The 2000–01 BBL season, the 14th since its establishment of the
British Basketball League, commenced on 30 September 2000 and ended on 7 April 2001, with a total of 13 teams competing. The regular season saw teams split into two geographically divided Conferences, seven in the North and six in the South, with northern teams playing 36 games and southern teams playing 34 games each.
Sheffield Sharks were crowned winners of the North, while
London Towers dominated the South, both teams tallying 27 wins in the regular season.
Following the regular season, the top-four teams from each Conference progressed to the play-offs which ran from 14 April to 5 May, climaxing with the Play-off Final at
Wembley Arena. Leicester Riders shocked bookmakers and fans alike, taking the Championship title with an 84-75 victory over Sheffield, adding to their National Cup success.
London Towers was the league’s sole representative in European competition, appearing in the
Euroleague. They failed to make the Round of 16, finishing 5th in the 6-team Group D with a 1-9 record.
Notable occurrences
London Towers opened their campaign in the
Euroleague with an 86-61 win against the
Frankfurt Skyliners on 18 October 2000. Kendrick Warren posted a game-high 21 points for the Towers.[1]
On 6 November,
Derby Storm's 104-84 home victory over
Edinburgh Rocks ended the BBL’s longest ever losing streak, with Storm’s last league win coming on 26 March, an 88-91 victory away to
Milton Keynes Lions.[2]
Birmingham Bullets’ attempt to sign
Panamanian Antonio García, after he walked out on Derby a day earlier, was taken to court after Derby refused to release his registration.[4]
The Northern Conference conquered in the annual All-Star Game, with a 161-148 victory over their Southern counterparts at the
Telewest Arena on 20 January.
Newcastle Eagles’
Tony Windless was voted MVP after scoring 25 points, while
Thames Valley Tigers’ Tony Christie posted a game-high 29 points for the South.[6]
Leicester claimed their second piece of silverware for the season, adding the Play-off title to their earlier National Cup victory. Riders claimed the win on 5 May at
Wembley Arena with an 84-75 victory over
Sheffield Sharks, shooting an overall 57% from the floor. Larry Johnson was named as MVP.[8]