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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 Intro02:03 From Low Points to High Hopes: The Evolution of GB Basketball08:15 Building a Winning Culture: Goals and Values in GB Basketball13:49 Assessing Performance: Preparation and Team Identity20:06 Facing the Giants: Strategies Against Top Competitors26:19 Defensive Strategies Against Luka Doncic28:36 Player Availability and Roster Decisions35:00 Future of Young Players in the National Team40:10 Tobi Lawal's Potential and Development43:37 Akwasi Yeboah's Role and Impact47:19 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 Welcome01:47 Catching Up with Jeremy Sochan02:54 Life in the NBA05:36 Media and Public Perception17:25 Mental Health and Support Systems24:04 Off-Season Plans and EuroBasket31:38 NBA Stars and Referees: The Ego Factor32:47 Evolving Goals in the NBA35:16 Financial Wisdom and Lifestyle Changes43:02 Impacting UK Basketball49:35 Future Aspirations and NBA Europe56:32 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 Intro02:06 Introduction and Background02:42 History of the Club06:34 Impact of COVID-1908:50 Expanding the Club and Community Support11:15 Promoting the Club and Building Relationships14:51 Developing Talent and Player Pathway25:30 Retaining Players and Life After Basketball32:43 Payment Structure and Off-Court Development33:00 Club Budget and Financial Prudence36:44 Generating Revenue and Managing Costs41:30 Grant Funding and Sponsorship46:30 Importance of Digital Presence52:07 Future Growth and Expansion57:05 Facility Development and Expansion59:56 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 Intro02:42 Interview start03:03 How he first got involved with basketball09:06 Steve’s business background12:41 If you want to turn a large fortune into a small fortune buy a sports team16:41 The low hanging fruit to make the business work when Steve took over24:26 Spending £20million on a 6000 seat arena and 5 court training facility31:26 How the £20million is being financed for the facility33:31 How to get a return on the £20million investment36:47 Interactions with 777 and other franchises44:11 We want to be the second biggest league in the world outside of the NBA48:00 The challenges with getting the mainstream media to cover basketball52:53 Building out the front office of the Caledonia Gladiators and the necessary head count56:16 How much Steve is involved operationally at the moment57:46 Can Scotland support another professional basketball franchise?

For episode 113 of the Hoopsfix Podcast we sit down with new Chair of the British Basketball Federation (BBF), Chris Grant. Having been announced in September and officially starting the role in November, Grant joined the organisation following a tumultuous summer for the Great Britain national team programmes, underscored by the men’s disastrous showing at EuroBasket. In this little over an hour podcast, we discuss why he took on the role, what the challenges are, and what he is trying to do to change the future of the BBF. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro02:45 Interview start03:05 How Chris came across the role and what made him want to take it on03:56 His previous experience and knowledge of basketball06:36 What his perception was of British basketball before getting involved11:12 What are the specific issues that have held the BBF back over the years16:53 The medals debate with regards to individual vs team sports21:18 What Chris is going to do differently to try to unify the sport, and whether or not we should give up on the idea of a BBF with the Home Country Associations29:58 Whether the option for the BBF to disband is completely off the table32:33 Why he hasn’t done any interviews since taking the role42:46 What commitment UK Sport has made to the programme moving forward47:20 The terms of the UK Sport funding50:41 The disastrous men’s EuroBasket campaign last summer57:05 What the ideal process would be for accountability of the board1:05:33 777’s interest in the national teams1:08:04 Whether he could see 777 investing in the national team programme1:09:23 Wether the increased investment in the league will mean the licence fee paid to the BBF will increase1:11:29 How much it costs to run the BBF every year1:14:46 Whether the men will be entered into the FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournaments this year

For episode 112 of the Hoopsfix Podcast, we sit down with recently named CEO of the BBL, Aaron Radin. Announced last week as the new face and boss of the league, the American joins the league after a 30-year professional career where he has held senior level positions at a multitude of sports, media and tech organisations such as the NBA, The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal and most recently, Meta. He joins the league almost exactly a year since 777 Partners announced a £7million investment into the BBL. In this hour long conversation we go into his vision for the league and his new role, and what his hopes and plans are for the future of the BBL. Timestamps: 2:37 Interview start2:53 Aaron background9:13 How the opportunity arose for the BBL CEO role13:39 Working out immediate priorities18:45 What goes into producing a world-class broadcast22:11 How much more investment is required to get the BBL to level desired25:24 The importance of technology and systems26:45 How important a TV broadcast deal is33:03 Where the figure 70% of audience is 13-34 is from36:07 Content versus product38:20 How many staff the BBL office currently has and how many they are trying to get to43:22 Organisational structure and who the CEO reports to44:06 Managing the 777 conflict of interest as owner of London Lions and the league46:07 How many franchises the BBL could support and how many he’d like to see48:26 The biggest drivers of revenue for the business moving forward49:48 Balance between British and American import talent54:03 How to develop fandom in British fans1:01:28 Disparity between franchises and how to minimise its impact1:05:06 How revenue sharing would work1:05:47 What does success look like for the BBL The show has been approved on iTunes – find it here and please subscribe to automatically receive new episodes straight to your phone/computer/tablet – if you could give us a review/rating it would be much appreciated to help the podcast spread far and wide, meanwhile it is also on Spotify here, Overcast, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts. You can support Hoopsfix’s work in helping to grow British basketball on Patreon.

For Episode 111 of the Hoopsfix Podcast, we sit down with Princeton Tiger and unanimous Ivy League Player of the Year, Tosan Evbuomwan. The 21 year old out of Newcastle is fresh off a breakout season with Princeton, and is coming to London next week for the London Basketball Classic to play in front of a home crowd with his college team. The former GB U18 and Hoopsfix All-Star Classic alumnus ended regular season play last season as the Ivy League leader in assists per game (5.0), and assist/turnover ratio (2.2). He ranked second in the conference in field goal percentage (53.2%), fourth in points (15.4), fifth in steals (1.4), and seventh in rebounds (6.4). In this 50 minute episode we discuss his career so far, playing in the London Basketball Classic next week, and his hopes for the future. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro03:28 Interview start03:35 Returning to England and playing on home soil04:22 Looking ahead to the London Basketball Classic opener against Army05:03 How important NCAA showcases in the UK are for young British players06:02 Whether Tosan is going to be showing his teammates around06:52 How he first got into basketball08:03 What made him give up football and pursue basketball09:03 How he ended up getting involved with the Newcastle Eagles09:44 When the growth spurt happened10:21 When he started taking the game seriously12:44 Whether has has goals of being a pro and when that became the driver13:30 Who the guys he was looking at as the best in his age group in the UK14:22 Feeling out of his depth at first England U15s camp15:33 His experiences in the EABL17:28 How NBL Division 1 helped his development18:15 How his two summers with the GB U18s in Division A was19:16 Comparing Division A European teams to GB21:07 Frustrations around British basketball24:48 The recruiting process and how he ended up at Princeton27:24 Blowing it in front of Princeton coaching staff on their visit to the UK29:14 What his visit to Princeton was like and being a student-athlete on campus30:50 Dealing with the academy load32:10 His Major, and interest in finance along with work placement33:52 Transition from the UK to the US and difference on the floor35:33 Welcome to America moments36:44 His Sophomore year being cancelled due to COVID40:00 The step up from his Freshman year to his Junior year41:27 His expectations going into the 2021-22 season43:32 What his expectations are for this season45:00 The best British player he’s ever played against46:03 Favourite coach he’s played for46:29 Favourite basketball memory so far46:46 Most challenging basketball moment47:20 Advice for a young aspiring British player48:06 Where he wants to be five years from now

For Episode 110 of the Hoopsfix Podcast, we sit down with GB all-time great Dan Clark, who announces his retirement from playing professional basketball. The London 2012 Olympian, whose final season has ended up being his only one playing domestically - with the Manchester Giants in the BBL - is fresh off becoming GB men’s all-time caps leader during their recent EuroBasket campaign last month, adding to his all-time points, rebounding and blocked shots leader titles. The first British player to sign a junior contract in Europe as a 14 year old, he had a 17 year professional career that saw him amass over 1800 points in the ACB, the top domestic league in the world outside of the NBA, while becoming GB captain as an ever-present force in the squad each summer. In this hour long convo we discuss his decision to retire, what's next, GB's recent EuroBasket campaign, his first season in the BBL, as well as looking back on taking the European pathway as opposed to the US route. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction03:16 Interview start03:26 Why Dan has decided to retire05:11 Whether he thought coming into this season he could retire06:25 What his masters is in06:38 What the next step in his career is07:59 Whether he had the next role lined up before making decision to retire09:07 Whether he's completely stopped playing and working out09:55 How difficult the recent EuroBasket campaign was 13:27 Whether he would get involved with working with the federations18:28 Does grassroots or elite need to be focused on first for basketball's development20:10 Thoughts on the BBL after a full season in it25:33 The impact Lloyd Gardner being Head Coach at Manchester had in bringing him back to the UK 26:46 His assessment of the Giants' season29:15 The situation in Manchester with regards to this off-season and the club's financial troubles30:44 The lack of communication from the Giants 32:56 Why the Giants might be struggling financially34:34 Whether he could see himself owning a BBL franchise36:30 Where the BBL could be better from a player experience perspective39:00 The importance of a player association41:20 Signing a junior contract in Spain as a 14 year old49:06 The intricacies of signing a junior contract51:10 What his schedule looked like as a 14 year old52:40 How it worked with regards to getting paid54:33 Being recruited by high major Division 1 programmes56:34 Turning down the likes of Syracuse to take the European route59:02 Whether he felt the NBA was in reach1:53:05 His ability to pass the ball and where it came from1:03:28 The standout moments from his career1:05:29 His best individual performance1:07:15 Best coach he's played for1:09:34 Whether it was a surprise for him that Spain won EuroBasket1:11:21 His favourite teammate of all time1:12:51 Advice he would give to a young aspiring British basketball player1:14:35 What he wants his legacy to be

For episode 109 of the Hoopsfix Podcast, we do a special with British basketball legend Jo Leedham-Warner, who has announced her retirement from playing professional basketball. An 11-year career that reads like a fairytale, Leedham-Warner is coming off an undefeated season in the WBBL where she was named MVP after returning to play following giving birth. A London 2012 Olympian, EuroCup champion, WNBA draft pick and the NCAA Division 2 all-time leading scorer to name a few, Jo will go down as one of the all-time greats out of the UK and in this hour episode we look at her decision to retire and her final season in the WBBL. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro02:46 Making the decision to retire and how she feels about it05:20 Having had a month to reflect on it since the end of the season06:46 How important it was to have done a season after becoming a mother07:52 How difficult it was playing after being a mother10:53 How the club managed having a player with a newborn13:33 The first practices of the season after time off to give birth16:47 How important it was for Jo to finish her career on top18:53 Has Mark or the club tried to persuade her to come back20:06 Not collecting the MVP trophy before the WBBL Final21:30 Jo's mentality and where it comes from25:52 The shock win over her former club Bourges  29:15 Frustration with the wider British public/media and own club not caring about what her and the team were doing33:50 The amount of media that British basketball misses out on from not having a dedicated PR person36:18 The WBBL not bringing Jo out for the final post-game presser at the WBBL Playoff Final37:33 What she would do as the CEO of the WBBL39:59 Deciding on whether to go back to school next to study psychology43:45 Whether she would want to be involved with British basketball from a federation or club standpoint45:36 How many conversations she had with the federations while being back in the UK to capitalise on her presence51:35 What her career highlight is53:19 Favourite coach54:32 How she wants to be looked back on as a player55:05 Advice for the next generation