| Color1: | white |
| Color2: |
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| Color3: | red |
| Brighton Bears | |
| League: | NBL D2 South |
| History: | Sussex Bears (2014–2022) Brighton Bears (2022-present) |
| Arena: | Sir Robert Woodard Academy |
| Capacity: | 700 |
| Location: | Lancing, West Sussex |
| Website: | Official website |
The Brighton Bears are an English basketball club, based in the town of Lancing, West Sussex.
The Bears were formed in 2014. Former Worthing Thunder coach and local basketball legend Gary Smith was brought in to lead the club as chairman and first team coach, and with him he brought a number of former Thunder players to form the nucleus of the new team. [1]
The Bears' name is not a new one to basketball in the area - the Brighton Bears played in the top-flight BBL for many years until their final season in 2006. [2]
The 'new' club has since developed rapidly, increasing the number of men's, women's and youth teams representing under the Bears' name. The Bears have also risen through the divisions of the English Basketball League, reaching their current position in Division 2 in 2017. [3]
The Bears announced plans to build a new stadium at the Black Rock seafront area and return the Brighton Bears name to the top flight British Basketball League.[4]
Men's National Shield: 2016-17 [5]
Men's National Development League South: 2015-16
| Season | Division | Tier | Regular Season | Post-Season | National Cup | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | Played | Wins | Losses | Points | Win % | |||||||
| Sussex Bears | ||||||||||||
| 2014–15 | D4 SE | 5 | 3rd | 20 | 15 | 5 | 30 | 0.750 | 1st round | Did not compete | ||
| 2015–16 | Dev Sou | 5 | 1st | 12 | 10 | 2 | 20 | 0.833 | Semi-finals | 1st round | ||
| 2016–17 | D3 Sou | 4 | 2nd | 18 | 13 | 5 | 26 | 0.722 | Semi-finals | 3rd round | ||
| 2017–18 | D2 | 3 | 10th | 22 | 7 | 15 | 14 | 0.318 | Did not qualify | 2nd round | ||
| 2018–19 | D2 | 3 | 4th | 20 | 11 | 9 | 22 | 0.550 | Quarter-finals | Did not compete | ||
| 2019–20 | D2 Sou | 3 | 9th | 17 | 4 | 13 | 9 | 0.235 | Did not qualify | 4th round | ||
| 2020-21 | D2 Sou | 3 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||||||||
| 2021–22 | D2 Sou | 3 | 2nd | 22 | 16 | 6 | 32 | 0.727 | Quarter-finals | 3rd round | ||
| Brighton Bears | ||||||||||||
| 2022–23 | D2 Sou | 3 | 2nd | 22 | 16 | 6 | 32 | 0.727 | Quarter-finals | 4th round | ||
| 2023–24 | D2 Sou | 3 | 11th | 22 | 5 | 17 | 10 | 0.227 | Did Not Qualify | |||