2019–20 was the 33rd season of the British Basketball League, the top British professional basketball tier, since its establishment in 1987. The season began with 12 teams from across England and Scotland but London City Royals folded mid-campaign.
The BBL Cup, won by Worcester Wolves, and Trophy, won by Newcastle were concluded before, on 17 March 2020, the season was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom with the Eagles' victory over Solent in the Trophy final proving to be the last completed fixture.
No League champions were ultimately declared despite a claim from Glasgow Rocks to be awarded the title due to their lead in wins and winning percentage at the time of the shutdown.
Changes to format The 2019–20 season saw a significantly revamped format for the first time in a number of years.
The newly-formatted BBL Cup began the 2019–20 season in September, with group stages (2 geographical groups, North and South, of 6 teams each) to determine 8 teams to progress to the Quarter-finals. Single-legged quarter finals and two-legged semi finals matches would determine the two finalists to contest the Cup final.
The Championship was scheduled to run from December to April. All 12 teams were to play each other twice, once home once away, for a 22-game regular season (as opposed to previous years where teams would play each other 3 times for a 33-game regular season).
For the first time in 21 years, playoff quarter and semi-finals were due to be determined over a best-of-three series with the top eight finishers in the league qualifying. The Playoffs Final had been scheduled for the O2 Arena, London.
Teams
Arenas and locations TeamCityArena Capacity Bristol Flyers Bristol SGS WISE Arena Cheshire Phoenix Ellesmere Port Cheshire Oaks Arena Radisson RED Glasgow Rocks Glasgow Emirates Arena Leicester Riders Leicester Morningside Arena London City Royals London Crystal Palace NSC London Lions London Copper Box Manchester Giants Manchester George H. Carnall Centre Newcastle Eagles Newcastle upon Tyne Eagles Community Arena Plymouth Raiders Plymouth Plymouth Pavilions B.Braun Sheffield Sharks Sheffield Ponds Forge Surrey Scorchers Guildford Surrey Sports Park Worcester Wolves Worcester University of Worcester Arena
Personnel and sponsorship TeamHead coachCaptainMain jersey sponsor Bristol Flyers Andreas Kapoulas Daniel Edozie Toogood International Cheshire Phoenix Ben Thomas Momčilo Latinović Hillyer McKeown Radisson RED Glasgow Rocks Vincent Lavandier Gareth Murray Carling Leicester Riders Rob Paternostro Andrew Thomson Jelson Homes London City Royals Lloyd Gardner Orlan Jackman London Lions Vince Macaulay Joe Ikhinmwin ASOS Manchester Giants Danny Byrne Callum Jones Space Newcastle Eagles Ian McLeod Rahmon Fletcher ESH Group Plymouth Raiders Paul James Josh Wilcher B.Braun Sheffield Sharks Atiba Lyons Mike Tuck B.Braun Surrey Scorchers Creon Raftopoulos Tayo Ogedengbe Gidden Place Worcester Wolves Matthew Newby Maarten Bouwknecht University of Worcester
Coaching changes TeamOutgoing coachManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming coachDate of appointmentWorcester Wolves Tony GarbelottoEnd of Interim1 May 2019Pre-season Matthew Newby22 July 2019London City Royals Jay Williams Released 12 August 2019Pre-season Lloyd Gardner16 August 2019 Newcastle Eagles Fabulous FlournoySigned by Toronto Raptors3 September 2019Pre-season Ian McLeod 6 September 2019
BBL Cup
The newly-formatted BBL Cup began the 2019–20 season on Friday 20 September, with the group stages running until Sunday 24 November. The 12 teams were split into 2 geographical groups, North and South. Each team played each other twice (once home, once away) with the top 4 teams in each group progressing to the Quarter-finals. Single-legged quarter finals and two-legged semi finals matches determined the two finalists to contest the Cup final on Sunday 26 January at the Arena Birmingham.
Qualification Stage
North Group
South Group
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
BBL Championship The BBL Championship ran from Friday 6 December – Tuesday 17 March. All 12 teams were scheduled to play each other twice, once home and once away, for a 22-game regular season. On 24 January 2020, London City Royals withdrew from the league, and their 1–3 record was expunged.
On 17 March 2020, the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. On 1 June 2020, the season was cancelled, with no League or Playoffs champions declared.
Standings
Results
BBL Trophy
The BBL Trophy retained the same format as introduced in the 2018–19 season. The twelve BBL teams were joined in the first round draw by four invited teams; Solent Kestrels and Worthing Thunder from the English Basketball League, Dunfermline Reign from the Scottish Basketball Championship and Basketball Wales. There was an open draw to form a bracket, mapping out each team's path to the final which was held, for the eighth consecutive year, at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow.
First round
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
British clubs in European competitions
No British clubs participated in European competition for the 2019–20 season. Leicester and London both declined their invitations from FIBA.
Notes
References
External links