Giants must step up to plate for coming season
MANCHESTER Giants have confirmed Richard Bell’s return to the club for a second season.
And coach Danny Byrne is demanding a big impact from the talented British forward.
Bell, 26, made 29 appearances with an average of 22 minutes, six rebounds and seven points per game in his rookie season in the BBL.
And while he showed flashes of his potential, Byrne – who has taken the reigns from former head coach Yorick Williams – said: “We’re expecting bigger things of him now. He’s been through his rookie season and he knows what to expect from the league.
“He knows he’ll need to up his game to take off and get a bit more aggression in him.
“He gets up and down the floor and he fits what we want to do.
“Richard overcame a bad injury last season and I know he’s been working hard over the summer.
“We need to give him the confidence to play to his size.”
Bell has been preparing for the season in Atlanta in the summer – working out at Combine Academy – as well as playing in the Atlanta Entertainment Basketball League (AEBL) pro-am tournament.
He said: “I’m looking to have a strong season next year for the Giants.
“I’ve been working on improving my skills, being more consistent with my shot, improving my dribbling and getting my body stronger and more explosive.”
With Callum Jones, Jerelle Okoro and Anastasios Traianos and new faces Clayfell Harris and Mark Rangeley already confirmed, Bell takes the Giants’ roster for 2017/18 to six.