Patriots Basketball Club, also known as Patriots, is a professional basketball club based in Kigali, Rwanda. Established in 2014, it plays its home games at Amahoro Indoor Stadium. The team is a four-time champion of the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL).
In the 2021 season, the Patriots played in the Basketball Africa League (BAL). The club gained worldwide attention when American star rapper J. Cole signed with the team to play in the BAL.
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History
The club Patriots BBC was founded in 2014 by a group of top corporate executives from diverse sectors of the economy. In the Patriots' debut season, they immediately reached the playoff finals, but lost to Espoir 1–3. Two years later, the Patriots won their first national championship.
On 21 September 2019, the Patriots won their fourth league title after defeating REG BBC in Game 7 of the finals, in a sold out Kigali Arena. On 26 October, head coach Henry Mwinuka, who won three league championships with Patriots, parted ways with the club to join REG. On 6 November, assistant coach Carey Odhiambo was promoted to become head coach.
Patriots were part of the qualifiers for the 2021 Basketball Africa League season, winning the east division and qualifying for the first season of the BAL. In April 2021, ahead of the first-ever BAL season, the team signed American Alan Major as new head coach. On 10 May 2021, American rapper Jermaine Cole (known under his artist name J. Cole) signed with the Patriots four days before the release of his sitxth studio album, The Off-Season. Cole played three pool games in the BAL, but left the team ahead of the quarterfinals after his contract ended.
The Patriots played their first BAL game on 16 May 2021 at home in Kigali, beating Nigerian side Rivers Hoopers 83–60. Eventually, the team finished in fourth place at the inaugural tournament, losing to Angolan side Petro de Luanda in the third place game.
After the 2023–24 season, Mwinuka left the team, and was replaced by new head coach Sunny Niyomugabo.
Sponsorships
In 2024, Patriots BBC signed a five-year sponsorship contract with the Rwanda Development Bank (RDB).
Players
Current roster
As of 14 July 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team, as has been defined under FIBA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIBA nationality.
Past rosters
2021 BAL season
Notable players
Aristide Mugabe
Walter Nkurunziza
Sedar Sagamba
Jean de Dieu Niagunduka
Honours
National Basketball League
Winners (4): 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020
BAL
Fourth Place (1): 2021