# 2015–16 VTB United League

The 2015–16 VTB United League was the seventh complete season of the VTB United League. It was also the third season that the league functioned as the Russian domestic first tier level. CSKA Moscow was the defending champion, and the team successfully defended its title.

## Teams

Krasnye Krylia withdrew from the league as the Samara Sports Palace was not adequate for the VTB United League (such as a minimum requirement of 3,000 seats). It planned to reapply for the 2016–17 season after renovations.
In its place, Georgian Superliga side VITA Tbilisi was chosen in July 2015, the first side from that country to play in the league. All other clubs from the previous season were confirmed on the same occasion, along with a rough draft of a calendar.

### Stadia and locations

| Team | City | Arena | Capacity |
| Tsmoki Minsk | Minsk | Minsk Arena | 15,000 |
| ČEZ Nymburk | Nymburk | Tipsport Arena | 11,650 |
| Kalev | Tallinn | Saku Suurhall Arena | 7,000 |
| Bisons Loimaa | Loimaa | Energia Areena | 3,500 |
| VITA Tbilisi ◆ | Tbilisi | Tbilisi Sports Palace | 9,700 |
| Astana | Astana | Saryarka Velodrome | 10,000 |
| VEF Rīga | Rīga | Arēna Rīga | 12,500 |
| Avtodor Saratov | Saratov | Kristall Ice Sports Palace | 6,100 |
| CSKA Moscow ● | Moscow | Universal Sports Hall CSKA | 5,500 |
| Enisey Krasnoyarsk | Krasnoyarsk | Ivan Yarygin Sports Palace | 4,100 |
| Khimki | Khimki | Basketball Center | 4,000 |
| Krasny Oktyabr | Volgograd | Volgograd Sports Palace of Trade Unions | 3,700 |
| Lokomotiv Kuban | Krasnodar | Basket-Hall | 7,500 |
| Nizhny Novgorod | Nizhny Novgorod | Trade Union Sport Palace | 5,600 |
| UNICS | Kazan | Basket Hall Arena | 7,500 |
| Zenit | Saint Petersburg | Sibur Arena | 7,044 |

   #### Notes

    ◆ Team makes its debut in the VTB United League.
    ● The defending champions, winners of the 2014–15 VTB United League.

## Regular season
### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | CSKA Moscow | 30 | 28 | 2 | 2856 | 2230 | +626 | Qualification to playoffs |
| 2 | UNICS | 30 | 25 | 5 | 2666 | 2293 | +373 | Qualification to playoffs |
| 3 | Zenit Saint Petersburg | 30 | 23 | 7 | 2668 | 2374 | +294 | Qualification to playoffs |
| 4 | Khimki | 30 | 22 | 8 | 2866 | 2443 | +423 | Qualification to playoffs |
| 5 | Lokomotiv Kuban | 30 | 22 | 8 | 2480 | 2153 | +327 | Qualification to playoffs |
| 6 | Avtodor Saratov | 30 | 20 | 10 | 2661 | 2409 | +252 | Qualification to playoffs |
| 7 | Nizhny Novgorod | 30 | 17 | 13 | 2523 | 2516 | +7 | Qualification to playoffs |
| 8 | ČEZ Nymburk | 30 | 16 | 14 | 2526 | 2415 | +111 | Qualification to playoffs |
| 9 | Krasny Oktyabr | 30 | 12 | 18 | 2567 | 2637 | −70 | |
| 10 | Enisey | 30 | 11 | 19 | 2509 | 2596 | −87 | |
| 11 | VEF Rīga | 30 | 11 | 19 | 2473 | 2517 | −44 | |
| 12 | Tsmoki-Minsk | 30 | 9 | 21 | 2416 | 2605 | −189 | |
| 13 | Nilan Bisons | 30 | 8 | 22 | 2242 | 2704 | −462 | |
| 14 | Kalev/Cramo | 30 | 8 | 22 | 2311 | 2596 | −285 | |
| 15 | Astana | 30 | 7 | 23 | 2375 | 2799 | −424 | |
| 16 | VITA Tbilisi | 30 | 1 | 29 | 1939 | 2791 | −852 | |

### Results

| Home \ Away | AST | AVT | ČEZ | CSK | ENI | KAL | KHI | KRA | LOK | NIL | NIZ | TSM | UNK | VEF | VIT | ZEN |
| Astana | | 93–131 | 63–98 | 60–92 | 73–80 | 97–91 | 74–108 | 81–74 | 89–91 | 83–80 | 101–79 | 92–93 | 90–103 | 71–89 | 118–61 | 71–93 |
| Avtodor Saratov | 132–72 | | 92–84 | 72–91 | 90–84 | 68–60 | 87–84 | 102–95 | 70–79 | 85–75 | 94–86 | 98–85 | 70–97 | 86–74 | 20–0 | 90–88 |
| ČEZ Nymburk | 79–61 | 73–92 | | 66–86 | 91–81 | 79–65 | 90–94 | 103–76 | 76–74 | 87–59 | 76–70 | 75–61 | 74–75 | 73–71 | 111–51 | 81–102 |
| CSKA Moscow | 102–67 | 101–90 | 119–68 | | 94–64 | 100–67 | 100–93 | 85–67 | 88–94 | 99–67 | 98–65 | 92–48 | 81–70 | 101–93 | 98–62 | 113–77 |
| Enisey Krasnoyarsk | 96–70 | 88–92 | 88–92 | 81–96 | | 97–90 | 85–95 | 86–94 | 73–82 | 88–64 | 103–96 | 93–94 | 83–87 | 110–65 | 83–73 | 94–102 |
| Kalev/Cramo | 80–86 | 75–86 | 70–99 | 78–105 | 80–70 | | 72–90 | 89–81 | 71–89 | 83–78 | 77–91 | 81–73 | 84–89 | 78–86 | 85–75 | 84–92 |
| Khimki | 128–87 | 87–84 | 123–71 | 85–96 | 108–92 | 84–54 | | 97–86 | 101–88 | 113–83 | 74–82 | 100–72 | 85–90 | 104–93 | 117–73 | 90–84 |
| Krasny Oktyabr | 106–85 | 85–102 | 96–88 | 74–108 | 92–66 | 83–95 | 78–80 | | 77–89 | 78–83 | 93–87 | 96–80 | 80–114 | 88–94 | 85–82 | 67–74 |
| Lokomotiv Kuban | 99–66 | 91–77 | 75–58 | 65–77 | 77–51 | 71–67 | 94–81 | 81–63 | | 95–55 | 92–69 | 80–50 | 56–58 | 71–63 | 121–71 | 78–70 |
| Nilan Bisons | 81–75 | 86–135 | 60–96 | 82–98 | 99–110 | 98–86 | 62–81 | 72–109 | 70–68 | | 73–79 | 76–73 | 74–93 | 83–82 | 89–73 | 62–83 |
| Nizhny Novgorod | 84–80 | 75–70 | 91–76 | 86–82 | 93–75 | 80–66 | 93–92 | 87–90 | 96–91 | 71–69 | | 100–85 | 91–81 | 79–107 | 97–65 | 84–88 |
| Tsmoki-Minsk | 87–83 | 83–106 | 84–93 | 81–83 | 89–91 | 100–77 | 88–94 | 77–81 | 60–75 | 119–83 | 86–81 | | 77–102 | 74–75 | 94–74 | 71–79 |
| UNICS Kazan | 100–73 | 66–64 | 94–87 | 89–100 | 94–75 | 96–75 | 82–78 | 97–76 | 80–76 | 110–56 | 102–68 | 83–91 | | 82–72 | 81–57 | 101–66 |
| VEF Rīga | 94–93 | 103–91 | 81–73 | 77–92 | 71–73 | 75–84 | 79–89 | 92–94 | 84–89 | 83–73 | 75–87 | 76–84 | 69–81 | | 99–59 | 76–95 |
| VITA Tbilisi | 53–62 | 59–111 | 59–119 | 60–93 | 72–85 | 77–78 | 52–108 | 67–110 | 63–76 | 63–77 | 78–100 | 81–80 | 76–104 | 69–99 | | 84–90 |
| Zenit St.Petersburg | 115–59 | 90–74 | 102–90 | 82–86 | 81–64 | 101–69 | 72–103 | 94–93 | 79–73 | 106–73 | 77–76 | 105–77 | 89–65 | 91–76 | 101–50 | |

## Playoffs

The eight teams that finished highest in the regular season were qualified. The Playoffs started on April 29 and ended on June 8, 2016. The champions or runners-up of the Playoffs would qualify for the 2016–17 EuroLeague, dependent on the position of automatically placed CSKA Moscow. CSKA Moscow won the championship, after beating runners-up UNICS that qualified for the EuroLeague as runners-up.

### Bracket

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | CSKA Moscow | 3 | | | | | | |
| 8 | ČEZ Nymburk | 0 | | | | | | |
| 8 | ČEZ Nymburk | 0 | 1 | CSKA Moscow | 3 | | | |
| | | | 4 | Khimki | 0 | | | |
| 4 | Khimki | 3 | 4 | Khimki | 0 | | | |
| 5 | Lokomotiv Kuban | 0 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Lokomotiv Kuban | 0 | | | | 1 | CSKA Moscow | 3 |
| | | | | | | 2 | UNICS | 1 |
| 2 | UNICS | 3 | | | | | | | 2 | UNICS | 1 |
| 7 | Nizhny Novgorod | 0 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Nizhny Novgorod | 0 | 2 | UNICS | 3 | | | |
| | | | 3 | Zenit St. Petersburg | 2 | | | |
| 3 | Zenit St. Petersburg | 3 | 3 | Zenit St. Petersburg | 2 | | | |
| 6 | Avtodor Saratov | 0 | | | | | | |

### Quarterfinals

In the quarterfinals, teams play against each other which must win three games to win the series. Thus, if one team win three games before all five games have been played, the game that remain are omitted. The team that finished in the higher Regular season place will be played the first, third and fifth (if it is necessary) game of the series at home.
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
| CSKA Moscow | 3–0 | ČEZ Nymburk | 95–87 | 79–72 | 102–87 |
| Khimki | 3–0 | Lokomotiv Kuban | 86–80 | 97–83 | 86–71 |
| UNICS | 3–0 | Nizhny Novgorod | 83–70 | 70–61 | 84–71 |
| Zenit St. Petersburg | 3–0 | Avtodor Saratov | 95–91 | 97–85 | 95–82 |

### Semifinals

In the semifinals, teams play against each other which must win three games to win the series. Thus, if one team win three games before all five games have been played, the game that remain are omitted. The team that finished in the higher Regular season place will be played the first, third and fifth (if it is necessary) game of the series at home.
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Game 5 |
| CSKA Moscow | 3–0 | Khimki | 86–83 | 99–87 | 95–92 | | |
| UNICS | 3–2 | Zenit St. Petersburg | 94–93 | 97–91 | 67–82 | 82–85 | 79–70 |

### Finals

In the Finals, teams play against each other which must win three games to win the series. Thus, if one team win three games before all five games have been played, the game that remain are omitted. The team that finished in the higher Regular season place will be played the first, third and fifth (if it is necessary) game of the series at home.
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Game 5 |
| CSKA Moscow | 3–1 | UNICS | 84–76 | 90–77 | 74–79 | 81–74 | – |

## Awards
### Most Valuable Player

| Player | Team | Ref. |
| Nando de Colo | CSKA Moscow | |

### Playoffs MVP

| Player | Team | Ref. |
| Miloš Teodosić | CSKA Moscow | |

### Sixth Man of the Year

| Player | Team | Ref. |
| Quino Colom | UNICS | |

### Young Player of the Year

| Player | Team | Ref. |
| Artem Klimenko | Avtodor Saratov | |

### Coach of the Year

| Coach | Team | Ref. |
| Vasily Karasev | Zenit St. Petersburg | |
| Georgios Bartzokas | Lokomotiv Kuban | |

### Defensive Player of the Year

| Player | Team | Ref. |
| Kyle Hines | CSKA Moscow | |

### All-VTB United League Teams

| First Team | First Team | Second Team | Second Team |
| Player | Team | Player | Team |
| Nando de Colo | CSKA Moscow | Miloš Teodosić | CSKA Moscow |
| Keith Langford | UNICS | Tyrese Rice | Khimki |
| Alexey Shved | Khimki | Ryan Toolson | Zenit Saint Petersburg |
| Jānis Timma | Zenit | Víctor Claver | Lokomotiv Kuban |
| Anthony Randolph | Lokomotiv Kuban | Rašid Mahalbašić | Nizhny Novgorod |

### Monthly MVP

| Month | Player | Team |
| October | Ryan Toolson | Zenit Saint Petersburg |
| November | Keith Langford | UNICS Kazan |
| December | Alexey Shved | Khimki |
| January | Malcolm Delaney | Lokomotiv Kuban |
| February | Anthony Randolph | Lokomotiv Kuban (2) |
| March | Victor Rudd | Nizhny Novgorod |
| April | Ryan Toolson (2) | Zenit Saint Petersburg (2) |

## Statistical leaders

    Final statistics.
| Efficiency Pos Player Club PIR 1 Ekene Ibekwe Krasny Oktyabr 20.8 2 Nik Caner-Medley Astana 20.3 3 Jerry Jefferson Krasny Oktyabr 20.1 | Points Pos Player Club PPG 1 Keith Langford UNICS 21.0 2 Jerry Jefferson Krasny Oktyabr 18.2 3 Nik Caner-Medley Astana 18.2 |
| Rebounds Pos Player Club RPG 1 Josh Boone Khimki 9.1 2 Jerry Jefferson Krasny Oktyabr 8.8 3 Ekene Ibekwe Krasny Oktyabr 8.7 | Assists Pos Player Club APG 1 Paul Stoll Avtodor Saratov 7.1 2 Tyrese Rice Khimki 6.6 3 Jerry Johnson Astana 6.5 |

### Season highs

| Category | Category | Player | Club |
| Efficiency | 42 | Michael Dixon | ČEZ Nymburk |
| Points | 40 | Egor Vyaltsev | Khimki |
| Rebounds | 20 | Josh Boone | Khimki |
| Assists | 17 | Tyrese Rice | Khimki |
| Steals | 7 | Pat Calathes | Astana |
| Blocks | 5 | 5 occasions | 5 occasions |