London Lions men and women are gearing up for two blockbuster clashes on Bank Holiday Monday (May 1).

Both teams play Newcastle Eagles in their respective first round play-off games at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.

And both have already enjoyed record-breaking seasons, winning the BBL and WBBL Championships.  

The men play the first leg of their tie in Newcastle on Friday (April 28), after Ryan Schmidt's side became the first-ever British basketball side to qualify for the EuroCup play-off rounds, while the women play a one-off fixture. 

Adding to their European success, the men have won two pieces of domestic silverware this season - the BBL Cup and Championship - and boasted a record of 32 wins and four losses over the regular season.

The women are also having a landmark domestic campaign, looking to emulate their heroic efforts from last season in securing a domestic clean sweep having already won the WBBL Championship, Trophy and Cup. 

After a 52-game unbeaten streak which ended earlier this season, the side are positioned as one of the most dominant teams in sport with the WBBL play-off title the last jewel to add to their crown.

The London Lions men's team will be looking for revenge after their heart-breaking loss to Leicester Riders in the final of the BBL play-offs last season in front of a packed O2 Arena, while the women will be looking to repeat their WBBL play-off victory from last season. 

Head coach Schmidt said: "I'm really happy with how the team completed the regular season. Not only winning the BBL Championship, I was really pleased with how we finished the regular season campaign - the level of our play, execution and detail. 

"I think we will carry that over to the play-offs as we prepare to face Newcastle. We've had great contributions from a lot of different players over the season, some injuries have provided opportunities for other players who have performed brilliantly. 

"We saw a lot of growth in our team this season in terms of players who stepped up when needed, which I think has added to our depth and versatility."

*NBA star Ogugua 'OG' Anunoby Jr. has become a part-owner of the London Lions Basketball Club. 

London-born Anunoby has played over 250 games for Toronto Raptors and became the first-ever British basketball player to win an NBA Championship with the team in 2019.

And the 25-year-old joins majority owners 777 Partners after purchasing a minority stake in the club. 

The young wing has played five seasons in the NBA after being drafted in the first round in 2017, stating that a key goal of his is to 'inspire kids in Great Britain who want to play basketball and show that they can make it to the league from Britain'. 

Anunoby now joins the ranks of a cohort of decision makers at the club determined to guide the club and the wider sport to new heights, attracting the best of British and international talent. 

Anunoby’s investment comes as basketball in the UK continues its meteoric rise in popularity. The British Basketball League confirmed record attendances last season as over 15,000 people descended upon The O2 Arena when the Lions faced Leicester Riders in the BBL Play-Off Final. 

The London-based side have also reported record viewership figures for their EuroCup games this season on BT Sport, supported in no small part by a record-breaking run across both men’s and women’s teams. 

Over the course of the last 18 months alone, the Lions became the first side ever to win both the BBL Cup and WBBL Cup in the same event in January, whilst the men’s team reached the EuroCup playoffs – a feat not achieved by any other UK team in history. 

The women’s team are also solidifying their claim as one of the most successful teams in women’s sport, having achieved an unprecedented feat of 52 consecutive wins in the WBBL earlier this season and going unbeaten domestically for over 650 days. 

“It’s great to see everything that is going on in British basketball right now, which is why I am really excited to join the London Lions," said Anunoby. 

"I just want to do my part as a role model to all the young hoopers in London and across the entire UK. I look forward to visiting the team in the off-season and can’t wait to help build with the organisation.”

Lenz Balan, vice-president of 777 partners added: "We are delighted to welcome OG Anunoby as a part-owner of the London Lions at such an exciting time in the club's history. 

"Having broken a number of records this year, we believe that having OG's calibre and experience on the ownership team will help bring the club to the next level. 

"He is a top player that shares the same DNA and passion as our team and will be instrumental in helping put British basketball on an even bigger stage in years to come."