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Greek Basket League
File:Greek Basket League logo.png
Founded1927; 97 years ago (1927)
First season1927–28
Country Greece
FederationHEBA
ConfederationFIBA Europe
Number of teams14
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toA2 Basket League
Domestic cup(s)Greek Cup
International cup(s)EuroLeague
FIBA Champions League
FIBA Europe Cup
Current championsPanathinaikos Superfoods
(36th title)
Most championshipsPanathinaikos
(36 titles)
CommissionerVangelis Galatsopoulos
TV partnersERT
Cosmote Sport
Websiteesake.gr (Greek)
esake (English)
2018–19 Greek Basket League

The Greek Basket League (GBL), often referred to as the Greek Basketball League, Greek A1 Basketball League, or Greek Basketball Championship (originally called Panhellenic Basketball Championship), is the first tier professional basketball league in Greece. It is run by HEBA (Greek: ΕΣΑΚΕ), under the legal authority of the Hellenic Basketball Federation (E.O.K.). The league is also known as the Betshop.gr Basket League for sponsorship reasons.[1]

It consists of 14 teams and runs from October to June, with teams playing 26 games each during the regular season, and the top 8 teams then competing in the playoffs.[2] The first official Greek Basketball Championship was held in the 1927–28 season. The league first held a playoff round in the 1986–87 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

File:Νίκος Γκάλης.jpg
Nikos Galis is one of the all-time legends to have played in the GBL
Dimitris Diamantidis, 9× Greek League Champion, 6× Greek League MVP, and 6× Greek League Finals MVP.

Basketball first came to Greece in the year 1910. By the 1927–28 season, the first official 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.

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.[3]

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 Thessaloniki, 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 78 times, only nine different clubs have won it so far. The dominating club has usually been Panathinaikos, having claimed the championship 36 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

Vassilis Spanoulis, 7× Greek League Champion, 3× Greek League MVP, and 3× Greek League Finals MVP.

The main elements of the logo were changed in 2013.[4]

Regulations

The championship, in its current form, has been organized since the 1992–93 season by the Hellenic Basketball Clubs Association (HEBA). 30 pro Greek basketball teams are split into two different divisions. The first division championship, which is called the "A1", in which 14 teams compete for the Greek National Championship, and the second division championship, which is called the "A2", in which 16 teams compete for the second division crown. The bottom two place finishing teams each year in the A1 division standings are relegated to the A2 division, due to poor performance. While conversely, the top two teams each year from the A2 division are promoted to the A1 division, due to good performance.

Arena standards

Currently, Greek clubs must play their home games in arenas that seat at least 1,000 people in order to play Greek domestic league matches. Several Greek clubs have two arenas that they primarily use. One for domestic Greek League matches, and one for European-wide matches.

Greek clubs that play in the EuroLeague or the EuroCup, must play their home games in those leagues in arenas that fit the arena standards of those leagues. Currently, a 5,000 seat arena minimum for the EuroLeague, and a 3,000 seat arena minimum for the EuroCup.

Foreign players

Greek Basket League teams were first allowed to have foreign (non-Greek) players on their rosters in the 1988–89 season.[5]

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.[6]

Current clubs

The clubs for the 2018–19 season:

Club Position
2017–18
Greek League Arena Capacity EuroLeague/EuroCup Arena* Capacity
AEK
5th
Nikos Galis Olympic Indoor Hall, Marousi
19,250
Nikos Galis Olympic Indoor Hall, Marousi
19,250
Aris
9th
Alexandrio Melathron, Thessaloniki
5,138[7]
Alexandrio Melathron, Thessaloniki
5,138
Holargos
2nd (A2)
Antonis Tritsis Indoor Hal, Cholargos
1,665
Ifaistos Limnou
11th
Nikos Samaras Indoor Hall, Myrina
1,260
Kolossos
8th
Venetoklio Indoor Hall, Rhodes City
1,700
Kymi
7th
Tasos Kabouris Kanithou Indoor Hall (Chalcis)
1,620
Lavrio
6th
Lavrio Indoor Hall, Lavrio
1,700
Olympiacos
2nd
Peace and Friendship Stadium, Piraeus
12,000[8]
Peace and Friendship Stadium, Piraeus
12,000
Panathinaikos
1st
Nikos Galis Olympic Indoor Hall, Marousi
19,250
Nikos Galis Olympic Indoor Hall, Marousi
19,250
Panionios
12th
Nea Smyrni Indoor Hall, Nea Smyrni
2,000
PAOK
3rd
PAOK Sports Arena, Pylaia
8,500[9]
PAOK Sports Arena, Pylaia
8,500
Peristeri
1st (A2)
Peristeri Indoor Hall, Peristeri
4,000
Peristeri Indoor Hall, Peristeri
4,000
Promitheas Patras
4th
Dimitris Tofalos Arena, Patras
4,150
Dimitris Tofalos Arena, Patras
4,150
Rethymno Cretan Kings
10th
Rethymno Indoor Hall, Rethymno
1,600

Statistics

Title holders

Performance by club

Titles Club Years
36 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, 1999–00, 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
12 File:600px Quadrado Branco com uma figura olimpica grega.PNG 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
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 Thessaloniki 1927–28, 1934–35
PAOK 1958–59, 1991–92
1 Near East 1935–36
File:600px Bianco e Blu Bordato Doukas.png 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
Aris
r.r.
PAOK 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 Superfoods Olympiacos
25–1
2017–18
Panathinaikos Superfoods
3–2
Olympiacos Panathinaikos
26–0

A1 finals participation by club

Club W L Total
Panathinaikos
17
6
23
File:600px Quadrado Branco com uma figura olimpica grega.PNG Olympiacos
8
14
22
Aris
4
0
4
PAOK
1
6
7
AEK
1
3
4
Panionios
0
1
1
Maroussi
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 17
Panathinaikos 13
Olympiacos 13
Sporting 12
XAN Thessaloniki 10
Iraklis Thessaloniki 10
Aris 9
AEK 9
PAOK 7
Club Times
Triton Thessaloniki 7
Near East 5
Panionios 4
Skagiopouleio Patras 4
Ethnikos Athens 3
Athens University 3
Neoi Vironos 2
EA Patras 2
VAO 2
Club Times
Peiraikos Syndesmos 2
Anatolia Thessaloniki 2
Palaio Faliro 2
AE Chalkida 2
Triton Chalkida 2
Olympiacos Addis Ababa 1
Keravnos Kairou 1
Diagoras Rodou 1
AE Emporoupallilon 1
Club Times
XAN Nikaias / ΧΑΝ Kokkinias 1
Apollon Smyrni 1
XAN Athens 1
Neochoriou Rodou 1
PO Patras 1
Triton Maroussi 1

Number of seasons in the A and A1 National Categories by club (1963–64–2018–19)

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
Panathinaikos
56
Aris
56
PAOK
55
Olympiacos
53
AEK
53
Panionios
46
Iraklis Thessaloniki
41
Apollon Patras
32
Sporting
31
Panellinios
30
Maroussi
24
Peristeri
23
Pagrati
17
Gymnastikos / Ifaistos
14
Kolossos Rodou
13
XAN Thessaloniki
12
Ionikos Nikaias
12
Rethymno
9
Dimokritos Thessaloniki
9
Dafnis
8
Irakleio
8
Ilysiakos
8
Near East
7
Club Times
Papagou
7
Olympia Larissa
7
Makedonikos
6
Esperos Kallitheas
6
Kavala
6
Trikala Aries
5
KAOD
5
VAO
5
Lavrio
4
Koroivos
4
Ionikos NF
4
Triton Thessaloniki
4
Amyntas
4
Ikaros Kallitheas
4
Promitheas Patras
3
Kymis
3
AEL
3
Nea Kifissia
3
Panelefsiniakos
3
Egaleo
3
Apollon Kalamarias
3
Aetos Thessaloniki
3
Trikala 2000
2
Club Times
Olympias Patras
2
Anatolia Thessaloniki
2
XAN Nikaias / ΧΑΝ Kokkinias
2
Niki Volou
2
Philippos Thessaloniki
2
Milon
2
Ampelokipoi
2
Peiraikos Syndesmos
2
Holargos
1
Doxa Lefkadas
1
Arkadikos
1
Thyella Serron
1
MENT
1
Pierikos
1

Number of seasons in the top-tier level Greek Basket League in total (1928 to 2018–19)

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 69
Olympiacos 66
Aris 65
AEK 62
PAOK 62
Iraklis Thessaloniki 51
Panionios 50
Panellinios 47
Sporting 43
Apollon Patras 32
Maroussi 24
Peristeri 23
XAN Thessaloniki 22
Pagrati 17
Gymnastikos / Ifaistos 14
Kolossos Rodou 13
Near East 12
Ionikos Nikaias 12
Triton Thessaloniki 11
Rethymno 9
Dimokritos Thessaloniki 9
Club Times
Dafnis 8
Irakleio 8
Ilysiakos 8
VAO 7
Papagou 7
Olympia Larissa 7
Esperos Kallitheas 6
Makedonikos 6
Kavala 6
Trikala Aries 5
KAOD 5
Lavrio 4
Koroivos 4
Peiraikos Syndesmos 4
Skagiopouleio Patras 4
Anatolia Thessaloniki 4
Amyntas 4
Ionikos NF 4
Ikaros Kallitheas 4
Promitheas Patras 3
Kymis 3
Club Times
Egaleo 3
Apollon Kalamarias 3
Aetos Thessaloniki 3
Ethnikos Athens 3
Athens University 3
XAN Nikaias / ΧΑΝ Kokkinias 3
Panelefsiniakos 3
Nea Kifissia 3
AEL 3
Trikala 2000 2
Olympias Patras 2
Neoi Vironos 2
EA Patras 2
Palaio Faliro 2
AE Chalkida 2
Triton Chalkida 2
Ampelokipoi 2
Niki Volou 2
Philippos Thessaloniki 2
Milon 2
Holargos 1
Club Times
Doxa Lefkadas 1
Αrkadikos 1
Keravnos Kairou 1
Diagoras Rodou 1
Olympiacos Addis Ababa 1
Triton Maroussi 1
AE Emporoupallilon 1
Thyella Serron 1
Pierikos 1
ΜΕΝΤ 1
Apollon Smyrni 1
XAN Athens 1
Neochoriou Rodou 1
PO Patras 1

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

[10][11]

  • 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 Superfoods
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 Superfoods
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 Superfoods
25–1
6–3
31–4
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 June 17 of the 2017–18 season.
  • *Currently active players in the league.

Major Sponsors and supporters over the years

See also

References