1995–96 British Basketball League season


The 1995–1996 BBL season was known as the Budweiser League for sponsorship reasons. The league featured a total of 13 teams, playing 36 games each. The division retained the same thirteen teams as the previous year after the BBL rejected an application from Crystal Palace who had sealed the National League Division One title. The main change saw the Sunderland Scorpions renamed the Newcastle Comets due to a change of franchise and venue, their new home would be in Gateshead until the newly built Newcastle Arena opened on 18 November. The Manchester Giants also had a new home at the Nynex Arena and the sport was boosted by the return of TV coverage by Sky Sports.
London Towers clinched a treble, winning the National Cup, 7 Up Trophy and finishing top of the regular season standings. They were defeated in the Championship Play-off final by Birmingham Bullets.

Budweiser League Championship (Tier 1)

Final standings


PosTeamPldWL%Pts
1London Towers363240.88964
2Sheffield Sharks363060.83360
3Birmingham Bullets3626100.72252
4Leopards3623130.63846
5Manchester Giants3621150.58342
6Derby Storm3621150.58342
7Worthing Bears3619170.52738
8Thames Valley Tigers3616200.44432
9Newcastle Comets3611250.30522
10Leicester City Riders3611250.30522
11Doncaster Panthers3610260.27820
12Chester Jets368280.22216
13Hemel Royals366300.16712



The Play-offs

Quarter-finals

London Towers vs. Thames Valley Tigers
Sheffield Sharks vs. Worthing Bears
Birmingham Bullets vs. Derby Storm
Leopards vs. Manchester Giants

Semi-finals

Final

National League Division 1 (Tier 2)

Final standings


PosTeamPldWL%Pts
1Crystal Palace222201.00044
2Coventry Crusaders221930.86438
3Ware Rebels *221750.77333
4Cardiff Phoenix221480.63628
5Bury Wildcats2210120.45520
6Stockton Mohawks2210120.45520
7Brixton TopCats229130.40918
8Mid-Sussex Magic229130.40918
9Nottingham Knights227150.31814
10Plymouth Raiders227150.31814
11Oldham Celtics225170.22710
12Solent Stars223190.1366



One point deducted *

Sainsbury's Classic Cola National Cup

Fourth Round

Quarter Finals

Semi Finals

Final

7 Up Trophy

Group stage


Northern Group
TeamPtsPldWLPercent
1.Derby Storm84401.000
2.Chester Jets44220.500
3.Doncaster Panthers44220.500
4.Leicester City Riders24130.250
5.Newcastle Comets24130.250



Southern Group
TeamPtsPldWLPercent
1.Worthing Bears63301.000
2.Birmingham Bullets43210.667
3.Leopards23120.333
4.Hemel Royals03030.000


Chester finished ahead of Doncaster by having the best head-to-head record between the teams. London, Manchester, Sheffield and Thames Valley all received a bye into Quarter-finals.

Quarter-finals

Chester Jets vs. Birmingham Bullets
Manchester Giants vs. Sheffield Sharks
Thames Valley Tigers vs. London Towers
Worthing Bears vs. Derby Storm

Semi-finals

London Towers vs. Birmingham Bullets
Worthing Bears vs. Sheffield Sharks

Final

Seasonal awards