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), 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 (GBL)
Founded1927 (1927)
First season1927–28
CountryGreece
FederationHEBA
ConfederationFIBA Europe
Number of teams12
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 championsOlympiacos
(14th title)
Most championshipsPanathinaikos
(39 titles)
All-time top scorerGreece Vassilis Spanoulis
CommissionerGreece Vangelis Galatsopoulos
TV partnersERT
Websiteesake.gr (Greek)
esake (English)
Current season

It is the highest-tier level of the Greek league system. The GBL plays under FIBA rules and currently consists of 13 teams, with the lowest-placed team relegated to the A2 Basket League and replaced by the winner of the play-offs of that tier. It 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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4]

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 39 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.[5]

  • 2012–2013
    2012–2013
  • 2013–present
    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.[6]

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.[7] Starting from the 2022–23 season, each team can have 7 foreign players to its et league roster. However, every team is obliged to select 6 of them right before the match is started. This rottion of foreignh players cannnot take place in the playoffs. However, it was decided that as of 2023–24 season the aforementioned rotation will be possible not only in the regular season but also in the playoffs.

Current clubs

The clubs for the 2023–24 season:

Location map for competing teams in Basket League 2022-23.
Team City Arena Capacity Appearances in GBL
Α.E.K. Athens Ano Liosia Olympic Hall 8,327
57
Apollon Patras Patras (Perivola) Apollon Patras Indoor Hall 3,500
34
Aris Thessaloniki Alexandreio Melathron Hall 5,138
60
ASK Karditsa Karditsa Giannis Bourousis Indoor Hall 3,007
1
Kolossos Rodou Rhodes (Faliraki) Kallithea Palais des Sports 1,400 [8]
17
Lavrio Lavrio Lavrio Indoor Hall 1,700
8
Olympiacos Piraeus Peace and Friendship Stadium 14,776 [9]
55
Panathinaikos Athens (Marousi) O.A.C.A. Hall 18,989 [10]
60
P.A.O.K. Thessaloniki (Pylaia) P.A.O.K. Sports Arena 8,162 [11]
59
Peristeri Athens (Peristeri) Peristeri Hall 4,000
24
Promitheas Patras (Proastio) Dimitris Tofalos Arena 5,500
7
Maroussi Athens (Marousi) Maroussi Saint Thomas Indoor Hall 1,700
14

Statistics

Title holders

[12]

Performance by club
Titles Champions Years
39Panathinaikos1945–46, 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, 2020–21
14Olympiacos1948–49, 1959–60, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2021–22, 2022–23
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 PAOK r.r. Aris 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 Olympiacos 25–1
2017–18 Panathinaikos 3–2 Olympiacos Panathinaikos 26–0
2018–19 Panathinaikos 3–0 Promitheas Patras AEK 18–8
2019–20 Panathinaikos declared champion through regular season standings due to COVID-19 pandemic Panathinaikos 18–2
2020–21 Panathinaikos 3–1 Lavrio Panathinaikos 20–2
2021–22 Olympiacos 3–0 Panathinaikos Olympiacos 23–1
2022–23 Olympiacos 3–1 Panathinaikos Olympiacos 22–0

Basket League/A1 finals participation by club (until 2022)
Club W L Total
Panathinaikos 19 8 27
Olympiacos 10 14 24
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
Lavrio 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 Athens17
Panathinaikos13
Olympiacos Piraeus13
Sporting Athens12
HAN Thessaloniki10
Iraklis Thessaloniki10
Aris Thessaloniki9
AEK Athens9
PAOK Thessaloniki7
Club Times
Triton Athens7
Near East Atens5
Panionios Athens4
Skagiopouleio Patras4
Ethnikos Athens3
Athens University3
Neoi Vironas2
EA Patras2
VAO Thessaloniki2
Club Times
Peiraikos Syndesmos2
Anatolia College2
AO Palaio Faliro2
AE Chalkida2
Triton Chalkida2
Olympiacos Addis Ababa1
Keravnos Cairo1
Diagoras Rhodes1
AE Emporoypallilon1
Club Times
HAN Nikaia / HAN Kokkinia1
Apollon Athens1
HAN Athens1
AO Neochori Rodos1
PO Patras1
Triton Maroussi1

Number of seasons in the A and A1 National Categories by club (1963–64 – 2021–22)

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 Thessaloniki59
Panathinaikos59
PAOK Thessaloniki58
AEK Athens56
Olympiacos Piraeus54
Panionios Athens47
Iraklis Thessaloniki44
Apollon Patras33
Sporting Athens31
Panellinios Athens30
GS Maroussi24
GS Peristeri23
AO Pagrati17
Kolossos Rhodes16
Ionikos Nikaia15
GS Larissa12
HAN Thessaloniki12
AGO Rethymno10
Ilysiakos Athens9
Dimokritos Thessaloniki9
AO Dafni8
OAA Irakleio8
Near East Athens7
Club Times
AS Papagou7
Olympia Larissa7
GS Lavrio7
Makedonikos Thessaloniki6
Esperos Kallithea6
EK Kavala6
Promitheas Patras6
AO Trikala5
KAOD Thessaloniki5
VAO Thessaloniki5
Koroivos Amaliada4
Ionikos Nea Filadelfia4
Triton Athens4
Amyntas Athens4
Ikaros Kallithea4
GS Kymi3
AE Larissa3
AE Nea Kifissia3
Panelefsiniakos3
AO Egaleo3
Apollon Kalamaria3
Aetos Thessaloniki3
KAE Larissa3
Club Times
Trikala 20002
Olympias Patras2
Anatolia College2
HAN Nikaia / HAN Kokkinia2
Niki Volos2
Ifaistos Limnou2
Philippos Thessaloniki2
Milon2
Ampelokipoi Athens2
Peiraikos Syndesmos2
AE Holargos1
Doxa Lefkada1
Arkadikos Tripoli1
Thyella Serres1
MENT Thessaloniki1
Charilaos Trikoupis1
Pierikos Katerini1
GS Faros Larissa1

Number of seasons in the top-tier level Greek Basket League in total (1928 to 2021–22)

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
Panathinaikos72
Aris Thessaloniki68
Olympiacos Piraeus67
AEK Athens65
PAOK Thessaloniki65
Iraklis Thessaloniki54
Panionios Athens51
Panellinios Athens47
Sporting Athens43
Apollon Patras33
GS Maroussi24
GS Peristeri23
HAN Thessaloniki22
AO Pagrati17
Kolossos Rhodes16
Ionikos Nikaia15
GS Larissa12
Near East Athens12
Triton Athens11
AGO Rethymno10
Dimokritos Thessaloniki9
Club Times
AO Dafni8
OAA Irakleio8
Ilysiakos Athens8
VAO Thessaloniki7
AS Papagou7
Olympia Larissa7
GS Lavrio7
Esperos Kallithea6
Makedonikos Thessaloniki6
EK Kavala6
Promitheas Patras6
AO Trikala5
KAOD Thessaloniki5
Koroivos Amaliada4
Peiraikos Syndesmos4
Skagiopouleio Patras4
Anatolia College4
Amyntas Athens4
Ionikos Nea Filadelfia4
Ikaros Kallithea4
Kymi3
Club Times
AO Egaleo3
Apollon Kalamaria3
Aetos Thessaloniki3
Ethnikos Athens3
Athens University3
HAN Nikaias / HAN Kokkinias3
Panelefsiniakos3
AE Nea Kifissia3
AE Larissa3
KAE Larissa3
Trikala 20002
Olympias Patras2
Ifaistos Limnou2
Neoi Vironas2
EA Patras2
AO Palaio Faliro2
AE Chalkida2
Triton Chalkida2
Ampelokipoi Athens2
Niki Volos2
Philippos Thessaloniki2
Club Times
Milon2
Doxa Lefkada1
AE Holargos1
Αrkadikos Tripoli1
Keravnos Cairo1
Diagoras Rhodes1
Olympiacos Addis Ababa1
Triton Maroussi1
AE Emporoypallilon1
Thyella Serres1
Pierikos Katerini1
MENT Thessaloniki1
Apollon Athens1
Charilaos Trikoupis1
HAN Athens1
AO eochori Rhodes1
PO Patras1

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

[14][15]

  • 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
2021–22Olympiacos23–18–031–1Champion

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 2022–23 season.
  • Currently active players in the league in bold.
Main article: Greek Basket League career statistical leaders

See also

References
  1. Με 8 τα playoffs, μπόνους στους 2 πρώτους (in Greek).
  2. "Ο πρώτος αγώνας μπάσκετ στην Ελλάδα έγινε με δύο αναποδογυρισμένες καρέκλες και μία μπάλα ποδοσφαίρου. Το πρώτο πανελλήνιο πρωτάθλημα είχε 4 ομάδες". 30 May 2019.
  3. "Ιστορία του Μπάσκετ". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
  4. Και οι (πρώτοι) ξένοι ήταν εννιά (in Greek).
  5. (in Greek) Νέο λογότυπο για το πρωτάθλημα! sentragoal.gr
  6. Και οι (πρώτοι) ξένοι ήταν εννιά (in Greek).
  7. Πέρασε η πρόταση του Παναθηναϊκού για τους ξένους (in Greek).
  8. ΑΦΙΕΡΩΜΑ ΣΤΟΝ ΚΟΛΟΣΣΟ H HOTELS: Νέο ξεκίνημα στη Ρόδο.
  9. "The Peace and Friendship Stadium". Olympiacos B.C. Archived from the original on 2016-08-02. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  10. "Indoor Basketball Arena". Επίσημος ιστότοπος του ΟΑΚΑ. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  11. "Arena". P.A.O.K. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  12. ESAKE Official website Greek League Champions
  13. George Georgakopoulos. "Panathinaikos crowned champion, Aris and PAOK stay up". ekathimerini.com. Online. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  14. ESAKE.gr Basket League ΟΠΑΠ: Το ρεκόρ του Ολυμπιακού. (in Greek)
  15. ESAKE.gr Τα... χτένια του Ολυμπιακού!. (in Greek)
  16. Σπανούλης Βασίλης (in English).
  17. Σπανούλης Βασίλης (in English).
  18. Σπανούλης Βασίλης (in English).
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