Liga Nacional de Básquet

The Liga Nacional de Básquet (abbreviated LNB, and literally in English, "National Basketball League"), also commonly referred to as "La Liga de Básquet" ("The Basketball League"), is the top-tier level of the Argentine basketball league system. The league is under the auspices of the Basketball Clubs' Association (in Spanish: Asociación de Clubes de Básquetbol). The LNB's predecessor league is the now defunct Campeonato Argentino de Clubes, which was organized by the Argentine Basketball Federation.

Liga Nacional de Básquet
Organising bodyAsociación de Clubes
de Básquetbol
Founded1985 (1985)
by León Najnudel
CountryArgentina
Number of teams20
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toLa Liga Argentina
International cup(s)Champions League Americas
Current championsSan Lorenzo (2020-21)
Most championshipsAtenas
(9 titles)
Most appearancesLeonardo Gutiérrez (1,106) [1]
All-time top scorerHéctor Campana (17,359) [1][2]
PresidentFabián Borro
TV partnersTyC Sports
DirecTV
Websitelaliganacional.com.ar
2021–22

The league was created through the efforts of basketball coach León Najnudel, and sports journalist Osvaldo Orcasitas, in the 1980s, to make Argentine men's club basketball more competitive, through the merging of the many existing local leagues.[3] It is designed like the NBA, with a regular season, all-star game, and playoffs. However, unlike the NBA, the LNB has a promotion and relegation system, with the La Liga Argentina (LLA), the league level that is immediately below the LNB.

A tribute to Najnudel's vision, is the string of successes of the senior men's Argentine national basketball team, culminating with the team's Summer Olympic Games gold medal won at the 2004 Summer Olympics, and the international careers of many players who started in the league.

History

Creation
León Najnudel with the ball in the first LNB game ever: Argentino de Firmat v. San Lorenzo (in red uniform), 26 April 1985

Before the league was established, the regular tournament was Campeonato Argentino de Clubes where teams from all the provinces took part. The league had a regional format and playoffs.

For the 1984 edition there was 64 teams. The association decided to retire 10 teams, moving them to "Primera Nacional A".[4] Of those teams, 4 were from city of Buenos Aires, and the provinces of Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Santa Fe were represented by 2 teams each.

As a result, a number of 54 teams played the Argentino de clubes. At the end of the tournament, the six best placed team would promote to Primera A, and the rest of the clubs would be relegated to Primera B (second division).[5]

First seasons
Ferro C. Oeste, the first champion of the LNB

The first edition of Liga Nacional was played within 1985, with 16 teams participating although Independiente de Tucumán abandoned the championship for economic reasons. The first game was played on April 26, 1985,[6] when San Lorenzo de Almagro faced Argentino de Firmat at Estadio Obras Sanitarias.

Ferro Carril Oeste was the first LNB champion after defeating Atenas de Córdoba in 3 games. The next season (1986), Ferro Carril Oeste won its second consecutive title, beating Olimpo de Bahía Blanca in 5 games (3-1 on aggregate). The Verdolaga played its third consecutive final series in 1987, but was finally defeated by Atenas, that won the first of 9 titles, being the most winning LNB team to date.

In 1988 Atenas won a second championship beating River Plate and the next year Ferro won another title, being the only title won by León Najnudel as coach.

Competition format

Following a system similar to the European basketball leagues, the Liga Nacional features promotion and relegation. Contested by 20 teams, the top division is divided in two stages: the first one consists of a double round-robin competition, with standings decided by a points system. At the end of the season, teams placed 1st to 16th advance to the playoffs, while the last 2 teams play a series to avoid relegation.

The playoffs stage is divided in four parts, where winning teams qualify to the next stage while defeated teams retire from the tournament. The successive stages are quarter finals, semi-finals and the finals. Quarter and semi-finals are played in a 2-2-1 format (best-of-five) while finals are played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, which rounds are best-of-seven series.

Current teams (2021–22 season)
Club City Province Seasons Arena Capacity Est.
ArgentinoJunínBuenos Aires14El Fortín de las Morochas
1,465
1935
AtenasCórdobaCórdoba38Carlos Cerutti
3,730
1938
Boca JuniorsCity of Buenos Aires33Luis Conde
2,000
1905
Ciclista OlímpicoLa BandaSantiago del Estero17Vicente Rosales
3,964
1921
ComunicacionesMercedesCorrientes5Estadio Comunicaciones
3,500
1957
Ferro Carril OesteCity of Buenos Aires27Estadio Héctor Etchart
4,500
1904
Gimnasia y EsgrimaComodoro RivadaviaChubut33Socios Fundadores
2,276
1919
Hispano AmericanoRio GallegosSanta Cruz6Boxing Club
2,000
1925
InstitutoCórdobaCórdoba9Angel Sandrin
2,000
1918
La UniónFormosaFormosa14Cincuentenario
4,500
2004
Oberá Tenis ClubOberáMisiones2Estadio Dr. Luis Augusto Derna
2,000
1940
Obras SanitariasCity of Buenos Aires25Estadio Obras
3,000
1917
PeñarolMar del PlataBuenos Aires35Islas Malvinas
8,000
1922
PlatenseFloridaBuenos Aires3Microestadio Vicente López [note 1]
800
1905
QuimsaSantiago del EsteroSantiago del Estero16Estadio Ciudad
5,200
1989
RegatasCorrientesCorrientes18José Jorge Contte
4,000
1923
RiachueloLa RiojaLa Rioja
1
Superdomo
13,000
1944
San LorenzoCity of Buenos Aires8Polideportivo Roberto Pando
2,700
1908
San MartínCorrientesCorrientes9Estadio Raúl A. Ortiz
2,500
1932
UniónSanta FeSanta Fe
4
Estadio Ángel Malvicino
7,000
1907
References
  1. The team plays its home games at Obras Sanitarias stadium, with capacity for 3,000 spectators.

Champions

List of finals
Season Champion Runner-Up Result Winning Coach
1985
Ferro Carril OesteAtenas2–1Luis Martínez
1986
Ferro Carril OesteOlimpo3–1Luis Martínez
1987
AtenasFerro Carril Oeste3–1Walter Garrone
1988
AtenasRiver Plate3–0Walter Garrone
1989
Ferro Carril OesteAtenas3–2León Najnudel
1990
AtenasCañadense3–0Walter Garrone
1990–91
GEPUEstudiantes (BB)4–2Daniel Rodríguez
1991–92
AtenasGEPU4–1Rubén Magnano
1992–93
GEPUAtenas4–2Orlando Ferratto
1993–94
Peñarol (MDP)Independiente (GP)4–1Nestor García
1994–95
Independiente (GP)Olimpia (VT)4–1Mario Guzmán
1995–96
Olimpia (VT)Atenas4–3Horacio Seguí
1996–97
Boca JuniorsIndependiente (GP)4–1Julio Lamas
1997–98
AtenasBoca Juniors4–0Rubén Magnano
1998–99
AtenasIndependiente (GP)4–3Rubén Magnano
1999–00
Estudiantes (O)Atenas4–3Sergio Hernández
2000–01
Estudiantes (O)Libertad4–1Sergio Hernández
2001–02
AtenasEstudiantes (O)4–1Horacio Seguí
2002–03
AtenasBoca Juniors4–2Oscar Sánchez
2003–04
Boca JuniorsGimnasia y Esgrima (LP)4–2Sergio Hernández
2004–05
Ben HurBoca Juniors4–1Julio Lamas
2005–06
Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR)Libertad4–2Fernando Duró
2006–07
Boca JuniorsPeñarol4–2Gabriel Piccato
2007–08
LibertadQuimsa4–0Julio Lamas
2008–09
AtenasPeñarol4–2Rubén Magnano
2009–10
Peñarol (MDP)Atenas4–1Sergio Hernández
2010–11
Peñarol (MDP)Atenas4–1Sergio Hernández
2011–12
Peñarol (MDP)Obras Sanitarias4–2Sergio Hernández
2012–13
Regatas (C)Lanús4–0Nicolás Casalánguida
2013–14
Peñarol (MDP)Regatas4–2Fernando Rivero
2014–15
QuimsaGimnasia y Esgrima (CR)4–2Silvio Santander
2015–16
San LorenzoLa Unión4–0Julio Lamas
2016–17
San LorenzoRegatas4–1Julio Lamas
2017–18
San LorenzoSan Martín (C)4–2Gonzalo García
2018–19
San LorenzoInstituto4–3Gonzalo García
2019–20
(season cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic)
2020–21
San LorenzoQuimsa3–2Silvio Santander

Source: LNB website.[7]

Titles by club
Club Titles Years won
Atenas 91987, 1988, 1990, 1991–92, 1997–98, 1998–99,
2001–02, 2002–03, 2008–09
Peñarol 51993–94, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14
San Lorenzo 52015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21
Boca Juniors 31996–97, 2003–04, 2006–07
Ferro Carril Oeste1985, 1986, 1989
GEPU 21990–91, 1992–93
Estudiantes (O)1999–00, 2000–01
Independiente 11994–95
Olimpia1995–96
Ben Hur2004–05
Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR)2005–06
Libertad2007–08
Regatas Corrientes2012–13
Quimsa2014–15

Awards
Main article: Liga Nacional de Básquet Awards

These are the yearly individual awards are given by the league as a recognition to the most valuable player (in both, regular season and finals) and the top scorer. Leonardo Gutiérrez was chosen finals MVP a record of 4 times, while Joe Bunn is the most times top scorer (5 seasons).

Statistical leaders
Main article: Liga Nacional de Básquet Statistical Leaders

Retired numbers

As of September 2019, 17 players have their jerseys retired. Atenas was the team which started this practice (in 2002, with legendary Marcelo Milanesio's #9).[8][9][10]

N° Club Player Pos. Tenure Num.
Retired		 Ref.
4
Quilmes (MdP) Eduardo DominéSG1990, 1991–20012009[10]
5
Atenas Héctor CampanaSG1987–88, 1991–92, 1996–2000, 2002–04 2005[9][11]
5
Estudiantes (BB) / Bahía Basket Hernán JasenSF1996–99, 2012–18 [note 1]2018[12]
7
Quilmes (MdP) Esteban De la FuenteSG/SF1991–93, 1995–97, 2004–052013[10]
7
Atenas Bruno LábaquePG1994–2003, 2006–09, 2010–172017[13]
7
Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR) Pablo MoldúSG1994–20062019[14][15]
7
Quimsa Nicolás AguirrePG2011–13, 2014–152019[16]
8
Peñarol (MdP) Tato RodríguezPG1994–1998, 1999–2003, 2004–20112011[17][18]
8
Quilmes (MdP) Guillermo García Oyaga1970s–80s [10]2013[10]
8
Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR) Gabriel CochaSG1991–92, 1994–98, 2003–072019[14][15]
8
Quimsa Fernando Small ?1998–2004, 2005–082019[16][19]
9
Atenas Marcelo MilanesioPG1982–20022002[9]
10
Estudiantes (BB) / Bahía Basket Juan EspilSG/SF1988–1992, 2010–12 [note 1]2013[20][21]
11
Atenas Diego OsellaC1988–1992, 1993–2001, 2003–20102011[22][23][24]
11
Quimsa Miguel CortijoPG(None) [note 2] ?[10]
14
Estudiantes (BB) / Bahía Basket Alberto Cabrera [note 3]PG1961–19842004[25][26]
14
Quimsa Gabriel DeckSF2010–162019[16]
Notes
  1. Number retired for both teams, as Bahía Basket is recognised as a continuity of Estudiantes in the LNB.
  2. Although Cortijo never played for the club, the #11 jersey was retired honoring him as a native of Santiago del Estero, where Quimsa is located in.
  3. Although Cabrera did not play for Bahía Basket (he left basketball in 1984), the number 14 is also retired in the franchise.

References
  1. Liga Nacional: los datos y récords históricos on Basquet Plus, 5 Dec 2018
  2. Leonardo Gutiérrez es el tercer goleador histórico de la Liga Nacional on TyC, 23 Mar 2016
  3. Matías Ron Ares (2010-03-14). "LNB: la historia de su origen" (in Spanish). In Deportes. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  4. Resolución de 1983 para el Campeonato Argentino de Clubes
  5. REGLAMENTO PARA LA ETAPA DE TRANSICION COMPETENCIA AÑO 1984
  6. "Se cumplen 30 años del primer partido oficial de la LNB", Basquet Plus, 26 Apr 2015
  7. "Historial de Campeones de la Liga" (in Spanish). LNB official website. Archived from the original on 2010-08-30. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  8. "Peñarol de Mar del Plata retiró la camiseta de 'Tato' Rodríguez", La Voz, 2011-11-23
  9. Milanesio y Campana homenajeados con el retiro de las míticas "9" y "5" Pick and Roll website, 2005-11-05
  10. Dorsales retirados que marcaron historia by Mariano Blanco, Diario Epoca, 11 May 2015
  11. Atenas retira la camiseta de Héctor "Pichi" Campana, Infobae, 2005-07-12
  12. Se suma Jasen on Bahía Plus, 2 Sep 2018
  13. Se retiró Lábaque con una derrota frente a Instituto, LNB website, 12 May 2017
  14. Pablo Moldú: «Me llena de orgullo, es un reconocimiento enorme el que nos hace Gimnasia» on Meridiano Digital, 13 Feb 2019
  15. Básquet: Emotivo homenaje de Gimnasia de Comodoro Rivadavia al tornquistense Pablo Moldú on Noticias Tornquist, 15 Feb 2019
  16. El repaso por las camisetas retiradas en la Liga Nacional on Basquet Plus, 14 Ago 2019
  17. "Peñarol retiró la camiseta de 'Tato' Rodríguez", La Voz del Interior, 2011-11-24
  18. "La camiseta de Tato dijo hasta siempre", Pickandroll.com.ar, 2011-11-24 (Archive)
  19. Fernando Small retorna a Quimsa on Web Basketball, 15 Sep 2020
  20. Espil tuvo su merecido homenaje en Bahía, Clarín, 23 February 2013 (archived)
  21. "Espil vivió su noche soñada" at CanchaLlena.com, 22 February 2013
  22. Atenas retiró el 11 de Diego Osella, Gualeguaychú a Diario webpage
  23. Atenas retirará la camiseta 11 en homenaje a Diego Osella Archived 2012-04-01 at the Wayback Machine, La Mañana de Cordoba website
  24. Atenas retira la camiseta 11 de Osella, Día a Día Deportes
  25. "La 14 inmortal" Pick and Roll site, 2004-10-04 (Archive)
  26. Ordenanza Nº 14604, declarando "Sitio de Interés Cultural e Histórico" al Estadio Osvaldo Casanova 2008-01-08
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