London Lions to Face Portland Trail Blazers in Historic NBA Pre-Season Game

London Lions are set for a landmark night in British basketball after being listed to face the Portland Trail Blazers in an NBA pre-season game at Moda Center on Monday 12 October 2026.

The fixture is scheduled for a 1:00pm local tip-off in Portland, which makes it a 9:00pm BST start for fans following from the UK. Hoopsfix reports that the game will make the Lions the first British club side to play against NBA opposition.

It gives the reigning Super League Basketball champions a major international stage as they prepare for another season that also includes a return to the BKT EuroCup. For British basketball, the match is more than a high-profile friendly: it is a visible marker of how far the club game is trying to push into the wider European and global conversation.

The tie also carries a personal Portland connection for Lions head coach Tautvydas Sabonis. His father, Arvydas Sabonis, spent seven seasons with the Trail Blazers from 1995 to 2003 and remains one of the most celebrated European players in the franchise’s history.

London general manager Martynas Purlys described the game as “a historic moment for our club and for basketball in the United Kingdom”, adding that the opportunity recognised the progress and ambition of the Lions organisation.

Sabonis also called the matchup “a great test” for his players, with the Lions set to measure themselves against NBA-level opposition in one of the sport’s most recognisable arenas.

The Trail Blazers’ own schedule lists the event as BC London Lions vs Portland Trail Blazers, with tickets linked through Ticketmaster. Portland’s current UK interest has also grown after the Blazers signed British-developed forward Jeremy Sochan, adding another potential storyline for supporters on this side of the Atlantic.

British clubs have come close to this territory before. Sheffield Sharks were part of the 1995 McDonald’s Championship field in London alongside the Houston Rockets, although the teams did not meet. This time, the Lions have the direct NBA matchup British basketball has never previously had.

Image/source note: featured image from the Portland Trail Blazers/NBA schedule listing. Reporting sourced from Hoopsfix and the Portland Trail Blazers schedule.