The return of the British Basketball League’s legendary and much-loved All-Star Game is fast approaching, and three Manchester Giants players across the men’s and women’s teams have been selected for the roster.
Arriving at the CopperBox Arena in London on Sunday, 17 March, the BBL All-Star fixture is back to mirror the annual game of the same name made popular by the NBA, with the month-long fan vote for this year’s lineup opening back in January and ending on Valentine’s Day.
Fittingly, we’re absolutely in love with the 2024 roster as it features not one, not two but three players from the Manchester Giants, including husband and wife pro duo Jamell and Georgia Anderson, as well as rising US and women’s team star Myah Pace.
Massive by name, massive by nature.
⭐️ Jamell Anderson, Myah Pace and Georgia Anderson will represent the Giants in the 2024 All-Star Game!
As well as these three Manchester Giants, local player LaQuincy Rideau of Cheshire Phoenix has also made the cut. Up the North West!
The trio of Giants will compete in the men’s North team as well as the women’s squad for the inaugural year of the female All-Star event.
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Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anderson is one of the most exciting forwards in the league with the second-highest average steals and some really good free-throw stats to boot.
As well as returning to the British sporting calendar after a decade-long absence, this year also sees the first-ever Women’s All-Star Game, with both Georgia and Myah making the landmark roster.
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Although Anderson is set to captain her side while Pace and her husband opposite are set to make appearances off the bench for their teams, all three making their way onto their respective rosters in the first year of the event’s return and amidst challenging season is not to be overlooked.
You can see both lists in full here:
Three Manchester Giants players across a total of 22 top talents is not bad at all. (Credit: Supplied)
With the starters on each team being decided by the fan vote itself, it’s great to see the Andersons, Pace and plenty of other Northern talent on show as the British Basketball League continues to gain more eyes year after year.
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The Women’s game is set to tip off at 12:30pm ahead of the Men’s fixture at 15:30, with the iconic slam-dunk competition and three-point contest scheduled to feature between the two games, as well as the presentation to the inaugural entrants to the League’s new Hall of Fame.
Promising plenty of entertainment on and off the court, including a live performance from R&B/dancehall singer-songwriter, Amaria BB — who will take to the court for the Men’s halftime show — there’ll be plenty of fanfare and, hopefully, plenty buckets to go with it.
We wish all the best to our Manchester Giants and the All-Star North teams this year and if you’re interested in heading down south to see the excitement, you can still grab a ticket HERE.
Kyle Walker announces retirement from international football with England at 35
Danny Jones
Former Manchester City star and England defender has announced his retirement from international football at 35 years old.
He calls it a day for his country with nearly a century of appearances.
Kyle Walker, who has won six Premier Leagues, four Carabao trophies, a pair of FA Cups and a Champions League title with Man City, made his national team debut back in 2011.
Now, nearly a full decade and a half later, he is hanging up his boots on the biggest stage, retiring as England’s most capped right back in history.
As you can see, he confirmed the news in a highlight video looking back on her best moments with the Three Lions.
Sharing a lengthy and emotional statement in the caption, the Yorkshireman wrote: “After more than a decade representing my country, I have decided to retire from international football. Playing for England has always been the biggest honour of my career and something I will always be proud of.
“Thank you to every teammate, coach, manager, the 12th man, and everyone behind the scenes who has been part of the journey. Every roar from the fans pushed the team along, and I’m looking forward to joining them to support the lads in the World Cup.”
His last appearance in an England shirt came in June against Senegal, since dropping out of manager Thomas Tuchel’s first-choice team and future plans, with both form and age no doubt being factored into that decision.
Walker added: “The memories in an England shirt will stay with me forever.”
96 caps 🧢 Five major tournaments 🏴 A #ThreeLions legend ⭐
He went on to sign off by saying, “I also want to thank my family for their support every step of the way. They have made this journey even more special, and I will always be grateful to have shared it with them.”
The Sheffield-born fullback left Manchester last year following a loan spell at AC Milan, before joining fellow Premier League side Burnley FC permanently this past July.
Meanwhile, the Clarets are staring down relegation back to the Championship; however, this step will no doubt help Walker prolong his club career, whether or not he stays in Lancashire.
Where does Walker rank among the all-time England defenders in your mind?
Featured Images — Oleg Bkhambri (via Wikimedia Commons)/England (screenshot via YouTube)
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Wigan Warriors’ Bevan French out for around four months with major muscle injury
Danny Jones
Wigan Warriors player Bevan French has unfortunately been ruled out for roughly four months following a fairly serious muscle injury.
An important playmaker and cog in the wider team, his absence will surely be felt.
French, 30, is said to have suffered a hamstring tear during the win over Toulouse Olympique this past weekend, and while not as severe as a full rupture, Bevan has now been told by the club he will be sidelined for approximately 16 weeks, according to head coach Matt Peet.
Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester after learning the news, he provided a number of updates from the physio room, including the latest on Jai Field, who French had been filling in for at fullback.
While Wigan are currently leading the Super League once again, they will be without one of their key Warriors with just under a dozen games left in the season.
The Greater Manchester club’s quadruple-winning boss and former Coach of the Year admitted that, despite some obvious disappointments in the immediate aftermath, his “positive” and “philosophical” attitude has already kicked in.
He’s quite philosophical, Bevan. He quickly flips a switch.
“Now he knows the timeframe and the schedule for his recovery, like most professionals, he can get his head down now and focus on the present”, said the 41-year-old.
The Australian stand-off/fly-half has regularly run the show in red and white, and even amid periods out of the squad, he remains an understandable fan favourite and integral part of the team when fit.
You only need to hear pundits and peers alike describing him as a “special” talent to know how much of a big miss he’ll be.
As mentioned, Peet also shed more light on Field, who dropped out with appendicitis last week and is himself set for around four to five weeks away.
For now, youngster Noah Hodkinson is being given the chance to fill the void and work his way into the first team after regularly impressing in the reserves.
Nevertheless, they could have really done with him ahead of their upcoming games.
Domestically, all three of Leeds Rhinos, Warrington Wolves and St Helens aren’t far behind them in the table, so it could prove to be a tasty remainder of the 2026 campaign.
You can watch the highlights from the result against Toulouse on Saturday, 7 March, here.
Danny Jones -
5th March 2024 
