Basketball in Spain
Encyclopedia
The Spanish league teams compete in Europe under ULEB most notably in the Euroleague
and ULEB cup and under FIBA Europe
, in other competitions.
The Spanish teams also compete in a domestic cup competition each year, called the Copa del Rey de Baloncesto
. The top eight teams of the Classification (ACB) at half regular season play the Copa del Rey.
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
and ULEB cup and under FIBA Europe
FIBA Europe
FIBA Europe is a zone within the International Basketball Federation which includes all 49 national European basketball federations.-Division A:-Division B: -Division C:...
, in other competitions.
The Spanish teams also compete in a domestic cup competition each year, called the Copa del Rey de Baloncesto
Copa del Rey de Baloncesto
The Copa del Rey de Baloncesto is an annual cup competition for Spanish basketball teams organized by Spain's top professional league, Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto. It was originally known as the Copa de España de Baloncesto and was first played in 1933. It was the first nationwide...
. The top eight teams of the Classification (ACB) at half regular season play the Copa del Rey.
Spanish basketball league system
For the 2011–12 season, the basketball league system is this one:- ACB (18 teams)
- LEB OroLiga Española de BaloncestoLiga Española de Baloncesto is the second league of the Spanish basketball league system behind the ACB. It is run by the FEB. The Liga Española de Baloncesto is divided into two categories and they are sponsored by Adecco. The names of the two leagues are Adecco Oro and Adecco Plata.The LEB league...
(18 teams) - LEB PlataLiga Española de BaloncestoLiga Española de Baloncesto is the second league of the Spanish basketball league system behind the ACB. It is run by the FEB. The Liga Española de Baloncesto is divided into two categories and they are sponsored by Adecco. The names of the two leagues are Adecco Oro and Adecco Plata.The LEB league...
(13 teams) - EBALiga EBALiga Española de Baloncesto Amateur is a Spanish basketball championship that is the fourth level in the Spanish basketball league system, behind Liga ACB, LEB Oro and LEB Plata. Is administered by the FEB.The Liga EBA is constituted by five groups...
(75 teams in 5 groups) - 1ª DivisiónPrimera División de BaloncestoThe Primera División de Baloncesto is the fifth level in the Spanish basketball league system.-Current format:The Primera División works similar to the Tercera División of Spanish football...
(14 groups, one for each autonomous community except Basque CountryBasque Country (autonomous community)The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
, La RiojaLa Rioja (Spain)La Rioja is an autonomous community and a province of northern Spain. Its capital is Logroño. Other cities and towns in the province include Calahorra, Arnedo, Alfaro, Haro, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, and Nájera.-History:...
and Navarra, who share group, like Valencian CommunityValencian CommunityThe Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
and Region of MurciaRegion of MurciaThe Region of Murcia is an autonomous community of Spain located in the southeast of the country, between Andalusia and Valencian Community, on the Mediterranean coast....
); in CataloniaCataloniaCatalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
known as Copa Catalunya. - Lower regional divisions
Evolution of the Spanish basketball league system
| Tier\Years | 1957–78 | 1978–83 | 1983–94 | 1994–96 | 1996–2000 | 2000–07 | 2007–09 | 2009– |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1ª División | ACB | ||||||
| 2 | 2ª División | 1ª División B | EBA Liga EBA Liga Española de Baloncesto Amateur is a Spanish basketball championship that is the fourth level in the Spanish basketball league system, behind Liga ACB, LEB Oro and LEB Plata. Is administered by the FEB.The Liga EBA is constituted by five groups... |
LEB Liga Española de Baloncesto Liga Española de Baloncesto is the second league of the Spanish basketball league system behind the ACB. It is run by the FEB. The Liga Española de Baloncesto is divided into two categories and they are sponsored by Adecco. The names of the two leagues are Adecco Oro and Adecco Plata.The LEB league... (since 2007, LEB Oro) |
||||
| 3 | 3ª División | 2ª División | Lower | 1ª División | EBA Liga EBA Liga Española de Baloncesto Amateur is a Spanish basketball championship that is the fourth level in the Spanish basketball league system, behind Liga ACB, LEB Oro and LEB Plata. Is administered by the FEB.The Liga EBA is constituted by five groups... |
LEB-2 Liga Española de Baloncesto Liga Española de Baloncesto is the second league of the Spanish basketball league system behind the ACB. It is run by the FEB. The Liga Española de Baloncesto is divided into two categories and they are sponsored by Adecco. The names of the two leagues are Adecco Oro and Adecco Plata.The LEB league... (since 2007, LEB Plata) |
||
| 4 | Lower | 3ª División | Lower | 1ª División | EBA Liga EBA Liga Española de Baloncesto Amateur is a Spanish basketball championship that is the fourth level in the Spanish basketball league system, behind Liga ACB, LEB Oro and LEB Plata. Is administered by the FEB.The Liga EBA is constituted by five groups... |
LEB Bronce Liga Española de Baloncesto Liga Española de Baloncesto is the second league of the Spanish basketball league system behind the ACB. It is run by the FEB. The Liga Española de Baloncesto is divided into two categories and they are sponsored by Adecco. The names of the two leagues are Adecco Oro and Adecco Plata.The LEB league... |
EBA Liga EBA Liga Española de Baloncesto Amateur is a Spanish basketball championship that is the fourth level in the Spanish basketball league system, behind Liga ACB, LEB Oro and LEB Plata. Is administered by the FEB.The Liga EBA is constituted by five groups... |
|
| 5 | Lower | Lower | 1ª División | EBA Liga EBA Liga Española de Baloncesto Amateur is a Spanish basketball championship that is the fourth level in the Spanish basketball league system, behind Liga ACB, LEB Oro and LEB Plata. Is administered by the FEB.The Liga EBA is constituted by five groups... |
1ª División Primera División de Baloncesto The Primera División de Baloncesto is the fifth level in the Spanish basketball league system.-Current format:The Primera División works similar to the Tercera División of Spanish football... |
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| 6 | Lower | 1ª División | Lower | |||||
| 7 | Lower | |||||||
Spanish women's basketball league system
- Liga FemeninaLiga Femenina de Baloncesto-Competition format:The league is similar to Liga ACB, each team has to play all the other teams in its division twice, one at home and one away, At the end of the league, the eight best teams start a play-off.-Qualification for European competitions:...
(14 teams) - Liga Femenina 2 (since 2001, 29 teams in 2 groups)
- 1ª División Femenina (inter-regional groups)
- Lower regional divisions
Other Competitions
- Copa del Rey de BaloncestoCopa del Rey de BaloncestoThe Copa del Rey de Baloncesto is an annual cup competition for Spanish basketball teams organized by Spain's top professional league, Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto. It was originally known as the Copa de España de Baloncesto and was first played in 1933. It was the first nationwide...
- Supercopa de España de BaloncestoSupercopa de España de BaloncestoThe Supercopa de España de Baloncesto is an annual preseason Spanish basketball competition. The teams that take part in this competition are:* The ACB league winner of the previous season....