Disability Sport NI |NI Wheelchair Basketball Stars Face Off in Top League

On Saturday evening, two of the top local stars will face off in the BSR España Superliga, Spain’s top wheelchair basketball league, as James MacSorley’s BBK Bidaideak take on Conn Nagle’s Rehatrans Getafe BSR in Bilbao. We caught up with both athletes to discuss what it is like being on opposite ends of the court and competing professionally overseas as they prepare to face each other for the second time this season.

From Teammates to Opponents

As the younger of the pair, Conn recalls looking up to his peer from an early age. “I can’t remember the exact circumstances, but I started going to Knights sessions when I was about six years old. James was already playing for the junior team and had been involved in the sport for a few years. Even at that point, he was one of the players that all the juniors looked up to.”

For James, the journey from junior teammates to competing against each other at the top level is a significant milestone. “Coming up against Conn is a really cool experience for me. It’s incredibly meaningful that two players who grew up a two-minute walk from each other in Belfast now get to play against each other in the best league in the world. As someone who cares deeply about Northern Irish wheelchair basketball, I think it highlights the opportunities available and the incredible experiences the sport can offer.”

While facing off is a new experience, both players are quick to praise each other’s abilities. Reflecting on playing alongside Conn at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, James says, “I remember during the 3×3 in Birmingham, Conn pretty much beat the Australia side on his own, and they were the eventual winners. There were 3,000 spectators at that match and it felt like I made it 3,001 just watching him do his thing!”

Similarly, Conn has fond memories of that experience. “It’s both cool and weird to be playing against James. The game in October was the first time I’ve played against him, but it’s nice to see a familiar face on the court, especially when you’re far from home. As a teammate, it’s always fun to play with James. He’s obviously a great player, but he’s also an excellent communicator and has a lot of experience. During the Commonwealth Games, he gave Nathan and I little pieces of advice about playing at a big tournament. He knows the game so well—if you ever feel lost during a match, just listen to him, and you won’t go far wrong!”

Current Wheelchair Basketball Season

There are similarities in the paths taken by the pair. Both came through as juniors at the Knights Wheelchair Basketball Club and both went on to represent the Sheffield Steelers in the British Premier League. While studying in Spain, James played for Zaragoza in the first division before signing with ADM Econy Gran Canaria in 2019, later moving to Bilbao in 2021. Conn followed his time in Sheffield with a move to Italian side Amicacci Abruzzo in 2023 before joining Getafe at the start of the current season.

For Conn, the move to Spain has been a huge positive in terms of development. The 24-year-old currently ranks sixth in the league for average minutes per round. “Both the Spanish and Italian leagues are really strong. The Spanish league is rightly known as the best league in the world, but the Italian league is right up there, as shown by how the Italian teams performed at the last Champions Cup weekend.

“When you play for a team like Getafe, you have to target specific games to win. In the first game of the season we performed well as a team but lost by nine points, which was disappointing as it was an important game for us. However, since then, we’ve beaten Puertollano away and Joventut at home in January. I think we’re improving, and hopefully, we can steal a couple more wins and avoid relegation.”

At the other end of table, BBK Bidaideak currently sit in third place with a notable win against Albacete coming in the previous round of league matches. Despite a defeat in the Champions Cup last weekend, James is confident that performances are moving in the right direction. “This season has been a bit of a mixed bag. We dropped a couple of games we needed to be winning but other results have shown that there are little flashes of proof that the top-level performances are there.”

Adapting to Life in Spain and Training Full-Time

A move to Spain seemed natural for James, given his academic background. “Luckily for me, the language barrier isn’t an issue because I studied Spanish throughout school and university. I spent a year abroad studying, and this is now my sixth year living in Spain, so I’ve pretty much got it sorted.

“Going from Gran Canaria to Bilbao, the biggest difference was the climate—moving from a tropical island to the very north of Spain, where it rains a lot more, reminds me a lot of home. Gran Canaria was amazing, and I had great teammates, but my wife and I are happier in Bilbao. It’s really stable here, and we love the city—it’s a good size with plenty to do.”

Being in the Basque Country brings an added challenge due to the local language, but James has adapted well. “They have their own language here, but thankfully, everyone speaks Spanish as well. My Spanish isn’t perfect, but it’s good enough to get by.”

For Conn, the experience is new but exciting. “I’m loving Getafe, both on and off the court. Living so close to a big city is great. As a professional, you get quite a bit of downtime, so I’ve been enjoying exploring Madrid. I do most of my training in the afternoons and evenings, which is great because I hate waking up early.”

Despite the lack of early starts, the weekly schedule of a professional wheelchair basketball player can be intense during the season. Afternoons often consist of individual skill sessions, shooting drills, and strength and conditioning, while team sessions take place later in the evening. Travel can also be demanding, as James highlights. “On Friday evenings, if we’re at home, we train. If we’re playing away, we travel—which can mean a seven or eight-hour journey or a flight if we’re heading to Gran Canaria. We play on Saturday evenings and get Sunday off. Sometimes, it can feel draining with all the travel, and it feels like you haven’t had a weekend, but ultimately, it’s an absolute blessing to be doing what you love as a job.”

Paving the Way for Future Athletes

With wheelchair basketball growing in Northern Ireland, both athletes shared their advice for aspiring professionals and reflected on the pathways now available.

Patience in development is key, according to James who has won a Bronze medal at the Paralympics, both Gold and Silver medals at the World Championships and a Gold medal at European Championships. “To play professionally, I think following the domestic pathway until you reach a high enough level is still the best option. I’ve seen guys leave too soon before developing their basketball skills or life skills, which can make it difficult to succeed abroad. The best players in the world have good fundamentals and if you can’t do the basics and use both hands or go both ways it will really stick out.

“When I decided to play abroad, I had completed four years of study and had spent two years training in England with the GB programme. I never felt like I was late in any way.”

Conn is optimistic about the future of the sport in Northern Ireland. “With the work Danny Cooper is doing, and the foundation laid by Phil Robinson, there’s now a proper Northern Ireland programme in place. Players can train regularly at sessions and camps and compete in both the British and NI leagues, so hopefully, more players can transition into the professional game. My advice would be work hard at training, be open to learning from players and coaches, and watch international and professional club games online. Also, keep on top of your education in case going pro doesn’t work out for whatever reason.”

BBK Bidaideak vs Rehatrans Getafe will be streamed live on YouTube on Saturday 8^th February 2025 at 5pm GMT.