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Greek Basketball League

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Greek Basket League (GBL)
File:GBL Official Logo.png
Founded1927; 97 years ago (1927)
First season1927–28
CountryGreece
FederationHEBA
ConfederationFIBA Europe
Number of teams12
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toA2 Basket League
Domestic cup(s)Greek Cup
Greek Super Cup
International cup(s)EuroLeague
EuroCup
FIBA Champions League
FIBA Europe Cup
Current championsOlympiacos
(14th title)
Most championshipsPanathinaikos
(39 titles)
All-time top scorerGreece Vassilis Spanoulis
CommissionerGreece Vangelis Galatsopoulos
TV partnersERT
Websiteesake.gr (Greek)
esake (English)
Current season

The Greek Basket League (GBL), often also referred to as the Greek A1 Basketball League, or Greek Basketball Championship (originally called Panhellenic Basketball Championship), is the first tier level professional basketball league in Greece. It is run by HEBA (Template:Lang-el), under the legal authority of the Hellenic Basketball Federation (E.O.K.).

It is the highest-tier level of the Greek league system. The GBL plays under FIBA rules and currently consists of 13 teams, with the lowest-placed team relegated to the A2 Basket League and replaced by the winner of the play-offs of that tier. It runs from October to June, with teams playing 22 games each during the regular season, and the top 8 teams then competing in the playoffs.[1] The first official Greek Basketball Championship was held in the 1927–28 season. The league held a competition in which the teams of the league played under a format with a nationwide schedule, for the first time, in the 1963–64 season. The league first held a playoff round in the 1986–87 season. The league first allowed foreign (non-Greek) players, in the 1988–89 season. The league became a fully professional competition in the 1992–93 season.

The league has always been ranked as one of the top 3-5 level national domestic leagues in European basketball, since league rankings began. For further information, see historical European national basketball league rankings, and European national basketball league rankings.

History

Nikos Galis, 8× Greek League Champion, 5× Greek League MVP, and 5× Greek League Finals MVP.
Dimitris Diamantidis, 9× Greek League Champion, 6× Greek League MVP, and 6× Greek League Finals MVP.
Vassilis Spanoulis, 7× Greek League Champion, 3× Greek League MVP, and 3× Greek League Finals MVP.

Basketball first came to Greece in the year 1924.[2] The first Greek basketball championship took place in the 1927–28 season, the first fully organized Greek basketball championship began. The league was originally organized by the Hellenic Amateur Athletic Association (SEGAS). There have been four different official championship eras. The first era was the Panhellenic Championship (Πανελλήνιο Πρωτάθλημα), which lasted from the 1927–28 to 1962–63 seasons, when the champions of every regional district played each other to decide the Greek Champion. The second era started in the 1963–64 season, when the A National Category (Α' Εθνική Κατηγορία), or Alpha National Category was founded.[3]

In 1969, the Hellenic Basketball Federation (E.O.K.) took over the duties of overseeing the competition, and did so until the year 1992. The third era of the championship existed between the 1986–87 and 1991–92 seasons, when the first division A1 National Category (Α1 Εθνική Κατηγορία), with a regular season and playoffs, and the second division A2 National Category (Α2 Εθνική Κατηγορία) were formed. The 1988–89 season, marked the first time that Greek Basket League teams were allowed to have foreign players on their rosters.[4]

The fourth era of the championship began in the 1992–93 season, when the Hellenic Basketball Clubs Association (HEBA) took over the competition and renamed the first division the HEBA A1 (ΕΣΑΚΕ Α1). The league was then renamed to Greek Basket League (Ελληνική Μπάσκετ Λιγκ), starting with the 2010–11 season.

The Greek League has been one of the most competitive basketball leagues in Europe through the years, and it was widely regarded as the second best national domestic league in the world, after only the NBA, in the 1990s decade. It currently ranks among the best national domestic leagues in the world (excluding the NBA), such as Liga ACB in Spain, VTB United League (counts as the domestic league for Russian clubs), and BSL in Turkey. It has always been considered one of the top 3-5 European national domestic leagues under the historical European national basketball league rankings and European national basketball league rankings.

The league has several European historical basketball powers, which also belong to some of the most traditional European basketball clubs, especially Panathinaikos, Olympiacos and AEK (which had great success in the 1960s), which are three of the most successful European basketball clubs of all-time.

Also, Aris, led by Nikos Galis, Panagiotis Giannakis, and Slobodan "Lefteris" Subotić, was the dominant Greek club, and one of the most powerful European teams in the 1980s. Other clubs that have had significant success throughout the history of Greek basketball, as well as success in European basketball, are PAOK and Panellinios.

The first five aforementioned clubs (Panathinaikos, Olympiacos, AEK, Aris and PAOK), are also the most widely supported by fans in Greece.

Despite the championship having been contested 80 times, only nine different clubs have won it so far. The dominating club has usually been Panathinaikos, having claimed the championship 39 times. Since the foundation of the Alpha National Category in the 1963–64 season, only two teams have participated in every season of the competition, Panathinaikos and Aris.

Brand

Name

  • 1927–28 to 1962–63:  Panhellenic Championship
  • 1963–64 to 1985–86:  Alpha (A) National Category
  • 1986–87 to 1991–92:  Alpha1 (A1) National Category
  • 1992–93 to 2011–12:  HEBA Alpha1 (A1)
  • 2012–13 to present:  Greek Basket League

Sponsors

The main elements of the logo were changed in 2013.[5]

Regulations

The championship, in its current form, has been organized since the 1992–93 season by the Hellenic Basketball Clubs Association (HEBA), under the authority of the Hellenic Basketball Federation. The fully professional Greek basketball clubs compete in the first division championship, which is often colloquially called the "A1", in which 12 teams compete for the Greek National Championship. There is also a professional level second division championship that is run entirely by the Hellenic Basketball Federation, which is called the "A2", in which 16 teams compete for the second division crown. The bottom one place finishing team each year in the A1 division standings is relegated to the A2 division, due to poor performance. While conversely, the top one teams each year from the A2 division is promoted to the A1 division, due to good performance.

Club and arena standards

In order to compete in the Greek Basket League, clubs must invest a minimum of €1 million on club operations per season. The minimum club budget per season is €800,000 euros, and each club must also invest €200,000 euros into a league-wide fund that insures players get their full salaries. Most of the league's clubs invest more than the minimum requirements in each season.

Currently, Greek Basket League clubs must play their home games in arenas with a seating capacity of at least 2,000 people, in order to play Greek domestic league games. Several Greek clubs have two arenas that they primarily use. One for domestic Greek League games, and one for European-wide games.

Greek clubs that play in European-wide competitions, such as the EuroLeague, the EuroCup, or the FIBA Champions League, must play their home games in those leagues in arenas that fit the arena standards of those leagues. Which are currently, a 5,000 seat minimum for the EuroLeague, and a 3,000 seat minimum for the EuroCup and FIBA Champions League. Although the FIBA Champions League's minimum seat rule can be waived with the league's approval.

Foreign players

Greek Basket League teams were first allowed to have foreign (non-Greek) players on their rosters in the 1988–89 season.[6]

Under the league's current foreign player rules, Greek Basket League teams must have at least 6 Greek players on their active 12 man game rosters. Each team is allowed to have up to 6 foreign (non-Greek) players, on their active 12 man game roster. There are no restrictions on the number of foreign players allowed by country of origin. Meaning that for example, any team in the league could sign up to 6 American players, or up to 6 Canadian players, or up to 6 players from European countries, etc.[7] Starting from the 2022–23 season, each team can have 7 foreign players to its et league roster. However, every team is obliged to select 6 of them right before the match is started. This rottion of foreignh players cannnot take place in the playoffs. However, it was decided that as of 2023–24 season the aforementioned rotation will be possible not only in the regular season but also in the playoffs.

Current clubs

The clubs for the 2023–24 season:

Team City Arena Capacity Appearances in GBL
Α.E.K. Athens Ano Liosia Olympic Hall 8,327
57
Apollon Patras Patras (Perivola) Apollon Patras Indoor Hall 3,500
34
Aris Thessaloniki Alexandreio Melathron Hall 5,138
60
ASK Karditsa Karditsa Giannis Bourousis Indoor Hall 3,007
1
Kolossos Rodou Rhodes (Faliraki) Kallithea Palais des Sports 1,400 [8]
17
Lavrio Lavrio Lavrio Indoor Hall 1,700
8
Olympiacos Piraeus Peace and Friendship Stadium 14,776 [9]
55
Panathinaikos Athens (Marousi) O.A.C.A. Hall 18,989 [10]
60
P.A.O.K. Thessaloniki (Pylaia) P.A.O.K. Sports Arena 8,162 [11]
59
Peristeri Athens (Peristeri) Peristeri Hall 4,000
24
Promitheas Patras (Proastio) Dimitris Tofalos Arena 5,500
7
Maroussi Athens (Marousi) Maroussi Saint Thomas Indoor Hall 1,700
14

Statistics

Title holders

[12]

Performance by club

Titles Champions Years
39 Panathinaikos 1945–46, 1946–47, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1953–54, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1966–67, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1976–77, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019-20, 2020–21
14 Olympiacos 1948–49, 1959–60, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2021–22, 2022–23
10 Aris 1929–30, 1978–79, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91
8 AEK 1957–58, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1969–70, 2001–02
6 Panellinios 1928–29, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1952–53, 1954–55, 1956–57
2 Iraklis 1927–28, 1934–35
PAOK 1958–59, 1991–92
1 Near East 1935–36
Athens University 1936–37

A1 Finals

Season Home court advantage Result Home court disadvantage 1st of Regular season Regular season Record
1986–87 Aris 3–0 Panionios Aris 18–0
1987–88 Aris 3–0 PAOK Aris 18–0
1988–89 Aris 3–1 PAOK Aris 17–1
1989–90 PAOK r.r. Aris PAOK 20–2
1990–91 Aris 4–2 PAOK Aris 20–2
1991–92 PAOK 4–1 Olympiacos PAOK 20–2
1992–93 Panathinaikos 1–3 Olympiacos PAOK 22–4
1993–94 Olympiacos 3–2 PAOK Bravo Olympiacos 22–4
1994–95 Olympiacos 3–2 Panathinaikos Olympiacos 24–2
1995–96 Olympiacos 3–2 Panathinaikos Olympiacos 24–2
1996–97 Olympiacos 3–1 AEK Olympiacos 21–5
1997–98 Panathinaikos 3–2 PAOK Panathinaikos 21–5
1998–99 Olympiacos 2–3 Panathinaikos Olympiacos 21–5
1999–00 Panathinaikos 3–0 PAOK Olympiacos 21–5
2000–01 Panathinaikos 3–2 Olympiacos Panathinaikos 22–4
2001–02 AEK 3–2 Olympiacos AEK 23–3
2002–03 Panathinaikos 3–1 AEK Panathinaikos 21–5
2003–04 Panathinaikos 3–0 Maroussi TIM Panathinaikos 22–4
2004–05 Panathinaikos 3–1 AEK Panathinaikos 22–4
2005–06 Panathinaikos 3–0 Olympiacos Panathinaikos 24–2
2006–07 Panathinaikos 3–2 Olympiacos Panathinaikos 24–2
2007–08 Panathinaikos 3–2 Olympiacos Panathinaikos 23–3
2008–09 Olympiacos 1–3 Panathinaikos Olympiacos 25–1
2009–10 Panathinaikos 3–1 Olympiacos Panathinaikos 25–1
2010–11 Olympiacos 1–3 Panathinaikos Olympiacos 26–0
2011–12 Olympiacos 3–2 Panathinaikos Olympiacos 23–1
2012–13 Olympiacos 0–3 Panathinaikos Olympiacos 25–1
2013–14 Panathinaikos 3–2 Olympiacos Panathinaikos 25–1
2014–15 Olympiacos 3–0 Panathinaikos Olympiacos 25–1
2015–16 Olympiacos 3–1 Panathinaikos Olympiacos 25–1
2016–17 Olympiacos 2–3 Panathinaikos Olympiacos 25–1
2017–18 Panathinaikos 3–2 Olympiacos Panathinaikos 26–0
2018–19 Panathinaikos 3–0 Promitheas Patras AEK 18–8
2019–20 Panathinaikos declared champion through regular season standings due to COVID-19 pandemic Panathinaikos 18–2
2020–21 Panathinaikos 3–1 Lavrio Panathinaikos 20–2
2021–22 Olympiacos 3–0 Panathinaikos Olympiacos 23–1
2022–23 Olympiacos 3–1 Panathinaikos Olympiacos 22–0

Basket League/A1 finals participation by club (until 2022)

Club W L Total
Panathinaikos 19 8 27
Olympiacos 10 14 24
Aris 4 0 4
PAOK 1 6 7
AEK 1 3 4
Panionios 0 1 1
Maroussi 0 1 1
Promitheas Patras 0 1 1
Lavrio 0 1 1

Number of seasons in the Panhellenic Championship (1928–1963)

The number of times that clubs participated in the league's original format, the Panhellenic Championship.

Club Times
Panellinios Athens 17
Panathinaikos 13
Olympiacos Piraeus 13
Sporting Athens 12
HAN Thessaloniki 10
Iraklis Thessaloniki 10
Aris Thessaloniki 9
AEK Athens 9
PAOK Thessaloniki 7
Club Times
Triton Athens 7
Near East Atens 5
Panionios Athens 4
Skagiopouleio Patras 4
Ethnikos Athens 3
Athens University 3
Neoi Vironas 2
EA Patras 2
VAO Thessaloniki 2
Club Times
Peiraikos Syndesmos 2
Anatolia College 2
AO Palaio Faliro 2
AE Chalkida 2
Triton Chalkida 2
Olympiacos Addis Ababa 1
Keravnos Cairo 1
Diagoras Rhodes 1
AE Emporoypallilon 1
Club Times
HAN Nikaia / HAN Kokkinia 1
Apollon Athens 1
HAN Athens 1
AO Neochori Rodos 1
PO Patras 1
Triton Maroussi 1

Number of seasons in the A and A1 National Categories by club (1963–64 – 2021–22)

The number of times that clubs participated in the top A National Category, while it existed from the 1963–64 season to the 1985–86 season. As well as the number of times that clubs have participated in the top A1 National Category, since it began with the 1986–87 season. Only two clubs, Panathinaikos and Aris, have played in the top division every year since its formation.

  • 1963–64 to 1985–86: Alpha (A) National Category
  • 1986–87 to 1991–92: Alpha1 (A1) National Category
  • 1992–93 to 2009–10: HEBA Alpha1 (A1)
  • 2010–11 to present: Greek Basket League
Club Times
Aris Thessaloniki 59
Panathinaikos 59
PAOK Thessaloniki 58
AEK Athens 56
Olympiacos Piraeus 54
Panionios Athens 47
Iraklis Thessaloniki 44
Apollon Patras 33
Sporting Athens 31
Panellinios Athens 30
GS Maroussi 24
GS Peristeri 23
AO Pagrati 17
Kolossos Rhodes 16
Ionikos Nikaia 15
GS Larissa 12
HAN Thessaloniki 12
AGO Rethymno 10
Ilysiakos Athens 9
Dimokritos Thessaloniki 9
AO Dafni 8
OAA Irakleio 8
Near East Athens 7
Club Times
AS Papagou 7
Olympia Larissa 7
GS Lavrio 7
Makedonikos Thessaloniki 6
Esperos Kallithea 6
EK Kavala 6
Promitheas Patras 6
AO Trikala 5
KAOD Thessaloniki 5
VAO Thessaloniki 5
Koroivos Amaliada 4
Ionikos Nea Filadelfia 4
Triton Athens 4
Amyntas Athens 4
Ikaros Kallithea 4
GS Kymi 3
AE Larissa 3
AE Nea Kifissia 3
Panelefsiniakos 3
AO Egaleo 3
Apollon Kalamaria 3
Aetos Thessaloniki 3
KAE Larissa 3
Club Times
Trikala 2000 2
Olympias Patras 2
Anatolia College 2
HAN Nikaia / HAN Kokkinia 2
Niki Volos 2
Ifaistos Limnou 2
Philippos Thessaloniki 2
Milon 2
Ampelokipoi Athens 2
Peiraikos Syndesmos 2
AE Holargos 1
Doxa Lefkada 1
Arkadikos Tripoli 1
Thyella Serres 1
MENT Thessaloniki 1
Charilaos Trikoupis 1
Pierikos Katerini 1
GS Faros Larissa 1

Number of seasons in the top-tier level Greek Basket League in total (1928 to 2021–22)

The total number of times that each club has played in the top-tier level Greek Basket League, through all of its different league formats.

  • 1927–28 to 1962–63: Panhellenic Championship
  • 1963–64 to 1985–86: Alpha (A) National Category
  • 1986–87 to 1991–92: Alpha1 (A1) National Category
  • 1992–93 to 2009–10: HEBA Alpha1 (A1)
  • 2010–11 to present: Greek Basket League
Club Times
Panathinaikos 72
Aris Thessaloniki 68
Olympiacos Piraeus 67
AEK Athens 65
PAOK Thessaloniki 65
Iraklis Thessaloniki 54
Panionios Athens 51
Panellinios Athens 47
Sporting Athens 43
Apollon Patras 33
GS Maroussi 24
GS Peristeri 23
HAN Thessaloniki 22
AO Pagrati 17
Kolossos Rhodes 16
Ionikos Nikaia 15
GS Larissa 12
Near East Athens 12
Triton Athens 11
AGO Rethymno 10
Dimokritos Thessaloniki 9
Club Times
AO Dafni 8
OAA Irakleio 8
Ilysiakos Athens 8
VAO Thessaloniki 7
AS Papagou 7
Olympia Larissa 7
GS Lavrio 7
Esperos Kallithea 6
Makedonikos Thessaloniki 6
EK Kavala 6
Promitheas Patras 6
AO Trikala 5
KAOD Thessaloniki 5
Koroivos Amaliada 4
Peiraikos Syndesmos 4
Skagiopouleio Patras 4
Anatolia College 4
Amyntas Athens 4
Ionikos Nea Filadelfia 4
Ikaros Kallithea 4
Kymi 3
Club Times
AO Egaleo 3
Apollon Kalamaria 3
Aetos Thessaloniki 3
Ethnikos Athens 3
Athens University 3
HAN Nikaias / HAN Kokkinias 3
Panelefsiniakos 3
AE Nea Kifissia 3
AE Larissa 3
KAE Larissa 3
Trikala 2000 2
Olympias Patras 2
Ifaistos Limnou 2
Neoi Vironas 2
EA Patras 2
AO Palaio Faliro 2
AE Chalkida 2
Triton Chalkida 2
Ampelokipoi Athens 2
Niki Volos 2
Philippos Thessaloniki 2
Club Times
Milon 2
Doxa Lefkada 1
AE Holargos 1
Αrkadikos Tripoli 1
Keravnos Cairo 1
Diagoras Rhodes 1
Olympiacos Addis Ababa 1
Triton Maroussi 1
AE Emporoypallilon 1
Thyella Serres 1
Pierikos Katerini 1
MENT Thessaloniki 1
Apollon Athens 1
Charilaos Trikoupis 1
HAN Athens 1
AO eochori Rhodes 1
PO Patras 1

Best regular season records in the history of the A and A1 National Categories (1963–2015)

[14][15]

  • 1963–64 to 1985–86: Alpha (A) National Category
  • 1986–87 to 1991–92: Alpha1 (A1) National Category
  • 1992–93 to 2009–10: HEBA Alpha1 (A1)
  • 2010–11 to present: Greek Basket League

A and A1 National Category (1963–2018)

Season Team Regular season
Record
Playoff record Final Record
(Including playoffs)
Final Season
Result
1985–86 Aris 26-0 26-0 Champion
1967–68 AEK 22-0 22-0 Champion
1975–76 Olympiacos 22-0 22-0 Champion
1986–87 Aris 18-0 3-0 21-0 Champion
1987–88 Aris 18-0 3-0 21-0 Champion
2017–18 Panathinaikos 26-0 8-2 34-2 Champion
1979–80 Panathinaikos 16-0 12-2 28-2 Champion
2010–11 Olympiacos 26-0 6–3 32–3 Finalist

The best overall season records of the HEBA A1 (1992–2015)

Season Club Regular season
Record
Playoff record Final Record Final Season
Result
2017–18 Panathinaikos 26–0 8–2 34–2 Champion
2009–10 Panathinaikos 25–1 8–1 33–2 Champion
2014–15 Olympiacos 25–1 8–1 33–2 Champion
2015–16 Olympiacos 25–1 8–1 33–2 Champion
2013–14 Panathinaikos 25–1 8–2 33–3 Champion
2005–06 Panathinaikos 24–2 8–0 32–2 Champion
2010–11 Panathinaikos 24–2 8–1 32–3 Champion
2010–11 Olympiacos 26–0 6–3 32–3 Finalist
2006–07 Panathinaikos 24–2 8–2 32–4 Champion
2011–12 Olympiacos 23–1 8–2 31–3 Champion
2008–09 Olympiacos 25–1 6–3 31–4 Finalist
2016–17 Panathinaikos 25–1 6–3 31–4 Champion
2021–22 Olympiacos 23–1 8–0 31–1 Champion

Greek basketball clubs in European and worldwide competitions

Awards and players

All-time stats leaders

  • Of the HEBA fully professional era Greek Basket League, 1992–93 to present. The officially recognized league stats leaders.
  • Through the 2022–23 season.
  • Currently active players in the league in bold.

See also

References

  1. ^ Με 8 τα playoffs, μπόνους στους 2 πρώτους (in Greek).
  2. ^ "Ο πρώτος αγώνας μπάσκετ στην Ελλάδα έγινε με δύο αναποδογυρισμένες καρέκλες και μία μπάλα ποδοσφαίρου. Το πρώτο πανελλήνιο πρωτάθλημα είχε 4 ομάδες". 30 May 2019.
  3. ^ "Ιστορία του Μπάσκετ". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
  4. ^ Και οι (πρώτοι) ξένοι ήταν εννιά (in Greek).
  5. ^ (in Greek) Νέο λογότυπο για το πρωτάθλημα! sentragoal.gr
  6. ^ Και οι (πρώτοι) ξένοι ήταν εννιά (in Greek).
  7. ^ Πέρασε η πρόταση του Παναθηναϊκού για τους ξένους (in Greek).
  8. ^ ΑΦΙΕΡΩΜΑ ΣΤΟΝ ΚΟΛΟΣΣΟ H HOTELS: Νέο ξεκίνημα στη Ρόδο.
  9. ^ "The Peace and Friendship Stadium". Olympiacos B.C. Archived from the original on 2016-08-02. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  10. ^ "Indoor Basketball Arena". Επίσημος ιστότοπος του ΟΑΚΑ. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  11. ^ "Arena". P.A.O.K. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  12. ^ ESAKE Official website Greek League Champions
  13. ^ George Georgakopoulos. "Panathinaikos crowned champion, Aris and PAOK stay up". ekathimerini.com. Online. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  14. ^ ESAKE.gr Basket League ΟΠΑΠ: Το ρεκόρ του Ολυμπιακού. (in Greek)
  15. ^ ESAKE.gr Τα... χτένια του Ολυμπιακού!. (in Greek)
  16. ^ Σπανούλης Βασίλης (in English).
  17. ^ Σπανούλης Βασίλης (in English).
  18. ^ Σπανούλης Βασίλης (in English).