MVP Cast with Mark Woods

The 2023 Playoff Finals Wrap

A rough and ready episode of the MVP Cast from The 02 as London Lions make it a double over Leicester Riders in the BBL and WBBL Playoff Finals - as we hear from Ryan Schmidt, Darien Nelson-Henry, Krumesh Patel, Azania Stewart and Stella Kaltsidou.

The Ryan Schmidt One

London Lions men's head coach Ryan Schmidt joins the MVP Cast.
He tells Mark Woods about the learning curve undertaken last season and in mixing with old hands in the EuroCup and the opportunities it has afforded him.
We head back to the start of his love affair with basketball in Portland and how injuries took him from playing in the minor leagues towards a career on the sidelines. And we look back on a season in the BBL that could take a route towards three trophies - but with no driving time behind the wheel. More at mvp247.com

The Simon Hosannah One

MCing legend Simon Hosannah joins the MVP Cast.
He tells Mark Woods about how he fell into announcing basketball, the big names and big games where he's been the man on the mic, and the work it takes to put on a show. But he also reveals the mammoth change in his life that's put him in a contest of his own - and why it's led him to retire from courtside next month. More at MVP247.com.

The Jim Saker and the Trophy finals One

WBBL chair Jim Saker joins the MVP Cast to talk State of the League.
Plus reaction following the 2023 BBL and WBBL Trophy finals. Hannah Robb tells us why Leicester Riders will be back, Shanice Beckford-Norton looks inside London Lions win, Azania Stewart explains her retirement - and why she may not be quite ready to finish up.
And following Caledonia Gladiators jinx-breaking victory, David Sloan reveals the emotion behind his game-winner, and Gareth Murray tells us what the win means to him. More at mvp247.com
 

The Patrick Tapé One

Caledonia Gladiators and Ivory Coast big Patrick Tapé joins the MVP Cast.

The Jelani Watson-Gayle One

Bristol Flyers guard Jelani Watson-Gayle joins the MVP Cast.
He tells us about his transformation from being a footballing hopeful with Leyton Orient to throwing his all into basketball - with huge assists from his mother and older brother. We talk the learnings to becoming a leader, the confidence he gained from going to the States at age 15 that's now being put to good effect in the British Basketball League - and the potential for a call-up from Great Britain. More at mvp247.com

The Harriet Ottewill-Soulsby One

Durham Palatinates centre Harriet Ottewill-Soulsby joins the MVP Cast.
She tells Mark Woods about the globetrotting odyssey that saw her grow up across Europe but left her hunting for proper roots in this post-Brexit time.
She reveals the rationale behind her decision to return to the Women's British Basketball League, her early leap into the game in Loughborough and what we might learn from hoops in Germany. And she talks her time in Philly - and her Super Bowl picks. More at mvp247.com

The Dirk Wiliams One

Manchester Giants wing Dirk Williams joins the MVP Cast.
He tells Mark Woods about combining fatherhood with basketball and the life lessons learnt while growing up in Alabama with hoop dreams. We relive the dunks that won him trans-Atlantic fame and the move he has in mind next. And why a players-only meeting in Manchester can be the spark for the second half of the British Basketball League season. More at mvp247.com

The Dave Owen One

British basketball's numbers guru Dave Owen joins the MVP Cast.

The Mental Health Charter One

Kofi Josephs and Oliver Lawrie join the MVP Cast to discuss their new Mental Health Charter for Basketball.