Patriots Basketball Club, also known as Patriots, is a professional basketball club based in Kigali, Rwanda. Established in 2014, it plays its home games at Amahoro Indoor Stadium. The team is a four-time champion of the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL).Rwanda: Basketball - Patriots, Reg Clash in Pre-Season Final Richard Bishumba, AllAfrica.com. 25 November 2016, accessed 11 April 2017.
In the 2021 season, the Patriots played in the Basketball Africa League (BAL). The club gained worldwide attention when American star rapper J. Cole signed with the team to play in the BAL.
History The club Patriots BBC was founded in 2014 by a group of top corporate executives from diverse sectors of the economy. In the Patriots' debut season, they immediately reached the playoff finals, but lost to Espoir 1–3. Two years later, the Patriots won their first national championship.
On 21 September 2019, the Patriots won their fourth league title after defeating REG BBC in Game 7 of the finals, in a sold out Kigali Arena. On 26 October, head coach Henry Mwinuka, who won three league championships with Patriots, parted ways with the club to join REG. On 6 November, assistant coach Carey Odhiambo was promoted to become head coach.
Patriots were part of the qualifiers for the 2021 Basketball Africa League season, winning the east division and qualifying for the first season of the BAL. In April 2021, ahead of the first-ever BAL season, the team signed American Alan Major as new head coach. On 10 May 2021, American rapper Jermaine Cole (known under his artist name J. Cole) signed with the Patriots four days before the release of his sitxth studio album, The Off-Season. Cole played three pool games in the BAL, but left the team ahead of the quarterfinals after his contract ended.
The Patriots played their first BAL game on 16 May 2021 at home in Kigali, beating Nigerian side Rivers Hoopers 83–60. Eventually, the team finished in fourth place at the inaugural tournament, losing to Angolan side Petro de Luanda in the third place game.
After the 2023–24 season, Mwinuka left the team, and was replaced by new head coach Sunny Niyomugabo.
Sponsorships In 2024, Patriots BBC signed a five-year sponsorship contract with the Rwanda Development Bank (RDB).
Players Current roster
Retired numbers
Patriots BBC retired numbersN°PlayerPositionTenureCeremony date 88 Aristide Mugabe SG 2015–2023 2 March 2024
Past rosters 2021 BAL season
Notable players
Aristide Mugabe Walter Nkurunziza Sedar Sagamba Jean de Dieu Niagunduka
Honours National Basketball League Winners (4): 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 BAL Fourth Place (1): 2021
Season by season League championsPlayoff berth SeasonTierLeagueRegular seasonPostseasonCup competitionsHead coachFinish Played Wins Losses Win % Patriots BBC2016–171NBL1stNot heldHenry Mwinuka2017–18League not played2018–191NBL1st16142Won semifinals (APR) 3–2Won finals (REG) 4–3Runners-up (HC)2019–201NBL1st330Won semifinals (IPRC-Kigali) 88–59Won finals (REG) 76–61Carey Odhiambo2020–211NBL 1st12111Won quarterfinals (30 Plus) 106–61Won semifinals (APR) 2–0Lost finals (REG) 0–2CancelledDean Murray2021–221RBL1st24222Won semifinals (Tigers) 2–0Lost finals (REG) 2–3Not organisedOgolla Benson2022–231RBL2nd22193Lost semifinals (APR) 0–2Not organisedHenry Mwinuka2023–241RBL1st18171Won semifinals (Kepler) 3–0 Lost finals (APR) 2–4Semifinalist (RC)2024–251RBL4th16106Lost quarterfinals (APR) 2–3 Lost third place game (UGB)TBDSunny NiyomugaboRegular season record11196154 NBL/RBL championshipsPlayoffs record 462320
Head coaches Coach From To Honours Henry Mwinuka December 2016 October 2019 4x NBL champion Carey Odhiambo November 2019 February 2020 Dean Murray February 2020 March 2021 1x NBL champion Bernard Oluoch March 2021 April 2021 Alan Major April 2021 May 2021 Ogolla Benson May 2021 December 2022 Henry MwinukaJanuary 2023December 2024 Sunny NiyomugaboJanuary 2025
References
External links Presentation at Afrobasket.com Presentation at facebook