London lions announced signing Great Britain Superstar Gabe Olaseni, who brings with him a wealth of experience in the Basketball Champions League and is one of the most proficient scorers in the history of GB Basketball. Olaseni joins after a successful spell with Turkish giants Darüşşafaka, ahead of the 2023-24 season.
The signing represents a statement of intent from the Lions, who are looking for another record-breaking season after becoming the first ever British team to qualify for the play-off round of the prestigious tournament. 7Days EuroCup Last season.
Olaseni joins the list of British players who have returned to play in the UK from abroad after the recent growth of the British Basketball League, as this marks the player’s first spell in his career playing on British soil.
During his time at Darussafaka, Olaseni averaged 14.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 30.7 minutes over 13 Basketball Champions League matches to help reach the round of sixteen.
In the Turkish BSL, he played 32 games, scoring 12.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 30.1 minutes as his team made the playoffs. Olaseni’s experience in the Basketball Champions League will add another level of international pedigree to the London team, who are hoping to emulate their domestic success on the European stage.
London Lions coach Ryan Schmidt commented:
“We are really excited to add Gabi and have the opportunity to come home and play in London. His experience and ability to influence a win is valuable, but more importantly he is someone of high character and the right culture for the organisation. I am really looking forward to working together next season.”
As the countdown to the new season continues, you can still get your hands on British basketball by following the league on social media or Heading over to our YouTube channel To relive the best moments from the past year!