Úrvalsdeild karla (basketball)

Úrvalsdeild karla; English: Men's Premier League, also known as Domino's deildin for sponsorship reasons, is the highest men's professional basketball competition among clubs in Iceland, where play determines the national champion. It is organized by the Icelandic Basketball Federation (Icelandic: Körfuknattleikssamband Íslands - KKÍ). The season consists of a home-and-away schedule of 22 games, followed by an eight-team playoff round. Quarterfinals, semifinals and finals series are best-of-five. The bottom clubs are relegated, and replaced by the top team from the regular-season phase and the four-team playoff round winner of the second-level First Division (Icelandic: 1. deild karla).

This article is about the basketball league. For other uses, see Úrvalsdeild karla. For the women's basketball league, see Úrvalsdeild kvenna (basketball).
Úrvalsdeild karla
Founded1951 (1951)
First season1952
Country Iceland
ConfederationFIBA Europe
Number of teams12
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toDivision I
Domestic cup(s)Bikarkeppni KKÍ
SupercupMeistarakeppni karla
Current championsKR (18th title)
Most championshipsKR (18 titles)
All-time top scorerValur Ingimundarson
CEOHannes S. Jónsson
TV partnersStöð 2 Sport
Websitewww.kki.is
2020–21 Úrvalsdeild karla

History

Creation and first years 1951-1959

The league was founded in 1951 as 1. deild karla (English: Men's 1st division) and its first season was played in April 1952 with five teams, Íþróttafélag Keflavíkurflugvallar (ÍKF), Íþróttafélag Reykjavíkur (ÍR), Íþróttafélag Stúdenta (ÍS), Gosi and Glímufélagið Ármann, participating. The team of ÍKF had the advantage of its close proximity with the US Naval Air Station at Keflavík International Airport and therefore could play competitive games with American players who had high school and college experience. They were furthermore coached by two American naval personels, Gene Crowley and John Wahl. During the tournament, ÍKF won all four of its games with an average of 10.8 points.[1]

For the first years decade the league was dominated by ÍKF (with 4 wins) and ÍR (with 3 wins); with ÍS finally breaking their dominance in 1959.

ÍR's dominance and the arrival of the Americans 1960-1980

From 1960 to 1964, ÍR, under the leadership of Helgi Jóhannsson, won five straight championships followed by KR winning four straight. From 1969 to 1977, ÍR added seven championships in 9 years. Its last victory in 1977 marked an end of an era and the rise of the Suðurnes rivals Keflavík and Njarðvík.

In September 1975, Jimmy Rogers became the first foreign born professional basketball player in Iceland[2] when he signed a three-month contract with Ármann in preparations for their games against Honka Playboys in the FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup.[3] Shortly later, KR signed fellow American Curtis Carter who immediately caught the attention of the fans and media with his powerful play and dunks.[4] Together, they were credited for revolutionizing the Icelandic basketball scene.[5][6] More Americans followed, including Rick Hockenos, Tim Dwyer and Danny Shouse.

Njarðvík's leadership

The next two decades, exactly from 1980–81 season to the 1997–98 season, Njarðvík (known as ÍKF until 1969)[7][8] lead the league with 10 wins. In the same period, Keflavík won 4 titles and the KR won their eighth title.

Modern era

From the 2000–01 season, many teams have divided the lead of the league. In the 2005–06 season, the Njarðvík won their thirteenth title. In the following season, the 2006–07 season, the KR won their tenth title and one more year later, in the 2007–08 season, the Keflavík won their ninth title.

Teams

The Úrvalsdeild karla originated in 1951 and, currently, consists of 12 teams. Njarðvík and KR have won the most championships with 17 Icelandic championships each. Following them, there are ÍR with 15 championships and Keflavík with 9 championships. The current Úrvalsdeild karla teams for the 2018–19 season are:

Team City, Region Arena Founded Colours Head coach
Breiðablik Kópavogur Smárinn 1967     Pétur Ingvarsson
Grindavík Grindavík Mustad Höllin 1972     Jóhann Þór Ólafsson
ÍR Reykjavík Hertz Hellirinn 1950     Borce Ilievski
Keflavík Keflavík TM Höllin 1974     Sverrir Þór Sverrisson
KR Reykjavík DHL Höllin 1956     Ingi Þór Steinþórsson
Haukar Hafnarfjörður Schenkerhöllin 1971     Ívar Ásgrímsson
Njarðvík Njarðvík Ljónagryfjan 1952 (as ÍKF)     Einar Árni Jóhannsson
Skallagrímur Borgarnes Fjósið 1958     Finnur Jónsson
Stjarnan Garðabær Ásgarður 1993     Hrafn Kristjánsson
Tindastóll Sauðárkrókur Sauðárkrókur 1907     Israel Martín
Valur Reykjavík Valshöllin 1951 (as Gosi)     Ágúst Björgvinsson
Þór Þorlákshöfn Þorlákshöfn Icelandic Glacial Höllin 1991     Baldur Þór Ragnarsson

Champions
Season Champion Score Runner-up Champion's coach
1952 ÍKF League ÍR Gene Croley and Jom Wahl[9]
1953 ÍKF (2) ÍR
1954 ÍR ÍKF Helgi Jóhannsson[10]
1955 ÍR (2) Gosi Helgi Jóhannsson[10]
1956 ÍKF (3) ÍR
1957 ÍR (3) Helgi Jóhannsson[10]
1958 ÍKF (4) ÍS
1959 ÍS[11] ÍR
1960 ÍR (4) KFR Helgi Jóhannsson[12]
1961 ÍR (5) KFR Helgi Jóhannsson[13]
1962 ÍR (6) Ármann Helgi Jóhannsson[14][15]
1963 ÍR (7) Ármann Helgi Jóhannsson[16][17] and Einar Ólafsson
1964 ÍR (8) Ármann Helgi Jóhannsson[18]
1965 KR ÍR Philip Bensing[lower-alpha 1][19]
1966 KR (2) ÍR Philip Bensing or Thomas Curren[lower-alpha 2]
1967 KR (3) Einar Bollason
1968 KR (4) Gordon Godfrey
1969 ÍR (9) 1–0[lower-alpha 3] KR Einar Ólafsson[22]
1970 ÍR (10) 2–0[23] Ármann Einar Ólafsson[24]
1971 ÍR (11) League Einar Ólafsson[25]
1972 ÍR (12) Einar Ólafsson[26]
1972–73 ÍR (13) Einar Ólafsson[27]
1973–74 KR (5) Einar Bollason
1974–75 ÍR (14) Einar Ólafsson[28]
1975–76 Ármann Ingvar Sigurbjörnsson
1976–77 ÍR (15) Þorsteinn Hallgrímsson
1977–78 KR (6) 1–0[lower-alpha 4] Njarðvík Andrew Piazza
1978–79 KR (7) 1–0[lower-alpha 5] Valur Gunnar Gunnarsson
1979–80 Valur League Njarðvík Tim Dwyer
1980–81 Njarðvík (5)* Valur Danny Shouse
1981–82 Njarðvík (6) Fram Hilmar Hafsteinsson
1982–83 Valur (2) Keflavík Tim Dwyer (2)
1983–84 Njarðvík (7) 2–0 Valur Gunnar Þorvarðarson
1984–85 Njarðvík (8) 2–1 Haukar Gunnar Þorvarðarson (2)
1985–86 Njarðvík (9) 2–0 Haukar Gunnar Þorvarðarson (3)
1986–87 Njarðvík (10) 2–0 Valur Valur Ingimundarson
1987–88 Haukar 2–1 Njarðvík Pálmar Sigurðsson
1988–89 Keflavík 2–1 KR Jón Kr. Gíslason
1989–90 KR (8) 3–0 Keflavík Dr. László Németh
1990–91 Njarðvík (11) 3–2 Keflavík Friðrik Ingi Rúnarsson
1991–92 Keflavík (2) 3–2 Valur Jón Kr. Gíslason (2)
1992–93 Keflavík (3) 3–0 Haukar Jón Kr. Gíslason (3)
1993–94 Njarðvík (12) 3–2 Grindavík Valur Ingimundarson (2)
1994–95 Njarðvík (13) 4–2 Grindavík Valur Ingimundarson (3)
1995–96 Grindavík 4–2 Keflavík Friðrik Ingi Rúnarsson (2)
1996–97 Keflavík (4) 3–0 Grindavík Sigurður Ingimundarson
1997–98 Njarðvík (14) 3–0 KR Friðrik Ingi Rúnarsson (3)
1998–99 Keflavík (5) 3–2 Njarðvík Sigurður Ingimundarson (2)
1999–00 KR (9) 3–1 Grindavík Ingi Þór Steinþórsson
2000–01 Njarðvík (15) 3–1 Tindastóll Friðrik Ragnarsson and Teitur Örlygsson
2001–02 Njarðvík (16) 3–0 Keflavík Friðrik Ragnarsson (2)
2002–03 Keflavík (6) 3–0 Grindavík Sigurður Ingimundarson (3)
2003–04 Keflavík (7) 3–1 Snæfell Falur Harðarson and Guðjón Skúlason
2004–05 Keflavík (8) 3–1 Snæfell Sigurður Ingimundarson (4)
2005–06 Njarðvík (17) 3–1 Skallagrímur Einar Árni Jóhannsson
2006–07 KR (10) 3–1 Njarðvík Benedikt Guðmundsson
2007–08 Keflavík (9) 3–0 Snæfell Sigurður Ingimundarson (5)
2008–09 KR (11) 3–2 Grindavík Benedikt Guðmundsson (2)
2009–10 Snæfell 3–2 Keflavík Ingi Þór Steinþórsson (2)
2010–11 KR (12) 3–1 Stjarnan Hrafn Kristjánsson
2011–12 Grindavík (2) 3–1 Þór Þorlákshöfn Helgi Jónas Guðfinnsson
2012–13 Grindavík (3) 3–2 Stjarnan Sverrir Þór Sverrisson
2013–14 KR (13) 3–1 Grindavík Finnur Freyr Stefánsson
2014–15 KR (14) 3–1 Tindastóll Finnur Freyr Stefánsson (2)
2015–16 KR (15) 3–1 Haukar Finnur Freyr Stefánsson (3)
2016–17 KR (16) 3–2 Grindavík Finnur Freyr Stefánsson (4)
2017–18 KR (17) 3–1 Tindastóll Finnur Freyr Stefánsson (5)
2018–19 KR (18) 3–2 ÍR Ingi Þór Steinþórsson (3)
2019–20 Season discontinued due to the COVID-19 outbreak[29]

Notes
  1. Last name sometimes spelled Benzing.
  2. The Icelandic Basketball Association lists Bensing as the coach of the 1966 team[20] but other sources state that he left the job in December 1965 and that Curren started coaching at the club in January 1966. Curren was the head coach of the team during its games in the 1966–67 FIBA European Champions Cup in December 1966.[21]
  3. As ÍR and KR tied at the end of the season, an extra game was played for tiebreaking.
  4. As KR and Njarðvík tied at the end of the season, an extra game was played for tiebreaking.
  5. As KR and Valur tied at the end of the season, an extra game was played for tiebreaking.

Titles per club
Titles Club
18 KR
17 Njarðvík / ÍKF1
15 ÍR
9 Keflavík
3 Grindavík
2 Valur
1 Snæfell, Haukar, Ármann, ÍS
  1. ÍKF merged into Ungmennafélag Njarðvíkur in 1969 and became its basketball subdivision. It is today known as Njarðvík. The club won 4 titles under the ÍKF name and added 13 more after the merger

Statistical leaders

The league has kept scoring stats since adopting the Úrvalsdeild karla name in 1978. During the 1988–1989 season, it added more categories, including rebounds, assists and steals and prior to the 1994–1995 season it added blocks.

Úrvalsdeild karla all-time scoring leaders

Player nationality set by the player's national team affiliation. In bold, active players.

Stats through end of 2018–19 Úrvalsdeild karla season:

Rank Player Games Points Average
1.  Valur Ingimundarson 400 7,355 18.4
2.  Páll Axel Vilbergsson 407 6,949 17.1
3.  Guðjón Skúlason 409 6,649 16.3
4.  Teitur Örlygsson 405 6,579 16.2

Úrvalsdeild karla all-time rebounding leaders

Player nationality set by the player's national team affiliation. In bold, active players.

Stats through the end of the 2018–19 Úrvalsdeild karla season:

Rank Player Games Rebounds Average
1.  Hlynur Bæringsson 307 3,293 10.7
2.  Guðmundur Bragason1 332 3,260 9.8
3.  Friðrik Erlendur Stefánsson 357 3,212 9.0
4.  John Rhodes 136 2,548 18.8
5.  Páll Axel Vilbergsson 407 2,471 6.1

1 Statistics for rebounds where not kept during Guðmundur's first season. Overall, he played 348 games in the Úrvalsdeild.[30]

Úrvalsdeild karla all-time assists leaders

Player nationality set by the player's national team affiliation. In bold, active players.

Stats through the end of the 2018–19 Úrvalsdeild karla season:

Rank Player Games Assists Average
1.  Justin Shouse 230 1,486 6.5
2.  Jón Arnar Ingvarsson 340 1,393 4.1
3.  Jón Kr. Gíslason1 214 1,359 4.1
4.  Eiríkur Önundarson - 1,308 -
5.  Sverrir Þór Sverrisson - 1,300 -

1 Assists where not counted during Jón Kr. Gíslason's first five seasons where he played 93 games.

Awards and honors

Domestic All-First Team
Main article: Úrvalsdeild Men's Domestic All-First Team

The Men's Domestic All-First Team is an annual Úrvalsdeild honor bestowed on the best players in the league following every season.

Domestic Player of the Year
Main article: Úrvalsdeild Men's Domestic Player of the Year

Foreign Player of the Year
Main article: Úrvalsdeild Men's Foreign Player of the Year

Úrvalsdeild Men's Playoffs MVP
Main article: Úrvalsdeild Men's Playoffs MVP

Úrvalsdeild Playoffs MVP award is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the Úrvalsdeild playoffs.

Defensive Player of the Year
Main article: Úrvalsdeild Men's Defensive Player of the Year

Newcomer of the Year
Main article: Úrvalsdeild Men's Young Player of the Year

Coach of the Year
Main article: Úrvalsdeild Men's Coach of the Year

References
  1. Skapti Hallgrímsson (2001). Leikni framar líkamsburðum (in Icelandic). pp. 34–35. ISBN 9979-60-630-4.
  2. "Ármenningar fá bandarískan risa". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 10 September 1975. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  3. "Ármenningar sömdu við einn svartan í nótt!". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). 10 September 1975. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  4. ""Trukkurinn" vakti mikla hrifningu". Tíminn (in Icelandic). 14 October 1975. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  5. "Vallarstarfsmenn fyrstu meistararnir". Fréttablaðið (in Icelandic). 7 November 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  6. Stefán Kristjánsson (27 February 1988). "Bylting í körfunni". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  7. Ytri aðstæður og innri efling starfsins
  8. Fram stofnar körfuknattleiksdeild
  9. Íþróttafél. Keflavíkurstarfsmanna vann Íslandsmótið
  10. Ágúst Ásgeirsson (11 March 2007). Heil öld til heilla - Saga ÍR í 100 ár. Íþróttafélag Reykjavíkur. p. 569.
  11. "Íþróttafélag stúdenta Íslandsmeistari í körfuknattleik 1959". Þjóðviljinn (in Icelandic). 17 April 1959. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  12. Í.R. vann verðskuldaðan sigur
  13. ÍR Íslandsmeistari í körfuknattleik
  15. ÍR Íslandsmeistari 1962
  16. ÍR átti mótið
  17. Takmarkið með þátttöku er aðöðlast reynslu í harðri keppni
  18. ÍR í evrópukeppnina í haust
  19. "KR Íslandsmeistari". Þjóðviljinn (in Icelandic). 4 May 1965. p. 5.
  20. "Meistaratitlar karla". kki.is (in Icelandic). Icelandic Basketball Association. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  21. "Evrópumeistararnir Simmenthal leika við KR 18. þ.m." Þjóðviljinn (in Icelandic). 2 November 1966. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  22. ÍR-ingar endurheimta Íslandsmeistaratitilinn í körfuknattleik
  23. "ÍR hlaut titilinn". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 24 March 1970. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  24. ÍR hlaut titilinn
  25. Íslandsmeistarar 1971
  26. Sigurinn blasti við HSK
  27. Átök, en síðan yfirburðasigur
  28. ÍR-ingar urðu íslandsmeistarar í körfubolta
  29. Ingvi Þór Sæmundsson (18 March 2020). "Körfuboltatímabilið blásið af - Engir Íslandsmeistarar". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  30. "Guðmundur L Bragason: Ferillinn í úrvalsdeild". kki.is (in Icelandic). Icelandic Basketball Association. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.