The London Lions will become the first British basketball club ever to face an NBA team after confirming a historic preseason matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The two teams will meet on October 12 in Portland, marking a significant milestone for basketball in the United Kingdom and another step in the growth of the sport outside the NBA’s traditional markets.
London enter the game after a successful domestic campaign in which they claimed every available trophy in Super League Basketball. The Lions are also preparing for another European challenge, with another EuroCup campaign scheduled for the 2026/27 season.
“This is a historic moment for our club and for basketball in the United Kingdom,” London Lions general manager Martynas Purlys said.
“We see this opportunity as recognition of the progress and ambition of the London Lions organisation, as well as an important milestone for British basketball as a whole.”
Tautvydas Sabonis returns to Portland with special connection
The game will also have a personal meaning for London Lions head coach Tautvydas Sabonis, whose family has a special history with the Trail Blazers.
His father, legendary Lithuanian center Arvydas Sabonis, played for Portland from 1995 until 2003 and became one of the most respected European players in franchise history.
Tautvydas Sabonis admitted that facing the Trail Blazers in their home city will be a memorable experience.
“I’m excited to be playing a preseason game against an NBA team, and even more so against the Portland Trail Blazers in Portland, a city that holds a lot of meaning for me and my family.”
The London coach added that the game will serve as a valuable test for his team ahead of the new season.
“It will be a great test for our guys to try themselves against an NBA team, and a great boost for the growth of British basketball.”
London Lions rebuilt after ownership changes and financial uncertainty
The London Lions’ rise to this historic moment has come after a difficult period away from the court. The club faced major uncertainty following the collapse of its previous ownership structure at the end of the 2023/24 season, with its future in doubt.
The situation was eventually resolved ahead of the 2024/25 campaign when the Lions were taken over by Tesonet, a Lithuanian technology company and minority shareholder of Zalgiris. The new ownership helped secure the club’s future and allowed London to continue competing at the highest level of British basketball.
