Lebanese Basketball League

Lebanese Basketball League
The Lebanese Basketball League recognized as the top-tier professional men's basketball league in Lebanon, stands as one of the most competitive markets in the Middle East. It is organized annually as a national championship with playoffs and a national cup by the Lebanese Basketball Federation (FLB).
Currently, the league consists of 12 teams, of which six are located in Beirut. The most successful club in the history of the league is Al Riyadi who have won a record 16 championships.
History
The initial Lebanese basketball league was formed in as early as the 1950s; however, it was stopped during the Lebanese Civil War. In 1992, the league was reformed into a fully professional format.
In 1997, Sporting Club (Al Riyadi) finished as Lebanese champions, allowing them to participate in the 1998 FIBA Asia Champions Cup . There, they finished 3rd place. That same year, Al Riyadi lost the Lebanese championship to their big rivals Sagesse Club (Hekmeh).
In 1998, Beirut hosted the Arab Club Championship. Hekmeh won, the first ever basketball trophy for Lebanon.
In 1999, Beirut hosted the Arab Club Championship again. Hekmeh repeated as champions.
Al Riyadi has its greatest success in the Arab Club Championship during the 2000s. They won the title in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2010. In 2009, they defeated their fellow Lebanese team Hekmeh in the final, the first time two Lebanese teams met in the final. The 2009 tournament was held in Beirut.
Overview
The league is the first division in Lebanese basketball. The team that finishes last each season is relegated to the Second Division, while the Second Division's top four teams compete in a play-off system. The team that wins is promoted for the next season.
Competition
There are 12 teams in the league. They play a round-robin format; each team plays all other teams once home and once away. At the end of the regular season, the top eight teams enter the playoffs and play a best of 5 series in the quarterfinals. The winners of the quarterfinals advance to the best of 5 series in the semifinals. The two teams that advance play a best of seven series in the final, and the winner is the league champion.
Teams
The following 12 teams play in the 2022–23 season.
Champions
Wins by year
FLB League (standings since 1993)
Wins by team
Rivalries
The Big Rivalry
Al Riyadi vs Sagesse Club
Other Rivalries
Al Riyadi vs Champville
Homenetmen Beirut vs Al Riyadi
Champville vs Sagesse Club
Tadamon Zouk vs Sagesse Club
Antranik vs Homenetmen Beirut
Tadamon Zouk vs '''Kahraba Zouk
Notable players
Bassel Bawji
Rony Fahed
Rodrigue Akl
Roy Samaha
Ali Haidar
Elie Stephan
Elie Rustom
Elie Mechantaf
Ali Mezher
Wael Arakji
Mohammad Ibrahim
Ahmad Ibrahim
Amir Saoud
Fadi El Khatib
Joe Vogel
Ali Mahmoud
Brian Beshara
Jean Abdelnour
Sabah Khoury
Omar El Turk
Ghaleb Rida
Ali Kanaan
Billy Pharis
Daniel Faris
Matt Freije
/ Ekene Ibekwe
Duop Reath
Samaki Walker
Cliff Alexander
Kerwin Roach
Hassan Whiteside
Shabazz Muhammad
Rashad McCants
Jeremy Pargo
Norvel Pelle
Isaiah Austin
Danny Pippen
JJ Hickson
Mike Taylor (basketball player)
Troy Williams
Diamond Stone
Zach Lofton
Kevin Murphy (basketball)
Ace Custis
DeWayne Jackson
Patrick Rembert
Dion Dixon
Corey Williams
Brian Cook
Tony Madison
Alvin Sims
Abdual Hoggard
C.J. Giles
Darryl Watkins
Lee Nailon
Herbert Hill
Jumaine Jones
Loren Woods
Priest Lauderdale
Dewarick Spencer
Flip Murray
Desmond Penigar
Rasheim Wright
Marcus Haislip
Harold Jamison
Andre Emmett
Nate Johnson
Marc Salyers
Earl Barron
Scotty Thurman
Rick Hughes
DeShawn Sims
Aaron Harper
LeRoy Hurd
Tre Kelley
Sam Hoskin
Quincy Douby
Ronnie Fields
Willie Burton
Marlon Parmer
Booker Woodfox
Reyshawn Terry
DerMarr Johnson
Rashad Anderson
Jerald Honeycutt
Terrell Stoglin
Dickey Simpkins
Cedric Henderson
Jeremiah Massey
Ruben Patterson
Marcus Melvin
Sherell Ford
Jamal Robinson
Nate Robinson
Dar Tucker
Ater Majok
Aleksandar Radojević
Alpha Bangura
Ismail Ahmed
Salah Mejri
Ali Traore
Ndudi Ebi
Nikoloz Tskitishvili
Jeleel Akindele
Dalibor Bagarić
Asghar Kardoust
Hamed Haddadi
Ratko Varda
Vladan Vukosavljević
Sani Sakakini
Michael Madanly
Marcus Banks
Walter Hodge
Makrem Ben Romdhane
Sam Young (basketball)
Rony Seikaly
Justin Brownlee
Notable coaches
Ghassan Sarkis
Fouad Abou Chakra
Joe Moujaes
Joe Ghattas
Ahmad Farran
Jad Al Hajj
Slobodan Subotić
Ilias Zouros
Nenad Vucinic
Veselin Matic
Dragan Raca
Tab Baldwin
Women's league
2019–20 teams:
Antranik SC
Al Riyadi Club Beirut
Homenetmen Antelias
Hoops Club
Chabibeh
Energy Sports Club
References
External links
Brief Breakdown
Lebanese Basketball Federation (FLB) website
Lebanese Basketball League Facebook
Lebanese Basketball League Twitter
Lebanese Basketball League Twitter
Lea
Basketball leagues in Asia
Women's basketball leagues in Asia
Sports leagues established in 1992
1992 establishments in Lebanon
Basketball