The Basketball League of Serbia ( sr, Кошаркашка лига Србије, Košarkaška liga Srbije; abbr. КЛС or KLS), is a top-tier men's professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...

league League or The League may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Leagues'' (band), an American rock band * ''The League'', an American sitcom broadcast on FX and FXX about fantasy football Sports * Sports league * Rugby league, full contact footba ...

in Serbia. Founded in 2006, it is run by the

Basketball Federation of Serbia The Basketball Federation of Serbia ( sr, Кошаркашки савез Србије, Košarkaški savez Srbije) is a non-profit organization and the national sports governing body for basketball in Serbia. The organization represents Serbia in ...

(KSS).

Rules

Competition format

The league, operated by the Basketball Federation of Serbia, consists of two stages: the First League which has 16 teams and the SuperLeague which has 8 teams. Since the 2017–18 season, the top 8 teams in First League are promoted to Super League with five Serbian teams from the

ABA League The ABA League, renamed to the ABA League First Division in 2017, is the 1st-tier regional men's professional basketball league that originally featured clubs from the former Yugoslavia (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Mace ...

. Two lowest-placed teams, positioned 15th and 16th in the First League, are relegated to a lower-tier league –

Second Basketball League of Serbia Second Men's League of Serbia ( sr-cyr, Друга мушка лига Србије, Druga muška liga Srbije), previously Basketball League of Serbia B, is the second-tier level men's professional basketball league in Serbia Serbia (, ; S ...

. Teams positioned 1st and 2nd in First League will be qualified for the next season's

ABA League Second Division The ABA League Second Division, also ABA League 2, is the 2nd-tier men's basketball division of the ABA League system. It is run by the ABA League JTD. It is a regional competition between men's professional clubs from six countries: Bosnia and H ...

. The SuperLeague has 8 clubs divided into 2 groups of 4 teams. The best 4 clubs (top 2 teams from groups A and B each) in the SuperLeague go to the Playoff stage. The following is the access list for current season:

Arena standards

Currently, clubs must have home arenas with a capacity of a minimum of 1,000 seats.

History

Sponsorship naming

The League has had several denominations through the years due to its sponsorship: *

Sinalco Sinalco is a popular brand of non-alcoholic drinks first marketed in 1902, with sales in now more than 40 countries. Sinalco is the oldest soft drink brand in Europe. It is produced by Sinalco International, a company headquartered in Detmold, ...

Basketball League of Serbia: 2006–2007 * Swisslion Basketball League of Serbia: 2007–2009 * Agroživ Basketball League of Serbia: 2011–2013 * Mozzart Basketball League of Serbia: 2016–2019 * Admiral Bet Basketball League of Serbia: 2021–present

Champions

* 2006–07 Partizan * 2007–08 Partizan Igokea * 2008–09 Partizan Igokea * 2009–10 Partizan * 2010–11 Partizan * 2011–12 Partizan mt:s * 2012–13 Partizan mt:s * 2013–14 Partizan * 2014–15 Crvena zvezda Telekom * 2015–16 Crvena zvezda Telekom * 2016–17 Crvena zvezda mts * 2017–18 Crvena zvezda mts * 2018–19 Crvena zvezda mts * 2019–20 '' None declared'' * 2020–21 Crvena zvezda mts * 2021–22 Crvena zvezda mts

Titles by club

League commissioners

* 2006–2011: Tihomir Bubalo * 2011–2013: Predrag Bojić * 2013–present: Darko Jovičić

League CEOs

* 2006–2014: Dragan Gogić * 2014–2021: Leon Deleon * 2021–present: Aleksandar Grujin

Current teams

Standings

First League

SuperLeague Play-off finals

All–time national champions

''Total number of national champions won by Serbian clubs. Table includes titles won during the Yugoslav First Federal League (1945–1992) and

First League of Serbia and Montenegro The First League of Serbia and Montenegro ( sr, Прва савезна лига / Prva savezna liga) was the top football league of Serbia and Montenegro, before the country's dissolution in 2006. The league was formed following the breakup of Y ...

(1992–2006) as well.''

Statistical leaders

Points

Rebounds

Assists

Awards

BLS First League MVP The BLS First League MVP, or the Serbian First League MVP, is the award bestowed to the player that is deemed to be the "Most Valuable Player" during the first part of a season of the Basketball League of Serbia. The Basketball League of Serbia is ...

BLS Super League MVP The BLS Super League MVP, or Serbian Super League MVP, is the award bestowed to the player that is deemed to be the "Most Valuable Player" during the second part of a season of the Basketball League of Serbia. The Basketball League of Serbia is the ...

BLS Playoff MVP The BLS Playoff MVP, or Serbian League Playoff MVP, is the award bestowed to the player that is deemed to be the "Most Valuable Player" during the playoff of the Basketball League of Serbia. The Basketball League of Serbia is the top-tier level na ...

Notable players

Nemanja Aleksandrov Nemanja Aleksandrov ( Serbian Cyrillic: Немања Александров, born April 10, 1987) is a Serbian professional basketball player. He also represented the Serbian national basketball team internationally. He is a 2.10 m (6 ft 11 i ...

Stefan Birčević Stefan Birčević ( sr, Стефан Бирчевић, born December 13, 1989) is a Serbian professional basketball player for Cluj of the Romanian Liga Națională. He also represents the Serbian national basketball team. Standing at , he plays ...

* Nemanja Bjelica * Bogdan Bogdanović *

Luka Bogdanović Luka Bogdanović ( sr, Лука Богдановић, born February 11, 1985) is a Serbian former professional basketball player who last played for Joventut Badalona of the Liga ACB. Standing at , he plays at the small forward position. Profes ...

Zlatko Bolić Zlatko Bolić (Serbian Cyrillic: Златко Болић; born February 6, 1974) is a Serbian professional basketball executive and former player. He currently serves as the general secretary of the Basketball Federation of Serbia. He was one of ...

* Branko Cvetković *

Marko Čakarević Marko Čakarević ( sr-cyr, Марко Чакаревић, born May 13, 1988) is a Serbian professional basketball player for Žitko Basket. Professional career Čakarević started his professional career with the French team ASVEL, where he play ...

Tadija Dragićević Tadija Dragićević ( sr-cyr, Тадија Драгићевић; born 28 January 1986) is a retired Serbian professional basketball player. Standing at , he played the power forward position. Professional career Dragićević grew up with the KK ...

Zoran Erceg Zoran Erceg (Serbian Cyrillic: Зоран Ерцег; born 11 January 1985) is a Serbian former professional basketball player. He represented the Serbian national basketball team internationally. Standing at , he played the power forward positi ...

* Marko Gudurić *

Milan Gurović Milan Gurović ( sr-cyrl, Милан Гуровић; born 17 June 1975) is a Serbian former professional basketball player and current basketball coach. During his pro career, he played for numerous clubs from all over Europe. Gurović was also ...

Nikola Jokić Nikola Jokić ( sr-cyr, Никола Јокић, (); born February 19, 1995) is a Serbian professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) who plays the center position. A four-time NBA All-St ...

Stefan Jović Stefan Jović ( sr-cyr, Стефан Јовић, born November 3, 1990) is a Serbian professional basketball player for Basket Zaragoza of the Liga ACB. He represents the senior Serbian national basketball team internationally. Standing at , he ...

Nikola Kalinić Nikola Kalinić (; born 5 January 1988) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Croatian club Hajduk Split. Kalinić began his career with Hajduk Split in his native Croatia before moving to English club Blackburn Rove ...

* Raško Katić * Dušan Kecman *

Marko Kešelj Marko Kešelj ( sr-cyr, Марко Кешељ, born January 2, 1988) is a Serbian politician and retired professional basketball player serving as the state secretary in the Ministry of Sports since 4 November 2022. He previously served as a memb ...

Ognjen Kuzmić Ognjen Kuzmić ( sr-cyrl, Огњен Кузмић, ; born May 16, 1990) is a Serbian professional basketball player for Crvena zvezda of the Adriatic League and the EuroLeague. He also represented the senior Serbian national basketball team int ...

Dragan Labović Dragan Labović ( sr-cyr, Драган Лабовић; born April 20, 1987) is a Serbian former professional basketball player who last played for BC Nokia of the Finnish Korisliiga. He also represented the Serbian national basketball team interna ...

* Vladimir Lučić *

Milan Mačvan Milan Mačvan ( sr, Милан Мачван, born 16 November 1989) is a Serbian former professional basketball player. Standing at , he played at the power forward position. He also represented the Serbian national basketball team international ...

Marko Marinović Marko Marinović ( sr-cyr, Марко Мариновић, ; born 15 March 1983) is a Serbian professional basketball coach and former player. Professional career On 12 July 2013, Marinović signed with Radnički Kragujevac for the 2013–14 seas ...

Boban Marjanović Boban Marjanović ( sr-Cyrl, Бобан Марјановић; born August 15, 1988) is a Serbian professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also plays for the Serbian national basketba ...

* Stefan Marković * Branko Milisavljević *

Dragan Milosavljević Dragan Milosavljević ( sr-cyr, Драган Милосављевић; born May 11, 1989) is a Serbian professional basketball player for Igokea of the ABA League. He also represented the Serbian national basketball team internationally. Standin ...

Nemanja Nedović Nemanja Nedović ( sr-Cyrl, Немања Недовић; ; born 16 June 1991) is a Serbian professional basketball player for Crvena zvezda of the Adriatic League and the EuroLeague. He also represented the senior Serbian national basketball team ...

Ivan Paunić Ivan Paunić ( sr-cyr, Иван Паунић; born January 27, 1987) is a Serbian professional basketball player for Russian team Lokomotiv Kuban of the VTB United League, and of the EuroCup until the team was suspended due to the 2022 Russian i ...

* Kosta Perović *

Vuk Radivojević Vuk Radivojević ( sr-cyr, Вук Радивојевић, born July 30, 1983) is a retired Serbian professional basketball player. He represented the Serbian national basketball team internationally. Professional career Radivojević had his firs ...

Miroslav Raduljica Miroslav Raduljica ( sr-cyr, Мирослав Радуљица, born January 5, 1988) is a Serbian professional basketball player for KK Crvena zvezda, Crvena zvezda of the ABA League, Adriatic League and the EuroLeague. He also represents the Ser ...

Igor Rakočević Igor Rakočević ( sr-cyrl, Игор Ракочевић; born 29 March 1978) is a Serbian professional basketball executive and former player. At a height of 1.94 m (6'4 ") tall, he played at both the point guard and shooting guard positions, but ...

* Milovan Raković *

Aleksandar Rašić Aleksandar Rašić ( sr, Александар Рашић; born March 16, 1984) is a Serbian former professional basketball player. He represented the Serbia national basketball team internationally. Professional career Rašić began his professi ...

Boris Savović Boris Savović (Serbian Cyrillic: Борис Савовић; born June 18, 1987) is a Serbian-Montenegrin professional basketball player for Al-Muharraq of the Bahraini Premier League. Standing at 2.10 meters, he mainly features as a power forward ...

* Marko Simonović *

Miloš Teodosić Miloš Teodosić ( sr-cyr, Милош Теодосић, born March 19, 1987) is a Serbian professional basketball player for Virtus Bologna of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) and the EuroLeague. He also represents the National Basketball ...

Milenko Tepić Milenko Tepić ( sr, Миленко Тепић; born February 27, 1987) is a Serbian professional basketball executive and former player. He is 2.02 m (6 ft 7.5 in) tall, and a combo guard-point forward. Professional career Tepić began his ...

Milenko Topić Milenko Topić (; born 6 March 1969) is a Serbian professional basketball coach and former player. Playing career A power forward, Topić spent most of his professional career playing in the YUBA League, representing Profikolor, BFC Beočin ...

* Uroš Tripković *

Novica Veličković Novica Veličković ( sr-cyr, Новица Величковић; born 5 October 1986) is a Serbian former professional basketball player who is the team manager for Mega Basket of the Basketball League of Serbia and the ABA League. He also rep ...

* Čedomir Vitkovac *

Rade Zagorac Rade Zagorac ( sr-cyr, Раде Загорац; born 12 August 1995) is a Serbian professional basketball player for Avtodor Saratov of the VTB United League. Standing at 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m), he mainly plays at the small forward position. Profess ...

* Jonah Bolden *

Nathan Jawai Nathan Leon Jawai (born 10 October 1986) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Darwin Salties of the NBL1 North. Standing at 209 cm, he plays at the power forward and centre positions. Early life Born at the Royal Hos ...

Aleks Marić Aleksandar "Aleks" Marić (Serbian Cyrillic: Александар "Алекс“ Марић, born 22 October 1984) is an Australian-Serbian former professional basketball player. Marić gained a reputation as a winner over the course of his succ ...

Steven Marković Steven Marković (born 14 March 1985) is an Australian former professional basketball player. Early life Marković was born in the Sydney suburb of Liverpool to a Serbian father and an Italian mother. Professional career Marković was a develo ...

* Ratko Varda * Milt Palacio *

Filip Videnov Filip Aleksandrov Videnov (born June 12, 1980) is a Bulgarian retired professional basketball player who last played for Beroe of the NBL. He was also a longtime member of the Bulgarian men's national team. Videnov played college basketball ...

Ivica Zubac Ivica Zubac (; ; born 18 March 1997) is a Croatian professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round in the 2016 NBA draft. He ...

Jan Veselý Jan Veselý (born 24 April 1990) is a Czech professional basketball player for FC Barcelona of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. Standing at , he can play both the power forward and center positions. He was selected sixth overall in th ...

Jamar Wilson Jamar J. Wilson (born February 22, 1984) is an American-Finnish professional basketball player for Boulazac Basket Dordogne of the LNB Pro B. Standing at , he plays at the point guard position. High school career Wilson attended Our Savior New A ...

Joffrey Lauvergne Joffrey Lauvergne (born 30 September 1991) is a French professional basketball player for ASVEL of the French LNB Pro A and the EuroLeague.. He was drafted 55th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2013 NBA draft, who then traded his rights t ...

Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot (; born 9 May 1995) is a French professional basketball player for Olimpia Milano of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) and the EuroLeague. He was selected with the 24th overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the ...

* Léo Westermann *

Stéphane Lasme Yann Ulrich Stéphane Lasme (born December 17, 1982) is a Gabonese former professional basketball player. He played college basketball at the University of Massachusetts (UMass), with the UMass Minutemen, and he was selected by the Golden State Wa ...

Maik Zirbes Maik Zirbes (born 29 January 1990) is a German professional basketball player for Benfica of the Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol. He also represents the senior German national basketball team in the international competitions. Standing at , he p ...

* Rawle Marshall * István Németh *

Dāvis Bertāns Dāvis Bertāns (born 12 November 1992) is a Latvian professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed the "Latvian Laser", he also represents the Latvian national team. He was the 42 ...

* Corey Webster *

Bo McCalebb Lester "Bo" McCalebb ( mk, Лестер „Бо“ МекКејлеб; born May 4, 1985) is an American-Macedonian former professional basketball player. He represented the senior Macedonian national team internationally. Standing at , he played ...

Pero Antić Pero Antić ( mk, Перо Антиќ, ; born July 29, 1982), is a North Macedonian basketball executive and former professional player. He currently serves as a president of the Basketball Federation of North Macedonia. Antić was a member an ...

Predrag Samardžiski Predrag Samardžiski ( mk, Предраг Самарџиски; born April 11, 1986) is a Macedonian professional basketball player who plays for EuroNickel 2005 of the Macedonian League. Professional career Samardžiski started his career at K ...

Omar Cook Omar-Sharif Cook ( sr, Omar-Šarif Kuk / Омар-Шариф Кук; born January 28, 1982) is an American-Montenegrin professional basketball coach and former player who is an assistant coach for the Cleveland Charge of the NBA G League. He re ...

* Vladimir Dašić * Predrag Drobnjak *

Aleksandar Pavlović Aleksandar "Saša" Pavlović (Anglicized: Sasha Pavlovic, sr-cyr, Александар "Саша" Павловић; born November 15, 1983) is a Serbian-Montenegrin basketball executive and former professional basketball player who spent ten seas ...

* Nikola Peković * Slavko Vraneš * Jaka Blažič * Goran Jagodnik *

Edo Murić Edo Murić (born November 27, 1991) is a Slovenian professional basketball player who last played for Cedevita Olimpija of the Slovenian League and the ABA League. He also represents the Slovenian national team. Standing at 2.02 m (6 ft 8 ...

* Duşan Çantekin *

Semih Erden Semih Erden (born July 28, 1986) is a Turkish professional basketball player for Türk Telekom of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL). Standing at , he plays at the center position. Professional career Early years Erden played with Darüşşafaka in ...

Vonteego Cummings Vonteego Marfeek Cummings (born February 29, 1976) is an American professional basketball player who last played for Atenienses de Manatí of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) in Puerto Rico. A combo guard, he played in the National Basketb ...

* James Gist * Dominic James * Charles Jenkins *

Curtis Jerrells Curtis Louis Jerrells Jr. (born February 5, 1987) is an American professional basketball player for Zamalek of the Egyptian Basketball Super League. Standing at , he plays at the point guard position. High school Jerrells was a four-year starter ...

* Michael Lee *

Quincy Miller Quincy Cortez Miller (born November 18, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for SeaHorses Mikawa of the Japanese B.League. He played for the Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Associ ...

DeMarcus Nelson DeMarcus De'Juan Nelson (; born November 2, 1985) is an American-Serbian former professional basketball player. Standing at 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) he played at the point guard position. He also holds Serbian citizenship as of 2014. College car ...

* Lawrence Roberts * Michael Scott *

David Simon David Judah Simon (born February 9, 1960) is an American author, journalist, screenwriter, and producer best known for his work on '' The Wire'' (2002–08). He worked for '' The Baltimore Sun'' City Desk for twelve years (1982–95), wrote '' H ...

Omar Thomas Omar Abdul Thomas (born February 27, 1982) is an American former professional basketball player. Early years Thomas was born in Philadelphia. Having taken the first steps to Strawberry Mansion High School and at Panola Junior College (Texas), ...

* Nate Wolters *

Terrico White Terrico Reshard White (born March 7, 1990) is an American professional basketball player. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, he was drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the 36th overall pick in the second round of the 2010 NBA draft after playing ...

* Marcus Williams

References

External links

*
Basketball League of Serbia
at eurobasket.com {{YUBA League

Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia ( Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin and the Balkans. It shares land borders with Hu ...

2006 establishments in Serbia Professional sports leagues in Serbia