Preview: London Lions v Bristol FLyers

All the key information on Thursday’s BBL opponents can be found below.

LONDON LIONS
Formally based in Hemel Hempstead, Watford and Milton Keynes, the Lions relocated to London for the 2012/13 season. The team spent one year at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre before moving into their current home at the Copper Box Arena in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The club’s only trophy success to date is the BBL Cup title, won in 2008 as the Milton Keynes Lions.

COACH
Nigel Lloyd – Lloyd takes over the role of Head Coach of the Lions after Vince Macaulay opted to lift himself out of the coaching seat to focus on off-court activities. He recently coached the Barbados national team in the Caribbean Championships during the summer, and is no stranger to winning in the BBL. The former league MVP has taken a fresh look at the squad this season, with Joe Ikhinmwin and Blayne Freckleton being two of the few survivors of a radical cull which has seen a flood of new players arrive in the capital.

ONE TO WATCH
Nick Lewis – The 6’3″ dynamo was a huge contributor to the Sheffield Sharks over the last couple of seasons, last year averaging 13 points and 4 rebounds per game and connecting on 54 three-pointers in the process. A member of the GB U20 team that qualified for Division A in the European Championships two years ago, Lewis has been a constant in the BBL, notably winning the BBL Trophy in 2013 and scoring a last second tip-in to help his side knock the Leicester Riders out of the BBL Play-Offs last season.

OFFICIALS
Taking charge of Thursday’s game will be Ian Atkins, Rob Hickman and Eduard Udyanskyy

LAST TIME OUT
Bristol Flyers did not do themselves any favours in the BBL Play-Off race, falling short 85-63 to the visiting London Lions at the SGS WISE Arena. Click here to watch the highlights.

DID YOU KNOW
The London Lions featured in a TV advert for Sprite in 2014. Click here to watch the advert online.