The Latvian Basketball League (LBL; Latvian: Latvijas Basketbola līga) also known as the Pafbet 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 (Latvian: Latvijas meistarsacīkstes basketbolā) with 6 teams participating. It was won by the Latvian Sports Society (Latvijas Sporta biedrība) team, who defeated the Riga YMCA team (Rīgas JKS) in the final game with a score of 25:15. The first official national women's tournament followed in 1932.

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 Rīga has held the title ever since.

For the 2020/2021 season, the 2nd tier Latvian league - LBL2 - was reformed into the Ramirent Nacionālā basketbola līga [lv] (NBL, National Basketball League) and LBL3 became the Reģionālā basketbola līga (Regional Basketball League).

拉脫維亞LBL是拉脫維亞籃球聯賽的縮寫,是拉脫維亞最高級別的籃球聯賽。該聯賽由拉脫維亞籃球協會主辦,每年舉辦一次。拉脫維亞LBL吸引了來自全國各地的籃球隊參賽,是拉脫維亞籃球界最受矚目的賽事之一。

拉脫維亞LBL的比賽水平高,競爭激烈,各支球隊都展現出出色的籃球技巧和戰術。比賽期間,觀眾可以欣賞到精彩的比賽場面,感受到籃球運動的魅力。

該聯賽不僅是球迷們的盛宴,也是球員們展示實力和提升技術的舞台。許多優秀的拉脫維亞籃球運動員都在LBL聯賽中嶄露頭角,並獲得了國際賽事的邀請和合同。

拉脫維亞LBL的比賽場地遍布拉脫維亞各地,讓更多的觀眾有機會參與其中。無論是球迷還是球員,都能在這個聯賽中感受到籃球的激情和活力。

總之,拉脫維亞LBL是一個引人入勝的籃球賽事,它不僅展示了拉脫維亞籃球的實力和水平,也為球迷們提供了一個欣賞精彩比賽的機會。無論你是籃球愛好者還是想要體驗拉脫維亞籃球文化的人,都不容錯過這個精彩的賽事。