In Episode 123 of the Hoopsfix podcast, we sit down with British basketball legend Bobby Kinzer to explore what he sees as "the golden era" of British basketball during the 1980's. 

Bobby shares his journey from Washington, DC to playing in the UK, highlighting the level of competition and the unique challenges faced by American players abroad.

Bobby delves into the financial and cultural hurdles that basketball encountered in the UK, emphasising the importance of grassroots development and the need for a strong foundation to elevate the sport. 

The conversation also touches on the evolution of the game, the role of corporate sponsorship, and the enduring potential of British basketball.

In this episode of the Hoopsfix podcast, we sit down with GB head coach Marc Steutel about the evolution of the Great Britain basketball program since their last Eurobasket campaign. He discusses the improvements in preparation, team culture, and leadership, as well as the challenges ahead in the upcoming EuroBasket tournament. 

Steutel emphasises the importance of player development, team identity, and the need to build a strong foundation for future success. The conversation also touches on player availability and the tough competition they will face in their group.

00:00 Intro
02:03 From Low Points to High Hopes: The Evolution of GB Basketball
08:15 Building a Winning Culture: Goals and Values in GB Basketball
13:49 Assessing Performance: Preparation and Team Identity
20:06 Facing the Giants: Strategies Against Top Competitors
26:19 Defensive Strategies Against Luka Doncic
28:36 Player Availability and Roster Decisions
35:00 Future of Young Players in the National Team
40:10 Tobi Lawal's Potential and Development
43:37 Akwasi Yeboah's Role and Impact
47:19 Preparing for Eurobasket Challenges

For Episode 121 of the Hoopsfix podcast we got sit down with San Antonio Spurs' Jeremy Sochan while he was back in London for a week.

Having just completed his third year in the NBA, and fresh off a trip to the Philippines, Jeremy shares his experiences and reflections on his journey from being drafted three years ago to becoming a certified NBA professional. 

He discusses the challenges of adapting to various roles in the team, the mental health struggles that come with the NBA lifestyle, and the importance of maintaining a support network. Jeremy also opens up about the impact of social media and gambling on players, his aspirations for EuroBasket, and his plans to promote basketball in the UK, having recently been appointed to the Mayor of London's Basketball Taskforce.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
01:47 Catching Up with Jeremy Sochan
02:54 Life in the NBA
05:36 Media and Public Perception
17:25 Mental Health and Support Systems
24:04 Off-Season Plans and EuroBasket
31:38 NBA Stars and Referees: The Ego Factor
32:47 Evolving Goals in the NBA
35:16 Financial Wisdom and Lifestyle Changes
43:02 Impacting UK Basketball
49:35 Future Aspirations and NBA Europe
56:32 Fan Questions and Personal Insights

For episode 120 of the Hoopsfix Podcast we sit down with legends of the game David Last and Terry Doherty, the masterminds behind Crystal Palace basketball club.

Crystal Palace, one of the most successful clubs in the UK through the 1970's and 80's, were known for being one of the first programs to have a fully integrated pathway from juniors through to seniors, being responsible for a number of top English talents. 

In this long-form conversation we go into the history of the club, and also the founding of the World Invitational Club Basketball (WICB) Championships - one of the top international club tournaments that has existed.

For episode 119 of the Hoopsfix Podcast we sit down with Reading Rockets CEO Matt Johnson. 

Johnson shares the journey of the Reading Rockets, a basketball club founded in 1997, emphasising the importance of youth engagement and community impact. 

He discusses the current scope of the club, its legal structures, and the challenges faced in the British basketball landscape, while highlighting the need for more participation in basketball, the significance of youth development, and the philosophy behind coaching young players. 

Matt discusses the various barriers to growth in basketball clubs, the importance of knowledge sharing and resources, and the role of governance in sports, emphasising the need for better infrastructure, support, and a clear pathway for young athletes to thrive in the sport.

Emergency pod!

With the shock news that the British Basketball Federation (BBF) has granted preferred bidder status to an investment group led by Marshall Glickman, going into an exclusive negotiating period for the professional league operating license, we got BBF Chair Chris Grant on the pod to discuss his and the BBF’s position.

It was widely expected that Super League Basketball (SLB) would be the ones to get the preferred bidder status but they did not submit a tender, citing unreasonable & unlawful demands – including a £25k non-refundable fee just to tender & a £1.5M annual license fee, all while the BBF retains a large amount of control.

For episode 117 of the Hoopsfix Podcast, we sit down with Super League Basketball (SLB) interim Chair and Sheffield Sharks and Hatters new owner Vaughn Millette.

Vaughn discussed his journey into British basketball, his role as interim chair of the league, and the challenges faced in revitalising the sport after a tumultuous summer. 

He shared insights on the business dynamics of the league, the importance of community engagement, and the need for financial stability. 

Vaughn emphasised the significance of developing British talent and improving facilities to foster growth in the sport. He also highlights the collaborative efforts with the British Basketball Federation and the potential for future expansion and investment in the league.

In episode 115 of the Hoopsfix Podcast, we sit down with Pete Taylor (Chair) and Josh Merrington (GM) of the Milton Keynes Breakers basketball club.

Over the past seven years, Breakers have gone from 40 kids to over a 1000, while adding a Senior National League side that has got promoted every year and will be in Division 1 next season. 

Not only that, but they've built a large fan base - with over 400 travelling to the National Cup Finals in January - and a thriving business, set to turnover more than £500,000 this year.

Timestamps:

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:06 Introduction and Background
02:42 History of the Club
06:34 Impact of COVID-19
08:50 Expanding the Club and Community Support
11:15 Promoting the Club and Building Relationships
14:51 Developing Talent and Player Pathway
25:30 Retaining Players and Life After Basketball
32:43 Payment Structure and Off-Court Development
33:00 Club Budget and Financial Prudence
36:44 Generating Revenue and Managing Costs
41:30 Grant Funding and Sponsorship
46:30 Importance of Digital Presence
52:07 Future Growth and Expansion
57:05 Facility Development and Expansion
59:56 Potential for BBL and WBBL Franchise

For episode 115 of the Hoopsfix Podcast, we sit down with Sevenoaks Suns coach and owner Len Busch.

The Suns, one of the most successful WBBL franchises and at the forefront of youth female basketball development pulled out of the top-flight this off-season due to ‘untenable’ costs.

In this hour long episode we go in depth with Len on the behind the scenes running of the club, and why financially it did not make sense for the Suns to continue.

For episode 114 of the Hoopsfix Podcast, we sit down with Caledonia Gladiators owner Steve Timoney.

Timoney and his wife Alison – who also own the Gladiators’ WBBL franchise – took over the BBL club just before the start of this season and are self financing the project they consider to be part of their legacy.

With a net worth estimated at anywhere between £60 million and £100 million they have lofty ambitions for the club which include a £20million facility project, announced last month.

In this hour long episode we speak to Steve about his business background, how he got involved with basketball, and his plans for the franchise which they are aiming to be a powerhouse in British basketball for years to come.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
02:42 Interview start
03:03 How he first got involved with basketball
09:06 Steve’s business background
12:41 If you want to turn a large fortune into a small fortune buy a sports team
16:41 The low hanging fruit to make the business work when Steve took over
24:26 Spending £20million on a 6000 seat arena and 5 court training facility
31:26 How the £20million is being financed for the facility
33:31 How to get a return on the £20million investment
36:47 Interactions with 777 and other franchises
44:11 We want to be the second biggest league in the world outside of the NBA
48:00 The challenges with getting the mainstream media to cover basketball
52:53 Building out the front office of the Caledonia Gladiators and the necessary head count
56:16 How much Steve is involved operationally at the moment
57:46 Can Scotland support another professional basketball franchise?