Sport
London Lions to face off against Hapoel Tel Aviv in Wembley clash
One of the biggest basketball teams in Israel is coming to London
January 4, 2023 17:38
One of the biggest basketball teams in Israel is coming to London
January 4, 2023 17:38Two of the foremost basketball teams in Britain and Israel are going head-to-head on January 11 at the OVO Wembley Arena, as part of a European tournament's group stage.
Hapoel Tel Aviv and the London Lions are both in group B of the round-robin stage, with only the top eight teams of each group advancing on to the knock-out elimination phase in April.
Hapoel, coming off the back of a win versus the Greek Promitheas Patras in December, are currently positioned fourth in the group with a record of five wins and four losses. Close behind are the Lions who are positioned seventh with a record of four wins and five losses, having lost to Paris Basketball.
The British team boasts a plethora of talent, having signed ex-NBA players such as Sam Dekker, EuroLeague veteran Kosta Koufos, and Great Britain international Ovie Soko, among others.
Hapoel Tel Aviv, or the Red Devils, meanwhile, are Israel’s second-most awarded team ever, with five national championships to their name and a squad composed of homegrown tier-one talent and experienced American stars.
The London Lions involvement in the EuroCup is the first time a British basketball team has been included in the prestigious competition since 2007.
The London Lions’ game against Paris on December 21, broadcast on BT Sport 1, saw a 340% increase in peak viewership from the last peak record.
Alongside record attendance throughout the season, all 6000 seats at Copper Box Arena were sold out for a game, while over 15,000 showed up at The O2 Arena when the Lions faced the Leicester Riders in May.
National statistics estimate that 1.3 million people play basketball on a regular basis in the UK, serving as the nation's second most popular team sport after football.
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