National Basketball League Playoffs National Cup In 1960 a National Basketball League was introduced with nine members – Borehamwood Bullets, Watford Royals, Nottingham Dodgers, Aspley Old Boys (Nottingham), Birmingham Athletic Institute, Birmingham Dolobran, Doncaster Panthers, Manchester YMCA Comets, and Billingham Tech.

By 1972, the Scots had their own thriving National League, though also competing in the "Rose Bowl", but when a London team, Sutton, defeated Edinburgh's Boroughmuir Barrs in the 1972 Final, the Basketball Association decided that it was time to relaunch the idea of an English National League.

After several successful seasons, expansion was implemented to 10 teams, and 1975 saw the addition of Division 2.

The 1978–79 season was the first to adopt the post-season playoff format, while a year later the National Trophy was created.

In 1993, the NBL restructured once again after the top division reverted to the name BBL Championship.

In 2003, after three seasons, the BBL ditched its North-South Conference format, and reverted to a single league of ten clubs.