Who are GBBL?
Exploring the group given a 15-year licence to shape the future of British basketball.
In April 2025, the British Basketball Federation (BBF) awarded a 15-year licence to operate the men’s professional league to a newly formed group: GBB League Ltd (GBBL). Beginning in the 2026/27 season, this decision will shape the future of British basketball for a generation.
Yet despite the scale of this shift, and the promises of major investment, many fans still don’t know who GBBL are, what they stand for, or what this means for the clubs and supporters who already power the sport.
At the BBFA, we’re not here to make assumptions. We’re here to ask for clarity. To ensure decisions this big are matched with open, honest answers for the people most affected: fans.
What We Now Know About GBBL
According to the BBF’s April 2nd announcement:
GBBL is led by Marshall Glickman, former acting CEO of EuroLeague and President of the Portland Trail Blazers.
His leadership team includes Chris Dillavou, former COO at Greg Norman Companies, and Arjun Metre, previously Investment Director at Intel Capital.
GBBL have promised to provide £15 million in direct funding across the first two years and take on 100% of the financial risk.
The group has committed to a minimum annual distribution to all clubs, and shared profits.
GBBL also plan to fund a Players' Association and commit to welfare, branding and representation for players.
Cities being explored for expansion include Liverpool, Leeds, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Birmingham.
They have pledged to work with SLB clubs, NGBs, and community stakeholders to align pro league ambitions with grassroots growth.
What We Still Don’t Know
Despite these promising headlines, several critical questions remain:
What is GBBL’s detailed plan for league format, broadcast, and club integration?
How will fans be engaged during the transition?
When will they share their road map for how everything will come together?
What guarantees exist if this ambitious model stumbles early?
With some GBBL leadership reportedly connected to 777 Partners — whose exit from the BBL left instability — fans are right to ask whether lessons have been learned.
Why Fans Should Care
The GBBL announcement outlines big, ambitious plans for 2026/27 and beyond, but 2025/26 remains a grey area in terms of governance and recognition.
Here’s what we do know:
GBBL will not operate a league in 2025/26. Their licence begins in 2026/27.
Super League Basketball (SLB) has publicly committed to running a full league season in 2025/26, featuring the current professional clubs.
However, this league will not be sanctioned by the BBF, meaning it may not be recognised in official international frameworks.
This could affect:
Player movement (e.g. visas, international transfers)
Club eligibility for international competition
Insurance and regulatory coverage for players and staff
GB national team selection for some players
This is the root of the uncertainty. Fans will still have a league — but the implications of that league operating without official recognition haven’t been publicly explained.
So while SLB is moving forward, and GBBL is planning ahead, fans are still left asking: what does this mean for the teams we support, and the players we care about?
What the BBFA Is Asking For
We call on the BBF and GBBL to:
Host a public briefing on the GBBL vision, leadership, and delivery plan.
Clarify the structure and recognition of the 2025/26 season.
Engage with clubs, players, coaches, and fans directly.
Outline how accountability will be tracked over the 15-year licence.
Build trust through dialogue — not just press releases.
Add Your Voice
If you care about the future of basketball in Britain, now is the time to be counted.
The more fans who join the BBFA, the louder our voice becomes — and the harder we are to ignore. Whether you’re a lifelong season ticket holder, a grassroots coach, or someone just discovering the game, your voice adds strength to the message: fans deserve transparency, respect, and a seat at the table.
Help us build a movement that puts supporters back at the heart of British basketball.
That's where I am too. There's A LOT to do in the 16 months or so before the 2026/27 season. Including finding clubs, building venues, etc. We need to know how they plan to do it.
While it is understandable that the GBBL plans may not yet be fully defined - after all they have time to map out more details, it does seem very strange that we have heard pretty much nothing from them. With all the concerns from fans (and players and clubs?) you would think that they would want to do some PR and get their view out in the world 🤷