1987–88 British Basketball League season
The 1987–1988 BBL season was the first season of the British Basketball League, a breakaway competition formed by teams from the English National League and the Scottish National League. The season featured a total of 15 teams, playing 28 games each.
Portsmouth, reigning champions of the English League claimed the regular season title with a dominating campaign led by the likes of Alan Cunningham and Colin Irish. They weren't able to repeat their success in the post-season Play-off's as third-seed Livingston, the reigning Scottish champions, caused a huge upset with an 81–72 win over Portsmouth in the Final. Kingston won their fourth consecutive National Cup and Livingston claimed the inaugural BBL Trophy.
In the National League the Worthing Bears won the league with a 100% record and in the play-off semi-final Billy Hungrecker scored a record 73 points in a 119–110 overtime win over Plymouth Raiders, before defeating Brixton TopCats in the final.
Carlsberg League (Tier 1)
Final standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | % | PF | PA | Pts |
| 1 | Portsmouth F.C. | 28 | 26 | 2 | 0.928 | 2677 | 2189 | 52 |
| 2 | Kingston | 28 | 24 | 4 | 0.857 | 2931 | 2475 | 48 |
| 3 | Livingston | 28 | 22 | 6 | 0.785 | 2762 | 2299 | 44 |
| 4 | Manchester United | 28 | 21 | 7 | 0.750 | 2718 | 2345 | 42 |
| 5 | Calderdale Explorers | 28 | 20 | 8 | 0.714 | 2694 | 2256 | 40 |
| 6 | Bracknell Tigers | 28 | 17 | 11 | 0.607 | 2623 | 2435 | 34 |
| 7 | Birmingham Bullets | 28 | 14 | 14 | 0.500 | 2638 | 2757 | 28 |
| 8 | Solent Stars | 28 | 14 | 14 | 0.500 | 2638 | 2757 | 28 |
| 9 | Leicester City Riders | 28 | 14 | 14 | 0.500 | 2780 | 2678 | 28 |
| 10 | Bolton & Bury Giants | 28 | 12 | 16 | 0.428 | 2460 | 2485 | 24 |
| 11 | Hemel & Watford Royals | 28 | 9 | 19 | 0.321 | 2647 | 2893 | 18 |
| 12 | Sunderland 76ers | 28 | 8 | 20 | 0.285 | 2588 | 2905 | 16 |
| 13 | Derby Rams | 28 | 4 | 24 | 0.142 | 2062 | 2640 | 8 |
| 14 | Oldham Celtics | 28 | 3 | 25 | 0.107 | 2435 | 3040 | 6 |
| 15 | Crystal Palace | 28 | 2 | 26 | 0.071 | 2281 | 2981 | 4 |
National League (Tier 2)
Aberdare, Brixton TopCats, Cardiff, Ellesmere Port, Gateshead, Market Harborough, Plymouth Raiders, Stevenage, Tower Hamlets, Worthing BearsCarlsberg League Play-offs
Quarter-finals
Portsmouth vs. Solent StarsKingston vs. Birmingham Bullets
Livingston vs. Bracknell Tigers
Manchester United vs. Calderdale Explorers
Semi-finals
Final
Prudential">Prudential plc">Prudential National Cup
Second Round
Quarter Finals
Semi Finals
Final
NatWest Trophy
Group stage
North Group 1
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | L | Percent |
| 1. Calderdale Explorers | 10 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0.833 |
| 2. Manchester United | 10 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0.833 |
| 3. Bolton & Bury Giants | 4 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0.333 |
| 4. Oldham Celtics | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0.000 |
North Group 2
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | L | Percent |
| 1. Livingston | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2. Leicester City Riders | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0.500 |
| 3. Sunderland 76ers | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0.500 |
| 4. Derby Rams | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0.000 |
South Group 1
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | L | Percent |
| 1. Kingston | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2. Hemel & Watford Royals | 4 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0.333 |
| 3. Crystal Palace | 4 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0.333 |
| 4. Birmingham Bullets | 4 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0.333 |
South Group 2
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | L | Percent |
| 1. Portsmouth | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2. Bracknell Tigers | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0.500 |
| 3. Solent Stars | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0.000 |
Semi-finals
Calderdale Explorers vs. LivingstonKingston vs. Portsmouth
Final
Seasonal awards
- Most Valuable Player: Daryl Thomas
- Coach of the Year: Gary Johnson
- All-Star Team:
- *Steve Bontrager
- *Alan Cunningham
- *Dan Davis
- *Vic Flemming
- *Marcus Gaither
- *Colin Irish
- *Gary Johnson
- *Phil Smith
- *Daryl Thomas
- *Clyde Vaughan