Dylan Kular Named 2025 CEBL Executive of the Year

CEBL Staff • October 29, 2025

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Wednesday that Dylan Kular, President of the Vancouver Bandits, has been named the 2025 CEBL Executive of the Year, earning the honour for a league-record third time (2021, 2022). The recognition comes a day after the Bandits secured the 2025 CEBL Community Champion Award, marking the second Business Award for the franchise this season and the fifth in just two years.


The CEBL has now revealed three of its four annual
Business Award winners this year, with the Calgary Surge capturing the Digital Excellence Award on Monday. The league’s 2025 Franchise of the Year recipient will be announced tomorrow (October 30).



EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

Awarded to a team executive who best lives the values of the CEBL by leading with integrity and good governance, fosters a positive organizational culture, leads a franchise that has demonstrated success on the basketball court, in the community and with the overall performance and development of their club’s business during the past year, demonstrates a long-term vision to grow their franchise in its market, and contributes to the success of the league beyond their own club while being an inspiration and valued colleague to peers around the CEBL.


2025 Winner:
Dylan Kular, President, Vancouver Bandits


Under Dylan Kular’s leadership in 2025, the Vancouver Bandits combined on-court excellence with strong business and community performance. The team finished the regular season with the league’s best record (19-5), led all CEBL franchises in ticketing and group sales growth, and achieved the highest year-over-year gains in digital engagement and social media followership.


The Bandits also earned top individual basketball honours this summer at the
2025 CEBL Awards, including Coach of the Year (Kyle Julius), MVP (Mitch Creek) and Canadian Player of the Year / Clutch Player of the Year (Tyrese Samuel).


Off the court, Kular oversaw the successful launch of the Bandits Community Foundation, leading to the aforementioned back-to-back Community Champion Awards, and helped secure the addition of renowned basketball content creator and viral sensation
Tristan Jass to the CEBL, in collaboration with the league and Electrolit Canada.


Other notable off-court highlights include:

  • Fifth Business Award in two seasons for the franchise
  • Expansion of fan and group engagement initiatives across British Columbia


Kular’s leadership continues to set the standard for excellence in the CEBL, blending competitive success with business growth, community engagement, and innovation.



The 2025 CEBL Business Awards consist of four awards, given in recognition of accomplishments at both the team and executive levels (
Award – Announcement Date – Winner):


Digital Excellence Award
– Monday, October 27 – Calgary Surge

Community Champion – Tuesday, October 28 – Vancouver Bandits

Executive of the Year – Wednesday, October 29 – Dylan Kular, President, Vancouver Bandits

Franchise of the Year – Thursday, October 30 – TBA


Award winners were voted on by various groups comprised of league and team executives, including, but not limited to, members of the CEBL’s Leadership Team and all 10 team presidents.

LATEST NEWS

By Bandits Staff September 10, 2026
The Vancouver Bandits, BC’s professional basketball team, hosted a youth basketball camp on Wednesday, September 9 in Williams Lake, in partnership with the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I∙SPARC) and FortisBC. The Bandits welcomed over 40 local athletes and their families to the camp, with the main goal of building confidence, inspiring young athletes, and bringing youth sports development and mentorship to athletes across the province. Held at Lake City Secondary, the camp marked the first community visit by BC’s professional basketball team to the Cariboo region, bringing more basketball to more people across our province. “Community is a core pillar of the Bandits organization, and we are proud to host camps and opportunities that help shape and inspire the next generation of players and leaders,” said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. “Thank you to our partners at I∙SPARC and FortisBC for their support in bringing this camp to fruition, and to the Williams Lake basketball community for welcoming our team this week.” "We're proud to support opportunities that help young people build confidence, strengthen their skills and create lasting connections," said Janet Devaney, senior manager, community & Indigenous initiatives at FortisBC. "Through initiatives like this basketball camp, Indigenous youth can connect with peers and mentors, develop new skills and experience the positive impact that sport can have on confidence, leadership and a sense of belonging.” The free-of-charge camp was part of the Indigenous Basketball Collective, representing the ongoing collaboration between I∙SPARC and the Vancouver Bandits. Established in 2023, ongoing and past projects through the Collective include camps and clinics for Indigenous youth and coaches, building new basketball courts in Indigenous communities, and hosting the 2026 Junior All Native Basketball Tournament.
By Bandits Staff September 4, 2026
Vancouver Bandits guard Jarkel Joiner has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Charlotte Hornets. The news was announced by the Hornets on social media . During his time with the Bandits in the 2026 season, Joiner made 21 appearances, including 13 starts, and finished with 16.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.0 steals per games. Introduced in the NBA’s 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement, Exhibit 10 contracts are one-year deals. They can include a potential bonus if the player spends time with the team’s G League affiliate.
By Bandits Staff September 3, 2026
Former Vancouver Bandits guard Kyle Mangas has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Charlotte Hornets. The news was announced by the Hornets on social media. Mangas is expected to practice and compete with the Hornets during the 2026-27 Training Camp and preseason from October 3rd to 12th. During his time with the Bandits in the 2025 season, Mangas finished top five on the team in points (15.3), rebounds (4.6), assists (3.3) and steals (1.3). Introduced in the NBA’s 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement, Exhibit 10 contracts are one-year deals. They can include a potential bonus if the player spends time with the team’s G League affiliate.
By Bandits Staff September 1, 2026
The Vancouver Bandits have partnered with the Vancouver Park Board, Bandits Community Foundation and Little Legends Foundation to unveil a newly renovated outdoor basketball court at Grays Park in South Vancouver. Part of the Bandits Community Foundation’s Court Projects initiative, the team officially unveiled the refurbished court on Saturday (August 30). The grand opening included a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by a free youth basketball clinic led by local coaches. Attendees also enjoyed a complimentary BBQ lunch, free haircuts and massages, and free backpacks and school supplies distributed for local youth. “The Bandits Community Foundation’s Court Projects initiative was designed to build and enhance public outdoor courts,” said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. “The love for the game grows in spaces like Grays Park. This project would not have been possible without the support of our community partners. We will continue to enhance outdoor public courts, make them more inviting, and create stronger communities through basketball.” “Over the past few years, we have been trying to build one of the nicest courts here in South Vancouver for the community,” said community leader Spensir Sangara. “We recognized that Grays Park was one of the few neighbourhood parks without a quality basketball court for the community. Thank you to our businesses and donors who came together to make our vision a reality. This court is filled with a rich basketball culture and this is a legendary day for our community.” “When the Vancouver Bandits approached the Vancouver Park Board with the idea to upgrade this park, it seemed like the right fit and partner to help renew an important asset in a community where basketball plays such an important role,” said Vancouver Park Board Director of Business Services John Brodie. “Thank you to the Bandits and our partners for their generous contributions, and for being examples of what having a strong, community-oriented mission looks like.” The court refurbishment at Grays Park, located at 4850 St. Catherines Street in Vancouver, includes upgrades to the basketball hoops, playing area resurfacing and seating areas. Grays Park was identified as one of Vancouver’s most active outdoor basketball spaces, and community feedback strongly supported the refurbishment. Established in October 2023, the goal of Court Projects is to enhance outdoor basketball courts across British Columbia, creating productive and safe spaces for individuals to play while enriching local basketball at the community level. To date, this partnered team effort has featured the construction and installation of six brand new outdoor basketball courts and upgrading hundreds of basketball rims in communities across BC.​​

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