NBA legend Roy Rogers lands huge new role as first-ever Liverpool Basketball head coach

Liverpool is getting ready for a major new chapter in its sporting history - and it starts with a man who knows a thing or two about the biggest stage in basketball.

Veteran NBA coach Roy Rogers has been named the first-ever head coach of Liverpool Basketball, as the new club prepares for its inaugural season in Super League Basketball (SLB).

And this is no small appointment.

Rogers brings nearly two decades of NBA coaching experience to Liverpool, making him the most experienced NBA coach ever to lead a British basketball club and one of the most accomplished coaching appointments in the history of the British game.

For Liverpool Basketball owner Jason Dolan, bringing in a coach of Rogers' calibre was essential from the very beginning.

"It was paramount that we enter our inaugural season and set the tone by bringing in a coach of Roy's calibre," said Dolan.

"We're talking about a leader who brings nearly two decades of NBA experience to our organisation.

“We're not here just to participate; we're building a club that will represent Liverpool to the highest standards, and Roy is the perfect coach to lead the way."

And Rogers already sounds more than ready to embrace the challenge.

"From my first conversation with Jason, it was clear this club is being built the right way, from the ground up," said Rogers.

"The chance to be the first head coach in Liverpool Basketball history - to set the standard for everything that follows - is the kind of opportunity a coach gets once in a career.

“This is a city with real passion, real pride, and real sporting pedigree. Our team is going to play with an edge that this city will recognise as its own, and I can't wait to get to work in front of our fans at the M&S Bank Arena."

From the NBA to Liverpool

Rogers arrives in Liverpool after a coaching career spanning almost 20 years in the NBA.

Most recently, he was on the coaching staff at the University of Memphis. Before that, he spent four seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers between 2021 and 2025, including a spell as the team's defensive coordinator.

His NBA coaching career has also taken him to some of the biggest franchises in the sport, including the Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics.

He actually began his coaching career back in 2004 in the NBA Development League.

Along the way, Rogers has worked alongside some of basketball's biggest coaching names, including Hall of Fame coaches Doc Rivers and Mike D'Antoni, as well as Tyronn Lue, Lawrence Frank and Randy Wittman.

But Rogers' connection to the NBA goes back even further.

Before he became a coach, he was a professional player himself - and was selected in the first round of the famous 1996 NBA Draft.

That was the same legendary draft class that included Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Ray Allen.

Rogers came out of the University of Alabama and went on to play four seasons in the NBA, turning out for the Vancouver Grizzlies, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors and Denver Nuggets.

He later continued his playing career overseas, including a season with European powerhouse CSKA Moscow. Now, his attention turns to Liverpool.

A brand-new team - and a big first test

Rogers won't be doing it alone. Paul Cantwell has also joined Liverpool Basketball's inaugural coaching staff as an assistant coach. Cantwell previously served as head coach of the Yorkshire Dragons in British Championship Basketball (BCB).

The new Liverpool side will compete in Super League Basketball, the top tier of men's professional basketball in Great Britain.

The league was established in 2024 by a consortium of leading professional clubs, succeeding the British Basketball League. Its clubs compete for the domestic championship and represent Great Britain in European competitions including the ENBL, Basketball Champions League and the FIBA Europe Cup.

The league is broadcast globally by DAZN.

And Liverpool fans won't have to wait long to see Rogers' new team in action on home soil.

His first home game as Liverpool Basketball head coach will take place at the M&S Bank Arena on October 4, when Liverpool face Manchester.

With an NBA veteran at the helm, a brand-new team taking to the court and a city famous for its sporting passion behind them, Liverpool Basketball's first season is already shaping up to be one to watch.

About Kings Dock Sports Group Ltd

Kings Dock Sports Group Ltd is the ownership company behind Liverpool's Super League Basketball franchise.

Founded by American sports investor Jason Dolan, the company was established to build world-class sports properties and long-term community impact through sports in Liverpool.

Dolan is also the founder of The Atlanta Cup, one of the largest annual professional tennis exhibitions in the United States. www.liverpool.basketball

About Super League Basketball

Super League Basketball (SLB) is the top tier of men's professional basketball in Great Britain.

Established in 2024 by a consortium of the country's leading professional clubs, the league succeeded the British Basketball League and tipped off its first season in September 2024.

SLB clubs compete for the domestic championship and represent Great Britain in European competitions, including the ENBL, Basketball Champions League and the FIBA Europe Cup.

The league is broadcast globally by DAZN.superleaguebasketballm.co.uk

About Liverpool Experience Campus

Liverpool Experience Campus (LEX) is the UK's only interconnected arena, convention and exhibition campus, set on Liverpool's Kings Dock waterfront.

Comprising M&S Bank Arena, the Convention Centre, the Exhibition Centre and the Auditorium, the campus opened in 2008 and has since welcomed millions of visitors to concerts, conferences, exhibitions and major international sporting events.

M&S Bank Arena has a capacity of up to 11,000 and is one of the UK's busiest venues

LEX is a major regional employer and a long-standing contributor to Liverpool's visitor economy and social value programmes. mandsbankarena.com