The 13-team D1M field is ready and raring to go, with six games taking place this weekend. That includes ties for both newly promoted teams, London Elite and City of Birmingham Rockets, plus defending champs Hemel Storm.
Hemel went undefeated across all four competitions last season before going 3-0 with a quarter-final win in this season's KitKing competition. How much longer that run can go on for remains to be seen, but each week there will no doubt be a new challengers looking to knock the champs off the winning streak.
We take a look at all the weekend's action below, with links to live stats and live streams at the bottom of the page.
Nottingham and Derby resume their local rivalry to kick off their D1M campaigns on Saturday night.
Both teams have enjoyed their share of wins in recent times, but the Trailblazers appear to be in better form heading into this weekend after booking their place in the KitKing Trophy semi-finals.
DTB went 3-0 across the group stage before beating Barking 94-82 last time out. New signing Sam Masten has already earned himself Rebound Player of the Week honours during the group stage, whilst fellow new signing Rob Marsden had a near triple-double (15pts, 10reb, 8ast) in the win over BA.
Adding the pair into a core that includes Raheem May-Thompson, Jonas Dieterich and Malcolm Smith, Derby look primed to repeat the kind of form that saw them go 19-7 a year ago.
Nottingham started 2022/23 hot before sliding down the standings to eventually finish outside the playoffs with an 11-15 record.
The KitKing Trophy wasn't kind to the Midlands side, who went 0-3 after defeats to City of Birmingham, Loughborough and Milton Keynes, creating a less than optimum run in to the new campaign.
Landon Taliaferro did have 31 points in the Hoods' final KitKing outing however, and partnered with long-term standout Josh Guddemi, Nottingham have a solid duo to lean on.
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We’re back.
— NBL (@NBLengland) September 29, 2023
The NBL 2023/2024 season is 🔛#NBL2324 pic.twitter.com/x4N8BGWxU8
The weekend begins with a first D1M game for City of Birmingham Rockets as the newly-promoted D2 winners head to London to take on Barking Abbey.
Loughborough Riders are the latest team to try and end Hemel's winning run as they host Storm this weekend. The Riders went 1-2 in the three KitKing Trophy games as they look to build on last season's fifth place finish.
KitKing Trophy semi-finalist Bradford Dragons start their D1M campaign with a tricky clash against Thames Valley Cavaliers, who have Martelle McLemore back in their ranks after another spell away from the club.
London Elite start life in the top flight with a home tie against Team Newcastle University, whilst the weekend draws to a close with a clash between the Rebels and Worthing Thunder in Essex.
The KitKing standouts of the weekend 👑 pic.twitter.com/vW7GcG6pEz
— NBL (@NBLengland) October 3, 2023
4pm - Barking Abbey vs City of Birmingham Rockets - LIVE STATS / LIVE STREAM
6pm - Loughborough Riders vs Hemel Storm - LIVE STATS / LIVE STREAM
6:15pm - Bradford Dragons vs Thames Valley Cavaliers - LIVE STATS
6:30pm - London Elite vs Newcastle University - LIVE STATS
6:30pm - Nottingham Hoods vs Derby Trailblazers - LIVE STATS
6:30pm - Essex Rebels vs Worthing Thunder - LIVE STATS
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