Latvijas Basketbola līga

The Latvian Basketball League (LBL; ) also known as Optibet LBL for sponsorship reasons, is the top-level national basketball championship in Latvia composed of 6 teams. Since 2018/19, only the playoff matches are played, as the top Latvian clubs play the regular season in the Latvian–Estonian Basketball League. The LBL is governed by the Latvian Basketball Association, the national governing body of basketball in Latvia.

Its 6 teams are located in 5 cities; two in Riga, and one in Ventspils, Liepāja, Valmiera, and Ogre. The LBL season usually ran from September to April, with the playoffs in April–May. The league was founded in 1992, and its first season was played in the same year.

History

Before 1992

After American YMCA volunteers introduced the sport in Riga around 1920, interest in the sport grew, and in 1923 the YMCA organized the first ever basketball tournament in Latvia, with 14 teams registering. In 1924, the newly-founded Latvian Basketball Association announced the first Latvian Basketball Championship in the winter of 1924 () with 6 teams participating. It was won by the Latvian Sports Society () team, who defeated the Riga YMCA team () in the final game with a score of 25:15. The first official national women's tournament followed in 1932.

The tournaments became defunct after the Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940 (a Latvian League was played from 1942 to 1944 under the German occupation of the Baltic states during World War II). During the Soviet occupation after WWII, the Latvian SSR Basketball Championship was organized until 1991.

Early years

The first LBL season was played in 1992, with LBL2 (LBL 2. divīzija) as its second division and LBL3 as the third. From 1992 to 1999 all championships were won by BK Brocēni, however, from 2000 to 2006 BK Ventspils were the champions. In 2007, ASK Rīga stopped BK Ventspils' winning streak. BK Ventspils won again in 2009, beating Barons/LMT in a thriller 4–3.

Later history

Barons would return to the final the following year, this time against VEF Rīga, and win by the same 4–3 margin. The 2011 final again went to 7 games, with VEF Rīga defeating Ventspils. Between 2011 and 2018, the title changed hands frequently, with BK Valmiera Ordo claiming the title in 2016.

Since the introduction of the Latvian-Estonian Basketball League in the 2018/2019 season, the regular LBL championship was merged into the LEBL. The six top Latvian teams then qualify for the LBL playoffs after the end of the LEBL regular season. VEF RÄ«ga has held the title ever since.

Starting from the 2020/2021 season, the 2nd tier Latvian league - LBL2 - was reformed into the Ramirent ' (NBL, National Basketball League) and the third-level league - LBL3 - became the Reģionālā basketbola līga (Regional Basketball League).

Latvian champions

Latvian SSR champions

Latvian champions

Total number of national champions won by Latvian clubs. Table includes titles won during the Latvian Championships (1924–1944) and (1992–present) and the USSR Premier Basketball League (1945–1992).