The Euro Step Brit Podcast

Super League Basketball recently ended its 2nd season, following the demise of the old British Basketball League. It's had its critics, but how can it be improved? Hoops and Hockey asked the question, people answered and we made a podcast episode out of it. Take a listen and let us know which ideas you like and also, those you don't.

A former England and GB International, Chris Haslam played all over Europe before retiring and embarking on a coaching career in the NCAA. In this episode we look back at playing days which took him to the likes of Greece, Italy, Belgium and Germany right up to his new role with Colorado State University.

Our guest is former GB international and now a head coach in the BCB, Joe Hart. Joe’s journey took him from Essex around the world, before coming back to Essex. In this episode we look and the highs and lows of his playing days, discuss the places where basketball took him and the people he met along the way.

This episode’s guest is Todd Cauthorn who spent time in both Austria and Belgium, but to most fans will be known for his multiple spells with the Sheffield Sharks. In this episode, we’ll look back on Todd’s basketball journey, the highs and lows and how they shaped his career. And we’ll also dive into life after his playing days came to an end.

Our guest is Kelvin Robinson, who played four seasons in the UK for the Hemel & Watford Royals, Milton Keynes Lions and Thames Valley Tigers. In this episode we go over his journey from Newark, New Jersey, also talking about his University days in Buffalo, 2 years in South Africa, a spell in the mid-Atlantic and his post-BBL career in France.

These days Jason Swaine is a basketball commentator, but before that he enjoyed a long and successful playing career. In this episode we'll look back over that career in both the British Basketball League and National League, as well as suiting up for the national team. From the pride of playing in big games against European giants, to playing alongside his son.

In this episode we catch up with London Lions' guard Matt Goodwin and the journey that has got him to where he is. From when his basketball journey began to experiencing EuroCup for the first time, and much, much more. 

The NBA Europe project continues to dominate the headlines in European basketball, but will it really happen? Well, we don't know and we also don't know the answer to a lot of questions surrounding it, but it's not going to stop us asking them, especially when it comes to the UK's role in the project. 

Another one of our on-the-road episodes and this time it's a trip to a Bristol Flyers home game. In this episode we catch up with the Flyers' commentary duo of Joel Osborne and Gareth Till, and head coach Andreas Kapoulas. We talk about commentaries and ENBL.

Our guest is John Coffino, who shares stories from a coaching career that has taken him all over the globe. There's been highs and lows, but every stop has shaped the person he is today. Coaching basketball can be tough sometimes, not just on the court, so join us as we go on a global basketball journey, including a stop here in the UK at the Cheshire Phoenix.

The podcast goes back on the road, to London as the Lions take on EuroLeague side Zalgiris Kaunas at the Copper Box Arena. In this episode we hear from Lions' CEO Lenz Balan, GM Martynas Purlys, player Amin Adamu and fan Phil Groves, as well as a EuroLeague and Zalgiris legend, Paulius Jankunas, now the President of the Lithuanian side. 

Delighted to have Ryan Schmidt as our guest - the former London Lions head coach, now in the NBA as an assistant on the Atlanta Hawks bench. We caught up a couple of weeks ago and Ryan talked about his current role, his G-League days, the CEBL and of course, the Lions. I know a lot of people asked me to get Ryan on, so this bumper episode is for you.

Gareth Murray is about to embark on his first full season coaching in Slovakia. After his exit from the Caledonia Gladiators, Murray spent the remainder of last season coaching Prievidza. In this episode we talk all about his new role and how’s he relishing the challenge. We’ll also talk about the FIBA Europe Cup and of course, look back on the time the Gladiators won the BBL Trophy.

In this episode we speak with BBL legend Tony Holley, whose professional career took him from the USE to Ireland to England to Israel and Switzerland. He spent many years with the Thames Valley Tigers and we look back on those years as well his other stops along the way.   

Our guest is Andrew Bridge, who enjoyed a successful career in the British Basketball League with the Newcastle Eagles and Sheffield Sharks, as well as representing England in the Commonwealth Games. We look back at those years as well getting his insights into his former coaches that are now in the NBA, the young talent that is Quinn Ellis, as well as many other topics.

This short little bonus episode takes a look at the London Lions' upcoming opponents in EuroCup and gives you a little bit of information about each one. Hope you like it!

Our guest this week is Chris Pullem, best known here in the UK for his time with the London Leopards and the Worthing Bears. In this episode we’ll look back at his time with those clubs, why he walked away from coaching and also dive into a project which means so much to him, My Town TV.

Our guest is Great Britain international Evan Walshe, who spent last season in the SLB with the Bristol Flyers. In this episode we’ll discuss Evan’s basketball career to date and  look back at some of the highs and lows along the way that have got him to where he is today. And we’ll also get Evan’s insights into the world of 3 x 3 and how much it has become a part of his life.

Billy Mims is best known here in the UK for his time with the London Leopards and Leicester Riders. After 2 decades as the head coach of Florida Tech, Billy decided to step down in March, so we take a look at Billy’s future plans and of course, we’ll talk London, Leicester and the time he ended up coaching in Ireland.

Host Niall Gray takes a look back at his recent trip to watch Ratiopharm Ulm take on Fraport Skyliners of Frankfurt, and throws in interviews with Ulm's Sporting Director Thorsten Leibenath, head coach Ty Harrelson and guard Justinian Jessup. And there's also some random bits about the Berblinger Turm (Tower) and a hotel conversation! 

We speak to Josh Wilcher, who is best remembered in the BBL for his time with the Plymouth Raiders. We'll look back on his time with the Raiders, discuss why his season at Reading Rockets was important for his career and look at his other stops around the British Basketball League, Australia and Germany. And we'll find out what he's been up to since he retired.

Our guest is Anthony Rowe, the former Raider turned Rider who came to the sport late but was able to enjoy a successful career before injuries brought his playing days to an end. We look back what it meant for Ant to play and captain his home-town club, and why Leicestershire is now home, and of course we delve into his commentating as well.

We catch up with former Bristol Flyers fan favourite Mike Vigor, who spent 4 seasons in total in the former British Basketball League, playing over 100 games and amassing over 1100 points during his time with the Flyers and Plymouth Raiders. We look back over his career - including representing Scotland at the Commonwealth games - and also get his insights into the growth of basketball in Australi...

In this episode we catch up with Siobhán Prior, the former Nottingham Wildcats player who is now Director and WEABL Head Coach of their academy. We look back at the family connections to Nottingham basketball, discuss Siobhán's playing days and talk about her role at the Academy, and why it means so much to her.  (Apologies for my mic occasionally playing up. Technology, eh?!)

We catch up with Andy Thomson, who had a very successful career in the former British Basketball League, winning 20 titles before his retirement in 2020. We look back at his time in the BBL, as well as spells abroad in Spain and France, and find out what he's been up to since retiring.