Team GB

[dexter]

The British season has concluded and we have a summer of international basketball ahead of us. Let’s discuss Great Britain.

I think the team is pretty good in terms of players and coaches. I would say we punch above our weight.

I do think GB is undervalued. I appreciate British Basketball have a limited budget and that all goes to supporting the national teams, and in that respect they are doing a great job. I just feel there should also be sponsors and broadcasters making the team more visible. The website looks really unprofessional.

As I said the current team is good, but they are mostly about thirty. Who are the next generation of players coming through? Why is there an under 20 team and then a team of 30 year olds? Where are the 25 year olds? This is where I think an England team and a Scotland team would be good. Made up of players in their twenties as basically two GB A Teams. They could play a summer series. Who would be in your England team and your Scotland team?

[Deleted]

It is true that pretty much all of our best players are at or close to 30, the mid 20’s group don’t seem nearly as strong but the current college age group has a lot of talent, I think the lack of younger players is because the coaches have decided that continuity in the squad is important, which I think considering the results has to be respected

On the marketing point I know budgets are tight but it’s absolute madness you cannot buy a GB basketball jersey online anywhere

[dexter]

I don’t even know who should be responsible for the commercial and marketing side of things. My understanding is British basketball is responsible for Team GB’s performance on the court. I guess it isn’t anyone’s responsibility so no one is going to do anything about it. If anyone at British Basketball or UK Sport starts spending their budgets on marketing they will get told off for wasting money.

[spacejammer]

To be honest I'm more wondering if any NBA stars from teams not in the finals for Turkey will show up since it will be the off season and not during regular NBA season play.

I think GB ball is getting a little better but a long way off our European counter parts and looking the best since London 2012.
I felt the problem after London 2012 was unrealistic goals were set along with lack of funding.

Like Eurobasket 2013 I believe Team GB were tasked with having to finish in the top 6 to keep and get more funding but they then didn't even make it out the groups.

That and as people have said finding the next generation of talent is something I think needs more investment.
If GB has a young Luka Donic or Giannis which ended up being the face of GB ball and makes it to the NBA.
Then perhaps the profile may grow.

With that being said I'm still excited to watch my country play International again in the next few weeks on my doorstep.

[sm11]

Come on GB. I dont have a fave club anymore so GB Men and Women are all I have left. Merchandise has come and gone over the years including replicas but you cant beat waving a £2 union jack from the market lol.

I still think our recent qualifiers squad is capable of doing some damage this year. Is this the first time we make it out the first round. I think we have a real chance. Croatia have disappointed big time in recent years. Are Ukraine even going to be able to play and who would replace them. Estonia are being labelled as up and coming, we will see.

Is anyone making the trip to Milan or know anyone who is. I went to Lithuania in 2011, maybe my fave holiday ever lol.

[sm11]

Oh by the way apparently there will be no NBA players in the 3rd window (July). Something to do with exceeding length of time in national team camps keeping in mind Eurobasket was meant to be last year

[dexter]

I won't be going to Milan but what a fantastic place to hold a tournament. I will be interested to see how many British fans make the trip. There should be a Barmy Army like what the England cricket team has following them round the world.

[Deleted]

I am tempted to go and have priced it all up but will have to wait a bit closer to the time to see, would love to be there though

[dexter]

To answer my own question, it absolutely is the responsibility of British Basketball to manage the commercial and marketing side of basketball. The British Basketball website isn't very good but it does have an About section that states its purpose and goals which I will paste here. It's first goal includes "effectively managing the intellectual and commercial properties of elite basketball in Great Britain, and to raise public and private funding for the execution of elite programmes."

[dexter]

The British Basketball Federation (British Basketball) is the National Governing Body (NGB) responsible for basketball in Britain and took on the International Federation (FIBA) membership role from the Home Country Associations in October 2016.

The BBF runs GB Basketball in a federated model, under a board of management comprising of an Independent Chair, Independent Directors and representatives of the three member Home Country Associations (HCAs) of Basketball England, basketballscotland and Basketball Wales.

The goal of British Basketball is to create a world class elite basketball programme in Great Britain and to lead the overarching strategy for the growth of basketball in England, Scotland and Wales. It plans to achieve this by:

Creating a sustainable financial plan in collaboration with the Home Country Basketball Associations, by effectively managing the intellectual and commercial properties of elite basketball in Great Britain, and to raise public and private funding for the execution of elite programmes.

Developing a strategic and collaborative high performance strategy and World Class Performance Plan. This collaborative strategy will require engagement with other basketball and sporting bodies including the Home Country Basketball Associations, the licensed professional league and British Universities & College Sport to support and enhance the performance of elite players and Great Britain teams.

Developing and operating a communications, marketing and public relations policy in relation to British Basketball’s World Class Performance Plan.

Implementing and overseeing an effective selection process for Great Britain teams in FIBA competitions.

Ensuring that a strategic framework is put in place within which competitions at Home Country Basketball Association level provide appropriate opportunities for the development of elite players on a British Basketball performance pathway programme.
Licensing domestic professional competitions and leagues in Great Britain for both men and women that grows the standards, profile and following of basketball in Great Britain. For the avoidance of doubt, the Home Country Basketball Associations retain the right to exploit and license competitions and events which take place within their territory and jurisdiction.

Bidding for and stage any of the competitions of FIBA or the Age Group competitions of FIBA as is seen appropriate.

Collaborating with the Home Country Basketball Associations to establish and agree a strategic framework to help grow participation of basketball and strengthen Home Country performance pathways throughout Great Britain.
Other duties of British Basketball include:

Affiliating to, and representing the interests of, basketball in Great Britain within the BOA.

Building relationships with, liaising and working alongside the British Government, Government departments, Government agencies, the BOA, the Home Country Basketball Associations, relevant national and international sporting bodies, FIBA, FIBA Europe, professional basketball leagues and any other body or organisation it deems appropriate, in respect of the development of basketball in Great Britain.

Affiliating to, and be a member of, FIBA on behalf of each of the Home Country Basketball Associations.

Developing and maintaining an international relations strategy as well as developing British Basketball’s international policy positions.

[bullets92]

May 23, 2022 21:19:35 GMT sm11 said:

Come on GB. I dont have a fave club anymore so GB Men and Women are all I have left. Merchandise has come and gone over the years including replicas but you cant beat waving a £2 union jack from the market lol.

I still think our recent qualifiers squad is capable of doing some damage this year. Is this the first time we make it out the first round. I think we have a real chance. Croatia have disappointed big time in recent years. Are Ukraine even going to be able to play and who would replace them. Estonia are being labelled as up and coming, we will see.

Is anyone making the trip to Milan or know anyone who is. I went to Lithuania in 2011, maybe my fave holiday ever lol.

I already have my tickets to the first 2 games, unfortunately can't make the rest because I'm back at work.

I went to Istanbul in 2017 where there was 5 of us in the whole arena surrounded by several thousand Turks!

Would be great to meet up with fellow GB fans out there in Milan

[tony]

Been watching some of the England u14s/15s games in Serbia on you tube, we have some good young players coming through.

[milehigh]

"effectively managing the intellectual and commercial properties of elite basketball in Great Britain, and to raise public and private funding for the execution of elite programmes."

It does seem that a key part of their role is failing badly.  Even with current economic climate, there are opportunities for sports to attract comercial backing, if the sport delivers an audience that fits the market demographic the comercial partner is looking to reach.

[dexter]

May 26, 2022 5:49:04 GMT milehigh said:

"effectively managing the intellectual and commercial properties of elite basketball in Great Britain, and to raise public and private funding for the execution of elite programmes."

It does seem that a key part of their role is failing badly.  Even with current economic climate, there are opportunities for sports to attract comercial backing, if the sport delivers an audience that fits the market demographic the comercial partner is looking to reach.

Do you think anyone at British Basketball ever reads these objectives? It's like they're been written, then they've got on with running a basketball team and forgotten all about them. In terms of running the team I can't fault them, but for this kind of stuff it seems that they've done nothing.

[sm11]

Bullets 92, thats fantastic to hear your going to Milan. I would probably go every time if i could but i have kids now so just cant justify the cost anymore. But hopefully i will be at Eurobasket 2037 lol. The Mediolanum Forum looks great when its full as its all one tier yet still 12k capacity.

I may be wrong about the NBA insurance issues for the 3rd window by the way. Im hearing reports that there will be NBA players in them.

Ive always been surprised by the lack of sponsorship post 2012 for GB. Im no expert on the field but surely when it comes to sports sponsorship, its a case of something is better than nothing. Even if the company your talking to isnt willing to put forward much, then surely you accept the offer if there isnt anything better.

[milehigh]

I think the main problem is the culture of those running the sport, that just expect that public funding should be available, when what is needed is for the sport to make itself attractive to commercial backers so they see positive reason for investing their funds in the sport, either by attracing investment from companies that want to reach the current audience for the sport, or by making the sport atteactive so that the audience is expanded and attracts other demographic groups.

[SamH]

They had funding previously and didn't really do anything with it so I'd be concerned even if they got more funding now, you still need the right people in place to make the most of it.

[milehigh]

Which goes a Long long way to explaining why they no longer have the funding.

If you don't give the sponsors a return on the investment, in terms of results and media exposure, the spnsors will spend the money elsewhere.

[dexter]

They should either employ proper people who will be able to work towards their stated goals, or they should remove those goals they have no intention of doing. They shouldn't leave those goals in and just ignore them. If they want to continue as a national basketball team with no marketing, no private funding and no merchandising they can do that. It's not going to grow the sport though.

[dexter]

For comparison this is Basketball Ireland's website. Really nice.

ireland.basketball/

Obviously Team GB are way better than Team Ireland, but Basketball Ireland is an organisation that will attract sponsors and funding. Their CEO, John Feehan, is the former CEO of the Six Nations, the British and Irish Lions, and the Pro 12. You can't get a higher calibre of CEO in sport than that.