Korvpalli Meistriliiga
Estonian basketball league for the highest division
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The Korvpalli Meistriliiga (KML) is the top-tier men's basketball league in Estonia. The league is organized by the Estonian Basketball Association and played under FIBA rules.
| Founded | 1925 |
|---|---|
| First season | 1925 |
| Country | Estonia |
| Confederation | FIBA Europe |
| Number of teams | 8 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | I liiga |
| Domestic cup | Estonian Cup |
| International cup(s) | Champions League FIBA Europe Cup |
| Current champions | Kalev/Cramo (15th title) (2024–25) |
| Most championships | Tartu Ülikool (26 titles) |
| TV partners | Delfi TV, Inspira |
| Website | basket.ee |
The competition was founded in 1925. From the 1998–99 season until the end of the 2001–02 season the league was organized by the Eesti Korvpalliklubide Assotsiatsioon (English: Estonian Basketball Clubs' Association). As of the 2018–19 season, Estonian-Latvian Basketball League regular season games count towards the KML standings, followed by KML Play-offs. The most successful team in the competition is Tartu Ülikool (University of Tartu), with 26 titles.[1] Kalev/Cramo are the defending league champions.
History
Names of the competition
- 1994–1998: Eesti Meeste Korvpalliliiga (EMKL)
- 1998–2002: Eesti Korvpalliklubide Assotsiatsioon (EKKA)
- 2002–present: Korvpalli Meistriliiga (KML)
Title sponsorship
Current teams
Location of teams in 2024–25 KML
| Team | Home city | Arena | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalev/Cramo | Tallinn | Tondiraba Sports Center | 7,700[2] |
| Kalev Sports Hall | 1,700[3] | ||
| Nord Sports Hall | 980[4] | ||
| Keila Coolbet | Keila | Keila Health Center | 800[5] |
| Keila KK | |||
| TalTech/ALEXELA | Tallinn | TalTech Sports Hall | 1,000[6] |
| Tartu Ülikool Maks & Moorits | Tartu | University of Tartu Sports Hall | 2,600[7] |
| Transcom Pärnu | Pärnu | Pärnu Sports Hall | 1,820[8] |
| Viimsi | Haabneeme | Forus Sports Center | 500[9] |
Title holders
- 1925: Tallinna Sport
- 1927: Tallinna Kalev
- 1928: Tallinna Vitjas
- 1929: Tallinna Russ
- 1930: Tallinna Kalev
- 1931: Tallinna Kalev
- 1932: Tallinna Russ
- 1933: Tallinna Russ
- 1934: Tartu NMKÜ
- 1935: Tallinna NMKÜ
- 1936: Tartu NMKÜ
- 1937: Tartu NMKÜ
- 1938: Tartu EASK
- 1939: Tartu EASK
- 1940: Tartu EASK
- 1941: Tallinna Dünamo
- 1942: Tartu Kalev
- 1944 Summer: Tartu Kalev
- 1944 Winter: Tallinna Kalev
- 1945: Tallinna Kalev
- 1946: Tallinna Kalev
- 1947: Tallinna Kalev
- 1948: Tartu ÜSK
- 1949: Tartu ÜSK
- 1950: Tartu ÜSK
- 1951: Tartu ÜSK
- 1952: Tartu ÜSK
- 1953: Tallinna Kalev
- 1954: Tallinna Kalev
- 1955: Tallinna Kalev
- 1956: TRÜ
- 1957: EPA
- 1958: TRÜ
- 1959: TRÜ
- 1960: EPA
- 1961: TPI I
- 1962: TPI I
- 1963: TPI I
- 1964: TPI I
- 1965: TPI I
- 1966: TPI I
- 1967: Tallinna Kalev
- 1968: Tallinna Kalev
- 1969: TRÜ
- 1970: TRÜ
- 1971: Tallinna Kalev
- 1972: TRÜ
- 1973: TRÜ
- 1974: Harju KEK
- 1975: TRÜ
- 1976: TRÜ
- 1977: TRÜ
- 1977–78: TRÜ
- 1978–79: Harju KEK
- 1980: Standard
- 1981: Metallist
- 1981–82: Standard
- 1982–83: Standard
- 1983–84: TPI I
- 1984–85: TPI I
- 1985–86: Standard
- 1986–87: Standard
- 1987–88: Standard
- 1988–89: Standard
- 1989–90: Standard
- 1990–91: Asto
- 1991–92: BC Kalev
- 1992–93: BC Rafter
- 1993–94: Asto
- 1994–95: BC Kalev/Auma
- 1995–96: BC Kalev
- 1996–97: BC Tallinn
- 1997–98: BC Kalev
- 1998–99: BC Tallinn
- 1999–00: Tartu Ülikool-Delta
- 2000–01: Tartu Ülikool-Delta
- 2001–02: Tallinna Kalev
- 2002–03: Tallinna Kalev
- 2003–04: TÜ/Rock
- 2004–05: Ehitustööriist
- 2005–06: BC Kalev/Cramo
- 2006–07: TÜ/Rock
- 2007–08: TÜ/Rock
- 2008–09: BC Kalev/Cramo
- 2009–10: TÜ/Rock
- 2010–11: BC Kalev/Cramo
- 2011–12: BC Kalev/Cramo
- 2012–13: BC Kalev/Cramo
- 2013–14: BC Kalev/Cramo
- 2014–15: TÜ/Rock
- 2015–16: BC Kalev/Cramo
- 2016–17: BC Kalev/Cramo
- 2017–18: BC Kalev/Cramo
- 2018–19: BC Kalev/Cramo
- 2019–20: Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2020–21: BC Kalev/Cramo
- 2021–22: Pärnu Sadam
- 2022–23: BC Kalev/Cramo
- 2023–24: BC Kalev/Cramo
- 2024–25: BC Kalev/Cramo
Finals
Titles by team
| Team | Titles | Champion years |
|---|---|---|
| Tartu Ülikool[a] | 26 | 1938, 1939, 1940, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015 |
| Tallinna Kalev[b] | 20 | 1927, 1930, 1931, 1944,[c] 1945, 1946, 1947, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2003 |
| BC Kalev[d] | 15 | 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025 |
| TPI | 8 | 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1984, 1985 |
| Standard | 8 | 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 |
| Tallinna Russ | 4 | 1928, 1929, 1932, 1933 |
| TTÜ-A. Le Coq[e] | 4 | 1991, 1994, 1997, 1999 |
| Tartu NMKÜ | 3 | 1934, 1936, 1937 |
| Tartu Kalev | 2 | 1942, 1944[f] |
| EMÜ[g] | 2 | 1957, 1960 |
| Harju KEK | 2 | 1974, 1979 |
| Tallinna Sport | 1 | 1925 |
| Tallinna NMKÜ | 1 | 1935 |
| Tallinna Dünamo | 1 | 1941 |
| Metallist | 1 | 1981 |
| Pärnu Sadam | 1 | 2022 |
All Star Game
Korvpalli Meistriliiga used to organize the Estonian All-Star Game since 2000-01[10] before the merge with the Latvian league. The All-Star Game continued even after the Baltic Basketball All-Star Game was introduced.
Notable players
| Player | All-Star |
|---|---|
 Tanel Sokk[11] | 2005, 2006 |
| Aivar Kuusmaa | 2000, 2002, 2006 |
| Martin Müürsepp | 2006 |
| Tanel Tein[12] | 2001 |
| Janar Talts[13] | 2002 |
Topscorers
| Season | Player | Team | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-01 |  Lee | University of Tartu men's basketball team | 26.1 |
| 2001-02 | Aivar Kuusmaa | TTÜ/A. Le Coq | 22.8 |
| 2002-03 | Veljo Vares | BC Pallur | 20.9 |
| 2003-04 | Erki Kivinukk | Pirita BM | 23.2 |
| 2004-05 | Leho Kraav | TTÜ/A. Le Coq | 21.6 |
| 2005-06 |  Evgeniy Belousov | Pirita BM | 21.0 |
| 2006-07 | Evgeniy Belousov | Pirita BM | 21.2 |
| 2007-08 | Veljo Vares | Valga Welg | 19.7 |
| 2008-09 |  Viktor Sanikidze | Tartu Rock | 16.5 |
| 2009-10 | Charron Fisher | BC Kalev | 22.4 |