Liga Española de Baloncesto (1957–1983)

The Liga Española de Baloncesto (English: Spanish Basketball League), whose top division was known as Primera División (English: First Division), was the old 1st Tier level basketball league in Spain, from 1957 to the 1982–83 season. It was organized by the Spanish Basketball Federation, and it was contested by the best clubs of the country. In 1983, the clubs decided to create the Basketball Clubs Association, and transformed the top division into the new Liga ACB, although that league was also named Primera División until 1988.

Spanish Basketball League
Liga Española de Baloncesto
SportBasketball
Founded1957
First season1957
Ceased1982–83 season
(renamed as Liga ACB)
No. of teams14
Country Spain
ContinentEuropean Union FIBA Europe (Europe)
Most titlesReal Madrid (22 titles)
TV partner(s)TVE
Level on pyramid1st tier
Related
competitions
Spanish King's Cup

Format edit

The league was played in a double round-robin format without playoffs. Two points were conceded for a winning game, one for a draw, and no points for the loser. The worst teams of each season were relegated to the second division (Segunda División, called Primera División B since 1978). The winner of the league qualified for the FIBA European Champions Cup (now called EuroLeague).

History edit

The league was created in 1957 with the aim of publicising the basketball in Spain. In its first edition composed by six teams, two from Madrid (Real Madrid and Estudiantes) and four from the province of Barcelona (Barcelona, Joventut Badalona, Aismalíbar from Montcada i Reixac and Orillo Verde from Sabadell), and played with a double round-robin format. The league was played in 49 days at only two venues: Frontón Vista Alegre in Madrid and Palacio de Deportes de Montjuic in Barcelona.[1]

Two years later, teams from other regions first entered in the league.

Winners edit

Season Champion Runner-up
1957 Real Madrid FC Barcelona
1958 Real Madrid Joventut
1958–59 FC Barcelona Real Madrid
1959–60 Real Madrid Joventut
1960–61 Real Madrid Orillo Verde
1961–62 Real Madrid Joventut
1962–63 Real Madrid Estudiantes
1963–64 Real Madrid Picadero JC
1964–65 Real Madrid Picadero JC
1965–66 Real Madrid Picadero JC
1966–67 Joventut Real Madrid
1967–68 Real Madrid Estudiantes
1968–69 Real Madrid Joventut
1969–70 Real Madrid Picadero JC
Season Champion Runner-up
1970–71 Real Madrid Joventut
1971–72 Real Madrid FC Barcelona
1972–73 Real Madrid Joventut
1973–74 Real Madrid FC Barcelona
1974–75 Real Madrid FC Barcelona
1975–76 Real Madrid FC Barcelona
1976–77 Real Madrid FC Barcelona
1977–78 Joventut Real Madrid
1978–79 Real Madrid FC Barcelona
1979–80 Real Madrid FC Barcelona
1980–81 FC Barcelona Estudiantes
1981–82 Real Madrid FC Barcelona
1982–83 FC Barcelona Real Madrid

Source[2]

Titles edit

Team Winners Runners-up
Real Madrid
22
4
FC Barcelona
3
9
Joventut
2
6
Picadero JC
0
4
Estudiantes
0
3
Orillo Verde
0
1

Liga Nacional Primera División Top Scorers by season edit

Season Top Scorer Club Scoring Average / Total Points
1957   Alfonso Martínez Real Madrid 18.0
1958   Alfonso Martínez (2) Real Madrid 17.2
1958–59   Johnny Báez Real Madrid 19.9
1959–60   Alfonso Martínez (average) (3)
  Johnny Báez (total points) (2)
Barcelona
Real Madrid
20.2
439 points
1960–61   Francisco Llobet Orillo Verde 20.4
1961–62   Wayne Hightower Real Madrid 19.7
1962–63   Emiliano Rodríguez Real Madrid 19.9
1963–64   Emiliano Rodríguez (2) Real Madrid 22.7
1964–65   Lorenzo Alocén Helios 24.2
1965–66   Miles Aiken Águilas 23.9
1966–67   Alfonso Martínez (4) Joventut Badalona 22.1
1967–68   Clifford Luyk Real Madrid 24.3
1968–69   Charles Thomas San José Irpen 25.6
1969–70   Charles Thomas (2) San José Irpen 24.1
1970–71   Alfredo Pérez Gómez Breogán 27.1
1971–72   Gonzalo Sagi-Vela Estudiantes 21.6
1972–73   Alfredo Pérez Gómez (2) Breogán 23.2
1973–74   John Coughran YMCA 31.7
1974–75   Ray Price Baskonia 32.2
1975–76   Walter Szczerbiak (average)
  Bob Fullarton (total points)
Real Madrid
Breogán
30.9
968 points
1976–77   Bob Guyette Barcelona 32.0
1977–78   Essie Hollis Askatuak 41.0
1978–79   Nate Davis (average)
  Webb Williams (total points)
Askatuak
Baskonia
34.5
730 points
1979–80   Nate Davis (2) Valladolid 29.7
1980–81   Lars Hansen OAR Ferrol 27.4
1981–82   Larry McNeill Canarias 34.4
1982–83   Claude Gregory Baskonia 30.6

References edit

  1. ^ "Un paseo por la primera liga" (in Spanish). ACB.com. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  2. ^ Históricos Liga Nacional; ACB.com

See also edit