Greek Basket League

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

"A1 Ethniki" redirects here. For other uses, see A1 Ethniki (disambiguation).
Greek Basket League
Founded1927 (1927)
First season1927–28
Country Greece
ConfederationFIBA Europe
Number of teams14
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 championsPanathinaikos OPAP
(38th title)
Most championshipsPanathinaikos
(38 titles)
All-time top scorer Nikos Galis
(amateur era 1963–1992)
Vassilis Spanoulis
(professional era 1992–present)
Commissioner Vangelis Galatsopoulos
TV partnersERT
Websiteesake.gr (Greek)
esake (English)
Current season

It consists of 12 teams and 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. 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.[2]

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, 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 38 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.[4]

  • 2012–2013
  • 2013–present

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.[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 2020–21 season:

Club Position
2019–20		 Greek League Arena Seating Capacity EuroLeague / EuroCup / Champions League Arena* Seating Capacity
AEK 2nd Ano Liosia Olympic Hall, Athens 9,903 Ano Liosia Olympic Hall, Athens 9,903
Aris 13th Alexandreio Nikos Galis Hall, Thessaloniki 5,138[7] Alexandreio Nikos Galis Hall, Thessaloniki 5,138
Mesologgi Baxi 1st (A2) Agrinio Indoor Hall, Agrinio 1,500
Ionikos Nikaias 10th Nikaias Indoor Hall, Athens 2,000
Iraklis Thessaloniki 7th Ivanofeio Sports Arena, Thessaloniki 2,500[8]
Kolossos Rodou
9th
 Kallithea Palais des Sports, Rhodes City 1,400[9]
Larisa 8th Larissa Neapolis Indoor Arena, Larissa 4,000 Larissa Neapolis Indoor Arena, Larissa 4,000
Lavrio 6th Lavrio Indoor Hall, Lavrio 1,700
Panathinaikos OPAP 1st Nikos Galis Olympic Indoor Hall, Athens 19,250 Nikos Galis Olympic Indoor Hall, Athens 19,250
PAOK 14th PAOK Sports Arena, Thessaloniki 8,500[10] PAOK Sports Arena, Thessaloniki 8,500
Peristeri 3rd Peristeri Indoor Hall, Athens 4,000 Peristeri Indoor Hall, Athens 4,000
Promitheas Patras 4th Dimitris Tofalos Arena, Patras 4,200 Dimitris Tofalos Arena, Patras 4,200

*Arenas that meet European-wide competition arena requirements, and where the clubs play their home games at, if they are competing in the EuroLeague, EuroCup, or FIBA Champions League.

Location of clubs for the 2020–21 Greek Basket League season.

Statistics

Title holders

[11]

Performance by club
Titles Club Years
38Panathinaikos1945–46, 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
12Olympiacos1948–49, 1959–60, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16
10Aris1929–30, 1978–79, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91
8AEK1957–58, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1969–70, 2001–02
6Panellinios1928–29, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1952–53, 1954–55, 1956–57
2Iraklis1927–28, 1934–35
PAOK1958–59, 1991–92
1Near East1935–36
Athens University1936–37

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 Superfoods 26–0
2018–19 Panathinaikos OPAP 3–0 Promitheas Patras AEK 18–8
2019–20
Panathinaikos declared champion through regular season rankings due to COVID-19 pandemic
 Panathinaikos 18–2

Basket League/A1 finals participation by club
Club W L Total
Panathinaikos 18 6 24
Olympiacos 8 14 22
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

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
Panellinios17
Panathinaikos13
Olympiacos13
Sporting12
HAN Thessaloniki10
Iraklis10
Aris9
AEK9
PAOK7
Club Times
Triton Thessaloniki7
Near East5
Panionios4
Skagiopouleio Patras4
Ethnikos Athens3
Athens University3
Neoi Vironas2
EA Patras2
VAO2
Club Times
Peiraikos Syndesmos2
Anatolia College2
Palaio Faliro2
AE Chalkida2
Triton Chalkida2
Olympiacos Addis Ababa1
Keravnos Kairo1
Diagoras Rodos1
AE Emporoupallilon1
Club Times
HAN Nikaia / HΑΝ Kokkinia1
Apollon Smyrna1
HAN Athens1
Neochori Rodos1
PO Patras1
Triton Maroussi1

Number of seasons in the A and A1 National Categories by club (1963–64 – 2019–21)

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
58
Panathinaikos
58
PAOK
57
AEK
55
Olympiacos
53
Panionios
47
Iraklis
43
Apollon Patras
32
Sporting
31
Panellinios
30
Peristeri
25
Maroussi
24
Pagrati
17
Kolossos
15
Ionikos Nikaia
14
GSL / Gymnastikos-Faros
13
HAN Thessaloniki
12
Rethymno
10
Dimokritos Thessaloniki
9
Dafni
8
Irakleio
8
Ilysiakos
8
Near East
7
Club Times
Papagou
7
Olympia Larissa
7
Makedonikos
6
Esperos Kallithea
6
Lavrio
6
Kavala
6
Trikala Aries
5
KAOD
5
Promitheas Patras
5
VAO
5
Koroivos
4
Ionikos Nea Filadelfia
4
Triton Thessaloniki
4
Amyntas
4
Ikaros Kallithea
4
Kymi
3
AEL
3
Nea Kifissia
3
Panelefsiniakos
3
Egaleo
3
Apollon Kalamaria
3
Aetos Thessaloniki
3
Trikala 2000
2
Club Times
Olympias Patras
2
Anatolia College
2
HAN Nikaia / HΑΝ Kokkinia
2
Niki Volos
2
Ifaistos Limnou
2
Philippos Thessaloniki
2
Milon
2
Larissa
2
Ampelokipoi
2
Peiraikos Syndesmos
2
Holargos
1
Doxa Lefkada
1
Arkadikos
1
Thyella Serres
1
MENT
1
Charilaos Trikoupis
1
Pierikos
1

Number of seasons in the top-tier level Greek Basket League in total (1928 to 2020–21)

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
Panathinaikos71
Aris67
Olympiacos66
AEK64
PAOK64
Iraklis53
Panionios51
Panellinios47
Sporting43
Apollon Patras32
Peristeri25
Maroussi24
HAN Thessaloniki22
Pagrati17
Kolossos15
Ionikos Nikaia14
GS Larissa / Gymnastikos-Faros13
Near East12
Triton Thessaloniki11
Rethymno10
Dimokritos Thessaloniki9
Club Times
Dafni8
Irakleio8
Ilysiakos8
VAO7
Papagou7
Olympia Larissa7
Lavrio6
Esperos Kallithea6
Makedonikos6
Kavala6
Promitheas Patras5
Trikala Aries5
KAOD5
Koroivos4
Peiraikos Syndesmos4
Skagiopouleio Patras4
Anatolia College4
Amyntas4
Ionikos Nea Filadelfia4
Ikaros Kallithea4
Kymi3
Club Times
Egaleo3
Apollon Kalamaria3
Aetos Thessaloniki3
Ethnikos Athens3
Athens University3
HAN Nikaias / HΑΝ Kokkinias3
Panelefsiniakos3
Nea Kifissia3
AEL3
Trikala 20002
Olympias Patras2
Ifaistos Limnou2
Neoi Vironas2
EA Patras2
Palaio Faliro2
AE Chalkida2
Triton Chalkida2
Ampelokipoi2
Niki Volos2
Philippos Thessaloniki2
Milon2
Larisa B.C.2
Club Times
Doxa Lefkada1
Holargos1
Αrkadikos1
Keravnos Kairo1
Diagoras Rodos1
Olympiacos Addis Ababa1
Triton Maroussi1
AE Emporoupallilon1
Thyella Serres1
Pierikos1
ΜΕΝΤ1
Apollon Smyrna1
Charilaos Trikoupis1
HAN Athens1
Neochori Rodos1
PO Patras1

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

[13][14]

  • 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)
SeasonTeamRegular Season
Record		Playoff RecordFinal Record
(Including Playoffs)		Final Season
Result
1985–86Aris26-0—26-0Champion
1967–68AEK22-0—22-0Champion
1975–76Olympiacos22-0—22-0Champion
1986–87Aris18-03-021-0Champion
1987–88Aris18-03-021-0Champion
2017–18Panathinaikos26-08-234-2Champion
1979–80Panathinaikos16-012-228-2Champion
2010–11Olympiacos26-06–332–3Finalist

The best overall season records of the HEBA A1 (1992–2015)
SeasonClubRegular Season
Record		Playoff RecordFinal RecordFinal Season
Result
2017–18Panathinaikos26–08–234–2Champion
2009–10Panathinaikos25–18–133–2Champion
2014–15Olympiacos25–18–133–2Champion
2015–16Olympiacos25–18–133–2Champion
2013–14Panathinaikos25–18–233–3Champion
2005–06Panathinaikos24–28–032–2Champion
2010–11Panathinaikos24–28–132–3Champion
2010–11Olympiacos26–06–332–3Finalist
2006–07Panathinaikos24–28–232–4Champion
2011–12Olympiacos23–18–231–3Champion
2008–09Olympiacos25–16–331–4Finalist
2016–17Panathinaikos25–16–331–4Champion

Greek basketball clubs in European and worldwide competitions
Main article: Greek basketball clubs in European and worldwide competitions

Awards and players
Main articles: Greek Basket League awards, Greek Basket League MVP, and Greek Basket League Finals MVP

All-time stats leaders
Further information: Greek Basket League career statistical leaders
Further information: Greek Basketball Championship career statistical leaders
Further information: Greek Basket League individual statistics
  • Of the HEBA fully professional era Greek Basket League, 1992–93 to present. The officially recognized league stats leaders.
  • Through the 2019–20 season.
  • *Currently active players in the league.
Main article: Greek Basket League career statistical leaders

See also

References
  1. Με 8 τα playoffs, μπόνους στους 2 πρώτους (in Greek).
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304205817/http://www.basket.gr/index.php/omospondia/istoria-tou-basket
  3. Και οι (πρώτοι) ξένοι ήταν εννιά (in Greek).
  4. (in Greek) Νέο λογότυπο για το πρωτάθλημα! sentragoal.gr
  5. Και οι (πρώτοι) ξένοι ήταν εννιά (in Greek).
  6. Πέρασε η πρόταση του Παναθηναϊκού για τους ξένους (in Greek).
  7. Capacity 5.138 seats. Archived 2015-09-26 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Γήπεδο: Ιβανώφειο Χωρητικότητα: 2500 (in Greek).
  9. ΑΦΙΕΡΩΜΑ ΣΤΟΝ ΚΟΛΟΣΣΟ H HOTELS: Νέο ξεκίνημα στη Ρόδο (in Greek).
  10. "worldstadiums.com Stadiums in Greece". Archived from the original on 2017-09-15. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
  11. ESAKE Official website Greek League Champions
  12. George Georgakopoulos. "Panathinaikos crowned champion, Aris and PAOK stay up". ekathimerini.com. Online. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  13. ESAKE.gr Basket League ΟΠΑΠ: Το ρεκόρ του Ολυμπιακού. (in Greek)
  14. ESAKE.gr Τα... χτένια του Ολυμπιακού!. (in Greek)
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