The growth of basketball in London & the wider UK
While it will probably always lag behind football, given the popularity of teams like Chelsea and the world-famous competition the club plays in, basketball is experiencing some notable growth right now. In London and around the UK, the sport has never been in such a healthy position.
In 2025, more fans in this part of the world will be watching the biggest and best teams from the NBA in action. Alongside looking at NBA player props before having a bet on the big games, plus listening to podcasts to keep them fully informed, basketball fans in London and around the UK are also playing the sport in high numbers. It’s a sport that a massive number of people are now enjoying.
Around 1.5 million people play basketball.
According to reports, basketball’s appeal is reaching so many people that it’s now viewed as the country’s second most popular participation sport, with 1.5 million people playing basketball at least twice a month. In the capital, clubs like the London Knights Basketball Club are playing their part in the sport’s rise, while other clubs like Titans Basketball Club and Bexley Tigers Basketball Club are also seeing more people out on the court.
Additional investment has arrived.
For basketball to draw even more people in, funding was needed. Luckily, in December 2024, both UK Sport and Sport England gave a combined £4,475,000 to be spread over the next four years. This significant investment will help improve aspects of the sport, be it facilities or coaching. Ultimately, Londoners can benefit from this increased funding as more opportunities around basketball continue to arise.
Great Britain’s teams are doing well.
Despite the intense competition, Great Britain’s basketball teams are showing notable success. For example, the women’s team defied the odds and secured their place in the European Championship thanks to a convincing victory over Denmark. Likewise, the men are on a similar path and have secured their place in the tournament. Star players like Jubrile Belo-Osagie, who is from London, have stood out numerous times.
There are clear challenges.
While some achievements have been celebrated, British basketball still has several significant challenges. For instance, the sport is facing a governance crisis following the collapse of the British Basketball League (BBL), with clubs in London and around the country considering setting up their league. Just where the professional game in the country is heading is unknown at this stage, but once the situation becomes clearer, the sport can continue to draw more people in. After all, there is an appetite for basketball in the UK.
The Mayor of London’s basketball plans
With London having one of the country’s most significant populations of basketball players, the Mayor of London is aiming to capitalise on the situation by launching a dedicated Basketball Taskforce. This taskforce aims to grow London’s basketball scene and elevate the sport’s profile, host major events to boost basketball’s appeal in the capital, and ensure young people have plenty of opportunities to immerse themselves in the sport.
London could become a global hub for basketball.
Now, with Sadiq Khan firmly onboard and the sport of basketball having some exciting plans that could transform it, the Mayor hopes London will become a global hub for basketball. The capital’s population has contributed to the sport’s rise in the country. While there is still much more to be done, industry experts and aspiring professionals can only be excited by this exciting new push.
