Great Britain’s men’s basketball team is finally preparing for its World Cup qualifier against Lithuania, but the journey to reach this point has been anything but smooth. Only weeks ago, head coach Marc Steutel feared that the international futures of his players had been abruptly ended after FIBA suspended Great Britain from competition due to major governance failures within the British Basketball Federation (BBF).

The BBF’s collapse into liquidation created a crisis that threatened to shut down the national programme entirely. Now, following tense negotiations and structural intervention, Great Britain has been cleared to compete—but uncertainty continues to hang over the sport.

“Like Being Hit With a Sledgehammer” – Steutel on Learning of the Ban

For Steutel—who has spent 20 years coaching within British basketball—the announcement of the suspension was emotionally devastating.

He described the moment to BBC Sport, recalling that it was “heartbreaking, debilitating, and frustrating”. For him and his players, the idea that Great Britain might never play competitively again, despite years of hard work, was a crushing blow.

Even though the ban has now been lifted, Steutel says the ordeal highlights how severely the game has been mismanaged at national level.

How British Basketball Reached Crisis Point

The current turmoil stems from the long decline and ultimate collapse of key financial backers:

• In June 2024, American firm 777 Partners, which previously financed the British Basketball League (BBL), went insolvent.
• The BBL folded soon after, forcing the nine top clubs to launch a new competition: Super League Basketball (SLB).
• The BBF temporarily sanctioned the SLB—until disagreements exploded over who should officially run professional men’s basketball.

In April, the BBF awarded a long-term licence to a new investment group, Great Britain Basketball League Ltd (GBBL), led by American businessman Marshall Glickman.
The SLB clubs claimed the process was “illegal’’ and refused to join—triggering lawsuits on both sides.

The escalating conflict prompted FIBA to intervene, citing “regulatory non-compliance” and ultimately suspending the BBF. With the BBF unable to function and its funding evaporating, the organisation was forced into liquidation earlier this month.

Grassroots Basketball Growing Despite Chaos at the Top

While elite structures fracture, youth participation is booming. Basketball is now the second most popular team sport among young people in England, trailing only football.

Steutel’s club, the Newcastle Eagles, has over 2,000 youth players. The UK is also producing international-level talent, including Tosan Evbuomwan, who recently joined the NBA’s New York Knicks.

However, long-time players and coaches feel that persistent governance issues keep undermining the sport’s potential.

Former GB international Drew Lasker said British basketball repeatedly “shoots itself in the foot,” expressing exhaustion with leadership battles that stall progress. He noted that individuals seem more focused on preserving power than building the sport’s future.

A Critical Turning Point With Huge Opportunities Ahead

Despite the turmoil, industry figures believe this moment could spark major change. The NBA is planning to launch a new Europe-based league in 2027, with potential London and Manchester franchises on the table.

Lasker sees this as a once-in-a-generation opportunity:

“This is the chance to reset and build a solid foundation. If we take advantage, British basketball could explode. If not, we may never get another opportunity like this.”

SLB interim chair Sanjay Bhandari says the crisis shows the need for a full governance overhaul to prevent similar disasters.

Steutel agrees, emphasising that British basketball needs stronger leadership not just on the performance side, but commercially and administratively as well.

Focus Returns to the Court—GB Ready for Lithuania Clash

For now, the priority is the national team’s immediate match. Despite the upheaval, GB guard Josh Ward-Hibbert says the group remains focused:

“There’s uncertainty, of course, but we control what we can. Everyone wants to push the national team forward.”

Given how close the team came to missing the entire window, simply competing against Lithuania already represents significant progress.