 1977, has been a mainstay in British basketball and was one of the nine member clubs that led the charge to salvage the domestic game.

Even with the never-ending licensing drama that has bubbled away in the background during the season, the Lions have displayed that SLB can produce an exciting brand of basketball that fans around the league can finally be proud of.

London Lions make history

It was a dominant campaign for London as they were finally crowned as the inaugural SLB champions on April 24 – winning their 24th game of the season.

Aaryn Rai has been a standout performer for a franchise that has boasted quality in every position. Rai showcased his elite levels of efficiency as he averaged 14.9 points per game while shooting an impressive 55.8% from the floor.

But it has been the forward’s hard-working attitude that has spectators salivating at the prospect of Rai’s future trajectory as the star grabbed 7.2 rebounds and stole the ball on 1.5 occasions per game.

However, the addition of Alen Hadzibegovic has cemented the Lions’ reputation as one of the most well-rounded rosters in the SLB. Hadzibegovic has averaged 12.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game in only 23.5 minutes on the floor.

Coach Bozic is creating a legacy

Head coach Petar Bozic has been a revelation since he was recruited by the franchise from the Austin Spurs, the San Antonio Spurs’ G-League equivalent, in which he won the G-League championship in 2018.

Bozic was appointed by the London Lions in August 2023 and has managed to propel his players to the dizzying heights of British basketball.

His reputation preceded him as one of the most exciting young coaches in Europe. The 46-year-old has emphatically repaid his employers during his tenure so far – winning back-to-back regular season titles and the British Basketball Playoff title in 2023/24. 

With high-level coaches such as Petar Bozic and Manchester Basketball’s newly appointed head coach Herman Mandole plying their trade in Super League Basketball, it shows that the British game is building some momentum as one of Europe’s most exciting leagues.

The London Lions have exhibited a brand of basketball that will only enhance SLB’s chances of landing superstar-level talent and can create a product that fans of the beautiful game can be proud of.