The2005–06 BBL season was the 19th season of theBritish Basketball League, which ran from 23 September 2005 through to 11 April 2006. The season started earlier than usual because ofEngland's participation in the2006 Commonwealth Games, which took place during the regular season.
Eleven teams took to the court for the League Championship, which saw each team play each other four times (Twice at home and twice on the road) during the regular season. This was followed by the end of season playoffs which began on 14 April 2006 and ended withFinals weekend on 30 April 2006. One team change in the line-up saw the disappearance of long-time BBL memberThames Valley Tigers who were dissolved by the League after ownerJohn Nike withdrew his financial backing.[1][2] A consortium of fans bid to save the team resulted in a new franchise being formed, theGuildford Heat who occupied Tigers' place in the Championship.[3]
The season will be best remembered forNewcastle Eagles's incredible "clean sweep" of trophies winning the Championship,BBL Cup,BBL Trophy and finishing it off with an impressive victory in the Play-off final againstScottish Rocks.
Newcastle Eagles' Managing DirectorPaul Blake succeededVince Macaulay-Razaq as the new chairman of theBBL prior to the season opening, emphasising that he will strengthen links withEngland Basketball to lay the foundations for a successful national team.
Newcastle picked up their first silverware of the season, with an 83–69 win overLondon Towers in theBBL Cup final at theNational Indoor Arena, inBirmingham on 4 December. Eagles'TJ Walker was awarded MVP with 28 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists.
FormerNBA starDennis Rodman made his debut forBrighton Bears on 28 January, only days after leaving theCelebrity Big Brother house. He scored 4 points in 26 minutes of play against Guildford.[5] Rodman went on to feature in three games for the Bears but later investigation found him to be ineligible and Brighton were docked 1 point by the league.[6]
Leicester'sTony Holley broke the record for the most rebounds in a BBL Trophy Final, bagging 19 in all and beating Alan Cunningham's previous best from 1991.[7][8]
Many clubs missed several of their top English players, who left for the2006 Commonwealth Games which took place from 15 to 26 March.Peter Scantlebury MBE'sEngland men's team returned hugely successful having defeatedNigeria 80–57 to bring home the bronze medal. The women's team also won bronze.
Each team played each other four times during the regular league season, twice at home and twice on the road. A dominant Newcastle team claimed the League title, with one game to spare against second-placed Scottish Rocks, adding their third piece of silverware for the season.
In their rookie season Guildford Heat finished an impressive fifth, with a 20–20 record, while former heavyweights Brighton Bears and Birmingham Bullets struggled, finishing eighth and last respectively. Both teams were docked one point each, Brighton for fielding an ineligible player against Guildford,[6] while Birmingham owner Craig Bown breached league rules by cancelling the game against Milton Keynes Lions.[4]
Chez Marks (London Towers)
