Liverpool Basketball Club Aims High with NBA Veteran at Helm

A new professional basketball club has been established in Liverpool, England, aiming to capitalize on the growing influx of money into European basketball. The team will compete in the English Basketball League (EBL) starting this season. The ambitious project is set to be led by former NBA player and assistant coach Roy Rogers.

Rogers, who has extensive experience in the NBA from 2008 to 2025, previously served as an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets during Omri Casspi's tenure and for the Portland Trail Blazers during Deni Avdija's rookie season. As a player, Rogers played 137 NBA games, including 50 starts for the Vancouver Grizzlies, and was a first-round draft pick in 1996.

Liverpool is traditionally known for its football clubs, but this new venture signifies a push to elevate basketball in the city. The EBL, a relatively young league, has seen the London Lions win the last two championships. Other competing teams include Manchester Basketball and Newcastle Eagles. The London Lions also participate in the EuroCup, recently acquiring Keenan Evans on loan.