Lee Linton-Hodges Inaugural Tribute Event scheduled for next month
The inaugural Lee Linton-Hodges Tribute Event will take place at 3pm on Saturday 1 August at Ipswich's Copleston Sports Centre.
The event will bring together the basketball community to celebrate the life of much-loved former player Linton-Hodges, who died suddenly on 5 October 2025.
After further investigation, Linton-Hodges had been living with Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy (ACM), a rare inherited heart condition that can often go undiagnosed.
In the weeks following his passing, the basketball community rallied around Lee’s family, raising more than £31,000 in an incredible show of support.
Now, friends, team-mates, coaches and rivals from across the NBL are once again coming together - not only to celebrate Lee’s remarkable life and career, but also to raise vital funds for the British Heart Foundation and Child Bereavement UK, supporting children and young people who have experienced the loss of a parent.
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An instantly-recognisable figure standing at 7' 0", Linton-Hodges was fondly remembered by so many across the game.
Representing England at junior level and playing for Ipswich, Barking Abbey, Essex and Herts Leopards, Essex Rebels, and Hemel Storm, Linton-Hodges' career began in 2005.
The talented forward won the BBC Young Personality of the Year Award in 2007 and captured the NBL National Cup in 2018 with the Storm, averaging 10 points and six rebounds in that season.
The tribute game returns to the place where it all began: Linton-Hodges' distinguished 20-year NBL career both started and finished with Ipswich Basketball Club.
Fans can expect a showcase of some of the biggest names to have graced the NBL over the past two decades. The game will feature players who shared the court with Lee throughout his career, including Sam Newman, Joe Hart, Elvisi Duscha and Veron Eze, alongside many more stars from both past and present.
Adding to what promises to be a memorable afternoon, two of the UK’s most respected coaches will lead the teams. Former Barking Abbey head coach Lloyd Gardner, who worked closely with Lee for many years, will take one sideline, while Nick Drane, Lee’s long-time coach, mentor and friend at Ipswich Basketball Club, will lead the other.
The event is being sponsored by Iron Island and TMB, with both companies giving generously in support of such a great cause.
The day’s activities begin from 1pm, when teams arrive for practice sessions ahead of the 3pm tip-off (doors open at 2:30pm). Spectators can also enjoy food and children’s entertainment before the game, making the event an afternoon for the whole family.
Admission is just £5, with every ticket helping to support two charities whose work reflects Lee’s story and legacy. For anyone wishing to contribute to the cause but unable to make the game, a GoFundMe page has also been set up.
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