The Sheffield Sharks, currently known as B.Braun Sheffield Sharks for sponsorship reasons, are a professional basketball team from the city of Sheffield, England. The Sharks compete in the Super League Basketball and play their home matches at Park Community Arena, which opened in 2023. They are one of the most successful teams in the history of British basketball and dominated domestic competitions throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
The club was established in 1991 when the team, then called the Sheffield Forgers in reference to the city's history as a major steel producer, were admitted to National Basketball League Division 2. After two seasons competing in the division, with an overall 26âÂÂ16 record, the Forgers were crowned Champions in 1993 and promoted to NBL Division 1.
The 1993âÂÂ1994 season would prove to be another successful one for the Forgers having reached the National Trophy final where they beat Plymouth Raiders 62âÂÂ60 on "home" territory at the Sheffield Arena. Their stay in the First Division did not last long, and although they finished in 4th position with a 10âÂÂ8 record, the Forgers were admitted to the professional top-tier British Basketball League as a new franchise to replace the withdrawing Guildford Kings.
The club was purchased by the Chrysalis Group in 1994 and rebranded as Sheffield Sharks. On court, the team dominated the league in its rookie season, and with a 29âÂÂ7 league record, marched on to take the BBL League Championship and National Cup with an incredible 89âÂÂ66 victory in the final against Thames Valley Tigers. However the Tigers got their revenge over the Sharks with a nail-biting 74âÂÂ69 win in the BBL Trophy final. The Sharks also missed out on the playoff final following a 72âÂÂ84 loss to Worthing Bears in the Final Four, despite this the Sheffield team still enjoyed a phenomenal debut season.
In 1995, the 1995 McDonald's Championship came to London and the Sharks were entered as the host team, mixing with the elite of world basketball including the NBA's Houston Rockets, Spanish League giants Real Madrid and Bologna of the Italian League amongst others. Sheffield finished the series 0âÂÂ2, following defeats to Real Madrid and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Sharks' adventure continued into Europe in the following season (1995âÂÂ96) when they competed in the prestigious Euroleague. After knocking out Luxembourg-based team Residence Helmsange in the qualifying round, the Sharks were then eliminated in the first round by Real Madrid after a 57âÂÂ67 defeat in Sheffield and a 75âÂÂ78 defeat in Madrid. As a result of losing, Sheffield were then placed in the Third Round of the less glamorous European Cup, where they were subsequently knocked out by Belgian League club Oostende Basket, thus ending their European adventure.
On the domestic scene, the Sharks could not repeat the highs of their previous season, finishing as Runners-up in the League Championship (30âÂÂ6) to London Towers, and losing the final of the National Cup 58âÂÂ70 also to the dominating Towers. Their playoff dreams were also shattered in the semifinals by eventual winners Birmingham Bullets, whom they lost to 68âÂÂ82.
The Sharks again reached the BBL Cup final in 1996 and 1997, finishing second then third in the championship, and their next piece of silverware was the 1998 BBL Trophy. They claimed their second BBL Cup and championship double in 1999, with Terrell Myers picked as League MVP, before successfully defending the Cup in 2000 after reaching their fifth Cup final in six years. It was during the most successful period of the clubsâ history that owners Chrysalis Group decided to sell off their majority stake. After running into off-court financial difficulties and on the brink of a wind-up order from the BBL, the franchise was acquired by Montgomery Leisure Services Ltd in 2001, the same year that a first Play-off final appearance was secured in after topping the championship. However it was Leicester Riders who triumphed 84âÂÂ75, and the Sharks were beaten again in the play-off final the following year, 93âÂÂ82 by Cheshire Jets. The Sharks claimed their third Championship in five years in 2003 and although they failed to reach the play-off final, they got there the following year after a second-placed league finish. It was the Sharks' third playoff final in four years and a case of third time lucky as they beat Cheshire 86âÂÂ74.
In the 2009âÂÂ2010 season, Sheffield won the BBL Cup for the first time in six years beating the Cheshire Jets 89âÂÂ86. During the 2010âÂÂ2011 season, they successfully defended their cup victory by beating the Mersey Tigers 93âÂÂ66 and also made it to the final of the playoffs but were beaten out by Mersey Tigers 79âÂÂ74. In the 2012âÂÂ2013 season, the Sharks won the BBL Trophy for the first time in 15 years beating the Leicester Riders 71âÂÂ69. In the 2015âÂÂ2016 season, Sheffield made it to the Play Off final for the first time in five years. This time however, for the first time in 12 years the Sharks in the final of the playoffs on 8 May 2016, beat Leicester Riders 84âÂÂ77. The Sharks most recently won the 2024-2025 Super League Basketball (SLB) Cup against the Surrey 89ers 105-97, winning silverware for the first time in 9 years.
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The Sharks also have a B team called Sheffield Sharks II. They currently play in the NBL Division 1 Pool A (3rd-tier of British basketball system). <section begin="roster" />
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