The competition will for a third season be organised by NBL1 Men’s clubs in partnership with naming rights holder Kitking.co.uk and BE. 

It will see all 13 NBL1 clubs, plus a trio of invited Division Two sides – Barking Abbey, London Elite and Solent Kestrels – competing in four regional groups of four.  

Holders Derby Trailblazers will defend their title.

KitKing have supplied winning team wear to NGBs, professional and grassroots clubs throughout the UK, Ireland, Europe and beyond since 1992. They are the UK’s leading teamwear specialist with 30 years’ experience across more than 25 sports, including basketball. 

KitKing.co.uk CEO Dips Patel said: 

“We are excited to continue our partnership with Basketball England’s NBL Division One clubs.  

“The previous two season’s competitions were a big success and our sponsorship will further extend support of the Trophy in 2024/25. 

“We’re pleased to be a part of it and to be able to support Basketball England’s D1 clubs through this partnership.” 

Tim Brown, former BE Board member and chair of the Men’s Division One group, said: 

“It’s great that KitKing.co.uk are providing ongoing support as we push the competition from strength-to-strength.

“The D1 men’s clubs are continuing to grow and move the league forward as a group with Basketball England’s support, making this an exciting time for both the sport and the Trophy itself.” 

The group stages of the competition will be played on the weekends of 14/15 September and 21/22 September, with the 16 contenders split into four groups of four teams.

Playing each other once, the top two sides in each group will progress to the quarter-finals in October, then semi-finals, with the final set to take place later in the season at a venue to be confirmed.

The games will provide a curtain raiser to the Men’s NBL Division One season, which gets under way in October.  

Fixtures

Group 1

14/9/2024 (6pm): Solent Kestrels v Reading Rockets
14/9/2024 (7.30pm): Worthing Thunder v Barking Abbey
15/9/2024 (4pm): Reading Rockets v Worthing Thunder
15/9/2024 (4pm): Barking Abbey v Solent kestrels
21/9/2024: (7.30pm): Worthing Thunder v Solent Kestrels
21/9/2024 (6.30pm): Reading Rockets v Barking Abbey

Group 2

14/9/2024 6.30pm): Essex Rebels v Thames Valley Cavaliers
14/9/2024 (7pm): Hemel Storm v London Elite
15/9/2024 (3pm): Thames Valley Cavaliers v London Elite
21/9/2024 (4pm): London Elite v Essex Rebels

21/9/2024 (7pm): Hemel Storm v Thames Valley Cavaliers
22/9/2024 (4pm): Essex Rebels v Hemel Storm

Group 3

14/9/2024 (5.30pm): Bristol Hurricanes v Loughborough Riders
14/9/2024 (7.30pm): City of Birmingham Rockets v Milton Keynes Breakers
15/9/2024 (5pm): Milton Keynes Breakers v Bristol Hurricanes
21/9/2024 (5pm): Milton Keynes Breakers v Loughborough Riders
21/9/2024: (7.30pm): City of Birmingham Rockets v Bristol Hurricanes
21/9/2024 (7pm): Loughborough Riders v City of Birmingham Rockets

Group 4

14/09/2024 (6.30pm): Nottingham Hoods v   Newcastle
14/09/2024 (6.15pm): Bradford Dragons v Derby Trailblazers
15/09/2024 (4.30pm): Derby Trailblazers v Newcastle University
21/09/2024 (2pm) Newcastle University v Bradford Dragons
21/09/2024 (7.30pm): Derby Trailblazers v Nottingham Hoods
22/09/2024 (4.30pm): Nottingham Hoods v Bradford Dragons