The London-born New York Knicks forward announced the investment during a visit to the capital, as City Hall moves ahead with a wider push to improve basketball facilities across London.

Speaking to the BBC, Anunoby said: “Each time I come back to London, there’s more and more excitement about basketball. It’s definitely growing at a rapid rate – it’s amazing.”

He added: “I’m very excited to partner with the Mayor of London to refurbish the basketball court in Camden. Access to a court and facilities is key for young, aspiring basketball players. Basketball can lead to a career, education but for so many it can also be a path to community and way to connect with others.”

The exact amount Anunoby has pledged has not been disclosed, but the project will be supported by £50,000 from the Mayor and $25,000 from the NBPA Foundation, alongside Camden Council funding for the wider site.

Argyle Square is one of the most important community courts in the capital and home to the Argyle Kings, the first club/community group many local players came through. BBC coverage of the court’s condition last year spearheaded by SBB helped push the issue into the open, with the council opening discussions with the group in August.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m determined to ensure that every young Londoner can access high-quality places to play basketball and fulfil their potential. So I’m delighted London’s own NBA superstar OG Anunoby is backing our efforts to improve basketball facilities across London and inspire the next generation of players.

“Through my Basketball Taskforce and our partnership with the NBA, we’re improving opportunities for young Londoners and ensuring basketball can thrive in every part of our city.

“London is the sporting capital of the world, and I look forward to continuing to work with OG and the NBA to grow the game and build a healthier, fairer and more prosperous London for everyone.”

Ray Akpofure of the Argyle Kings told the BBC he was “flabbergasted” by Anunoby’s involvement. “More than anything, I’m just proud,” he said. “It’s a testament to all of the work we’ve been putting in.”

The redevelopment is also set to include a memorial to Anthony “TJ” Hibbert, who died in the tragic Essex car crash of 2025, aged 24. The court is TJ’s local court which he grew up on and first fell in love with the game.

Camden Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali said the court could become “a renowned basketball hub not just for Camden but also for London”. She added: “Our mission is to honour its legacy and build for the future of the court and its players.”

The project is being completed as part of the Mayor of London’s Basketball Taskforce, which includes a £2 million commitment to improve facilities across London and a £1 million expansion of the London Coaches Programme with the NBA.

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The new franchise will compete in the 2026-27 season and call M&S Bank Arena home, with SLB confirming the 11,000-capacity waterfront venue as the club’s base.

The move was already on the radar last year. The Yorkshire Post reported in August and September 2025 that Liverpool was a key target for SLB as it looked to add a 10th team, with an American investor behind the project.

That investor has now been confirmed as Jason Dolan, founder of Kings Dock Sports Group Ltd, who said Liverpool was the clear choice because of the city’s sporting culture and arena infrastructure.

“We are building for decades – not seasons,” Dolan said. “That’s why Liverpool was the clear choice. Its global sporting reputation, world-class arena, vibrant city centre and passionate supporters have created a culture shaped by clubs that represent more than competition – they represent their communities, their supporters and their city.”

For Liverpool Experience Campus, home to M&S Bank Arena, the franchise is being pitched as a year-round addition to the waterfront.

“Becoming the home of this new team reflects our ambition to make elite sport more accessible, inspire the next generation and create year-round energy on the waterfront,” chief executive Faye Dyer said.

The launch also raises an immediate naming question, with Liverpool Basketball sharing a name with Liverpool Basketball Club, the established NBL programme in the city. SLB has not suggested that is an issue, but it is something to watch as the new franchise builds its identity.

Over the coming weeks, the club is due to unveil its branding – though the logo was included in the SLB press release, as seen above – leadership appointments, coaching staff and inaugural roster, with season ticket registrations and founding partnership announcements to follow later this summer.

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The fixture tips off at 1:00pm local time, which means a 9:00pm BST slot for supporters in the UK, giving the Lions a prime-time autumn stage for one of the biggest nights in the club’s history.

It is the first time a club side from the United Kingdom has ever shared the floor with an NBA franchise, and it arrives at a moment when British basketball’s profile continues to rise both domestically and internationally.

The game also carries a strong Portland link for Lions head coach Tautvydas Sabonis. His father, Arvydas Sabonis, spent seven seasons with the Trail Blazers between 1995 and 2003 and remains one of the most beloved European players ever to wear a Blazers shirt.

For the younger Sabonis to lead a British club into that same building against the same franchise adds a fitting layer of symmetry to a landmark fixture.

Portland’s latest roster move has added another UK subplot. The Blazers have just signed British-developed forward Jeremy Sochan, creating the possibility of an even sharper domestic angle around the game.

“Playing a preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers is a historic moment for our club and for basketball in the United Kingdom,” London Lions general manager Martynas Purlys said. “We see this opportunity as a recognition of the progress and ambition of the London Lions organisation, as well as an important milestone for British basketball as a whole.”

“We believe this occasion will provide a significant boost to the growth and popularity of basketball across the UK, inspire the next generation of players and fans, and demonstrate that British club basketball is entering a new era,” Purlys added. “We are grateful for the opportunity to play in Portland and look forward to what will be a memorable experience for both organisations and their supporters.”

Sabonis said the fixture is especially meaningful on a personal level. “I’m excited to be playing a preseason game against an NBA team, and all the more so against the Portland Trail Blazers in Portland, a city that holds a lot of meaning for me and my family,” he said. “It will be fun to come back.”

“As for the game itself, it will be a great test for our guys to try themselves against an NBA team, and a great boost for the growth of British basketball,” he added.

The Lions go into the new campaign as reigning Super League Basketball champions after a clean sweep last season, and they are also set for a return to the BKT EuroCup.

While this will be the first direct meeting between a British club and an NBA team, there is a historical footnote. The closest previous crossover came at the 1995 McDonald’s Championship at London Arena, where Sheffield Sharks were in the same six-team field as the Houston Rockets. The clubs never met, but it remains the nearest precedent to an NBA-club connection involving British basketball.

Tickets for the Portland game are on sale via the Trail Blazers’ official website.

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The morning programme is the Jr. NBA 3v3 schools event, with London’s best young hoopers going head-to-head on the square from 9am, before the NBA 3X London Creator Tournament, with influencer captains DJ AG, Darkest, Harry, Elz and Joel Henry taking to the floor at 5:30pm.

Wheelchair basketball is also part of the programme, while across the day there will be a chance to win prizes, live DJs and a dunk show as the event builds towards the final games.

Entrance is free but registration is required to attend the NBA 3X creator tournament from 4:30 p.m. onwards, which you can do here.

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The 3×3 competition will run from 24-29 July, with the group stage played from 24-27 July. Each pool contains six teams and each side plays five games. The top team in each pool goes straight to the semi-finals, while second and third place move into the play-ins on 28 July.

England’s squads include returning Commonwealth Games medallists, FIBA 3×3 regulars and GB 3×3 internationals.

Women’s squad

• Shanice Beckford-Norton – Oaklands Wolves, London
• Georgia Gayle – Unattached, Sheffield
• Cheridene Green – Perfumerias Avenida, London
• Katie Januszewska – Leicester Riders, Castle Donington

Women’s reserves

• Marlee Ball – Unattached, Waterdown, Canada
• Nina Rickards – Unattached, New York, USA

Men’s squad

• Jamell Anderson – London 3×3, Nottingham
• Ashley Hamilton – London 3×3, London
• Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye – Njardvik, London
• Evan Walshe – London 3×3, Tring

Men’s reserves

• Veron Eze – London 3×3, Ipswich
• Toto Fagbenle – London 3×3, London

Basketball England said the selection process began in May, with a longlist assembled in Manchester before players were reduced through preparatory camps and tournaments in Ireland, Romania and Serbia.

“I am really pleased to announce the players who will be representing England this summer,” BE head of talent and performance Steve Bucknall said.

“The coaches have put together strong rosters with the talent and experience that we’ll need to navigate the expanded 3×3 competition.

“Both the men and women individually and together embody the dynamism, grit and poise that is English and British basketball, and I believe wholeheartedly in our medal potential and crowd-pleasing performances.”

England’s women open against Singapore on Saturday 25 July, while the men start against Jamaica on the same day.

England Women

• Saturday 25 July: Singapore v England
• Saturday 25 July: England v Scotland
• Saturday 25 July: New Zealand v England
• Monday 27 July: England v Papua New Guinea
• Monday 27 July: Singapore v England

England Men

• Saturday 25 July: England v Jamaica
• Saturday 25 July: England v Fiji
• Saturday 25 July: England v Kenya
• Monday 27 July: England v Malaysia
• Monday 27 July: Singapore v England

Julius Joseph MBE said the men’s group blends “experience and youth” and has the size and length to be effective at the elite level, while Sarah Hopkins-Chery said the women have become “a tight unit” through the selection process.

Team England chef de mission Jonathan Riall said Glasgow would be a chance to build on the success of Birmingham 2022, when England won men’s gold and women’s silver in 3×3’s Commonwealth Games debut.

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City AM reported that EuroLeague CEO Chus Bueno said the Lions are one of several potential buyers for the London franchise, with the club already taking steps to strengthen their case by securing a place in EuroCup for 2026-27.

“In the case of London, we have the interest of the London Lions, just to be clear. They want to become franchisees, they said it already,” Bueno told City AM.

“But also we have two more investors that are interested. For me, London is a big market, everyone wants to have London, we see an acute opportunity – it’s a no-brainer, right?”

Bueno also warned there was “more risk” in establishing a franchise in London, pointing to the challenges of building a viable top-level basketball audience in the capital. He suggested the domestic league may not provide the right platform if the franchise wants to attract elite talent and build strong crowds.

The comments are a blow for Super League Basketball, with Bueno saying the domestic league “is not as competitive as other European domestic leagues”.

“If you tell top talent that you’re going to play in a small college arena, 800 people, it’s not very compelling,” he said.

He added that a London franchise would need to prove the model before any wider expansion, ruling out multiple London teams and saying Manchester was “way too risky” for a EuroLeague franchise at this stage.

The Lions, who were crowned domestic quadruple champions this season, have already lined up EuroCup basketball for 2026-27 after agreeing a three-plus-two year deal with Euroleague Basketball last week. They have also publicly pushed ahead with plans for a new dedicated arena in London, which would strengthen any long-term bid to move into the continent’s top competition.

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Iceland advanced to the Second Round of the European Qualifiers after a comeback built around a strong third quarter and a late burst in the closing stages, with Great Britain unable to respond in the final possession sequence.

GB looked to be in control at half-time at 49-41 and still led 69-61 early in the fourth quarter, but Iceland chipped away, took the lead for the first time inside the final minute and closed the game out at the line.

Josh Uduje led Great Britain with 23 points, while Luke Nelson added 14 and Flynn Boardman-Raffet finished with 11. Jon Axel Gudmundsson top-scored for Iceland with 25 points and eight rebounds, with Martin Hermannsson adding 20.

Marc Steutel said the loss was especially painful because GB had been in front for most of the game.

“Permutations were win or go through so congratulations to Iceland,” Steutel said in the post-game press conference.

“A basketball game at any level, if you’re in front for 32 minutes you’d hope you could see the game through.”

It was a frustrating ending for GB, who had put themselves in position to reach the next phase but were unable to make the decisive plays when Iceland surged back into the contest. They now drop into the EuroBasket pre-qualifiers.

“Our programme has competed as a good level for many years now, and we know this puts us into pre-qualifiers, where we haven’t been for a long time,” Steutel continued. “So it’s a chance for us to review and reflect upon the programme.”

FIBA boxscore and overview

Post-game press conference

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Cleary and Henry both arrived last summer and quickly became central to Matthew Otten’s plans, giving Manchester a domestic core built around familiarity, versatility and defensive intensity.

“Not many things replicate the feeling of playing for your city,” reflected Cleary. “You’re carrying more than your name, you’re carrying your city’s colours, its history, and everyone who believes in you.”

“I’m excited to be back with Manchester,” Henry added. “We did big things last season and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for us.”

Sandy heads to Manchester after three seasons in the capital and more than 100 games for the London Lions. The 6ft 7in forward has played in the club’s EuroCup campaigns and was part of the sides that lifted the British Playoff titles in 2024 and 2026. He also made an impact against Turk Telekom in EuroCup play earlier this year, scoring 12 points.

“I’m very excited to be part of Manchester Basketball and continue building the winning culture in the city,” Sandy said. “I look forward to working with everyone in the organisation and playing in front of the fans!”

Brown joins after a breakout campaign with Bristol Flyers that earned him a call-up to the Great Britain senior squad, who played in Manchester in Tuesday’s loss to Iceland. The 6ft 3in combo guard began last season in the Irish Super League with Sligo All-Stars, where he averaged 19.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, before adding 8.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists across 34 SLB appearances for Bristol. His college career included spells at Fresno Pacific, Central Methodist, Montana and The University of the Cumberlands, where he helped the Patriots to a 24-4 record in 2023-24 and became the first player since 2009 to earn NAIA First-Team All-American honours.

“I’m super excited to sign with Manchester Basketball,” Brown said. “I’m ready to build on an already established culture and club. I can’t wait to get to work and bring my abilities to the team and help compete for silverware next year. See you soon Manchester.”

Otten said the returning pair gives him confidence in the domestic core. “With Kaiyem and Kayne returning our defence and position versatility will translate well to our roster build. These guys have elite work ethic and great intention to our team and goals as a club.”

He added that Sandy fits the profile of what the club have been looking for on the defensive end. “Ciaran is an elite defender who can guard multiple positions. Strengthening our defence has been a task this summer, Ciaran certainly fits the profile for that.”

On Brown, Otten said: “Brown is a player we saw improved throughout the year, progressing his presence on the court until he became a problem for us in playoffs. For a player so early in his professional career, he’s shown his ceiling is high and will only continue to get better.”

Manchester’s roster now has a familiar domestic spine, with added size on the wing and another promising guard joining a group that will again be expected to compete for silverware.

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Tickets are still available here where you can get a season pass for all 5 weeks for just £10 or weekly entry is £4.

Game 1 (10:30am, Classification Game)

London United vs 94 Team Gamebased

Live stats

Game 2 (11:45am, Semi Finals)

London Lions vs JMG Select

Live stats

Game 3 (1:00pm, Semi-Finals)

Ballers vs AQ Select

Live stats

Game 4 (2:15pm, Classification)

Hometown Heroes vs 94 Feet Select

Live stats

Game 5 (3:30pm, Semi-Final)

TMB vs Southside Saints

Live stats

Game 6 (4:45pm, Semi-Final)

UEL vs Oaklands Wolves

Live stats

Tickets are still available here.

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The 6-8 forward, who only picked up a basketball at 16, completes a remarkable rise from the courts of south east London to the world’s best league.

A product of the City of London Academy (CoLA) basketball programme, Lawal is the latest British talent to come through the system and reach the professional ranks. He featured in the Hoopsfix All-Star Classic in 2021 before heading to the United States for a prep year at Lee Academy in New England, and then on to college basketball at VCU and Virginia Tech.

His selection makes Lawal just the seventh homegrown British player to be drafted into the NBA in the last 25 years, following Rob Archibald (2002), Luol Deng (2004), Joel Freeland (2006), Ryan Richards (2010), Jeremy Sochan (2022) and Amari Williams (2025).

Lawal spent his freshman year at VCU, averaging 5.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 13.6 minutes per game, before transferring to Virginia Tech. The move proved the making of him. In 2024-25 he led the Hokies in total points (372), field goals made (128), rebounds (210) and blocks (20).

He kicked on again as a senior, averaging 12.3 points on 54.2 per cent shooting, 8.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks across 23 games (17 starts) in 2025-26.

Across his two seasons with Virginia Tech, the London native scored 20 or more points seven times. He twice posted a career-high 23, first on his debut against Delaware State on 4 November 2024, then again versus Virginia on 15 February 2025. He grabbed a career-best 15 rebounds twice this season, against Charlotte on 16 November 2025 and at NC State on 7 February 2026, and registered a career-high five blocks against Louisville on 24 January 2026.

A GB senior international, Lawal now joins a growing list of Brits making their mark at the highest level, and does so having only started playing the game seven years ago.

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