Coming into the 2025 NBL season, one of the biggest questions was which teams would be in relegation turmoil.

As the first round concluded, two teams stood out as the main candidates for getting chopped.

One of them is the KIU Titans who took a different route and the results are not shocking.

The other is Livingstone, who managed to survive in the 2024 season but seems to be too deep in a mess to survive this year.

The biggest question here is,

Is Livingstone dead?

By dead, I mean, are their chances of survival nil?

We are going to delve into the numbers and the possibilities of what could happen.

Currently, Livingstone is in 11th place with 1 win in 11 games, that victory having come against a winless KIU Titans team.

In the 2024 season, the 2 teams which were in the relegation places by the end of the first round both survived relegation.

To make it even more mesmerizing, the Kampala Rockets, who had won just 1 game, managed to make the playoffs.

However, the circumstances that happened last year are a bit contrary to what is happening at the moment.

The biggest challenge for Livingstone is that the next team closest to them is JKL Dolphins who have 3 wins ahead of them.

This puts Livingstone in a precarious position given that most of us have already counted out the KIU Titans.

With the 2023 and 2024 finalists out, it means that Livingstone is fighting alone and for them to make the jump to survive, a lot needs to fall in place for them.

Last year, we saw Kampala Rockets win 7 games in the second round but it came at a cost.

They brought in Christian Ndibu (who was averaging a double-double for Ndejje Angels) and also Ruai Luak (Featured on the team of the 2024 NBL season) and those 2 greatly boosted them.

Is that a kind of investment that Livingstone are willing to make?

While talking to Livingstone CEO Mr. Ahmed Kamoga, he revealed that the team may not be able to add new players.

“I don’t think we are going to sign any other player,” he said.

If Livingstone does not add some top talent, the chance that they survive is almost none existent.

From the first round, Livingstone registered 571points (second worst), 50.2% FT, 108 steals (2nd worst), 432 rebounds (2nd worst), and the bad the second most turnovers ( 254)

From these numbers, it is very clear that Livingstone is doing very badly  seeing these players turn around in the second round is very hard.

Livingstone needs more than 7 wins  to have a chance and it is not only their results that they need to care for but also their opponents.

JKL Dolphins has 4 wins and is the most likely team that Livingstone can take down.

However, City Oilers, Rezlife Saints, and Sommet all have 5 wins and any of them can falter and join the mix.

Livingstone opens the second round with a game against the City Oilers.

This could be a make-or-break game for them and a win will definitely boost their morale and confidence.

However, a defeat might dwindle their chances and if the spirits of the players break early in the second round, it is very hard to see them push in the final 7 games of the season.

Do you think that Livingstone can survive?

If yes, tell us why?

If not, tell us why?