The 1979–80 Rotary Watches National Basketball League season was the eighth season of the National Basketball League formed in 1972.[1]
The league was sponsored by Rotary Watches for the second consecutive year and Crystal Palace won an unprecedented treble of League, Playoffs and National Cup. Crystal Palace were helped by Alton Byrd who would become the best known name in British basketball and won the season MVP award.[2]
Team changes
Malcolm Chamberlain, the owner of the London Metros uprooted the team and relocated them from London to Kingston upon Thames and to the Tolworth Recreation Centre rebranding them as Kingston. With their added sponsorship they would be known as Kelly Girls International Kingston. Guildford Pirates the NBL Division 2 champions joined the league and following a sponsorship deal would be Team Talbot, Guildford. Runners-up Hemel Hempstead also joined the league and would be known as Hemel Hempstead Ovaltine playing at Bletchley Leisure Centre. The Blackpool Pacemakers completed the newcomers to the league. The Milton Keynes All-Stars, Loughborough All-Stars, Exeter St Lukes TSB and Bracknell Bullets all dropped out.
National League standings
Division Two
Team Hemeling Birmingham, Brunel Uxbridge, Panasonic Plymouth, Camden & Hampstead, Exeter, Leeds, Brighton, Nottingham
Rotary Watches playoffs
Semi-Finals
| venue & date |
Team 1 |
Team 2 |
Score |
| March 14, Wembley Arena | Doncaster Ziebart Panthers | Coventry Team Fiat | 84-100 |
| March 14, Wembley Arena | Crystal Palace Chevrons | Hemel Hempstead Ovaltine | 98-75 |
Third Place
| venue & date |
Team 1 |
Team 2 |
Score |
| March 15, Wembley Arena | Doncaster Ziebart Panthers | Hemel Hempstead Ovaltine | 84-75 |
| Crystal Palace Chevrons |
93–85 |
Coventry Team Fiat |
| Pts: Mark Saiers 26 |
|
Pts: Greg White (MVP) 38 |
Butlins National Cup Final
| Crystal Palace Chevrons |
97–67 |
Doncaster Ziebart Panthers |
| Pts: Peter Jeremich 21, Mark Saiers 17 |
|
|