London backs basketball with £1.5m investment ahead of NBA return

London’s basketball courts and coaching programmes are to receive a £1.5m boost as the NBA returns to London, with City Hall positioning the investment as a long-term commitment to youth sport rather than a one-off spectacle.

The funding, announced by Sadiq Khan, comes days before the Orlando Magic face the Memphis Grizzlies at the O2 Arena on 18 January. It will support upgraded community facilities, low-cost playing opportunities and expanded coaching pathways across the capital.

City Hall said the measures were shaped by the findings of the Basketball Taskforce, established last year to examine how the sport can be better supported at grassroots level. Its “State of Play” report highlighted uneven access to courts, limited coaching routes and the need for safer, better-maintained spaces for young people.

A new Facilities Development Fund will be launched to refurbish outdoor courts across London, with the aim of improving access and encouraging regular local use. Discussions are also under way with the London Marathon Foundation to increase the reach and longevity of the scheme.

Sir Sadiq said the return of elite basketball offered an opportunity to think beyond a single night at the O2. “This is about creating a lasting legacy that opens doors for young Londoners,” he said. “We want more people to have somewhere safe and welcoming to play, train and develop.”

Alongside the capital works, a new “NBA Court Time” initiative will run from February to April, offering £1 indoor basketball sessions at selected GLL leisure centres. The sessions will be open to all ages and will include women-only slots. City Hall said the programme is expected to continue beyond spring 2026 as a permanent part of GLL’s offer.

The mayor’s London Coaches Programme, delivered by Basketball England in collaboration with the National Basketball Association, will also receive a £1m extension. The scheme supports London-based coaches aged 16 to 30 and is expected to train a further 180 people, provide employment or internships for 90 coaches, and reach more than 50,000 young Londoners.

Schools are also set to benefit. A new Jr. NBA 3v3 tournament will be rolled out across the capital following a pilot last year that involved pupils from 174 secondary schools, with every London borough represented. Several participating schools went on to establish weekly basketball clubs as a result.

George Aivazoglou, the NBA’s Europe and Middle East managing director, said the league was committed to working with City Hall to extend the impact of the London game. “We are proud to be creating opportunities that can have a lasting effect on young people and communities across the city,” he said.

The NBA said its wider development programme linked to the January fixture is expected to reach more than 5,000 young people aged 12 to 16 through clinics, coaching sessions and community events.

More detail on how London’s grassroots sports facilities are funded and managed is set out in the mayor’s wider sport and physical activity strategy, published on the Greater London Authority website.

For more reporting on how major events shape everyday life and opportunity in London, follow EyeOnLondon. We welcome your views on grassroots sport and access to facilities in the comments.

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