The USSR Premier Basketball League, or Soviet Union Premier Basketball League (also called Supreme League), was the first-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 (appro ...

league in the former

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

. The league existed from 1923 to 1991, as the top professional basketball league of the Soviet Union, and from 1991 to 1992, as the top professional basketball league of the CIS. In the years 1924, 1928, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1956, 1959, 1963, and 1967, the league was contested by city teams, regional teams, and state national teams, rather than individual sports clubs. CSKA Moscow was the league's most successful club, having won the league's championship 24 times, including winning 9 consecutive championships, from 1976 to 1984. The league featured the players of the senior men's Soviet Union national basketball team. The league exists in a similar format today, as the VTB United League. Although, the VTB United League can include clubs from countries that were not a part of the Soviet Union.

USSR League history

* 1923–24 to 1935–36 Soviet Union Regional League * 1936–37 to 1990–91 Soviet Union National League * ......1991 to 1992...... CIS National League

Title holders

* 1923–24: Team Moscow * 1924–27: Not held * 1927–28: Team Moscow * 1928–33: Not held * 1933–34: Team Leningrad * 1934–35: Team Moscow * 1935–36: Team Leningrad * 1936–37: Dynamo Moscow * 1937–38: Burevestnik Leningrad * 1938–39:

Lokomotiv Moscow FC Lokomotiv Moscow (, ) is a Russian professional association football, football club based in Moscow. Lokomotiv have won the Russian Premier League on three occasions; the Soviet Cup twice; and the Russian Cup (football), Russian Cup a record ...

* 1939–40: Burevestnik Leningrad * 1940–43: Not held * 1943–44: Armia Tbilisi * 1944–45: CDKA Moscow * 1945–46: Armia Tbilisi * 1946–47: Žalgiris Kaunas * 1947–48: Dynamo Moscow * 1948–49: Tartu Ülikool * 1949–50:

Dinamo Tbilisi Dinamo Tbilisi is a sports club from Tbilisi, Georgia (country), Georgia. It was founded in 1925. Among its highest honors, is the European trophy earned by its Association football, football team which won the Cup Winners' Cup in 1981, beating ...

* 1950–51: Žalgiris Kaunas * 1951–52: VVS Moscow * 1952–53:

* 1953–54:

* 1954–55: Rīgas ASK * 1955–56: Latvian SSR Team * 1956–57: Rīgas ASK * 1957–58: Rīgas ASK * 1958–59: Team Moscow * 1959–60: CSKA Moscow * 1960–61: CSKA Moscow * 1961–62: CSKA Moscow * 1962–63: Team Moscow * 1963–64: CSKA Moscow * 1964–65: CSKA Moscow * 1965–66: CSKA Moscow * 1966–67: Ukrainian SSR Team * 1967–68:

* 1968–69: CSKA Moscow * 1969–70: CSKA Moscow * 1970–71: CSKA Moscow * 1971–72: CSKA Moscow * 1972–73: CSKA Moscow * 1973–74: CSKA Moscow * 1974–75: Spartak Leningrad * 1975–76: CSKA Moscow * 1976–77: CSKA Moscow * 1977–78: CSKA Moscow * 1978–79: CSKA Moscow * 1979–80: CSKA Moscow * 1980–81: CSKA Moscow * 1981–82: CSKA Moscow * 1982–83: CSKA Moscow * 1983–84: CSKA Moscow * 1984–85: Žalgiris Kaunas * 1985–86: Žalgiris Kaunas * 1986–87: Žalgiris Kaunas * 1987–88: CSKA Moscow * 1988–89: Budivelnyk Kyiv * 1989–90: CSKA Moscow * 1990–91: Kalev Tallinn * 1991–92: Spartak Saint Petersburg

League medalists

* Most championships won: CSKA Moscow: 24 * Most consecutive championships won: CSKA Moscow: 9 (1976–1984)

Titles by club

Titles by Republic

Soviet basketball clubs in European and worldwide competitions

Historical players

*By Former Soviet Federation places of birth:

Armenian SSR The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic (ArSSR), also known as Soviet Armenia, or simply Armenia, was one of the constituent republics of the Soviet Union, located in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Soviet Armenia bordered the Soviet republics ...

: * Armenak Alachachian Azerbaijan SSR: * Aleksandr Petrov Byelorussian SSR: * Ivan Edeshko Estonian SSR: * Heino Enden * Heino Kruus * Ilmar Kullam * Jaak Lipso * Joann Lõssov * Tiit Sokk * Priit Tomson Georgian SSR: * Mikheil Korkia * Otar Korkia * Guram Minashvili * Levan Moseshvili * Zurab Sakandelidze * Vladimer Ugrekhelidze Kazakh SSR: * Alzhan Zharmukhamedov

Karelo-Finnish SSR The Karelo-Finnish Soviet Socialist Republic (Karelo-Finnish SSR), also called Soviet Karelia or simply known as Karelia, was a republic of the Soviet Union. It existed from 31 March 1940 until it was made part of the Russian SFSR on 16 July 1956 ...

: * Andrey Makeyev

Latvian SSR The Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (Also known as the Latvian SSR, or Latvia) was a Republics of the Soviet Union, constituent republic of the Soviet Union from 1940 to 1941, and then from 1944 until 1990. The Soviet occupation of the Bal ...

: * Alvils Gulbis * Oļģerts Hehts * Juris Kalniņš * Jānis Krūmiņš * Igors Miglinieks * Raimonds Miglinieks * Valdis Muižnieks * Maigonis Valdmanis * Valdis Valters * Gundars Vētra Lithuanian SSR: * Stepas Butautas * Raimundas Čivilis * Valdemaras Chomičius *

Gintaras Einikis Gintaras Einikis (born September 30, 1969) is a Lithuanian retired professional basketball player and current basketball coach, coach. He stands at 6 ft 10 in (208 cm), and is a former Center (basketball), center for the senior Lithuania ...

* Gintaras Krapikas * Sergejus Jovaiša * Artūras Karnišovas *

Rimas Kurtinaitis Rimas Kurtinaitis (born 15 May 1960) is a Lithuanian professional basketball coach and former player who is currently the head coach of the Lithuania men's national basketball team, Lithuania men's national team and Sabah BC. As a player, he was ...

* Algirdas Linkevičius * Darius Lukminas * Šarūnas Marčiulionis * Modestas Paulauskas * Arvydas Sabonis * Arūnas Visockas

Russian SFSR The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (Russian SFSR or RSFSR), previously known as the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic and the Russian Soviet Republic, and unofficially as Soviet Russia,Declaration of Rights of the labo ...

: * Vladimir Andreev * Vladimir Arzamaskov * Sergei Bazarevich * Sasha Belov *

Sergei Belov Sergei Alexandrovich Belov (; 23 January 1944 – 3 October 2013) was a Russian professional basketball player, most noted for playing for PBC CSKA Moscow, CSKA Moscow and the senior Soviet Union national basketball team. He is considered to be on ...

* Arkady Bochkaryov * Ivan Dvorny * Valeri Fedorov * Andrei Fetisov * Vadim Kapranov * Vasily Karasev * Vyacheslav Khrynin * Evgeni Kisurin * Anatoly Konev * Yuri Korneev * Sergei Kovalenko * Igor Kudelin * Andrey Lopatov * Mikhail Mikhailov * Valery Miloserdov * Anatoly Myshkin * Nikita Morgunov * Viktor Pankrashkin * Sergei Panov * Evgeniy Pashutin * Yuri Selikhov * Mikhail Semyonov * Sergei Tarakanov * Vladimir Tkachenko * Aleksandr Travin * Gennadi Volnov * Stanislav Yeryomin *

Viktor Zubkov Viktor Alekseyevich Zubkov ( rus, Ви́ктор Алексе́евич Зубко́в, p=ˈvʲiktər ɐlʲɪkˈsʲejɪvʲɪdʑ zʊpˈkof; born 15 September 1941) is a Russian civil servant, politician and businessman who served as the List of h ...

Ukrainian SSR The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, abbreviated as the Ukrainian SSR, UkrSSR, and also known as Soviet Ukraine or just Ukraine, was one of the Republics of the Soviet Union, constituent republics of the Soviet Union from 1922 until 1991. ...

: * Sasha Volkov * Anatolij Kovtun * Valery Goborov * Anatoli Polivoda * Sergei Kovalenko * Aleksandr Salnikov * Alexander Belostenny Uzbek SSR: * Valeri Tikhonenko

Historical coaches

*By Former Soviet Federation places of birth:

: * Armenak Alachachian * Stepan Spandaryan Georgian SSR: * Otar Korkia Lithuanian SSR: * Vladas Garastas

: *

* Alexander Gomelsky *

Vladimir Kondrashin Vladimir Petrovich Kondrashin (; 14 January 1929 in Saint Petersburg, Leningrad, Soviet Union – 23 December 1999 in Saint Petersburg, Russia) was a Soviet and Russian professional basketball player and Coach (basketball), coach. He was inducted ...

* Vladimir Obuchov * Yuri Selikhov * Pavel Tsetlin * Konstantin Travin

The lineups and rosters of the USSR League champions

1923–24: Team Moscow: Belyaev, A. Kovalev, S. Pashkov, V. Strepiheev, S. Chesnokov. 1927–28: Team Moscow: S. Vorobyov, A. Gusev, M.Medvedev, N. Strokin, K. Travin. 1933–34: Team Leningrad: F. Hostilius, Krasovskii, S. Kuznetsov, M. Morozov, P. Osipov, Vn. Rodionov, G. Tishinskiy. 1934–35: Team Moscow: E. Bokunyaev, V. Gorokhov, Zimin, A. Lobanov, M. Semichastny, J. Titov, K. Travin, A. Tolkachev. 1935–36: Team Leningrad: F. Hostilius, A. Elenskiy, Kuznetsov, V. Kurkov, M. Sverckov, G. Tishinskiy. 1936–37: Dynamo Moscow: V. Gorokhov, A. Grigoriev, V. Dmitriev, Alexander Zaitsev, A. Zinin, Rumyantsev, S. Spandaryan. 1937–38: Burevestnik Leningrad: B. Abramov, V. Zhebokritsky, B. Kondrashov, A. Selivanov, Stepanov. 1938–39: Lokomotiv Moscow: En. Alekseev, Belyaev, A. Lobanov, V. Kiselev, Romishevsky, Y. Titov, K. Travin. 1939–40: Burevestnik Leningrad: B. Abramov, V. Zhebokritsky, Zlobin, V. Kondrashov, V. Razzhivin, Rogov, A. Selivanov, Stepanov. 1943–44: Armia Tbilisi: N. Jorjkia, L. Dzekonsky, Ermakov, G. Zahlyan, B. Oganezov, B. Sarkisov, M. Filippov. 1944–45: CSKA Moscow: Ev. Alekseev, En. Alekseev, Bajkov, Grebenshchikov, V. Kudryashov, S. Kuznetsov, B. Mershin. 1945–46: Armia Tbilisi: G. Akhvlediani, A. Vachadze, G. Gupalov, L. Dzekonsky, N. Jorjikia, S. Oganezov, B. Sarkisov, O. Sulaberidze, M. Filippov. 1946–47: Žalgiris Kaunas: S. Butautas, A. Vilimas, V. Dzenis, I. Kilšauskas, J. Lagunavičius, V. Majorovas, K. Petkevičius, V. Sercevičius, V. Kulakauskas. 1947–48: Dynamo Moscow: G. Bajkov, V. Vlasov, V. Kolpakov, A. Konev, Kogan, Y. Ozerov, Al. Saychuk, P. Sergeev, B. Fedotov, Yuri Ushakov. 1948–49: Tartu Ülikool: U. Kiivet, H. Krevald, I. Kull, V. Laats, I. Lysov, G. Rekker, H. Russak, E. Ehaveer, O.Õun, H. Kruus. 1949–50:

: D. Godziashvili, N. Jorjikia, V. Zhgenti, S. Tortladze, L. Intskirveli, S. Korkashvili, O. Korkia, A. Meskhi, J. Nizharadze, G. Rukhadze. 1950–51: Žalgiris Kaunas: I. Balakauskas, G. Butautas, J. Lagunavičius, A. Nemcevičius, K. Petkevičius, Z. Sabulis, V. Sercevičius, L. Tendzegolskis, V. Timleris. 1951–52: VVS Moscow: Ev. Alekseev, En. Alekseev, V. Antonov, G. Gupalov, E. Kazakov, A. Konev, A. Moiseev, D. Osipov, G. Silins, S. Tarasov. 1952–53:

: G.K. Abashidze, G.A. Abashidze, V. Gvantseladze, N. Jorjikia, M. Eganov, V. Zhgenti, L. Intskirveli, A. Kiladze, O. Korkia, G. Minashvili, J. Nizharadze. 1953–54:

: G.K. Abashidze, G.A. Abashidze, M. Asitashvili, N. Jorjikia, V. Zhgenti, L. Intskirveli, M. Kvachantiradze, A. Kiladze, O. Korkia, G. Kutchava, J. Nizharadze. 1954–55: Rīgas ASK: M. Valdmanis, T. Gavars, A. Gulbis, T. Kalhert, J. Krumins, A. Leonchik, V. Muiznieks, G. Silins, V. Skalder, O. Hecht, L. Jankowski. 1955–56: Latvian SSR Team: M. Valdmanis, I. Veritis, J. Kalnins, T. Kalhert, R. Karnitis, J. Krumins, A. Leonchik, V. Muiznieks, G. Silins, O. Hecht, L. Jankowski. 1956–57; Rīgas ASK: M. Valdmanis, I. Veritis, A. Gulbis, J. Davids, T. Kalhert, J. Krumins, A. Leonchik, V. Muiznieks, Ostrouhs J., G. Silins, O. Hecht. 1957–58: Rīgas ASK: M. Valdmanis, I. Veritis, A. Gulbis, T. Kalhert, J. Krumins, A. Leonchik, V. Muiznieks, G. Muiznieks, G. Silins, O. Hecht. 1958–59: Team Moscow: A. Alachachan, A. Astakhov, N. Balabanov, Bochkarev, G. Volnov, V. Zubkov, Korneev Yu, Y. Ozerov, Semenov, M. Studenetsky, V. Torban. 1959–60: CSKA Moscow: A. Alachachan, A. Astakhov, A. Bochkarev, Volkov, V. Zubkov, Karpov, V. Kopylov, Semenov, P. Sirotinsky, A. Travin, V. Kharitonov. 1960–61: CSKA Moscow: A. Alachachan, A. Astakhov, Bochkarev, G. Volnov, Volkov, V. Zubkov, Karpov, V. Kopylov, Semenov, P. Sirotinsky, A. Travin, B . Kharitonov. 1961–62: CSKA Moscow: A. Alachachan, A. Astakhov, Bochkarev, G. Volnov, Volkov, V. Zubkov, Karpov, V. Kovalchuk, Y. Korneev, J. Lipso, Semenov, S . Sirotinsky, A. Travin. 1962–63: Team Moscow: A. Alachachan, A. Astakhov, Bochkarev, G. Volnov, Volkov, V. Zubkov, Yu. Korneev, A. Kulkov, J. Lipso, Petrov, A. Travin, V. Hrynin, A. Shatalin. 1963–64: CSKA Moscow: A. Alachachan, A. Astakhov, A. Borodin, A. Bochkarev, G. Volnov, V. Zubkov, Yuri Korneev, A. Kulkov, J. Lipso, P. Sirotinsky, A. Travin. 1964–65: CSKA Moscow: A. Alachachan, A. Astakhov, A. Borodin, A. Bochkarev, I. Bryansk, G. Volnov, V. Zubkov, B. Kapranov, Y. Korneev, A. Kulkov, J. Lipso, A. Travin. 1965–66: CSKA Moscow: A. Alachachan, A. Astakhov, A. Borodin, A. Bochkarev, I. Bryansk, G. Volnov, V. Zubkov, B. Kapranov, A. Kovalev, Yuri Korneev, A. Kulkov, J. Lipso, V. Rodionov, A. Travin. 1966–67: Ukrainian SSR Team: V. Bryantsev, A. Valtin, B. Gladun, Novikov, V. Okipnyak, B. Pinchuk, A. Polivoda, L. Poplawski, W. Saluhin, N. Sushak, G. Chechurov. 1967–68:

: V. Altabaev, B. Bolqvadze, A. Kazandjian, Z. Karabak, M. Korkia, A. Lejava, Z. Leontiev, S. Magalashvili, R. Mamaladze, L. Moseshvili, V. Narimanidze, A. Skhiereli, V. Ugrekhelidze, T. Chikhladze. 1968–69: CSKA Moscow: Andreev, A. Astakhov, Belov, A. Blick, G. Volnov, V. Kapranov, N. Kovyrkin, N. Kryuchkov, A. Kulkov, J. Lipso, P. Nesterov, B. Selikhov, A. Sidyakin. 1969–70: CSKA Moscow: V. Andreev, S. Belov, A. Blick, N. Gilgner, A. Zharmukhamedov, V. Illyuk, V. Kapranov, N. Kovyrkin, N. Kryuchkov, A. Kulkov, V. Mercy, Ne. Selikhov, A. Sidyakin. 1970–71: CSKA Moscow: Andreev, Belov, N. Gilgner, I. Edeshko, A. Zharmukhamedov, V. Illyuk, V. Kapranov, Kovalenko, N. Kovyrkin, A. Kulkov, V. Mercy, C. Subbotin. 1971–72: CSKA Moscow: V. Andreev, S. Belov, I. Edeshko, A. Zharmukhamedov, V. Illyuk, V. Kapranov, Kovalenko, N. Kovyrkin, A. Kulkov, V. Miloserdov, V. Petrakov, C. Astrebov. 1972–73: CSKA Moscow: Andreev, Belov, N. Dyachenko, I. Edeshko, A. Zharmukhamedov, V. Illyuk, Kovalenko, N. Kovyrkin, A. Kulkov, V. Miloserdov, V. Petrakov, C. Astrebov. 1973–74. CSKA Moscow: V. Akimov, Belov, N. Dyachenko, I. Edeshko, A. Zharmukhamedov, V. Illyuk, Kovalenko, N. Kovyrkin, P. Lushenko, V. Miloserdov, V. Petrakov, C. Astrebov 1974–75: Spartak Leningrad: V. Arzamas, A. Belov, A. Bolshakov, L. Ivanov, S. Kuznetsov, A. Makeev, Y. Pavlov, M. Silantyev, V. Fedovrov, Yu. Shtukin, V. Yakovlev. 1975–76: CSKA Moscow: Mr. Avdeev, Belov, N. Dyachenko, I. Edeshko, S. Eremin, A. Zharmukhamedov, Kovalenko, S. Kovalenko, N. Kovyrkin, V. Miloserdov, V. Petrakov, C. Astrebov. 1976–77: CSKA Moscow: Belov, A. Gusev, I. Edeshko, S. Eremin, A. Zharmukhamedov, Kovalenko, S. Kovalenko, A. Lopatov, A. Meleshkin, V. Miloserdov, A. Mishkin, B. Petrakov. 1977–78: CSKA Moscow: V. Arzamas, Belov, A. Gusev, S. Eremin, A. Zharmukhamedov, Kovalenko, S. Kovalenko, A. Lopatov, A. Meleshkin, V. Miloserdov, A. Mishkin, B. Petrakov. 1978–79: CSKA Moscow: Belov, A. Gusev, I. Edeshko, S. Eremin, A. Zharmukhamedov, Kovalenko, S. Kovalenko, A. Lopatov, A. Meleshkin, V. Miloserdov, A. Mishkin, B. Petrakov. 1979–80: CSKA Moscow: Belov, A. Belostenny, S. Eremin, A. Zharmukhamedov, Kovalenko, S. Kovalenko, A. Lopatov, V. Miloserdov, A. Mishkin, Pankrashin, V. Petrakov, S. Tarakanov. 1980–81: CSKA Moscow: Gusev, S. Eremin, Kovalenko, S. Kovalenko, M. Kozhelyanko, V. Kuzmin, A. Lopatov, V. Miloserdov, A. Mishkin, Pankrashin, V. Petrakov, S. Tarakanov. 1981–82: CSKA Moscow: Gusev, S. Eremin, A. Kovtun, M. Kozhelyanko, V. Kuzmin, R. Kurtinaitis, A. Lopatov, A. Meleshkin, V. Miloserdov, A. Mishkin, Pankrashin, S. Tarakanov. 1982–83: CSKA Moscow: Gusev, S. Eremin, V. Kuzmin, A. Lopatov, A. Lyndin, A. Meleshkin, A. Mishkin, Pankrashin, Popov, D. Sukharev, S. Tarakanov, V. Tkachenko. 1983–84: CSKA Moscow: S. Bazarevich, A. Gusev, S. Eremin, A. Ermolinsky, A. Lopatov, A. Mishkin, Pankrashin, Popov, D. Sukharev, S. Tarakanov, V. Tkachenko, H. Enden. 1984–85: Žalgiris Kaunas: M. Arlauskas, A. Brazys, A. Visockas, S. Jovaiša, G. Krapikas, R. Kurtinaitis, M. Lekarauskas, A. Sabonis, V. Chomičius, R. Čivilis, V. Jankauskas. 1985–86: Žalgiris Kaunas: A. Brazys, A. Visockas, S. Jovaiša, G. Krapikas, R. Kurtinaitis, M. Lekarauskas, A. Sabonis, V. Chomičius, R. Čivilis, V. Jankauskas. 1986–87: Žalgiris Kaunas: A. Brazys, A. Visockas, A. Venclovas, S. Jovaiša, G. Krapikas, R. Kurtinaitis, M. Lekarauskas, A. Sabonis, V. Chomičius, R. Čivilis, V. Jankauskas. 1987–88: CSKA Moscow: V. Berezhnoj, Volkov, V. Goborov, Gorin, A. Lopatov, I. Miglinieks, Minaev, Pankrashin, S. Popov, S. Tarakanov, V. Tkachenko, H. Enden. 1988–89: Budivelnyk Kyiv: A. Belostenny, Volkov, E. Dolgov, A. Kovtun, Y. Kosenko, V. Levitsky, E. Murzin, S. Orehov, I. Pinchuk, A. Podkovyrov, Yu. Silvestrov, A. Shaptala, A. Shevchenko. 1989–90: CSKA Moscow: V. Berezhnoj, Gorin, A. Gusev, A. Kornev, S. Kocherin, A. Lopatov, A. Meleshkin, Minaev, S. Popov, G. Rezcov, S. Tarakanov, V. Tkachenko. 1990–91: Kalev Tallinn: S. Babenko, G. Jackson, A. Karavaev, G. Kullamäe, A. Kuusmaa, M. Metstak, A. Nagel, M. Noormets, R. Pehka, I. Saksakulm, T. Sokk, A. Toomiste. 1991–92 ( CIS League): Spartak Saint Petersburg: V. Gorin, V. Dolopchi, V. Karasev, J. Kisurin, A. Maltsev, M. Mikhailov, V. Mishnev, S. Panov, Z. Pashutin, A. Potapov, A. Fetisov, G. Schetinin.

Successor leagues

* Russian Super League 1 ( 1st-tier): (1992–2010) * Russian Professional League: (2010–2013) * VTB United League: (2008–present)

References

External links

{{Men's professional basketball leagues 1923 establishments in the Soviet Union 1992 disestablishments in Russia Basketball leagues in the Soviet Union Sports leagues established in 1923 Sports leagues disestablished in 1992