New NBL season to showcase 10 Club teams
The 2023 National Basketball League (NBL) season will be launched on Wednesday May 31, at the offices of the SDF starting at 2.00pm. This will mark the return of the top club basketball league following a 2 year cessation after the last season was terminated because of the COVID outbreak. Players and coaches are eagerly anticipating the season and have expressed their delight that the league is back on the basketball calendar.
The league is expected to be played over 4 months and will showcase the best local based basketball talent and aspiring national payers who will display their skills in the presence of national coaches. An all-star NBL team will be selected mid-season to play against the visiting University of Missouri NCAA team during the summer. Confirmed teams are:
- St Georges Slayers (Defending Champions)
- UWI Runnin’ rebels
- Rae Town Raptors
- Urban Knights
- Upper Room Eagles
- Tivoli Wizards
- Falmouth Saints
- Central Celtics
- Spanish Town Spartans
- Portmore Flames
Teams will vie for cash prizes and other incentives provided by sponsors and partners. A feature of this year’s league will be the relationship with the Ministry of National Security as JABA intends to use basketball as a way of influencing troubled communities and schools to reduce incidence of violence.
Games will be played primarily at the stadium courts while select games will be hosted in Montego Bay and other approved venues.