Milton Keynes Lions
Encyclopedia
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 Cup
title, won in 2008. The club also operate the Milton Keynes College Lions Basketball Academy
in partnership with Milton Keynes College
, which was established in 2007.
, as the Hemel Hempstead Lakers. The team was named after one of the NBA’s most famous teams, Los Angeles Lakers
, and even adopted the famous Lakers colours of Purple and Gold. In 1977, the Lakers entered the National Basketball League
’s Division 2, and enjoyed a rather successful rookie season, finishing 5th (from 11 teams) with a 10-10 record. Their second season would be even more successful, with the Lakers finishing second in Division 2 (15-3) and winning promotion to the top-level league Division 1.
With entry into the country’s top league ensure, the club received a major sponsorship deal from beverage brand Ovaltine
, and as part of the deal were known as Ovaltine Hemel Hempstead. The franchise became a formidable force in Division 1, regularly finishing at the top-end of the table and making many appearances in the Play-off semi-final’s at Wembley Arena
, finishing 3rd in 1981. Following the end of the Ovaltine sponsorship and a one year deal with retailers Poundstretcher, the franchise was rebranded as the Hemel Royals in 1985. Meanwhile on court, the team failed to reproduce the performances of the past few seasons and often settled for mid-table positions.
For the 1989-1990 season the franchise opted to leave the top-tier, now known as the Carlsberg League
due to sponsorship from the Carlsberg Group, and return to the second-tier league, rebranded as NBL Division 1. After only one season, and a 4th place finish (14-8), the Royals returned to Carlsberg League. The team finished bottom of the league in the 1992-1993 season with a 4-29 record, and were subsequently relegated back to Division 1, however they were later reinstated and returned to the rebranded BBL for the following season. A dismal spell ensued and over the next decade the team wouldn’t finish outside of the bottom 3, but with the removal of the promotion/relegation system between the BBL and Division 1, this had little consequence.
. In preparation for the move, the franchise was rebranded as Hemel & Watford Royals in 1996 and made the move from the Dacorum Centre to Watford Leisure Centre in 1997. The move had little luck on the team’s playing performance and they finished 13th out of 13 in the 1997-1998 season (3-33). Royals’ stay in Watford lasted just one season and, in 1998, with the promise of a future purpose-built arena being offered in the town of Milton Keynes
, the team packed up, moved and renamed themselves as the Milton Keynes Lions.
Lions’ on-court performances were an instant improvement and the franchise began a slow but noticeable turnaround, reaching the Semi-finals of the National Cup and also the end-of-season Play-offs for the first time in eight seasons in 2000. After a hugely successful run, the franchise reached its first major final in 2002 with an appearance at the SkyDome Arena
in the BBL Trophy
. The Lions fought valiantly but eventually lost to the all-conquering Chester Jets, losing 90-89 in a close contest. From then on, the Lions remained a competitive force in the league often qualifying for the post-season Play-off’s, though having little impact on the final outcome, and an appearance in the BBL Cup
Semi-final in 2005 was considered to be a major landmark.
would not coach the Lions for the 2007-08 season
, after just one term at the helm. On May 17, the club declared owner Vince Macaulay-Razaq, a former player and coach of the franchise, would be appointed head coach for the proceeding season. The signing of Yorick Williams
during the pre-season was a massive coup, and for many fans signalled the dawning of a new era for the club. During this exciting time and in preparation for a planned move to a new arena, the club also undertook a rebranding initiative, redesigning the logo and changing the kit colours from the traditional purple and gold, to a more dynamic black, gold and white, as well as the establishment of a new Academy in partnership with Milton Keynes College
. The Milton Keynes College Lions Basketball Academy
is headed by Lions’ player Mike New
.
With Macaulay back controlling the club on court as well as off it, the team's standing in the league was immediately matched to his own ambition as the clubs' owner. The veteran team performed sensationally and by the Christmas break they were well in contention for the league crown, resting in second place behind title-rivals Newcastle Eagles
, who coincidently they beat in their first-ever BBL Cup
Final appearance at the National Indoor Arena
(NIA), on January 13, 2008. Milton Keynes led for most of the game and sealed the 69-66 victory when New scored the final points of the game to end a Newcastle resurgence, handing the Lions franchise its first piece of silverware.
After finishing 4th in the league (19-14), Lions qualified for the post-season Play-offs with a seeded home-court Quarter-final tie against Scottish Rocks
. The home team eased past the Rocks, 105-93, with the game filmed live in front of Setanta Sports
cameras. For the first time in its history, Milton Keynes progressed to the Championship Finals weekend
at the NIA where they defeated league champions Newcastle Eagles
(63-72) on the way to the final eventually succumbing to Guildford Heat
, 88-100, again live on Setanta Sports. The incredible achievements of the season, earned coach Macaulay-Razaq the accolade of BBL's Coach of the Year. Another highlight of the Lions' most successful season in history was the development of players through the new Academy with 18 year-old Greg Harvey progressing onto the roster in the latter stages of the season.
adjacent to the new stadium:mk (home to Milton Keynes Dons
football team). The move to their new home would have seen the Lions play in one of the BBL's biggest, modern venues, rivalling the homes of the Rocks and Newcastle. Unfortunately, the completion of the arena has been delayed due to the deferral of proposed commercial developments around the site (which would have funded the project). With the demolition of Lions’ current home, Bletchley Centre, scheduled for November 2009, the lack of alternative venue raised question marks as to the future of the franchise remaining in Milton Keynes.
On court, there were big expectations following the successful campaign previously, but the 2008-09 season didn’t start off too well for the Lions, with defeat to Guildford in the Cup Winners’ Cup
. After losing 91-89 in the first leg at Guildford, the Heat rolled over the Lions to a 68-60 victory at the Bletchley Centre, and a 159-149 series win. Further woe was added with a BBL Cup Quarter-final exit at the hands of visiting Everton Tigers
, coupled with an exit at the 1st Round of the Trophy. The disastrous season came to an abrupt end in April, with a 14-19 record and 9th placed finish meaning the Lions missing out on the end-of-season Playoffs.
as a temporary measure until the new arena:mk is completed later on in the year. The Lions played their last game in front of a packed Bletchley Centre crowd on December 18, with a dramatic 98-97 victory over Guildford Heat. Robert Youngblood scored the winning point from the free-throw line and thus scored the last basket for Lions at their former home.
to begin their 2010-2011 campaign, and decided upon renovating a site in the centre of Milton Keynes to host home games for the duration of the season. A three-year deal was agreed upon to use a warehouse in Winterhill and convert it into a 1,400-seat basketball arena and practice venue. The venue opened (as the Lions Arena) at the end of November 2010.
Notes:
(www.bbl.org.uk).
Jelani Gardner
E.J. Harrison Laurent Irish Shawn Jamison
Nigel Lloyd Shawn Myers
Travis Nelson Mike New
Jayson Obazuaye
Yorick Williams
Tony Windless
Robert Youngblood
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team which represents 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...
in 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....
, the top level men's basketball league in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The franchise’s only trophy success to-date is the BBL Cup
BBL Cup
The BBL Cup is one of two peripheral competitions operated by the British Basketball League during the regular season, the other being the BBL Trophy...
title, won in 2008. The club also operate the Milton Keynes College Lions Basketball Academy
Milton Keynes College Lions basketball academy
The Milton Keynes Lions College Lions, are a basketball academy team from Milton Keynes, United Kingdom, with all players attending Milton Keynes College.The academy is coached, funded and run by the Milton Keynes Lions professional basketball team, who play in the British Basketball League.The...
in partnership with Milton Keynes College
Milton Keynes College
Milton Keynes College is a general further education and training college, serving the Borough of Milton Keynes. It also serves the surrounding areas...
, which was established in 2007.
Hemel Hempstead
The franchise that would become Milton Keynes Lions initially started out in the town of Hemel HempsteadHemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead is a town in Hertfordshire in the East of England, to the north west of London and part of the Greater London Urban Area. The population at the 2001 Census was 81,143 ....
, as the Hemel Hempstead Lakers. The team was named after one of the NBA’s most famous teams, Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, and even adopted the famous Lakers colours of Purple and Gold. In 1977, the Lakers entered the National Basketball League
National Basketball League (United Kingdom)
The National Basketball League, or NBL for short, is a British basketball league. The league started in 1972 and continued through to 2003 renamed the English Basketball League.-1972-1993:...
’s Division 2, and enjoyed a rather successful rookie season, finishing 5th (from 11 teams) with a 10-10 record. Their second season would be even more successful, with the Lakers finishing second in Division 2 (15-3) and winning promotion to the top-level league Division 1.
With entry into the country’s top league ensure, the club received a major sponsorship deal from beverage brand Ovaltine
Ovaltine
Ovaltine is a brand of milk flavoring product made with malt extract , sugar , cocoa, and whey...
, and as part of the deal were known as Ovaltine Hemel Hempstead. The franchise became a formidable force in Division 1, regularly finishing at the top-end of the table and making many appearances in the Play-off semi-final’s at Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena is an indoor arena, at Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent. The building is opposite Wembley Stadium.-History:...
, finishing 3rd in 1981. Following the end of the Ovaltine sponsorship and a one year deal with retailers Poundstretcher, the franchise was rebranded as the Hemel Royals in 1985. Meanwhile on court, the team failed to reproduce the performances of the past few seasons and often settled for mid-table positions.
For the 1989-1990 season the franchise opted to leave the top-tier, now known as the Carlsberg 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....
due to sponsorship from the Carlsberg Group, and return to the second-tier league, rebranded as NBL Division 1. After only one season, and a 4th place finish (14-8), the Royals returned to Carlsberg League. The team finished bottom of the league in the 1992-1993 season with a 4-29 record, and were subsequently relegated back to Division 1, however they were later reinstated and returned to the rebranded BBL for the following season. A dismal spell ensued and over the next decade the team wouldn’t finish outside of the bottom 3, but with the removal of the promotion/relegation system between the BBL and Division 1, this had little consequence.
Moving to Milton Keynes
The lack of fortunes and an aging venue prompted the franchise to look at relocating and found a suitable, yet temporary solution in the neighbouring town of WatfordWatford
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
. In preparation for the move, the franchise was rebranded as Hemel & Watford Royals in 1996 and made the move from the Dacorum Centre to Watford Leisure Centre in 1997. The move had little luck on the team’s playing performance and they finished 13th out of 13 in the 1997-1998 season (3-33). Royals’ stay in Watford lasted just one season and, in 1998, with the promise of a future purpose-built arena being offered in the town of 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...
, the team packed up, moved and renamed themselves as the Milton Keynes Lions.
Lions’ on-court performances were an instant improvement and the franchise began a slow but noticeable turnaround, reaching the Semi-finals of the National Cup and also the end-of-season Play-offs for the first time in eight seasons in 2000. After a hugely successful run, the franchise reached its first major final in 2002 with an appearance at the SkyDome Arena
SkyDome Arena
The SkyDome Arena is a 3,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Coventry, England. It was built in 1999. It is home to the Coventry Blaze Ice hockey team...
in the 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...
. The Lions fought valiantly but eventually lost to the all-conquering Chester Jets, losing 90-89 in a close contest. From then on, the Lions remained a competitive force in the league often qualifying for the post-season Play-off’s, though having little impact on the final outcome, and an appearance in the BBL Cup
BBL Cup
The BBL Cup is one of two peripheral competitions operated by the British Basketball League during the regular season, the other being the BBL Trophy...
Semi-final in 2005 was considered to be a major landmark.
2007-08 season
It was announced on May 8, 2007 that coach Tom HancockTom Hancock (basketball)
Tom Hancock is an American basketball coach.Hancock was named as one of the Coach's in the BBL All-Star game for 1993, and as BBL Coach of the Month for October 2006...
would not coach the Lions for the 2007-08 season
British Basketball League 2007-08
The 2007-08 season, the 21st since the establishment of the British Basketball League, commenced on September 9, 2007, when the Plymouth Raiders succumbed to the Guildford Heat in the inaugural Cup Winners' Cup competition...
, after just one term at the helm. On May 17, the club declared owner Vince Macaulay-Razaq, a former player and coach of the franchise, would be appointed head coach for the proceeding season. The signing of Yorick Williams
Yorick Williams
Yorick Williams is a British professional basketball player, and currently plays for the Milton Keynes Lions in the British Basketball League....
during the pre-season was a massive coup, and for many fans signalled the dawning of a new era for the club. During this exciting time and in preparation for a planned move to a new arena, the club also undertook a rebranding initiative, redesigning the logo and changing the kit colours from the traditional purple and gold, to a more dynamic black, gold and white, as well as the establishment of a new Academy in partnership with Milton Keynes College
Milton Keynes College
Milton Keynes College is a general further education and training college, serving the Borough of Milton Keynes. It also serves the surrounding areas...
. The Milton Keynes College Lions Basketball Academy
Milton Keynes College Lions basketball academy
The Milton Keynes Lions College Lions, are a basketball academy team from Milton Keynes, United Kingdom, with all players attending Milton Keynes College.The academy is coached, funded and run by the Milton Keynes Lions professional basketball team, who play in the British Basketball League.The...
is headed by Lions’ player Mike New
Mike New
Mike New is a former American basketball forward-center for the Milton Keynes Lions of the British Basketball League. Since 2007 New has also held the position of Head Coach of the Milton Keynes College Basketball Academy. He is now the head coach of the Milton Keynes Lions-External links:**...
.
With Macaulay back controlling the club on court as well as off it, the team's standing in the league was immediately matched to his own ambition as the clubs' owner. The veteran team performed sensationally and by the Christmas break they were well in contention for the league crown, resting in second place behind title-rivals 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...
, who coincidently they beat in their first-ever BBL Cup
BBL Cup
The BBL Cup is one of two peripheral competitions operated by the British Basketball League during the regular season, the other being the BBL Trophy...
Final appearance at the National Indoor Arena
National Indoor Arena
The National Indoor Arena is a large indoor arena and is owned by the NEC Group. It is situated in central Birmingham, England and was opened in 1991, as the largest indoor arena at the time in the UK...
(NIA), on January 13, 2008. Milton Keynes led for most of the game and sealed the 69-66 victory when New scored the final points of the game to end a Newcastle resurgence, handing the Lions franchise its first piece of silverware.
After finishing 4th in the league (19-14), Lions qualified for the post-season Play-offs with a seeded home-court Quarter-final tie against 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 home team eased past the Rocks, 105-93, with the game filmed live in front of Setanta Sports
Setanta Sports
Setanta Sports is an international sports broadcaster based in Dublin, Ireland. Setanta Sports was formed in 1990 to facilitate the broadcasting of Irish sporting events...
cameras. For the first time in its history, Milton Keynes progressed to the Championship Finals weekend
BBL Finals Weekend
The Finals Weekend is the British Basketball League season showpiece finale, where the Playoff finals of the BBL, English Basketball League and Women's EBL take place. For the 2006-07 season the Finals Weekend will be played on 28 April and 29 April 2007 at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle upon...
at the NIA where they defeated league champions 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...
(63-72) on the way to the final eventually succumbing to Guildford Heat
Guildford Heat
Guildford Heat is a basketball club based in Guildford, England that currently play in the British Basketball League. Heat play their home games at the brand-new Surrey Sports Park and was formed in 2005 by fans of former BBL franchise Thames Valley Tigers, who folded during the same year...
, 88-100, again live on Setanta Sports. The incredible achievements of the season, earned coach Macaulay-Razaq the accolade of BBL's Coach of the Year. Another highlight of the Lions' most successful season in history was the development of players through the new Academy with 18 year-old Greg Harvey progressing onto the roster in the latter stages of the season.
2008-09 season
As of 2008, Lions expected to be playing at the brand-new 4,500-seat capacity arena:mkArena:MK
The Arena:MK is a planned 4,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England, but construction work has been delayed by the credit crunch It remains planned to be the home of the Milton Keynes Lions of the British Basketball League, replacing their current venue Bletchley...
adjacent to the new stadium:mk (home to Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
football team). The move to their new home would have seen the Lions play in one of the BBL's biggest, modern venues, rivalling the homes of the Rocks and Newcastle. Unfortunately, the completion of the arena has been delayed due to the deferral of proposed commercial developments around the site (which would have funded the project). With the demolition of Lions’ current home, Bletchley Centre, scheduled for November 2009, the lack of alternative venue raised question marks as to the future of the franchise remaining in Milton Keynes.
On court, there were big expectations following the successful campaign previously, but the 2008-09 season didn’t start off too well for the Lions, with defeat to Guildford in the Cup Winners’ Cup
BBL Cup Winners' Cup
The Cup Winners' Cup was a peripheral cup competition of the British Basketball League. It was a pre-season tournament competed over two legs, one home and one away, between the winners of BBL Cup and BBL Trophy from the previous season. Each leg was staged prior to the beginning of the regular...
. After losing 91-89 in the first leg at Guildford, the Heat rolled over the Lions to a 68-60 victory at the Bletchley Centre, and a 159-149 series win. Further woe was added with a BBL Cup Quarter-final exit at the hands of visiting Everton Tigers
Everton Tigers
The Mersey Tigers are a professional basketball team based in the city of Liverpool, in England. The club was established in 2007 as a start-up franchise of the British Basketball League, the country's elite competition...
, coupled with an exit at the 1st Round of the Trophy. The disastrous season came to an abrupt end in April, with a 14-19 record and 9th placed finish meaning the Lions missing out on the end-of-season Playoffs.
2009-2010 season
With the demolition of the Bletchley Centre looming, the club sought to find an alternative venue for home games and on July 31, 2009 announced that from January 2010, the Lions would be playing out of Middleton Hall at thecentre:mkCentral Milton Keynes Shopping Centre
Central Milton Keynes Shopping Centre is a regional shopping centre located in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England which is about 50 miles north-west of London. It is managed in two separate parts, thecentre:mk and Midsummer Place...
as a temporary measure until the new arena:mk is completed later on in the year. The Lions played their last game in front of a packed Bletchley Centre crowd on December 18, with a dramatic 98-97 victory over Guildford Heat. Robert Youngblood scored the winning point from the free-throw line and thus scored the last basket for Lions at their former home.
Lions Arena
After Middleton Hall decided upon changes that would no longer make it suitable for basketball, the Lions were forced to seek out yet again for another new home venue for at least the 2010-2011 season. The club secured a three-game lease for an out-of-town venue at Stoke Mandeville in AylesburyAylesbury
Aylesbury is the county town of Buckinghamshire in South East England. However the town also falls into a geographical region known as the South Midlands an area that ecompasses the north of the South East, and the southern extremities of the East Midlands...
to begin their 2010-2011 campaign, and decided upon renovating a site in the centre of Milton Keynes to host home games for the duration of the season. A three-year deal was agreed upon to use a warehouse in Winterhill and convert it into a 1,400-seat basketball arena and practice venue. The venue opened (as the Lions Arena) at the end of November 2010.
2010-2011 season
At close of the 2010-11 season, the Lions came tenth in the British Basketball League. Demarious Bolds was named Player of the Year.Home arenas
- Dacorum Centre (1977-1997)
- Watford Leisure Centre (1997-1998)
- Bletchley CentreBletchley CentreThe 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....
(1998-2009) - Middleton Hall (thecentre:mk)Central Milton Keynes Shopping CentreCentral Milton Keynes Shopping Centre is a regional shopping centre located in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England which is about 50 miles north-west of London. It is managed in two separate parts, thecentre:mk and Midsummer Place...
(2010) - MK Lions Arena (2010-present)
Season-by-season records
| Season | Div. | Pos. | Pld. | W | L | Pts. | Play Offs | Trophy | Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hemel Hempstead Lakers | |||||||||
| 1977–1978 | NBL 2 National Basketball League (United Kingdom) The National Basketball League, or NBL for short, is a British basketball league. The league started in 1972 and continued through to 2003 renamed the English Basketball League.-1972-1993:... |
|5th | 20 | 10 | 10 | 20 | n/a | ||
| 1st Round | |||||||||
| 1978–1979 | NBL 2 National Basketball League (United Kingdom) The National Basketball League, or NBL for short, is a British basketball league. The league started in 1972 and continued through to 2003 renamed the English Basketball League.-1972-1993:... |
2nd | 18 | 15 | 3 | 30 | n/a | ||
| 1979–1980 | NBL 1 National Basketball League (United Kingdom) The National Basketball League, or NBL for short, is a British basketball league. The league started in 1972 and continued through to 2003 renamed the English Basketball League.-1972-1993:... |
|4th | 18 | 12 | 6 | 24 | 4th place | ||
| Quarter-final | |||||||||
| 1980–1981 | NBL 1 National Basketball League (United Kingdom) The National Basketball League, or NBL for short, is a British basketball league. The league started in 1972 and continued through to 2003 renamed the English Basketball League.-1972-1993:... |
|3rd | 18 | 13 | 5 | 26 | 3rd place | ||
| 2nd Round | |||||||||
| 1981–1982 | NBL 1 National Basketball League (United Kingdom) The National Basketball League, or NBL for short, is a British basketball league. The league started in 1972 and continued through to 2003 renamed the English Basketball League.-1972-1993:... |
|6th | 22 | 12 | 10 | 24 | DNQ | ||
| Quarter-final | |||||||||
| 1982–1983 | NBL 1 National Basketball League (United Kingdom) The National Basketball League, or NBL for short, is a British basketball league. The league started in 1972 and continued through to 2003 renamed the English Basketball League.-1972-1993:... |
|3rd | 24 | 18 | 6 | 36 | 4th place | ||
| Quarter-final | |||||||||
| 1983–1984 | NBL 1 National Basketball League (United Kingdom) The National Basketball League, or NBL for short, is a British basketball league. The league started in 1972 and continued through to 2003 renamed the English Basketball League.-1972-1993:... |
|11th | 36 | 12 | 24 | 24 | DNQ | ||
| 2nd Round | |||||||||
| 1984–1985 | NBL 1 National Basketball League (United Kingdom) The National Basketball League, or NBL for short, is a British basketball league. The league started in 1972 and continued through to 2003 renamed the English Basketball League.-1972-1993:... |
|7th | 26 | 15 | 11 | 30 | Quarter-final | Semi-final | 2nd Round |
| Hemel Royals | |||||||||
| 1985–1986 | NBL 1 National Basketball League (United Kingdom) The National Basketball League, or NBL for short, is a British basketball league. The league started in 1972 and continued through to 2003 renamed the English Basketball League.-1972-1993:... |
|9th | 28 | 13 | 15 | 26 | DNQ | 2nd Round | 2nd Round |
| 1986–1987 | NBL 1 National Basketball League (United Kingdom) The National Basketball League, or NBL for short, is a British basketball league. The league started in 1972 and continued through to 2003 renamed the English Basketball League.-1972-1993:... |
|8th | 23 | 8 | 15 | 16 | Quarter-final | 2nd Round | Quarter-final |
| 1987–1988 | BBL 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.... |
|11th | 28 | 9 | 19 | 18 | DNQ | 1st Round | Quarter-final |
| 1988–1989 | BBL 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.... |
|7th | 20 | 9 | 11 | 18 | Quarter-final | 1st Round | Semi-final |
| 1989–1990 | NBL 1 National Basketball League (United Kingdom) The National Basketball League, or NBL for short, is a British basketball league. The league started in 1972 and continued through to 2003 renamed the English Basketball League.-1972-1993:... |
|4th | 22 | 14 | 8 | 28 | Semi-final | Semi-final | 1st Round |
| 1990–1991 | BBL 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.... |
|8th | 24 | 4 | 20 | 8 | Quarter-final | 1st Round | 2nd Round |
| 1991–1992 | BBL 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.... |
|7th | 30 | 13 | 17 | 26 | Quarter-final | 1st Round | 3rd Round |
| 1992–1993 | BBL 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.... |
|12th | 33 | 4 | 29 | 8 | DNQ | 1st Round | 3rd Round |
| 1993–1994 | BBL 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.... |
|12th | 36 | 3 | 33 | 6 | DNQ | 1st Round | 3rd Round |
| 1994–1995 | BBL 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.... |
|10th | 36 | 9 | 27 | 18 | DNQ | 1st Round | 4th Round |
| 1995–1996 | BBL 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.... |
|13th | 36 | 6 | 30 | 12 | DNQ | 1st Round | Quarter-final |
| Hemel & Watford Royals | |||||||||
| 1996–1997 | BBL 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.... |
|13th | 36 | 2 | 34 | 4 | DNQ | 1st Round | 4th Round |
| Watford Royals | |||||||||
| 1997–1998 | BBL 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.... |
|13th | 36 | 3 | 33 | 6 | DNQ | 1st Round | 4th Round |
| Milton Keynes Lions | |||||||||
| 1998–1999 | BBL 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.... |
|10th | 36 | 10 | 26 | 20 | DNQ | 1st Round | 1st Round |
| 1999–2000 | BBL S 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.... |
|4th | 34 | 15 | 19 | 30 | Quarter-final | 1st Round | Semi-final |
| 2000–2001 | BBL S 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.... |
|3rd | 34 | 21 | 13 | 42 | |1st Round | Quarter-final | 1st Round |
| 2001–2002 | BBL S 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.... |
|3rd | 32 | 16 | 16 | 32 | |Quarter-final | Runner-up | Quarter-final |
| 2002–2003 | BBL 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.... |
|8th | 40 | 12 | 28 | 24 | Quarter-final | 1st Round | 1st Round |
| 2003–2004 | BBL 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.... |
|8th | 36 | 13 | 23 | 26 | Quarter-final | 1st Round | Quarter-final |
| 2004–2005 | BBL 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.... |
|8th | 40 | 15 | 25 | 30 | Quarter-final | 1st Round | Semi-final |
| 2005–2006 | BBL 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.... |
|10th | 40 | 16 | 24 | 32 | DNQ | 1st Round | Quarter-final |
| 2006–2007 | BBL 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.... |
|6th | 36 | 18 | 18 | 36 | Quarter-final | 1st Round | Quarter-final |
| 2007–2008 | BBL 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.... |
|4th | 33 | 19 | 14 | 38 | Runner-up | 1st Round | Winners |
| 2008–2009 | BBL 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.... |
|9th | 33 | 14 | 19 | 28 | DNQ | 1st Round | Quarter-final |
| 2009–2010 | BBL 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.... |
|7th | 36 | 18 | 18 | 36 | 1st Round | Semi-final | Semi-final |
Notes:
- From 1999-2002 the BBL operated a Conference system. Milton Keynes competed in the Southern Conference.
- DNQ denotes Did Not Qualify.
Cup
- BBL Cup Winners: 2007/08 1
- BBL Cup Winners' Cup Runners Up: 2008/09 1
Current roster
The following information is established according to the official websites of the team (www.mklions.com) and Britain's top professional league, the BBLBritish 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....
(www.bbl.org.uk).
Notable former players
Andrew Alleyne Terrell Brown Joel Burns Jelani GardnerJelani Gardner
Jelani Gardner is an American-French professional basketball player. In 2002, he underwent a kidney transplant operation. He is 1.98 m in height. He plays mainly at the shooting guard position, but he can also play at the point guard and small forward positions...
E.J. Harrison Laurent Irish Shawn Jamison
Shawn Jamison
Shawn Jamison is a retired professional basketball player, who last played in England for the Milton Keynes Lions....
Nigel Lloyd Shawn Myers
Shawn Myers
Shawn Myers is a professional basketball player of Trinidad origin who currently plays for the Milton Keynes Lions.-Career: Silute, 1997–1998 Tampereen Pyrbasket, 1998–1999 Tindastoll, 1999–2001 Newcastle Eagles, 2001–2002 Chester Jets, 2002 Scottish Rocks, 2002–2003 Newcastle Eagles, 2003–2004...
Travis Nelson Mike New
Mike New
Mike New is a former American basketball forward-center for the Milton Keynes Lions of the British Basketball League. Since 2007 New has also held the position of Head Coach of the Milton Keynes College Basketball Academy. He is now the head coach of the Milton Keynes Lions-External links:**...
Jayson ObazuayeJayson Obazuaye
Jayson Obazuaye is an Nigerian professional basketball guard. He is 188 cm tall. Obazuaye plays for the basketball team Milton Keynes Lions and the Nigeria national basketball team...
Yorick Williams
Yorick Williams
Yorick Williams is a British professional basketball player, and currently plays for the Milton Keynes Lions in the British Basketball League....
Tony Windless
Tony Windless
Tony Windless is an American retired professional basketball player with a notable career stretching over a decade in the British Basketball League....
Robert Youngblood
External links
- Official Milton Keynes Lions website
- Milton Keynes Lions news from the Milton Keynes Citizen
- Milton Keynes Lions news from the MK News
- Milton Keynes Lions on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...