British Basketball League Salaries: How Much Do British Basketball Players Make? [BBL 2021]
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Yearly Salary Ranges: |
$10,000 - $69,000 USD/per year |
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Most Commonly Reported Yearly Salary: |
$18,000 - $24,000 USD/per year |
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Lowest Reported Yearly Salary: |
$0/per year |
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MAX Salary: |
$69,000 USD/per year |
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Sources Referenced [Players, Media, Coaches]: |
10 |
Source : Josecolorado.com, Professional Basketball Players Survey Data [2021]
British basketball league salary
As the top professional basketball league in England, players competing in the British Basketball League (BBL) can typically expect a salary between $1,370 - $3,100 USD/per month ($11K - $25k/per year) although some salaries can reportedly reach as high as $6,500 - $8,000 USD/per month ($52,000K - $69,000K/per year).
Based on our global overseas basketball salaries study, this would put the BBL in the middle-tier pay grade of Europe.
British Basketball League (BBL) salaries are in the middle-tier of overseas basketball salaries in Europe.
HOW MUCH DO BRITISH BASKETBALL LEAGUE PLAYERS GET PAID
Per Hoopsfix - the leader in British Basketball coverage - the BBL’s 2020 salary cap is currently set at $345,000 USD (£250,000). And because the BBL season runs for approximately 8-9 months, then we can say - in theory - the average BBL player on a regular 12-man roster would be making roughly $3,240 - $3,600K USD/per month or $28-29K USD/per year.
But it does get more complicated:
That’s because just like any of the other comparable overseas basketball league that operates under a salary cap, it’s obvious money will not be distributed evenly amongst the players.
It never is.
Some players are better than others.
So some will get PAID more.
In fact:
According to a fascinating two-hour long interview with Hoopsfix, BBL Director and Sheffield Sharks Owner, Yuri Matischen, says the average British Basketball League salary would actually fall between $1,370 - $4,120 USD/per month (£1,000 - £3,0000).
So this would be noticeably less than the $3,240 - $3,600K USD/per month salary range previously thought.
And Matischen’s statement seems to jive with what our own independent research showed.
$1,000 - $2,0000 USD/PER MONTH WAS THE MOST COMMONLY REPORTED BBL SALARY RANGE IN OUR OVERSEAS BASKETBALL PLAYERS SURVEY.
Interestingly though:
The BBL claims it is trying to make a concentrated effort to have these salaries go to British players.
That’s because in 2020, BBL clubs voted to change the player eligibility criteria to allow teams to play “a maximum of five over-18 non-British players per game…with greater emphasis on protecting positions for national (British) players.”
But there’s one key wrinkle in all of this:
british basketball league (bbl) salary cap
Bbl team salary cap (example)
Unlike in many other salary-capped overseas leagues, the BBL actually operates under a “soft cap” rather than a “hard cap.”
What does that mean?
IN THE BBL THE TOP-TWO EARNING BRITISH PLAYERS ARE ACTUALLY EXCLUDED FROM THAT $345,000 USD TEAM CAP. SO - IN THEORY - TEAMS COULD GO WELL ABOVE THAT LIMIT IF DESIRED, INCREASING EVERYONE’S SALARY IN THE PROCESS.
As you would expect, these “big-earner spots” are usually reserved for Great Britain’s National Team players.
Some examples include:
Ovie Soko’s Salary
Despite the BBL increasing its salary cap from $276,000 US (£200,000) to $345,00 USD (£250,000), the league hasn’t been able to retain all of its top-tier nationals.
Ovie Soko would be the most famous example as he left the London Lions in 2020 to play for Le Mans Sarthe Basket (France, LNB Pro A).
Based on foreign-born players typically making between 80K - 170K in this league and Soko’s outstanding statistical production, it’s likely Soko’s salary is in the neighborhood of $125K - $200K/USD per year - far ahead of British Basketball League wages.
Are british basketball league (bbl) salaries getting better or worse?
In a county dominated by soccer, cricket and rugby, media giant Sky Sports News reports basketball is actually the second most “popular team sport in terms of participation and is particularly popular among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities.”
Despite that:
Many in the Great Britain community resent the lack of support given to basketball’s infrastructure - ultimately holding back the professional game and wages.
But there have been some positive signs of late.
In fact:
The 2020 BBL season could only take place because of a government grant which is “understood to be in the early millions” according to the Yorkshire Post.
And before that:
Sports England - the governing body for grassroot sports development in the country - claimed it had invested $27 million USD (£20 million) into basketball since the 2012 London Olympics.
So at least there are SOME signs the heavy-hitters of the country are interested in growing the game.
On the hardwood the ripple effects are already showing.
What british basketball league (bbl) team pays the most?
In the 2018-2019 season the Leicester Riders competed in the FIBA Europe Cup - a rarity for a club from the UK. And in 2020, it became the London Lions turn (Basketball Champions League qualifiers).
Not only this but the Lions were able to sign two former NBA players in DeAndre Liggins (5-year NBA pro) and Byron Mullens (4-year NBA pro) for the event - proving their deep pockets.
With high-level overseas and NBA experience, one can only imagine the salaries these players were commanding.
British Basketball League (BBL) salaries appear to be increasing with teams like the London Lions being able to sign former NBA players DeAndre Liggins and Byron Mullens.
Alongside the Lions and Riders are the the Newcastle Eagles for the BBL’s most powerful clubs.
Combined the 3 squads have won the past 8 league championships since 2011 - 2020.
The Riders have 4 titles in that span while the Eagles (3) and Lions (1) trail behind.
Newcastle has the most overall league titles with 7.
It should be noted that while $345,000 USD is the salary cap per team, there is no obligation for clubs to MAX out its payroll.
So while teams such as the Lions, Eagles and Riders would seem almost certain to MAX it out, some teams are likely operating with a lower payroll.
Hence:
Players on these lower-profile teams would be paid accordingly (i.e. less).
CONCLUSION
So there you have it.
While British Basketball League salaries certainly won’t be competing with the higher-paying European pro leagues anytime soon, the league still provides a viable middle-tier overseas basketball salary.
And with clubs like the London Lions and Leicester Riders capable of financially- and physically- competing in large-scale European events, one would think BBL salaries are on a positive trend upwards.
Have you ever played in the British Basketball League (BBL)?
Did I miss anything?
Let me know in the comments below!
Jose Colorado is a 6-year professional basketball player helping others achieve their dreams of pro basketball with a proven and tested approach to overseas basketball.
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