2023 NBBF Premier League

The 2023 NBBF Premier League was the 22nd season of the NBBF Premier League, the top-flight basketball league in Nigeria organised by the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF). The season began on 22 October 2023 and ended on 25 November 2023 The champions qualified directly for the 2024 BAL season.^[1] The Final Four was staged in Port Harcourt.

2023 NBBF Premier League
League	Nigerian Premier League
Sport	Basketball
Duration	22 October 2023 - 25 November 2023
Number of teams	24
Conference Eight
Final Four
Champions	Rivers Hoopers (5th title)
Runners-up	Gboko City Chiefs

The Kwara Falcons were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the conference stage. The Rivers Hoopers won their 5th national title with a undefeated 13-0 record.^[2] The Hoopers clinched their title on 25 November, after winning the final game of the Final Four.^[2]

First phase

The first phase ran from 22 to 29 October 2023 and was held in four groups of six or seven teams, divided in two conferences. The four host cities were Abuja, Lafia, Asaba and Ibadan. The top two teams from each group advance to the Conference Eight, the remaining teams were relegated to the Division One for the 2024 season.

Initially, 31 teams were announced for the first phase.^[3] After withdrawals, the league began with 24 teams.^[4]

Savannah Conference

Abuja

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Nigeria Customs	5	5	0	413	325	+88	10	Advance to Conference Eight
2	Nile University	5	4	1	342	335	+7	9
3	Kano Pillars	5	3	2	382	325	+57	8
4	Bauchi Nets	5	2	3	332	364	−32	7
5	Niger Potters	5	1	4	294	345	−51	6	Relegated to NBBF National Division One
6	Kada Stars	5	0	5	337	406	−69	5

Source: NBBF

Lafia

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Plateau Peaks	5	4	1	318	285	+33	9	Advance to Conference Eight
2	Gboko City Chiefs	5	4	1	311	231	+80	9
3	Gombe Bulls	5	3	2	328	332	−4	8
4	Correctional	5	3	2	305	305	0	8
5	Defenders	5	1	4	298	347	−49	6	Relegated to NBBF National Division One
6	Benue Braves	5	0	5	240	300	−60	5

Source: NBBF

Atlantic Conference

Asaba

Oriental Giants, Camac and Lagos Warriors were also announced to be in this group but did not play.

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Rivers Hoopers	4	4	0	334	246	+88	8	Advance to Conference Eight
2	Lagos Legends	4	3	1	299	253	+46	7
3	Police Baton	4	2	2	269	277	−8	6
4	Delta Force	4	1	3	270	326	−56	5
5	Raptors	4	0	4	240	310	−70	4	Relegated to NBBF National Division One

Source: NBBF

Ibadan

Lagos Islanders was also announced to be in this group, but did not play.

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Kwara Falcons	6	5	1	423	392	+31	11	Advance to Conference Eight
2	Ebun Comets	6	5	1	371	279	+92	11
3	Hoops & Read	6	4	2	434	353	+81	10
4	Oluyole Warriors	6	4	2	366	327	+39	10
5	Impressions	6	2	4	288	355	−67	8	Relegated to NBBF National Division One
6	Ondo Raiders	6	1	5	316	379	−63	7
7	Invaders	6	0	6	309	435	−126	6

Source: NBBF

Conference Eight

The Conference Eight phase was played by the eight highest placed teams from each conference. It was initially scheduled to only feature eight teams, and was to be held from 4 to 14 November 2023 in Lagos. Later, ihe NBBF announced that the Savannah Conference was hosted in Abuja, and the Atlantic Conference was hosted in Akure.

Atlantic Conference

Delta Force withdrew ahead of the Conference Eight.^[5] The Rivers Hoopers won the Atlantic Conference after going undefeated in their six games; Hoops & Read finished in second place.

Home \ Away	COM	HOR	KWA	LLG	OLU	POL	RIV
Ebun Comets	—					51–47
Hoops & Read		—		82–71
Kwara Falcons			—		80–44
Lagos Legends	62–50			—
Oluyole Warriors					—		61–80
Police Baton		55–78			63–49	—
Rivers Hoopers	82–54		83–56				—

Updated to match(es) played on 9 November 2023. Source: NBBF on X
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Savannah Conference

Bauchi Nets withdrew ahead of the Conference Eight. Nigeria Customs emerged champions of the Savannah Conference, after winning all their six games.^[6] The Gboko City Chiefs finished in second place.^[6]

Home \ Away	BAU	COR	CUS	GBO	GOM	KAN	NIL	PLA
Bauchi Nets	—	0–20
Correctionals		—			67–70	90–92
Nigeria Customs		91–62	—			73–64	88–67
Gboko City Chiefs	20–0	91–78	75–83	—			76–62
Gombe Bulls				72–69	—
Kano Pillars					85–82	—	63–65	59–55
Nile Spartans		78–79			78–74		—
Plateau Peaks	20–0		56–97	48–89	70–73		50–68	—

Updated to match(es) played on 13 November 2023. Source: NBBF on X
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Final Four

The Final Four will be held from 22 to 25 November. Rivers Hoopers, Hoops & Read, Nigeria Customs and Gboko City Chiefs are the four qualified teams. On 16 November, Port Harcourt was announced as the host city. The last time Port Harcourt hosted the Final Eight of the Premier League was in 2010.^[7]

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		RIV	GBC	NIG	H&R
1	Rivers Hoopers (C)	3	3	0	218	187	+31	6	Qualification to the 2024 BAL season		—	—	77–57	74–68
2	Gboko City Chiefs	3	2	1	213	198	+15	5			62–67	—	—	—
3	Nigeria Customs	3	1	2	188	205	−17	4			—	66–71	—	—
4	Hoops & Read	3	0	3	195	219	−24	3			—	70–80	57–65	—

Source: NBBF on X
(C) Champions