MK Lions Basketball
The Milton Keynes Lions (now London Lions) was a basketball team which represented 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.
Franchise history
Hemel Hempstead
The franchise that would become Milton Keynes Lions initially started out in the town of Hemel Hempstead, 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.
Prestige Homes MK Lions. Playing in the British Basketball League from our 1,000 capacity venue in the heart of Milton Keynes.
