The UK Sport and Sport England announcement this week of a threefold increase in public funding for British Basketball was welcomed across the game.
The package of almost £4.5million will support the Great Britain teams and boost GB 3x3 ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, while developing talent for the short format of the game.
And Sport England (SE) has also granted Basketball England a further £2.4million to elevate the England Talent Pathway, the NGB’s arm for taking young players from the grassroots to the international stage, for the period 2025-2029.
That represents an annual increase of 60% compared to the previous BE Talent award and will go toward the development of players, coaches and professional staff through the junior ranks to elite level and takes the total amount invested into the game this week to almost £7m.
“Through our hard work and dedication, Sport England has recognised our achievements and potential to elevate the game further.
“It’s incredibly encouraging to see such belief in the Basketball England Talent Programme and our team’s efforts over the years.
“This award is not just a win for us but a boost for the entire basketball community in the UK. It will provide us with the essential resources to support our players' ambitions and ensure that basketball continues to grow and thrive at all levels. We are excited to harness this opportunity to develop talent, enhance our programmes, and chase excellence on the global stage.”
SE’s vision for the talent system is that ‘England should be the best place in the world to be recognised as having sporting potential’.
It asserts that athletes and teams representing England should be both ‘world leading’ and representative of the nation, helping create a sense of relevancy, affinity and be a source of inspiration.
Its focus for the 2025-2029 talent funding investments, therefore, is to develop ensure that English athletic development pathways are accessible, inclusive and better connected to grassroots and high-performance programmes.
“Basketball England’s Talent Pathway has experienced a run of success. The medals from the Birmingham Commonwealth Games have been backed up by great junior players coming through, and given the playing base of the sport we think there is potential for even more.
“Sport England’s Uniting the Movement strategy is working to create more equal, inclusive and connected communities. And that applies to our talent investments. By removing barriers to talent pathways and high-performance sport environments, we are enabling more talented young people – no matter their background – to make their mark, earn their stripes and eventually go on to represent the nation.”
Basketball England understands the power of the game and its societal impact and, in partnership with funders, partners and stakeholders, as well as volunteers, members, clubs, supporters, wants to do more.
This year, CEO Stewart Kellett called on the Government to recognise that basketball is uniquely placed to make good on its mandate through Sport England to remove barriers to sport and physical activity
“Basketball delivers for this Government and for this nation on strategy, on connecting communities, on inclusivity, on medals, on making people happier and healthier,” said Kellett.
Trends from BE’s 2018-24 strategy show that more people are playing basketball and the gold and silver medals won by the men’s and women’s England teams at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games has pushed 3x3 into the spotlight as a growing, informal and exciting version of the game where there is further medal potential.
The inclusion of 3x3 in the schedule for the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games gives Team England’s basketball squads another chance to go for glory.
.
.
