List of basketball leagues
This is a list of current and defunct basketball leagues around the world.
Men[]
Intercontinental[]
- FIBA Intercontinental Cup
Africa[]
International leagues[]
- BAL – Basketball Africa League
- FIBA Africa Clubs Champions Cup
National leagues[]
Algeria
- ABC Super Division – Algerian Basketball Championship Super Division
Angola
- ABL – Angolan Basketball League – first tier
- ABC – Angola Second Division Basketball Championship – second tier
Central African Republic
Ghana
Egypt
Liberia
Libya
- LBL – Libyan Division I Basketball League
Morocco
- Nationale 1
Mozambique
- MBL – Mozambican Division I Basketball League
Nigeria
- NPL – Nigerian Premier League
Rwanda
- NBL – National Basketball League
Senegal
- SBL – Senegalese Division I Basketball League
South Africa
Tunisia
- TBL – Tunisian Division I Basketball League
Uganda
Americas[]
International leagues[]
- BCLA – Basketball Champions League Americas
- FIBA Americas League
- Liga Sudamericana
National leagues[]
Argentina
- LNB – Liga Nacional de Básquet – first tier
- TNA – Torneo Nacional de Ascenso – second tier
Bolivia
Brazil
- CBB – Campeonato Brasileiro de Basquete – first tier
- NBB – Novo Basquete Brasil – first tier
- Liga Ouro de Basquete (Brazil) – second tier
- LDB – Liga de Desenvolvimento de Basquete (Under-22 League) – third tier
Canada
- NBA – National Basketball Association – Major League
- NBA G League – first tier Minor League
- CEBL – Canadian Elite Basketball League
- NBLC – National Basketball League of Canada
Chile
- LNM – Liga Nacional Movistar
Colombia
- BPC – Baloncesto Profesional Colombiano
Costa Rica
- LBSCR –
Cuba
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Mexico
- LNBP – Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional – first tier
- CIBACOPA – Circuito de Baloncesto de la Costa del Pacífico – second tier
- NBA G League – first tier Minor League
Nicaragua
- ACB League
- LNB – (2018–present)
Panama
- LPB – Liga Profesional de Baloncesto (2015–present)
Paraguay
- PMBL – Paraguayan Metropolitan Basketball League
Peru
- LBL – Liga de Basket de Lima
- LNB –
Puerto Rico
- BSN – Baloncesto Superior Nacional
- BSNF – Baloncesto Superior Nacional Femenino
Uruguay
- LUB – Liga Uruguaya de Basketball
United States
- NBA – National Basketball Association
- NBA G League
- ABA – American Basketball Association
- ECBL – East Coast Basketball League
- FBA – Florida Basketball Association
- MBL – Maximum Basketball League
- NNBA – New Nation Basketball Association
- OBA - Official Basketball League
- PBL – Premier Basketball League
- TBL – The Basketball League
- UBA – Universal Basketball Association
- UBL – United Basketball League
- NBA G League
College and university basketball[]
Canada
- OUA – Wilson Cup
- U Sports – W. P. McGee Trophy
United States
- ACCA – Association of Christian College Athletics
- Bible College NIT
- CCCAA – California Community College Athletic Association
- NAIA Division I – NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
- NAIA Division II – NAIA Men's Division II Basketball Championship
- NCAA Division I – NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
- NCAA Division II – NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship
- NCAA Division III – NCAA Men's Division III Basketball Championship
- NCAA Division II – NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship
- NCCAA – List of NCCAA men's basketball champions
- NIT – National Invitation Tournament
- NJCAA Division I – NJCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
- NJCAA Division II – NJCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship
- NJCAA Division III – NJCAA Men's Division III Basketball Championship
- NJCAA Division II – NJCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship
- NWAC – Northwest Athletic Conference
- USCAA – United States Collegiate Athletic Association
Youth leagues[]
- AAU – Amateur Athletic Union
- USSSA – United States Specialty Sports Association
Venezuela
- LPB – Liga Profesional de Baloncesto
Asia[]
International leagues[]
- ABL – ASEAN Basketball League
- East Asia Super League
- FIBA Asia Champions Cup
- WABA – WABA Champions Cup
National leagues[]
Bahrain
- BPL – Bahraini Premier League
China
- CBA – Chinese Basketball Association – first tier
- NBL – National Basketball League – second tier
- CUBA – Chinese University Basketball Association – third tier
- CHBL – China High School Basketball League – fourth tier
- CUBA – Chinese University Basketball Association – third tier
- NBL – National Basketball League – second tier
Hong Kong
- A1 – Hong Kong A1 Division Championship
India
- INBC – Indian National Basketball Championship for Men
- UBA Pro Basketball League
Indonesia
- IBL – Indonesia Basketball League
Iran
Iraq
- IBL – Iraqi Division I Basketball League
Kazakhstan
- KBC – Kazakhstan Basketball Championship – first tier
- KBC – Kazakhstan Basketball Cup – second tier
Kuwait
Japan
- B.League – first tier since 2016–17
- B.League Division Two – second tier
- B.League Division Three – third tier
- AJIBC - All Japan Intercollegiate Basketball Championship – fourth tier
- B.League Division Three – third tier
- B.League Division Two – second tier
Jordan
- JPBL – Jordanian Premier Basketball League - first tier
- First Division - second tier
Lebanon
- FLB League – Lebanese Basketball League
Mongolia
Oman
- OBL – Oman Basketball League
Philippines (Philippine basketball is not divided into a tier-like league system)
The Games and Amusements Board (GAB) issues professional licenses for players playing in professional leagues. GAB had instructed amateur leagues that are paying its players to be under its belt. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this hasn't been applied as the GAB has only allowed professional leagues (of any sport) to operate.
- Professional leagues
- Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3
- Filbasket
- Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League
- National Basketball League
- Philippine Basketball Association
- Pilipinas Super League
- Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup
- Women's National Basketball League
- Amateur leagues:
- PBA Developmental League
- Community Basketball Association
- Metro League
- College basketball (many college leagues also offer high school basketball tournaments):
- CESAFI – Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc.
- COSAA – Cagayan de Oro Schools Athletics Association
- CUSA – Colleges and Universities Sports Association
- ISSA – Iloilo Schools Sports Association
- LCUAA – Laguna Colleges and Universities Athletic Association
- MNCAA – Men's National Collegiate Athletic Association
- NAASCU – National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities
- NCAA – National Collegiate Athletic Association Basketball Championship
- NCAA South – National Collegiate Athletic Association – South
- NCRAA – National Capital Region Athletic Association
- PCCL – Philippine Collegiate Championship League
- SCUAA – State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association
- UAAP – University Athletic Association of the Philippines Basketball Championship
- UCAA – Universities and Colleges Athletic Association
- UCBL – Universities and Colleges Basketball League
- UCCL – United Calabarzon Collegiate League
- UCLAA – United Central Luzon Athletic Association
- High school basketball:
- PSSBC – Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship
- PRISSAA – Private Secondary Schools Athletics Association
Qatar
- QBL – Qatari Basketball League
Saudi Arabia
- SPL – Saudi Premier League
Singapore
- Pro-Am SBL - Pro-Am Singapore Basketball League
- Merlion Cup
South Korea
- KBL – Korean Basketball League – first tier
- KBL R–League – KBL Reserve League – second tier
- KUBL – Korea University Basketball League – third tier
- KBL R–League – KBL Reserve League – second tier
Syria
- SBL – Syrian Basketball League
Thailand
Taiwan
- PLG – P. League+ – first tier (professional)
- T1 – T1 League – first tier (professional)
- SBL – Super Basketball League – second tier (semi-professional)
- A League – third tier (amateur)
- UBA – University Basketball Alliance – fourth tier
- HBL – High School Basketball League – fifth tier
- UBA – University Basketball Alliance – fourth tier
- A League – third tier (amateur)
- SBL – Super Basketball League – second tier (semi-professional)
United Arab Emirates
Vietnam
Europe[]
International leagues[]
Continental Leagues[]
Clubs participate pan-European leagues in two ways. Larger clubs play in Euroleague Basketball's system, with several of them having long-term licenses and others having annual licenses (irrespective of domestic league results), akin to the franchise model in North American sports. The Basketball Champions League (BCL) is the other way clubs participate, which is mostly based on sporting merit. A club usually opts to play in the EuroLeague instead of the BCL if it qualifies for both.
- BCL – Basketball Champions League – organized by FIBA Europe
- FIBA Europe Cup – organized by FIBA Europe
- EuroLeague – organized by Euroleague Basketball
- EuroCup – organized by Euroleague Basketball
Subregional leagues[]
- AAC – Alpe Adria Cup – featuring teams from Austria, Croatia, Czechia (Czech Republic), Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia
- ABA League (also known as the Adriatic League) – first tier league featuring teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia
- ABA League Second Division – second tier
- BIBL – Balkan International Basketball League – featuring teams from Albania, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia
- VTB–League – VTB United League – featuring teams from Belarus, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Poland and Russia
National leagues[]
Albania
- ABSL – Albanian Basketball Superliga – first tier
- ABFD – Albanian Basketball First Division – second tier
Armenia
Azerbaijan
- ABL – Azerbaijan Basketball League
Belarus
Belgium & Netherlands
- BNXT League – first tier in both countries from 2021-22 season onward
Bosnia and Herzegovina
- BCBH – Basketball Championship of Bosnia and Herzegovina – first tier
- A1 Liga – second tier
Bulgaria
Croatia
- A-1 Liga
Cyprus
- Cyprus Basketball Division 1
Czech Republic
- NBL – National Basketball League, also called the Kooperativa NBL for sponsorship reasons
Denmark
- DBL – Danish Basketball League
Estonia
- KML – Korvpalli Meistriliiga
Finland
- Korisliiga – first tier
- I Division – second tier
France
- LNB Pro A – Ligue Nationale de Basketball Pro A – first tier
- LNB Pro B – Ligue Nationale de Basket Pro B – second tier
Georgia
- GSL – Georgian Superliga
Germany
- BBL – Basketball Bundesliga – first tier
Greece
- GBL – Greek Basket League – first tier
- GBL A2 – Greek A2 Basket League – second tier
- GBL B – Greek B Basket League – third tier
- GBL C – Greek C Basket League – fourth tier
- GBL B – Greek B Basket League – third tier
- GBL A2 – Greek A2 Basket League – second tier
Hungary
Iceland
- Premier League
- First Division
Israel
- IBPL – Israeli Basketball Premier League – first tier
- Liga Leumit – second tier
- Liga Artzit – third tier
- Liga Leumit – second tier
Italy
- Serie A – first tier
- Serie A2 – second tier
- Serie B – third tier
- Serie C Gold – fourth tier
- Serie C Silver – fifth tier
- Serie D Regionale – sixth tier
- Promozione – seventh tier
- Serie D Regionale – sixth tier
- Serie C Silver – fifth tier
- Serie C Gold – fourth tier
- Serie B – third tier
- Serie A2 – second tier
Kosovo
- KBSL – Kosovo Basketball Superleague – first tier
- KBFL – Kosovo Basketball First League – second tier
Latvia
- LBL – Latvijas Basketbola līga
Lithuania
- LKL – Lietuvos Krepšinio Lyga – first tier
- NKL – Nacionalinė Krepšinio Lyga – second tier
- RKL – Regioninė Krepšinio Lyga – third tier
- NKL – Nacionalinė Krepšinio Lyga – second tier
Luxembourg
North Macedonia
- MFL – Macedonian First League
Montenegro
- MBL – Montenegrin Basketball League
Netherlands
- Promotiedivisie – second tier; top purely domestic level from 2021 to 2022
Norway
- BLNO
Poland
- PLK – Polska Liga Koszykówki (Polish Basketball League) – first tier
- I Liga – second tier
- II Liga – third tier
- I Liga – second tier
Portugal
- LCB – Portuguese Basketball League
- Proliga
Romania
- Divizia A
Russia
- VTB–League – VTB United League – first tier since the 2012–13 season (also featuring teams from Belarus, Estonia, Kazakhstan and Poland)
- BSL 1 – Basketball Super League 1 – second tier; was the first tier league from 1992 to 2010
- BSL 2 – Basketball Super League 2 – third tier
- First League – fourth tier
- VTB-League U21 – fifth tier
- First League – fourth tier
- BSL 2 – Basketball Super League 2 – third tier
- BSL 1 – Basketball Super League 1 – second tier; was the first tier league from 1992 to 2010
Serbia
- BLS – Basketball League of Serbia – first tier
- BLS B – Basketball League of Serbia B – second tier
- RBL First Division – Regional Basketball League First Division – third tier
- RBL Second Division – Regional Basketball League Second Division – fourth tier
- RBL First Division – Regional Basketball League First Division – third tier
- BLS B – Basketball League of Serbia B – second tier
Slovakia
- SEL Slovak Extraliga
Slovenia
- 1. A SKL – Premier A Slovenian Basketball League (also known for sponsorship reasons as Liga Telemach) – first tier
- SSBL – Slovenian Second Basketball League – second tier
- SBL – School Basketball League – third tier
- SSBL – Slovenian Second Basketball League – second tier
Spain
- Liga Endesa – first tier
- LEB Oro – second tier
- LEB Plata – third tier
- Liga EBA – fourth tier
- Primera División – fifth tier
- Liga EBA – fourth tier
- LEB Plata – third tier
- LEB Oro – second tier
Sweden
- SBL – Swedish Basketball League (Ligan) – first tier
- Basketettan – second tier
Switzerland
- LNBA – Swiss Basketball League – first tier
- Championnat LNB – second tier
Turkey
- BSL – Turkish Basketball Super League – first tier
- TBL – Turkish Basketball First League – second tier
- TB2L – Turkish Basketball Second League – third tier
- TRBL – Turkish Regional Basketball League – fourth tier
- TB2L – Turkish Basketball Second League – third tier
- TBL – Turkish Basketball First League – second tier
Ukraine
- UBSL – Ukrainian Basketball Superleague – first tier
- Higher League – second tier
Ireland
- Super League
Great Britain
- BBL – British Basketball League – First Tier
- NBL - National Basketball League – Second Tier
- SBC – Scottish Basketball Championship – Second Tier
Oceania[]
Australia
Guam
New Zealand
Women[]
Africa[]
National leagues
Angola
Morocco
Tunisia
Nigeria
Americas[]
United States
College basketball
- NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament (NCAA Division I Women's)
- NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Tournament (NCAA Division II Women's)
- NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament (NCAA Division III Women's)
- Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT)
- NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Championships (NAIA Division I Women's)
- NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Championships (NAIA Division II Women's)
- Association of Christian College Athletics
- NCCAA Women's Basketball (NCCAA Women's)
- NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship (NJCAA Division I Women's)
- NJCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship (NJCAA Division II Women's)
- NJCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship (NJCAA Division III Women's)
- USCAA Women's Basketball (USCAA Women's)
Youth leagues
- AAU
- USSSA
- YBOA
Canada
University basketball
- U Sports
Puerto Rico
- Baloncesto Superior Nacional Femenino (BSNF)
Asia[]
China
- WCBA - Women's Chinese Basketball Association - first tier
- WCUBA - Women's Chinese University Basketball Association - second tier
Hong Kong
India
- Indian National Basketball Championship for Women
Indonesia
- Srikandi Cup
Japan
Philippines
- Women's Next5Hoops
- WNBL — Women's National Basketball League
Filipino College Basketball
- UAAP - University Athletic Association of the Philippines
- WNCAA - Women's National Collegiate Athletic Association
- NAASCU - National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities
South Korea
Republic of China (Taiwan)
Thailand
- WTBL - Women's Thailand Basketball League
Europe[]
- EuroLeague
- EuroCup
- Europe SuperCup
- Baltic Women's League
Albania
- Albanian A-1 League
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
- Prva ženska liga - Croatian First Women's Basketball League
Cyprus
- Cyprus Women's Basketball Division A
- Kadınlar Basketbol Ligi - Women's Basketball League
Czech Republic
- Česká ženská basketbalová liga - Czech Women's Basketball League
Denmark
France
Estonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
- Greek Women's Basket - first tier
- Greek A2 Women's Basket - second tier
Hungary
Iceland
- Úrvalsdeild kvenna - Premier league women
Israel
Italy
- LegA Basket Femminile Serie A1 - first tier
- - second tier
- - third tier
- - second tier
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
North Macedonia
Montenegro
Netherlands
- Vrouwen Basketball League
Poland
- BLK – Basket Liga Kobiet (first tier)
- I Liga (second tier)
Portugal
Romania
Russia
- Russian Women's Basketball Premier League
- Superleague
- Higher League
- Superleague
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
- LFB – Liga Femenina de Baloncesto Ligue Féminine de Basketball
- LF2B - Liga Femenina 2 de Baloncesto Ligue Féminine 2 de Basketball
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Oceania[]
Australia
New Zealand
- NBLW – National Basketball League Women – first tier
- D-League – Women's Development League – second tier
Defunct leagues[]
Men[]
World[]
- McDonald's Championship, 1987-1999
Americas[]
Canada
- National Basketball League (NBL), 1993–94
- Canadian National Basketball League (CNBL), 2002–2004
United States
- Amateur Athletic Association Basketball (AAU), 1897–1982
- National Basketball League (NBL), 1898–99 to 1903-04
- Philadelphia Basketball League (PBL), 1902–1909
- New England Basketball League (NEBL), 1903–1904
- Western Massachusetts Basketball League (WMBL), 1903–1904
- Western Pennsylvania Basketball League (WPBL), 1903–1904; 1912–1913; 1914–1915
- New England Basketball Association (NEBA), 1904–1905
- Mohawk Valley League (MVL), 1906–1910
- Central Basketball League (CBL), 1906–1912
- Hudson River League (HRL), 1909–12
- Eastern Basketball League (EBL), 1909–1933
- New York State League (NYSL), 1911–23
- Pennsylvania State League (PSL), 1914–1921
- Interstate Basketball League (IBL), 1915–1920
- Interstate League (IL), 1919–1923
- Metropolitan Basketball League (MBL), 1921–1928
- American Basketball League (ABL), 1925–1955
- National Basketball League (NBL), 1926–27
- National Basketball League (NBL), 1929–30
- National Basketball League (NBL), 1932–33
- Midwest Basketball Conference (MBC), 1935–1937; became National Basketball League with 1937–38 season.
- National Basketball League (NBL), 1937–1949; merged with the Basketball Association of America to become the National Basketball Association.
- World Professional Basketball Tournament (WPBT), 1939–1948
- Eastern Pro League (EPL)
- Pacific Coast Professional Basketball League (PCPBL), 1946–1948
- Basketball Association of America (BAA), 1946–1949; merged with the National Basketball League to become the National Basketball Association.
- New York State Professional Basketball League (NYSPL), 1946–1949
- Continental Basketball Association (CBA), 1946–2009;[1] originally named Eastern Pennsylvania Basketball League, then Eastern Professional Basketball League.
- Professional Basketball League of America (PBLA), 1947–1948
- National Industrial Basketball League (NIBL), 1947–1961
- National Professional Basketball League (NPBL), 1950–1951
- American Basketball League (ABL), 1961–1963
- Midwest Professional Basketball League (MPBL) (1961-1964)
- North American Basketball League (1964-1968), (NABL) 1964–1968
- American Basketball Association (ABA), 1967–1976
- All-American Basketball Alliance (AABA), 1977–78
- Western Basketball Association (WBA), 1978–79
- World Basketball League (WBL), 1988–1992; was founded as the International Basketball Association in November 1987, before changing its name prior to the 1988 season.
- Global Basketball Association (GBA), 1991-92 - December 1992; league folded midway through 1992–93 season.
- International Basketball Association (IBA), 1995–2001
- International Basketball League (IBL), 1999–2001
- National Rookie League (NRL), 2000
- All-American Professional Basketball League (AAPBL), 2005
- United States Basketball League (USBL)
- National Professional Basketball League (NPBL)
- All-American Basketball Alliance (2010)
- Global Professional Basketball League (GPBL)
- Global Professional Basketball League 2 (GPBL 2)
- United Regions Basketball League (URBL)
- National Alliance Basketball League (NABL)
- National Athletic Basketball League (NABL)
- Universal Basketball League (UBL)
- Minor League Basketball Association (MLBA)
- Continental Basketball League (CBL)
- American Basketball League (ABL)
- Eastern Basketball Alliance (EBA)
- West Coast Pro Basketball League (WCBL)
- International Basketball League (IBL)
Asia[]
China
- Chinese New Basketball Alliance (CNBA), 1996–97
- Chinese University Basketball Super League (CUBS), 2004–15
Japan
- bj league - Basketball Japan League, 2005–16
- JBL - Japan Basketball League, 2007–2013
- NBL - National Basketball League, 2013–16
Malaysia
- MNBL - Malaysia National Basketball League, 1981–2013
Philippines
- Philippine Basketball League (PBL), 1983–2011
- Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA), 1938-1981
- Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA), 1998–2002
- National Basketball Conference (NBC), 2004–2008
- Liga Pilipinas (LP), 2008–2011
Republic of China (Taiwan)
- Chinese Basketball Alliance (CBA), 1995–1999
Europe[]
Subregional leagues
- BBL – Baltic Basketball League - teams from the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania plus Sweden
- CEBL – Central European Basketball League
National leagues
Belgium
- Pro Basketball League (PBL), 1925–2021; replaced by the BNXT League
Great Britain
- National Basketball League (NBL), 1972–2003
Netherlands
- Dutch Basketball League (DBL), 1960–2021; replaced by the BNXT League
Russia
- Professional Basketball League (PBL), 2010–2013; superseded by the VTB United League
Former Yugoslavia
- Yugoslav Basketball League
Oceania[]
Australia
- Australian Basketball Association (ABA), 1965–2008
- South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL), 1981–2018
New Zealand
- Conference Basketball League (CBL), 1981–2010
Women[]
Americas[]
United States
- (WPBA), 1975; the league folded before it ever started.
- Women's Professional Basketball League (WBL), 1978–1981
- (LPBA), 1980–81; formed as a rival league to the WBL when the WBL began to experience financial problems. The league was poorly organized and played only five (or seven) games before disbanding with three teams never playing a game.
- (WABA), 1984 See: (WABA)
- (NWBA), 1986; the league folded right before the season was supposed to start.
- (LBA), 1991; played one pre-season exhibition game on February 10, 1991, before disbanding.
- Women's Basketball Association (WBA), 1993-1995 See: (WBA/WABA)
- American Basketball League (ABL), 1996–1998
- National Women's Basketball League (NWBL), 1998–2007
- Women's American Basketball Association (WABA), 2002
- Women's Minor League Basketball Association (WMLBA), 2016–2020
Asia[]
China
- Women's Chinese University Basketball Super League (WCUBS), 2004–15
Philippines
- Pinay Ballers League (2014-2018)
- Women's Philippine Basketball League (WPBL)
Oceania[]
New Zealand
- Women's Basketball Championship (WBC)
- Women's Basketball Championship Division Two (WBC Division Two)
- Women's National Basketball League (WNBL)
- Women's Basketball League (WBL), conference-based second-tier league
References[]
- ^ "Continental Basketball Association Confronts an Uncertain Future". New York Times. 8 February 2009.
- Basketball leagues
- Basketball-related lists