Reading Rockets

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English professional basketball club

title: "Reading Rockets" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["basketball-teams-established-in-1997", "basketball-teams-in-england", "sport-in-reading,-berkshire", "1997-establishments-in-england"] description: "English professional basketball club" topic_path: "sports" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reading_Rockets" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary English professional basketball club ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox basketball club"]

FieldValue
color1Black
color2Red
nameReading Rockets
logoReading rockets logo.png
imagesize200px
leagueBCB
established
historyReading Rockets
(1997–present)
arenaLoddon Valley Leisure Centre
capacity500
locationReading, Berkshire
coachAZE Samit Nuruzade
ownershipGary Johnson, Helen Johnson
colours
websiteOfficial website
::

| color1 = Black | color2 = Red | color3 = | name = Reading Rockets | logo = Reading rockets logo.png | imagesize = 200px | sponsor = | league = BCB | established = | history = Reading Rockets (1997–present) | arena = Loddon Valley Leisure Centre | capacity = 500 | location = Reading, Berkshire | coach = AZE Samit Nuruzade | ownership = Gary Johnson, Helen Johnson | colours =
| website = Official website

The Reading Rockets are an English professional basketball club based in the town of Reading, England. Founded in 1997, the Rockets compete in British Championship Basketball , the second tier of the British basketball system.

History

The Rockets were formed in 1997 by current owner Gary Johnson together with his son Matt, starting in Division 3. The club won promotion at the first attempt, and in the National Basketball League reorganisation of 2000, England Basketball replaced Division 1 with the eight-team NBL Conference as the second-tier. Subsequently, Division 2 became Division 1 where the Rockets found themselves.

The Rockets remained in Division 1 for just one season, finishing second and beating Oxford in the Championship Final, thus winning promotion to the NBL Conference. In the 2001–02 season they finished seventh in the NBL Conference. In the following season, the Rockets continued their rise, finishing in third place. In 2003, the National Basketball League was rebranded as the English Basketball League, and once again was restructured with a new format, with Rockets finishing in second place in the new EBL Division 1. In the following season the Rockets finished third and were runners-up to Worthing Thunder in both the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons.

The club completed its most successful season ever in 2008–09, going undefeated to win all four national championships. The club applied to join the British Basketball League (Top division of the British Basketball System) as a member franchise for the 2012–13 season but was unsuccessful. In the 2013–14 season the Rockets completed the treble and were Play Off Championship finalists. Rockets' Ladies won the Division 2 Southern league in 2014. As a stepping stone into the Senior Men's team, the Rockets' run academies at the John Madejski Academy and the Henley College.

The club has squads ranging from developing Under-12s to the Division 1 senior men's side, and coaching staff regularly visit local schools and run satellite clubs as part of the Community Rockets scheme.

In 2022, the Rockets applied to join the British Basketball League starting from the 2023–24 season.

In the 2024–25 season, the Rockets won the National Cup in January, the KitKing Trophy in March, and the NBL1 D1 playoff championship in April.

Men

Honours

  • Men's National League Division 1 League Champions (3): 2008/2009, 2012/13, 2013/14
  • Men's National Cup Winners (4): 2004/05, 2008/09, 2013/14, 2024/25
  • Men's National League Division 1 Play Off Champions (4): 2005/06, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2012/13
  • Men's National Trophy Winners (5): 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2013/14

Current roster

| team= Reading Rockets 25-26}} | head_coach = AZE Samit Nuruzade | asst_coach = GBR Ben Fisher GBR Jack Adams }}

Notable former players

  • USA E.J. Harrison
  • GBR Adam Kelly
  • USA Ted Smith
  • USA Tyrell Smith
  • GBR David Watts
  • USA Niko Scott
  • USA Ryan Lohfink
  • GBR Luke Nelson
  • WAL Matt Johnson
  • GBR Harrison Gamble
  • GBR Andy Powlesland
  • USA Jermaine Williams
  • GBR Pem Bristol
  • GBR Danny Carter
  • GBR Damon Cooper

Staff

Former head coaches ::data[format=table]

CoachFromToTotal GamesRS WonRS LostPO WonPO LostTotal Win %
GBR Richard Devereux1997/981997/982612140.462
GBR Dave Aldred1998/991998/99261790.654
GBR Dave Titmuss1999/002000/014231110.738
WAL Matt Johnson2002/032002/03221660.727
GBR Mark Dunning2004/052004/05221660.727
GBR Dave Titmuss2005/062008/0995759920.884
SER Sasa Punosevac2009/102009/10633––0.500
WAL Matt Johnson2009/102009/101797010.529
AZE Samit Nuruzade2010/112012/13754820610.720
ESP Manuel Pena Garces2013/142017/181349133550.716
IRE Alan Keane2018/192020/21683533--0.514
USA Dan Pearson2021/222021/22271511-10.555
AZE Samit Nuruzade2022/23Present332110110.66
::

Season-by-season records

::data[format=table]

SeasonDivisionTierRegular SeasonPost-SeasonNational CupKitking TrophyFinishPlayedWinsLossesPointsWin %
Reading Rockets
1997–98D343rd261214240.462Quarter-finals--
1998–99D234th26179340.654Quarter-finals--
1999–00D235th24177340.708Semi-finals--
2000–01D132nd18144280.778Winners, beating Oxford--
2001–02Conf.27th18711140.389Quarter-finals--
2002–03Conf.23rd22166320.727Runners-up--
2003–04D122nd22175340.773Semi-finalsQuarter-finals-
2004–05D123rd22166320.727Runners-upWinners, beating Sheffield-
2005–06D122nd26224440.846Winners, beating WorthingRunners-up-
2006–07D122nd22193380.864Semi-finalsSemi-finals-
2007–08D122nd18162320.889Runners-upSemi-finals-
2008–09D121st18180361.000Winners, beating ManchesterWinners, beating Manchester-
2009–10D127th221210240.545Quarter-finalsQuarter-finals-
2010–11D123rd18126240.667Winners, beating Leeds3rd round-
2011–12D127th241410280.583Quarter-finalsSemi-finals-
2012–13D121st26224440.846Winners, beating WorthingSemi-finals-
2013–14D121st26224440.846Runners-upWinners, beating Newham-
2014–15D125th24159300.625Quarter-finalsRunners-up-
2015–16D123rd26197380.731Runners-upQuarter-finals-
2016–17D123rd26206400.769Quarter-finalsQuarter-finals-
2017–18D123rd24177340.708Semi-finalsQuarter-finals-
2018–19D126th261412280.538Quarter-finals4th round-
2019–20D127th23149280.609No playoffsRunners-up-
2020–21D129th19712140.3681st roundNo competition-
2021–22D128th26151128*0.5771st round4th round-
2022–23D124th26179340.654Semi-final4th roundSemi-finals
2023–24D124th24168320.667Runners-UpRunners-UpSemi-Finals
2024–25D123rd24177340.708Winners, Beating MKWinners, Beating HemelWinners, Beating MK
::

Record in BBL/SLB competitions

::data[format=table]

SeasonCompetitionRoundOpponentHomeAway
2006–07BBL TrophyGSPlymouth Raiders
GSWorthing Thunder
GSGuildford Heat
2009–10BBL TrophyR1Newcastle EaglesL 60–102
2012–13BBL TrophyR1Surrey HeatL 68–86
2013–14BBL TrophyR1Sheffield SharksL 73–85
2014–15BBL TrophyR1Newcastle EaglesL 90–112
2015–16BBL TrophyR1Surrey ScorchersL 72–82
2016–17BBL TrophyR1Bristol FlyersL 74–85
2024–25SLB CupR1Sheffield SharksL 72–84
::

Women

Honours

  • Women's National League Division 2 Champions (1): 2013/14
  • Women's National League Division 2 South West Champions (1): 2015/16 1
  • Women's National League Division 1 finalist (1): 2019/2020/
  • Women's National cup finalist (2): 2019/2020- 2022/2023

Current roster

| team= Reading Rockets 24-25}} | head_coach = ESP Joan Portero Luque | asst_coach = GBR Philip Hayfield

Notable former players

  • USA Cat Lutz-Sadler
  • GBR Steph Johnson
  • DEU Maike Delow
  • ESP Carmen Segura Moreno
  • ESP Sitota Gines Espinosa
  • GBR Jessica (Jessie) Ford
  • ESP Noa Sanchez Marques
  • ESP Anabel Latorre
  • ESP Saioa San Francisco

Staff

Former head coaches ::data[format=table]

CoachFromToTotal GamesRS WonRS LostPO WonPO LostTotal Win %
GBR Josh Thorne2010/112015/16866515-0.755
GER Patrick Fasbender2016/172016/201720614--0.3
ESP David Sanchez de la Torre2017/182019/2020402218--0.55
ESP Joan Luque Portero2019/20Present844143--0.476
::

Season-by-season records

::data[format=table] | Season | Division | Position | Played | Won | Lost | Points | Play-offs | National Trophy | National Cup | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Reading Rockets Senior Women | | | | | | | | | | | |2024–2025 | D1 | 12th | 22 | 2 | 20 | 4 | -|- | |- | | | |2023–2024 | D1 | 6th | 21 | 11 | 10 | 22 | -quarter finals|- | semifinals|- | | | |2022–2023 | D1 | 4th | 16 | 11 | 5 | 22 | Semifinal | - | Final | | |2021–2022 | D1 | 11th | 22 | 4 | 18 | 8 | - | - | 1st round | | |2020–2021 | D1 | 6th | 18 | 9 | 9 | 18 | - | - | - | | |2019–2020 | D1 | 3rd | 15 | 11 | 4 | 25 | - | - | Semi-finals | | |2018–2019 | D1 | 5th | 18 | 9 | 9 | 18 | Quarter-finals | - | Runners-up | | |2017–2018 | D1 | 5th | 22 | 13 | 9 | 26 | - | - | Quarter-finals | | |2016–2017 | D1 | 8th | 20 | 6 | 14 | 12 | Quarter-finals | | Quarter-finals | | |2015–2016 | D2 SW | 1st | 16 | 15 | 1 | 28 | Runners-up | | Runners-up | | |2014–2015 | D2 MSW | 3rd | 14 | 11 | 3 | 22 | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | 2nd round | | |2013–2014 | D2 MSE | 1st | 14 | 13 | 1 | 26 | |Semi-finals | Semi-finals | 2nd round | | |2012–2013 | D2 MSE | 2nd | 16 | 12 | 4 | 24 | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | 2nd round | | |2011–2012 | D2 MSW | 2nd | 12 | 9 | 3 | 18 | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | 1st round | | |2010–2011 | D2 MSW | |5th | 14 | 5 | 9 | 10 | DNQ | 1st round | 1st round | | |2009–2010 | | | | | | | | | | | | |2008–2009 | | | | | | | | | | | | |2007–2008 | | | | | | | | | | | | |2006–2007 | D2 S | |6th | 20 | 9 | 11 | 18 | | | | | |2005–2006 | D2 S | 2nd | 21 | 14 | 7 | 28 | | | | ::

  • DNQ denotes Did not qualify.

NBL Conference Men

Season-by-season records

::data[format=table]

SeasonDivisionPositionPlayedWonLostPoints
Reading Rockets Senior Women
2024–2025NBL Conference Pool IV2nd14113
::

Current roster

| team = Reading Rockets 24-25 | head_coach = GBR Danny Carter | asst_coach = GBR Liam Hardiman}}

References

References

  1. "Company details". UK Data.
  2. (2012). "Reading Rockets apply to join British Basketball League". getReading.
  3. "History of Reading Rockets Basketball Club". Reading Rockets.
  4. "Update: Rockets BBL Application {{!}} Reading Rockets".
  5. (28 April 2025). "Reading Rockets claim third trophy of the year with victory". BBC News.
  6. (25 May 2013). "Ryan Lohfink Leaves Rockets after 5 years".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

basketball-teams-established-in-1997basketball-teams-in-englandsport-in-reading,-berkshire1997-establishments-in-england