Leicester Riders Basketball Team

Leicester Riders are a professional basketball team based in Leicester, England. The team competes in the British Basketball League (BBL) and are one of the most successful and oldest clubs in British basketball history.

History

The Leicester Riders, the oldest club in the British Basketball League, were founded by students and lecturers at Loughborough University on April 26, 1967, under the name Loughborough All-Stars. They were one of the founding members of the National Basketball League in 1972, and later, the British Basketball League in 1987.

In 1981, the club moved from Loughborough to Leicester, backed by Leicester City Council and Leicester City Bus, which led to the change of their nickname to “Riders.” The team played at Loughborough University’s new venue following the closure of Granby Halls in 2000, which was only a short distance away from where they played their first game at Victory Hall.

In 2004, the Riders moved back to Leicester after agreeing to a sponsorship deal with De Montfort University (DMU), playing their games at the DMU’s John Sandford Sports Centre. After facing financial difficulties from 2005 to 2007, the Riders were saved by a consortium formed by former director Mike Steptoe and the supporters’ club. Local business Jelson Homes also stepped in as a sponsor and helped secure the future of the club by investing in “basketball in the community” schemes, including the “Shoot to the Future” program, which was supported by the Police.

In the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, the Riders won the treble and applied for the following Basketball Champions League season. This marked the first European participation of a British team since Guildford Heat featured in the ULEB Cup in 2007. The team was eliminated by Danish side Bakken Bears in the first qualifying round, and thus was demoted to the season’s FIBA Europe Cup, where they lost all six group stage games.

Leicester Riders News

Here are our latest news stories on the Leicester Riders:

Arena

The Leicester Riders play their home games at the Morningside Arena, which has a seating capacity of 2,500. The arena is located in the heart of Leicester and is easily accessible by public transport. The arena features state-of-the-art facilities, including a show court plus three-court set up when the seating is pulled back, and has hosted a number of high-profile basketball events over the years.

Rivalries

The Leicester Riders have a number of fierce rivalries in the BBL, including with the Newcastle Eagles and the London Lions. These rivalries have led to some memorable games and moments over the years, and continue to be a highlight of the BBL season.

Ownership

The Leicester Riders are owned by Kevin Routledge, who has been involved with the team for over 30 years. Routledge has been instrumental in the team’s sustained success and is widely respected within the basketball community for his contributions to the sport.

Notable Players

Over the years, the Leicester Riders have had a number of standout players, including GB Olympic captain and legend Drew Sullivan, fellow GB senior internationals Jamell Anderson and Conner Washington – who is the franchise assist leader, plus legend Gene Waldron.

Current Head Coach

The current head coach of the Leicester Riders is Rob Paternostro, who has been with the team since 2008. Paternostro is widely regarded as one of the top coaches in the BBL and has been instrumental in the team’s sustained success.

Former Head Coaches

TBC

Leicester Riders All-Time Statistical Leaders

Record	Record Holder	Number
Appearances	Barry Lamble	303
Points	Gene Waldron	4763
Rebounds	Dave Harris	1626
Assists	Conner Washington	707
Steals	Gene Waldron	473
Blocks	TrayVonn Wright	129

Page last updated 07.04.23

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