Of the 171,476 words in the Oxford English Dictionary, ‘legendary’ is probably one of those that is most commonly overused.
On Sunday night the British Basketball League reminded us why such terms should be reserved, as Plymouth City Patriots’ play-caller Paul James, achieved what even he once believed to be impossible, amassing his 500th Championship victory as a Head Coach in the League.
Having started his basketball career as a British Basketball League player for he previously named Leicester All-Stars, followed by the Bracknell Tigers, James turned his hand to coaching in the 1990s.
Enjoying a coaching career that took him to five League franchises across 27 years, including six years as England’s Head Coach, ‘legendary’ doesn’t quite do justice to the feat, as James’ five centuries of wins are bettered in history by just four franchises!
To accomplish that milestone against all odds on the night, besting the previously undefeated defending Champions, the London Lions, was a victory befitting of the feat and the man himself.
“It’s only kind of started to sink in this morning,” James said.
“When I woke up to messages from all over the world from coaches and former players I’ve worked with, it dawned on me how long I’ve been in this game and the many fantastic people I’ve shared the journey with. I’m very proud of this milestone and incredibly grateful for the support I’ve received along the way.”
Mr 500 Coach Paul James 🙏#legend pic.twitter.com/YBATDrMy34
— Plymouth City Patriots Basketball Club (@PlymCityPatriot) November 5, 2023
From day one, was it written?
Coaching in the League across four decades, longevity has undoubtedly played a part in James’ unprecedented success, but his win ratio demonstrates just how successful the Head Coach has been in comparison to his contemporaries, as does his trophy cabinet.
Coach | Games won | Games coached | Win % |
Paul James | 500 | 870 | 57.5 |
Fabulous Flournoy | 442 | 591 | 74.8 |
Rob Paternostro | 360 | 481 | 74.8 |
Atiba Lyons | 283 | 483 | 58.6 |
Vince Macaulay | 212 | 468 | 45.3 |
Day one of that journey as a Head Coach, however, should have told us that ‘PJ’ was destined for greatness, as he took his Thames Valley Tigers on the road to a sold-out M.E.N. Arena to take on the mighty Manchester Giants, where – in the first of many famous nights of his coaching career – James’ Tigers won a dramatic duel on the buzzer.
“I can tell you all about that game as if it was yesterday. It was such a special day and the atmosphere and the performance from the team was fantastic, but it was just the beginning of a journey.
“This [milestone] has to rank right up there with everything I’ve achieved. I never expected to have this longevity in the game, never in my wildest dreams. To be the first person to have 500 Championship wins under my belt … I must have done something right, but it’s surreal to look back on it all now.
“I’ve probably forgotten more wins than I can remember to be honest, but there were so many special memories along the way.”
📊🤯 The NUMBERS behind Paul James’s 500 Championship wins are CRAZY!
Only four TEAMS have won more #BritishBasketballLeague Championship games than him, as the first Head Coach ever to hit 500 Championship wins!#UNBEATABLE pic.twitter.com/RietpuB9UJ
— British Basketball League (@britishbasketm) November 6, 2023
Being on the brink of (even more) greatness
The League’s fanbase has been willing PJ to his 500th win for some time now, as the Plymouth City Patriots helped their Head Coach to win 499 over a month ago, now, but a tough schedule and a changing roster has made hitting the 500 a tricky challenge.
Recent changes to the group – bringing in Spencer Levi and Tyrell Green – have energised what has always been a roster with plenty of talent struggling to find the chemistry needed to win games at this level and get their Head Coach to the promised land. James discussed navigating the pressure of approaching this achievement for him and his team.
“If I can be honest would have liked to have won my 500th game before Sunday night, as being on 499 for a few weeks has almost been like a dark cloud overhead, as before that I didn’t even realise I was so close to this milestone to be honest.
“We’ve had our challenges as a group but we’re building a brand-new team here and with that comes a lot of challenges and excitement, but it always takes times. There’s a process you have to go through to build a successful group, and we’ve being going through that.
“We had the opportunity to get that next win sooner, but to do it on Sunday night against a wonderful London Lions team when few expected us to win the game, it was worth the wait. The stars aligned to give me a special moment thanks to an incredible effort from the team.”
With the new season here, you can still get your British Basketball fix by following the League on social media or heading to our YouTube channel to relive all of the best moments from the current season.