Liga Națională (men's basketball)

Romanian top-tier men's basketball league From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Liga Națională de Baschet Masculin (LNBM) (English: National League) is the top-tier professional basketball league of Romania. The winner of the league each season is crowned the Romanian national champion. Founded in 1950, the league consists of 24 teams playing in three different divisions. Currently, the clubs from the Liga Națională also participate in the European competitions, and can qualify for the Basketball Champions League or the FIBA Europe Cup based on their performance in the national league and cup competition. The most successful club in the league's history is Dinamo București, who has won a record 22 titles. Asesoft Ploieşti won the championship seven times in a row between 2004 and 2010, and again between 2012 and 2014. They became the only Romanian team to win a European title with their success in the FIBA EuroCup Challenge in 2005.

Founded1950; 76 years ago (1950)
First season1950–51
CountryRomania
ConfederationRomanian Basketball Federation
Quick facts Founded, First season ...
Liga Națională
Founded1950; 76 years ago (1950)
First season1950–51
CountryRomania
ConfederationRomanian Basketball Federation
Divisions3
Number of teams24
Level on pyramid1
Domestic cupRomanian Cup
International cup(s)EuroCup
Basketball Champions League
FIBA Europe Cup
Current championsU-BT Cluj-Napoca
(11th title)
(2025–26)
Most championshipsDinamo București (22 titles)
TV partnersDigi Sport
Prima Sport
Websitewww.frbaschet.ro
2025–2026 season
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Competition format

Prior to 2018, the men's Liga Națională had 12 teams who played the season in three rounds. The regular season, which began in October, was considered the first round and was played in a normal round-robin, home-and-away format. At the end of the regular season, the top six clubs played a play-off round, while the bottom six clubs played a play-out round. The six teams in the play-off round and the top two in the play-out round qualified for the play-offs, which were played using a knockout format. Since 2014, the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals have been best of five. The bottom two teams in the play-out round are relegated to Liga I.

In May 2018, the Romanian Basketball Federation's board of directors decided to entirely reform the system. Liga I was dissolved and the Liga Națională was split into three groups; A, B, and C. Group designation depeneds on performance, financial, and infrastructural criteria.[1] The regular season remains a round-robin format within each group. In the second round, the top six teams from Group A advance to the Red Group. The teams placed seventh and eighth in Group A, the top three teams from Group B, and the winner of Group C advance to the Yellow Group. Teams placed fourth through eighth in Group B, along with the runner-up from Group C, are assigned to the Blue Group. The teams placed third through eighth in Group C are assigned to the Green Group.[2]

In the second round of the restructured season, teams in the Red Group keep their points while the Yellow, Blue, and Green Groups all begin with zero points.[2] In the third round of the championship, the first two teams from the Yellow Group join the Red Group teams for the play-offs, which use a knockout format. The quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals continue to be best of five. To determine the teams ranked between 5th and 8th place, the best of three system is used. Remaining teams form two eight-team groups to determine their final rankings.[2]

Notable Liga Națională players

At least five former Romanian players have been inducted into the European Basketball Hall of Fame.

Titles

More information Club, Titles ...
ClubTitlesWinning years
Dinamo București221953, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1983, 1988, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2003
Steaua București211956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991
CSU Ploiești112004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
U-BT Cluj-Napoca111992, 1993, 1996, 2011, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
CSM Oradea32016, 2018, 2019
Metalul 23 August București21951, 1952
CSU Sibiu21995, 1999
West Petrom Arad22001, 2002
BCM U Pitești12000
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Latest finals

See also

References

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