The 2002-03 season was the 16th campaign in the history of the British Basketball League

British Basketball League

The British Basketball League, often abbreviated to the BBL, is the premier men's professional basketball league in the United Kingdom. The BBL runs two knockout competitions alongside the league championship; the BBL Cup and the BBL Trophy....

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Teams

Team	City/Area	Arena	Capacity	Last season
Birmingham Bullets Birmingham Bullets The Birmingham Bullets is a basketball team from Birmingham, who competed in the British Basketball League . The club resigned from the BBL league in the summer of 2006 and soon after went into liquidation, and currently no-longer exist as a basketball franchise.-The future of Birmingham...	Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...	Aston Events Centre Aston Events Centre The Aston Events Centre is an indoor sports and event venue, located in Birmingham, England.Formerly called Aston Villa Leisure Centre, the venue is situated adjacent to Villa Park football stadium, home of Aston Villa F.C...	2,000	5th (South)
Brighton Bears Brighton Bears Brighton Bears was a British basketball team based in Brighton, Sussex. From 1984 to 1999 the club was known as the Worthing Bears and was based in the town of Worthing, 12 miles west of Brighton. The Bears played in the top-flight British Basketball League until 2006 when the franchise folded...	Brighton Brighton Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...	The Brighton Centre The Brighton Centre The Brighton Centre is a conference centre located in Brighton, England. The capacity of the main hall for conferences is 4,500 people and 5,100 for standing concerts.It also has smaller rooms for weddings, banquets etc....  & Burgess Hill Triangle	3,600 1,800	2nd (South)
Chester Jets	Chester Chester Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...	Northgate Arena Northgate Arena Northgate Arena is an arena and leisure centre complex in Chester, England. Built in the 1970s on the site of the Chester Northgate railway station, Northgate Arena includes swimming pools, a gymnasium, several sports halls and a sauna. The main sports hall is also used for toy and train, antique,...	1,300	1st (North)
Essex Leopards Essex Leopards The Essex Leopards, or just Leopards as they were more commonly known, was a British basketball team competing in the British Basketball League...	Brentwood Brentwood, Essex Brentwood is a town and the principal settlement of the Borough of Brentwood, in the county of Essex in the east of England. It is located in the London commuter belt, 20 miles east north-east of Charing Cross in London, and near the M25 motorway....	Brentwood Centre	2,000	4th (South)
Leicester Riders Leicester Riders The Leicester Riders, officially known as the Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders for sponsorship reasons, is a British professional basketball team that play in the British Basketball League...	Loughborough Loughborough Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...	Loughborough University Loughborough University Loughborough University is a research based campus university located in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, in the East Midlands of England...	1,000	5th (North)
London Towers London Towers London Towers was a professional basketball team based in London, England. They were one of the most successful and recognised British sports teams of the 1990s, collecting many titles in the British Basketball League as well as regularly competing in European competitions such as the Euroleague...	London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...	Crystal Palace NSC Arena Crystal Palace National Sports Centre The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park, close to the site of the former Crystal Palace, in the former parkland and also usurping part of the former grand prix circuit.It was...	3,500	1st (South)
Milton Keynes Lions Milton Keynes Lions The Milton Keynes Lions, officially called Prestige Homes Milton Keynes Lions due to sponsorship, is a basketball team which represents Milton Keynes in the British Basketball League, the top level men's basketball league in the United Kingdom. The franchise’s only trophy success to-date is the BBL...	Milton Keynes Milton Keynes Milton Keynes , sometimes abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about north-west of London. It is the administrative centre of the Borough of Milton Keynes...	Bletchley Centre Bletchley Centre The Bletchley Leisure Centre is an indoor leisure facility in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England.The new Bletchley Leisure Centre opened in 2009 replacing the original centre next door to it....	800	3rd (North)
Newcastle Eagles Newcastle Eagles Newcastle Eagles is a British Basketball League team from Newcastle upon Tyne. Since 2010 they have played all home games at the 3,000 capacity Sport Central arena at Northumbria University in the city...	Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...	Telewest Arena	6,500	3rd (North)
Scottish Rocks Scottish Rocks The Glasgow Rocks is a basketball team which competes in the British Basketball League. Formerly known as Scottish Rocks and also Edinburgh Rocks, they are one of the leading franchises in the top-tier league, and the only team to be based outside of England, playing at the Kelvin Hall...	Glasgow Glasgow Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...	Braehead Arena Braehead Arena The Braehead Arena is a multi-purpose arena in Renfrewshire, Scotland, in the western part of the Glasgow conurbation. The arena was built in 1999, and is located within the Braehead Complex....	4,000	4th (North)
Sheffield Sharks Sheffield Sharks Sheffield Sharks, officially named One Health Sheffield Sharks due to sponsorship, is a professional basketball team from the city of Sheffield, England. Sharks currently play in the British Basketball League and play their home fixtures at English Institute of Sport - Sheffield...	Sheffield Sheffield Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...	Hallam FM Arena Hallam FM Arena Motorpoint Arena Sheffield is an arena in Sheffield, England. It is situated near Rotherham, Sheffield City Centre, Attercliffe, Meadowhall and the Centertainment and is the premier concert venue for Yorkshire.The arena opened as Sheffield Arena and was renamed Hallam FM Arena, but returned to its...  & Ponds Forge Ponds Forge Ponds Forge International Sports Centre is a leisure complex in the City of Sheffield, England that contains an Olympic-sized swimming pool with seating for 2,600 spectators, family and kids pools, water slides and other sports facilities.-Brief history:...	8,500 1,600	2nd (North)
Thames Valley Tigers Thames Valley Tigers Thames Valley Tigers was a British basketball team competing in the British Basketball League until 2005, when funding was ceased and the franchise folded. Based in Bracknell, Berkshire, the team's fans setup a new team to replace the Tigers and just a month later the Guildford Heat was born...	Bracknell Bracknell Bracknell is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Bracknell Forest in Berkshire, England. It lies to the south-east of Reading, southwest of Windsor and west of central London...	John Nike Sports Centre	1,000	6th (South)

Notable occurrences

• Attracted by the opening of the brand-new 4,000-seat Braehead Arena
  Braehead Arena
  The Braehead Arena is a multi-purpose arena in Renfrewshire, Scotland, in the western part of the Glasgow conurbation. The arena was built in 1999, and is located within the Braehead Complex....
  
   in Glasgow
  Glasgow
  Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
  
  , Edinburgh Rocks uprooted from their aging Meadowbank
  Meadowbank Stadium
  Meadowbank Stadium is a multi-purpose sports facility located at Meadowbank, in Edinburgh, Scotland. It hosted the Commonwealth Games of 1970 and 1986.-Layout:...
  
   venue in Edinburgh
  Edinburgh
  Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
  
   and moved 45 miles west to Scotland's largest city Glasgow
  Glasgow
  Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
  
  , and rebranded as the Scottish Rocks
  Scottish Rocks
  The Glasgow Rocks is a basketball team which competes in the British Basketball League. Formerly known as Scottish Rocks and also Edinburgh Rocks, they are one of the leading franchises in the top-tier league, and the only team to be based outside of England, playing at the Kelvin Hall...
  
  . The move received a mixed response from fans, whilst many said that the move would not work, the official supporters club backed the franchise's decision.
• Although based in Brentwood, Essex
  Brentwood, Essex
  Brentwood is a town and the principal settlement of the Borough of Brentwood, in the county of Essex in the east of England. It is located in the London commuter belt, 20 miles east north-east of Charing Cross in London, and near the M25 motorway....
  
   for the past two years, Greater London Leopards eventually rebranded the franchise as the Essex Leopards
  Essex Leopards
  The Essex Leopards, or just Leopards as they were more commonly known, was a British basketball team competing in the British Basketball League...
  
   prior to the season starting.
• Due to a decreasing membership, the League abolished the Conference system it had emposed for the past three season's and returned the regular single-league table set-up, with the top-eight teams progressing to the Play-offs.

Final standings

Team	Pts	Pld	W	L	Percentage
1. Sheffield Sharks Sheffield Sharks Sheffield Sharks, officially named One Health Sheffield Sharks due to sponsorship, is a professional basketball team from the city of Sheffield, England. Sharks currently play in the British Basketball League and play their home fixtures at English Institute of Sport - Sheffield...	66	40	33	7	0.825
2. Brighton Bears Brighton Bears Brighton Bears was a British basketball team based in Brighton, Sussex. From 1984 to 1999 the club was known as the Worthing Bears and was based in the town of Worthing, 12 miles west of Brighton. The Bears played in the top-flight British Basketball League until 2006 when the franchise folded...	60	40	30	10	0.750
3. Chester Jets	56	40	28	12	0.700
4. Thames Valley Tigers Thames Valley Tigers Thames Valley Tigers was a British basketball team competing in the British Basketball League until 2005, when funding was ceased and the franchise folded. Based in Bracknell, Berkshire, the team's fans setup a new team to replace the Tigers and just a month later the Guildford Heat was born...	52	40	26	14	0.650
5. Newcastle Eagles Newcastle Eagles Newcastle Eagles is a British Basketball League team from Newcastle upon Tyne. Since 2010 they have played all home games at the 3,000 capacity Sport Central arena at Northumbria University in the city...	50	40	25	15	0.625
6. Scottish Rocks Scottish Rocks The Glasgow Rocks is a basketball team which competes in the British Basketball League. Formerly known as Scottish Rocks and also Edinburgh Rocks, they are one of the leading franchises in the top-tier league, and the only team to be based outside of England, playing at the Kelvin Hall...	44	40	22	18	0.550
7. London Towers London Towers London Towers was a professional basketball team based in London, England. They were one of the most successful and recognised British sports teams of the 1990s, collecting many titles in the British Basketball League as well as regularly competing in European competitions such as the Euroleague...	38	40	19	21	0.475
8. Milton Keynes Lions Milton Keynes Lions The Milton Keynes Lions, officially called Prestige Homes Milton Keynes Lions due to sponsorship, is a basketball team which represents Milton Keynes in the British Basketball League, the top level men's basketball league in the United Kingdom. The franchise’s only trophy success to-date is the BBL...	24	40	12	28	0.300
9. Birmingham Bullets Birmingham Bullets The Birmingham Bullets is a basketball team from Birmingham, who competed in the British Basketball League . The club resigned from the BBL league in the summer of 2006 and soon after went into liquidation, and currently no-longer exist as a basketball franchise.-The future of Birmingham...	22	40	11	29	0.275
10. Essex Leopards	22	40	11	29	0.275
11. Leicester Riders Leicester Riders The Leicester Riders, officially known as the Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders for sponsorship reasons, is a British professional basketball team that play in the British Basketball League...	6	40	3	37	0.075

	= League winners
	= Qualified for the Play-offs

The Play-offs

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

BBL Trophy

This season's BBL Trophy

BBL Trophy

The BBL Trophy is one of three cup competitions operated by the British Basketball League. The competition begins with a regional group format and comprises the BBL clubs divided into four regional qualifying groups of three...

 featured all 11 BBL teams plus one invited teams from the English Basketball League

English Basketball League

The English Basketball League is a semi-professional and amateur basketball league in England. It forms the second-tier of competition below the professional British Basketball League....

, the Teeside Mohawks to bring the total number of teams divided evenly. The First Round saw all 12 teams split into four regionalised groups with the top finishing team advancing to the Semi-finals.

Group Stage

Northern Group 1

Team	Pts	Pld	W	L	Percent
1.Chester Jets	6	4	3	1	0.750
2.Sheffield Sharks Sheffield Sharks Sheffield Sharks, officially named One Health Sheffield Sharks due to sponsorship, is a professional basketball team from the city of Sheffield, England. Sharks currently play in the British Basketball League and play their home fixtures at English Institute of Sport - Sheffield...	6	4	3	1	0.750
3.Leicester Riders Leicester Riders The Leicester Riders, officially known as the Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders for sponsorship reasons, is a British professional basketball team that play in the British Basketball League...	0	4	0	4	0.000

Southern Group 1

Team	Pts	Pld	W	L	Percent
1.Birmingham Bullets Birmingham Bullets The Birmingham Bullets is a basketball team from Birmingham, who competed in the British Basketball League . The club resigned from the BBL league in the summer of 2006 and soon after went into liquidation, and currently no-longer exist as a basketball franchise.-The future of Birmingham...	6	4	3	1	0.750
2.Essex Leopards Essex Leopards The Essex Leopards, or just Leopards as they were more commonly known, was a British basketball team competing in the British Basketball League...	4	4	2	2	0.500
3.Milton Keynes Lions Milton Keynes Lions The Milton Keynes Lions, officially called Prestige Homes Milton Keynes Lions due to sponsorship, is a basketball team which represents Milton Keynes in the British Basketball League, the top level men's basketball league in the United Kingdom. The franchise’s only trophy success to-date is the BBL...	2	4	1	3	0.250

Northern Group 2

Team	Pts	Pld	W	L	Percent
1.Newcastle Eagles Newcastle Eagles Newcastle Eagles is a British Basketball League team from Newcastle upon Tyne. Since 2010 they have played all home games at the 3,000 capacity Sport Central arena at Northumbria University in the city...	8	4	4	0	1.000
2.Scottish Rocks Scottish Rocks The Glasgow Rocks is a basketball team which competes in the British Basketball League. Formerly known as Scottish Rocks and also Edinburgh Rocks, they are one of the leading franchises in the top-tier league, and the only team to be based outside of England, playing at the Kelvin Hall...	4	4	2	2	0.500
3.Teeside Mohawks	0	4	0	4	0.000

Southern Group 2

Team	Pts	Pld	W	L	Percent
1.London Towers London Towers London Towers was a professional basketball team based in London, England. They were one of the most successful and recognised British sports teams of the 1990s, collecting many titles in the British Basketball League as well as regularly competing in European competitions such as the Euroleague...	4	4	2	2	0.500
2.Thames Valley Tigers Thames Valley Tigers Thames Valley Tigers was a British basketball team competing in the British Basketball League until 2005, when funding was ceased and the franchise folded. Based in Bracknell, Berkshire, the team's fans setup a new team to replace the Tigers and just a month later the Guildford Heat was born...	4	4	2	2	0.500
3.Brighton Bears Brighton Bears Brighton Bears was a British basketball team based in Brighton, Sussex. From 1984 to 1999 the club was known as the Worthing Bears and was based in the town of Worthing, 12 miles west of Brighton. The Bears played in the top-flight British Basketball League until 2006 when the franchise folded...	4	4	2	2	0.500

Semi-finals

Final

Statistics leaders

Category	Player	Stat
Points Point (basketball) Points in basketball are used to keep track of the score in a game. Points can be accumulated by making field goals or free throws ....  per game	Kenny Gregory Kenny Gregory William Kendrick Gregory is an American professional basketball player. He plays the shooting guard and small forward positions. He is 6 ft 5 ¾ in in height. He currently plays for KK Union Olimpija in Slovenia.-Amateur career:Gregory played high-school basketball at Independence High...  (Chester Jets)	24.7
Rebounds Rebound (basketball) A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...  per game	David Fisher David Fisher David Fisher may refer to:People:* David Andrew Fisher , film director and producer including Toy Soldiers * David Dayan Fisher , British actor* David "Dudu" Fisher , Israeli singer...  (Essex Leopards Essex Leopards The Essex Leopards, or just Leopards as they were more commonly known, was a British basketball team competing in the British Basketball League... )	10.5
Assists Assist (basketball) In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...  per game	John Thomas John Thomas -Education:* John Martin Thomas , Twelfth president of Rutgers University* John R. Thomas , American intellectual property professor- Military history :* John Thomas , American general in the American Revolutionary War...  (Chester Jets)	7.3