Lebanese Basketball League

The Lebanese Basketball League is recognized as the top-tier professional men's basketball league in Lebanon. It is organized annually as a national championship with playoffs and a national cup by the Lebanese Basketball Federation (FLB).[1]

Lebanese Basketball League
Organising bodyLebanese Basketball Federation (LFB)
Founded1951
1992 (Current format)
First season1951–52
Country Lebanon
ConfederationFIBA Asia
Number of teams12
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toDivision 2
Domestic cup(s)Lebanese Cup
International cup(s)FIBA Asia Champions Cup
Arab Club Basketball Championship
West Asia Super League
Current championsAl Riyadi (30th title)
(2022–23)
Most championshipsAl Riyadi (30 titles)
TV partnersMTV (Lebanon)
Websitelebanon.basketball
2023–24 Lebanese Basketball League

Currently, the league consists of 10 teams, of which six are located in Beirut. The most successful club in the history of the league is Al Riyadi.

History

The initial Lebanese basketball league was formed in as early as the 1950s; however, it was stopped during the Lebanese Civil War. In 1992, the league was reformed into its current fully professional format.

The golden era began shortly after the new format league began in the 90s.

In 1996, Hekmeh were the Arab Championship runner-ups.

In 1998, Sporting Club (Al Riyadi) finished third in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, that same year Beirut hosted the Arab Club Championship where Sagesse Club (Hekmeh) won, it was the first ever Arab basketball trophy for Lebanon.

In 1999, Beirut hosted the Arab Club Championship, Hekmeh were crowned champions again, in addition to being the first Lebanese and first Arab team to win the Asian cup.

Al Riyadi has its greatest success in the Arab Club Championship, they won the title in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2010; while Sagesse are the most decorated team in the FIBA Asian Club Championship with three record titles.

Ever since, many Lebanese clubs, have seen regular success in different international championships.

The 1999 season was inaugurated by a huge event that included an exhibition game between Lebanese All-stars (represented by the top four teams Sagesse, Riyadi, Tadamon, and Rosaire) and Harlem Globetrotters. [2]

Overview

The league is the first division in Lebanese basketball. The team that finishes last each season is relegated to the Second Division, while the Second Division's top four teams compete in a play-off system. The team that wins is promoted for the next season.

Competition

There are 10 teams in the league. They play a round-robin format; each team plays all other teams once home and once away. At the end of the regular season, the top eight teams enter the playoffs and play a best of 5 series in the quarterfinals. The winners of the quarterfinals advance to the best of 5 series in the semifinals. The two teams that advance play a best of seven series in the final, and the winner is the league champion.

Teams
Lebanese Basketball League is located in Lebanon
Antranik
Antranik
Beirut:Al RiyadiBeirut ClubHoops ClubHomenetmen Sagesse
Beirut:
Al Riyadi
Beirut Club
Hoops Club
Homenetmen
Sagesse
Champville
Champville
Mayrouba
Mayrouba
NSA
Antonine
Antonine
Locations of teams in the Lebanese Basketball League 2023–24

The following 10 teams play in the 2023–24 season.

Team City Arena Capacity
Al Riyadi Beirut Saeb Salam Arena 2,500
Antranik Antelias AGBU Demirdjian Center 2,000
Antonine Baabda Antonine Arena 1,000
Beirut Club Beirut Chiyah Stadium 2,500
Champville Maristes Dik El Mehdi Champville Club Center 5,000
Mayrouba Jounieh Club Central 1,000
Homenetmen Mezher Homentmen Mezher 1,000
Hoops Club Dora Michel El Murr Complex 2,000
NSA Jounieh Fouad Chehab Stadium 1,200
Sagesse Ghazir Antoine Choueiri Stadium 5,000

Champions

Wins by year
FLB League (standings since 1993)
SeasonChampionRunner-up
1992–1993Al RiyadiKahraba Zouk
1993–1994SagesseKahraba Zouk
1994–1995Al Riyadi (2)Kahraba Zouk
1995–1996
League Cancelled
1996–1997Al Riyadi (3)Tadamon Zouk
1997–1998Sagesse (2)Tadamon Zouk
1998–1999Sagesse (3)Tadamon Zouk
1999–2000Sagesse (4)Antranik Beirut
2000–2001Sagesse (5)Champville
2001–2002Sagesse (6) Al Riyadi
2002–2003Sagesse (7)Al Riyadi
2003–2004Sagesse (8)Champville
2004–2005Al Riyadi (4)Sagesse
2005–2006Al Riyadi (5)Sagesse
2006–2007Al Riyadi (6)Blue Stars
2007–2008 Al Riyadi (7)Mouttahed
2008–2009Al Riyadi (8)Mouttahed
2009–2010Al Riyadi (9)Champville
2010–2011Al Riyadi (10)Champville
2011–2012ChampvilleAnibal
2012–2013
League Cancelled
2013–2014Al Riyadi (11)Sagesse
2014–2015Al Riyadi (12)Byblos Club
2015–2016Al Riyadi (13)Sagesse
2016–2017Al Riyadi (14)Homenetmen
2017–2018HomenetmenAl Riyadi
2018–2019Al Riyadi (15)Beirut Club
2019–2020
League Cancelled
2020–2021Al Riyadi (16)Champville
2021–2022Beirut ClubAl Riyadi
2022-2023Al Riyadi (17)Dynamo Club

Wins by team
Club Titles Runners-up Seasons won Seasons runner-up
Al Riyadi 17 4 1992–93, 1994–1995, 1996–97, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2022-23 2002–03, 2017–18, 2021–22
Sagesse 8 4 1993–94, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04 2004–05, 2005–06, 2013–14, 2015–16
Champville 1 5 2011–12 2000–01, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2020–21
Homenetmen 1 1 2017–18 2016–17
Beirut 1 1 2021–22 2018–19
Kahraba Zouk 0 3 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95
Tadamon Zouk 0 3 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99
Mouttahed 0 2 2007–08, 2008–09
Antranik Beirut 0 1 1999–2000
Blue Stars 0 1 2006–07
Anibal 0 1 2011–12
Byblos 0 1 2014–15
Dynamo 0 1 2022-23

Rivalries

The Big Rivalry

Other Rivalries

Notable players

Notable coaches
  • Lebanon Ghassan Sarkis
  • Slovenia Slobodan Subotić
  • Greece Ilias Zouros
  • Serbia Nenad Vucinic
  • Serbia Veselin Matic
  • Serbia Dragan Raca
  • United States Tab Baldwin
  • Lebanon Ahmad Farran
  • Lebanon Fouad Abou Chakra

Women's league

2019–20 teams:

References
  1. "Asia-Basket". www.asia-basket.com. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
  2. "افتتاح بطولات لبنان لموسم 98/99 عروض لالهارلم مع اندية النخبة اللبنانية".
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