1995–96 British Basketball League season
The 1995–1996 BBL season was known as the Budweiser League for sponsorship reasons. The league featured a total of 13 teams, playing 36 games each. The division retained the same thirteen teams as the previous year after the BBL rejected an application from Crystal Palace who had sealed the National League Division One (the second tier) title. The main change saw the Sunderland Scorpions renamed the Newcastle Comets due to a change of franchise and venue, their new home would be in Gateshead until the newly built Newcastle Arena opened on 18 November. The Manchester  Giants also had a new home at the Nynex Arena and the sport was boosted by the return of TV coverage by Sky Sports. London Towers clinched a treble, winning the National Cup, 7 Up Trophy and finishing top of the regular season standings. They were defeated in the Championship Play-off final by Birmingham Bullets. Budweiser League Championship (Tier 1). The Play-offs. Quarter-finals. (1) London Towers vs. (8) Thames Valley Tigers (2) Sheffield Sharks vs. (7) Worthing Bears (3) Birmingham Bullets vs. (6) Derby Storm (4) Leopards vs. (5) Manchester Giants 7 Up Trophy. Group stage. Chester  finished ahead of Doncaster by having the best head-to-head record between the teams. London, Manchester, Sheffield and Thames Valley all received a bye into Quarter-finals. Quarter-finals. Chester Jets vs. Birmingham Bullets Manchester Giants vs. Sheffield Sharks Thames Valley Tigers vs. London Towers Worthing Bears vs. Derby Storm Semi-finals. London Towers vs. Birmingham Bullets Worthing Bears vs. Sheffield Sharks