Knights’ Douglas says his side will give “100%”

The real standout fixture from the first weekend of British Basketball League action sees what is being billed as ‘The Battle of the Midlands’ as Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders host newcomers, Birmingham Knights, in both sides’ opening fixture on the 28th September.

The Knights’ first home game will be against One Health Sharks Sheffield on Saturday 12th October and the Worcester Wolves make the short journey to Birmingham the following week, Sunday 20th October.

Head Coach Paul Douglas is looking forward to the season as the countdown gets underway: “It’ll be great to meet up with the Leicester Riders. A lot of people will be thinking it’s a ‘baptism of fire’ but I look it as the start of a season and the end of a long process. We’ve been in training since June 2nd and now we have a game we can officially look forward to. Anyone who knows me, and what I’m about, will know we’ll go there with a positive attitude.

“In our first home game, against the One Health Sharks Sheffield, we will show our fans a very intense style of basketball, a very committed performance. Our players understand how much of a big deal it is to represent the city of Birmingham and they’ll be giving it 100% for sure.

“Looking across all the fixtures, on a personal level I’m most looking forward to going to Newcastle Eagles (on Friday 11th October). I finished my career playing for Newcastle, my son lives up there, I have a massive group of friends up there…to return there as a coach really excites me!

“To the people of Birmingham I say come out and support us in our first match. It’s been a while. Our return to the BBL has been a long time coming. The date everyone needs to mark in their diaries is Saturday 12th October – come see the Birmingham Knights versus Sheffield Sharks!.”