Reading Rockets

This article is about the English Basketball League club based in Reading, Berkshire. For the Professional Lacrosse League team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, see Reading Rockets (PLL).

The Reading Rockets are an English semi-professional basketball club based in the town of Reading, England. Founded in 1997, the Rockets compete in NBL Division 1, the second tier of the British basketball system.

Reading Rockets
League	NBL Division 1
Established	1997; 28 years ago (1997)
History	Reading Rockets (1997–present)
Arena	Loddon Valley Leisure Centre
Capacity	500
Location	Reading, Berkshire
Team colours
Head coach	Samit Nuruzade
Ownership	Gary Johnson, Helen Johnson
Website	Official website

History

The Rockets were formed in 1997^[1] 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.^[2] 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.^[3]

In 2022, the Rockets applied to join the British Basketball League starting from the 2023–24 season.^[4]

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.^[5]

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

Reading Rockets 24-25 roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. G 4 Clarke, Mitch 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) G 5 Pinnock, Reis 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) G 6 Poorman, Elias (Zain) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) G 7 Champion, Lewis (C) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) G 8 Olarerin, Victor 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) F 9 Spurrier, Isaac 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) F 10 Allman, Matthew 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) F 11 Chamberlain, Simon 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) F 12 Nsangu, Ty 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) F 13 Hopkins, Justin 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) G 14 Coxon, Adam 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) F 15 Clarke, George 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) G 16 Jasper, Zep 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	Head coach Samit Nurazade Assistant coach(es) Ben Fisher Jack Adams Legend (C) Team captain Injured

Notable former players

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Criteria
To appear in this section a player must have either: Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club Played at least one official international match for their national team at any time Played at least one official NBA match at any time.

• E.J. Harrison
• Adam Kelly
• Ted Smith
• Tyrell Smith
• David Watts
• Niko Scott
• Ryan Lohfink^[6]
• Luke Nelson
• Matt Johnson
• Harrison Gamble
• Andy Powlesland
• Jermaine Williams
• Pem Bristol
• Danny Carter
• Damon Cooper

Staff

Former head coaches

Coach	From	To	Total Games	RS Won	RS Lost	PO Won	PO Lost	Total Win %
Richard Devereux	1997/98	1997/98	26	12	14			0.462
Dave Aldred	1998/99	1998/99	26	17	9			0.654
Dave Titmuss	1999/00	2000/01	42	31	11			0.738
Matt Johnson	2002/03	2002/03	22	16	6			0.727
Mark Dunning	2004/05	2004/05	22	16	6			0.727
Dave Titmuss	2005/06	2008/09	95	75	9	9	2	0.884
Sasa Punosevac	2009/10	2009/10	6	3	3	–	–	0.500
Matt Johnson	2009/10	2009/10	17	9	7	0	1	0.529
Samit Nuruzade	2010/11	2012/13	75	48	20	6	1	0.720
Manuel Pena Garces	2013/14	2017/18	134	91	33	5	5	0.716
Alan Keane	2018/19	2020/21	68	35	33	-	-	0.514
Dan Pearson	2021/22	2021/22	27	15	11	-	1	0.555
Samit Nuruzade	2022/23	Present	33	21	10	1	1	0.66

Season-by-season records

Season	Division	Tier	Regular Season						Post-Season	National Cup	Kitking Trophy
			Finish	Played	Wins	Losses	Points	Win %
Reading Rockets
1997–98	D3	4	3rd	26	12	14	24	0.462	Quarter-finals	-	-
1998–99	D2	3	4th	26	17	9	34	0.654	Quarter-finals	-	-
1999–00	D2	3	5th	24	17	7	34	0.708	Semi-finals	-	-
2000–01	D1	3	2nd	18	14	4	28	0.778	Winners, beating Oxford	-	-
2001–02	Conf.	2	7th	18	7	11	14	0.389	Quarter-finals	-	-
2002–03	Conf.	2	3rd	22	16	6	32	0.727	Runners-up	-	-
2003–04	D1	2	2nd	22	17	5	34	0.773	Semi-finals	Quarter-finals	-
2004–05	D1	2	3rd	22	16	6	32	0.727	Runners-up	Winners, beating Sheffield	-
2005–06	D1	2	2nd	26	22	4	44	0.846	Winners, beating Worthing	Runners-up	-
2006–07	D1	2	2nd	22	19	3	38	0.864	Semi-finals	Semi-finals	-
2007–08	D1	2	2nd	18	16	2	32	0.889	Runners-up	Semi-finals	-
2008–09	D1	2	1st	18	18	0	36	1.000	Winners, beating Manchester	Winners, beating Manchester	-
2009–10	D1	2	7th	22	12	10	24	0.545	Quarter-finals	Quarter-finals	-
2010–11	D1	2	3rd	18	12	6	24	0.667	Winners, beating Leeds	3rd round	-
2011–12	D1	2	7th	24	14	10	28	0.583	Quarter-finals	Semi-finals	-
2012–13	D1	2	1st	26	22	4	44	0.846	Winners, beating Worthing	Semi-finals	-
2013–14	D1	2	1st	26	22	4	44	0.846	Runners-up	Winners, beating Newham	-
2014–15	D1	2	5th	24	15	9	30	0.625	Quarter-finals	Runners-up	-
2015–16	D1	2	3rd	26	19	7	38	0.731	Runners-up	Quarter-finals	-
2016–17	D1	2	3rd	26	20	6	40	0.769	Quarter-finals	Quarter-finals	-
2017–18	D1	2	3rd	24	17	7	34	0.708	Semi-finals	Quarter-finals	-
2018–19	D1	2	6th	26	14	12	28	0.538	Quarter-finals	4th round	-
2019–20	D1	2	7th	23	14	9	28	0.609	No playoffs	Runners-up	-
2020–21	D1	2	9th	19	7	12	14	0.368	1st round	No competition	-
2021–22	D1	2	8th	26	15	11	28*	0.577	1st round	4th round	-
2022–23	D1	2	4th	26	17	9	34	0.654	Semi-final	4th round	Semi-finals
2023–24	D1	2	4th	24	16	8	32	0.667	Runners-Up	Runners-Up	Semi-Finals
2024–25	D1	2								Winners, Beating Hemel

Record in BBL/SLB competitions

Season	Competition	Round	Opponent	Home	Away
2006–07	BBL Trophy	GS	Plymouth Raiders
		GS	Worthing Thunder
		GS	Guildford Heat
2009–10	BBL Trophy	R1	Newcastle Eagles	L 60–102
2012–13	BBL Trophy	R1	Surrey Heat	L 68–86
2013–14	BBL Trophy	R1	Sheffield Sharks	L 73–85
2014–15	BBL Trophy	R1	Newcastle Eagles	L 90–112
2015–16	BBL Trophy	R1	Surrey Scorchers	L 72–82
2016–17	BBL Trophy	R1	Bristol Flyers	L 74–85
2024–25	SLB Cup	R1	Sheffield Sharks	L 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

Reading Rockets 24-25 roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. G 4 Thompson, Amba 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) G 5 Adelekan, Adeyosola Ayomide Taiwo 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) G 6 Thompson, Mia 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) G 7 Karpova, Kristina (C) 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) F 8 Jarju, Saffie 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) G 9 Guerra Rainford, Alicia 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) F 10 Day, Millie 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) F 11 Malone, Alannah 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) G 12 Brydson, Sancia 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) F 13 Harrysson, Wilma 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) F 14 Blackburn, Jade 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) G 15 Adegoke, Tracy 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) G 16 Dhillon, Tania 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)	Head coach Joan Portero Luque Assistant coach(es) Philip Hayfield Legend (C) Team captain Injured

Notable former players

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Criteria
To appear in this section a player must have either: Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club Played at least one official international match for their national team at any time Played at least one official NBA match at any time.

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

Staff

Former head coaches

Coach	From	To	Total Games	RS Won	RS Lost	PO Won	PO Lost	Total Win %
Josh Thorne	2010/11	2015/16	86	65	15		-	0.755
Patrick Fasbender	2016/17	2016/2017	20	6	14	-	-	0.3
David Sanchez de la Torre	2017/18	2019/2020	40	22	18	-	-	0.55
Joan Luque Portero	2019/20	Present	84	41	43	-	-	0.476

Season-by-season records

Season	Division	Position	Played	Won	Lost	Points	Play-offs	National Trophy	National Cup
Reading Rockets Senior Women
2023–2024	D1	6th	21	11	10	22	-	-
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

Current roster

Reading Rockets 24-25 roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. G 4 Maitland, Amari 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) G 5 Harrington, Ethan 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) F 6 Carter, Tristan (C) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) G 8 Coxon, Adam 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) G 9 Round, Ethan 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) C 11 Tustin, Freddie 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) F 14 Mackinnon, Joe 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) C 15 Clarke, George 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) F 16 Obediah, David 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	Head coach Danny Carter Assistant coach(es) Liam Hardiman Legend (C) Team captain Injured

See also

• Basketball in England