Bandits Re-Sign Alex Campbell for 2023 Canadian Elite Basketball League Season at Langley Events Centre

LANGLEY, B.C., March 7, 2023 – The Vancouver Bandits announced Tuesday that the club has re-signed its two-time reigning “Team Most Valuable Player” Alex Campbell for his third consecutive Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season with BC’s professional basketball team.

The upcoming campaign at Langley Events Centre (LEC) will be Campbell’s fourth CEBL season after previously winning a 2019 championship and finals MVP honours with the Saskatchewan Rattlers.

A 6-foot-2 native of Brampton, Ont., Campbell played a team-high 20 games for the Bandits in 2022 and demonstrated his consistent all-around skillset by ranking among team leaders in various offensive and defensive statistical categories (minimum 12 games played). The skilled sharpshooter averaged 13.4 points (3rd on team), 5.8 rebounds (2nd), 1.9 assists and 1.6 steals (1st) on 44.4 (4th) and 39.5 (2nd) per cent shooting from field goal and three-point range, respectively.

“I am excited to return to the Bandits this summer for many reasons. I have built lifelong relationships with players and staff out in B.C. and I also truly believe we have the CEBL's best fanbase here in Vancouver. The support and energy at LEC last summer was electric. As players, we feed off that,” Campbell said.

“I feel like we have an opportunity to do something special that has not been done before: Bring a professional basketball championship to Vancouver. Challenge accepted. After all, the third time is the charm. I can’t wait to get out there with coach Kyle Julius and the squad. It is time to get to work.”

A 30-year-old guard, Campbell starred at the University of Windsor and Niagara College before embarking upon a decorated international career that has seen him suit up for Boulazac (France), Lahti (Finland) and CB Prat (Spain) during his six professional seasons.

In addition to filling up box scores overseas, Campbell has averaged 13 or more points in each of his CEBL seasons and led the Bandits in three-pointers made in 2021 and ranked second in long-range strikes in 2022 behind only team scoring leader Shane Gibson. For his marksmanship, the CEBL named Campbell to its 2021 All-Canadian team.

Campbell has also represented Canada and the CEBL on the global stage at the FIBA Basketball Champions League of Americas tournament in each of the past two years as a member of the Edmonton Stingers (2021-22) and Brampton Honey Badgers (2022-23). The champions of the CEBL are annually accepted into the prestigious international tournament and a roster is selected by its coaching staff to represent the league in the BCLA competition.

“Alex is the heart and soul of our culture of toughness, grit and grind. He is a leader on and off the court for us. I really look forward to seeing him play in my system this summer and we really think he will flourish and be a special part of this team’s journey,” said Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius.

The Bandits tip-off the 2023 CEBL campaign on Saturday, May 27 when the club takes on the Winnipeg Sea Bears at Canada Life Centre. Fans will have their first chance to watch Campbell and company on home soil at 7 p.m. PT on Saturday, June 3 when Vancouver welcomes the Calgary Surge for its first-ever visit to LEC.

Season tickets for the fifth season of Bandits Basketball are available for purchase and can be accessed by clicking here. A full seat map, price chart breakdown, season schedule and a complete list of season ticket holder benefits can be found by clicking here.

A key highlight of Vancouver’s fifth CEBL campaign will be its hosting of Championship Weekend, which takes place between Friday, August 11 and Sunday, August 13. An annual celebration of the highest level of Canadian professional basketball, Championship Weekend features a postseason format that combines three games of playoff basketball as part of a multi-day festival experience designed to celebrate the intersection of arts, culture and sport. 

As hosts of Championship Weekend, the Bandits receive an automatic semifinal berth.

Individuals interested in learning more about tickets for the Vancouver Bandits’ 2023 season are kindly asked to call (604) 455-8881 or email [email protected]. A complete regular season schedule can be found by clicking here. More information is available at thebandits.ca and @vancouverbandits on Instagram and TikTok, as well as @vancitybandits on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Vancouver Bandits

The Vancouver Bandits are British Columbia’s professional basketball team. As the westernmost club in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Bandits offer an entertainment experience that combines a fast-paced game day atmosphere with a presentation of some of Canada’s top professional athletes within a world-class venue at Langley Events Centre (LEC).

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.