London Lions’ Global Plan Focuses on Europe, Grassroots and Governance

London Lions president Lenz Balan says the club’s next phase is about building a “global basketball franchise” while keeping European competition, grassroots growth and British basketball governance firmly in view.

Speaking to Insider Sport in an interview published on 29 July, Balan said the Lions are focused on growing their fanbase, supporting the community, building a global brand and putting “the best product” possible on the court.

The comments follow a landmark 2025/26 season for London, with the club coming off a Super League Basketball quadruple and preparing for a return to European competition. The Lions have agreed a five-year licence to compete in the 2026/27 BKT EuroCup, putting them back into a wider European basketball conversation.

That conversation is getting more competitive. Insider Sport reported that NBA Europe has been earmarked for an October 2027 launch, while EuroLeague is also pushing a new commercial strategy and has been linked with expansion plans for a proposed 24-team format.

Balan did not frame the Lions’ future as a simple choice between one competition and another. Instead, he described the growing interest from NBA Europe, EuroLeague and FIBA in UK basketball as “exactly the catalyst that we needed”.

“The London Lions are absolutely committed to being a global basketball franchise,” Balan told Insider Sport.

He added that the influx of capital into European basketball, both through the EuroLeague ecosystem and the planned NBA Europe project, was “really exciting” for basketball in London.

Grassroots and pathways remain central

Balan also pointed to the importance of grassroots growth and player pathways in London. He is part of the London Mayor’s basketball task force, which is focused on making the capital a healthier space for the sport to grow through improved infrastructure, courts and opportunities for the next generation.

That matters because London’s long-term basketball case cannot be built on elite competition alone. The city has a large potential fanbase, but British clubs have historically had to fight harder than major European basketball markets for consistent crowds, facilities and commercial backing.

Balan said his own focus is on making the Lions a world-class, globally recognised club, regardless of what is happening at governance level.

Governance still part of the story

The interview also reflected on the governance turbulence British basketball has faced over the last 18 months, including the dispute around top-flight league rights, FIBA involvement and the eventual need to rebuild confidence around the domestic structure.

Balan described the complexity around the 2025 season as part of a wider picture, saying UK basketball remains a “sleeping giant”.

For Lions supporters, the immediate takeaway is clear: the club wants to operate on a bigger stage, but its route there will depend on more than one league invitation. EuroCup performance, London’s grassroots base, domestic governance and the shape of NBA Europe and EuroLeague expansion could all influence what comes next.

Source note: based on a 29 July 2026 Insider Sport interview with Lenz Balan, supplied to All Basketball UK by Minty after direct automated access to the article was blocked by site security. Additional context from existing All Basketball UK coverage of London Lions’ EuroCup position.