Liga Nacional de Básquetbol
 | |
| Organising body | Asociación de Clubes de Básquetbol |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1985 by León Najnudel |
| Country | Argentina |
| Number of teams | 20 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | La Liga Argentina |
| International cup(s) | Champions League Americas |
| Current champions | Boca Juniors (5th title) (2024–25) |
| Most championships | Atenas (9 titles) |
| Most appearances | Leonardo Gutiérrez (1,106) [1] |
| All-time top scorer | Héctor Campana (17,359) [1][2] |
| President | Fabián Borro |
| TV partners | TyC Sports DirecTV |
| Website | laliganacional.com.ar |
The Liga Nacional de Básquetbol (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 Confederation.
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
[edit]Creation
[edit]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
[edit]
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
[edit]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 clubs (2024–25 season)
[edit]- References
- ^ The team plays its home games at Obras Sanitarias stadium, with capacity for 3,000 spectators.
Champions
[edit]List of finals
[edit]Source: LNB website.[10]
Titles by club
[edit]| Club | Titles | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| Atenas | 9 | 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991–92, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2008–09 |
| Peñarol | 5 |
1993–94, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14 |
| Boca Juniors | 1996–97, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2023–24, 2024–25 | |
| San Lorenzo | 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21 | |
| Ferro Carril Oeste | 3 | 1985, 1986, 1989 |
| GEPU | 2 | 1990–91, 1992–93 |
| Estudiantes (O) | 1999–00, 2000–01 | |
| Quimsa | 2014–15, 2022-23 | |
| Independiente | 1 | 1994–95 |
| Olimpia | 1995–96 | |
| Ben Hur | 2004–05 | |
| Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR) | 2005–06 | |
| Libertad | 2007–08 | |
| Regatas Corrientes | 2012–13 | |
| Instituto | 2021–22 |
Awards
[edit]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
[edit]Retired numbers
[edit]As of July 2025[update], 18 players have their jerseys retired. Atenas was the team which started this practice (in 2002, with legendary Marcelo Milanesio's #9).[11][12][13]
| N° | Club | Player | Pos. | Tenure | No. ret. year |
Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 |
Quilmes (MdP) |  Eduardo Dominé |
SG | 1990, 1991–2001 | 2009 | [13] |
5 |
Atenas | Héctor Campana |
SG | 1987–88, 1991–92, 1996–2000, 2002–04 | 2005 | [12][14] |
5 |
Estudiantes (BB)[n 1] | Hernán Jasen |
SF | 1996–99, 2012–18 | 2018 | [15] |
7 |
Quilmes (MdP) | Esteban De la Fuente |
SG | 1991–93, 1995–97, 2004–05 | 2013 | [13] |
7 |
Atenas | Bruno Lábaque |
PG | 1994–2003, 2006–09, 2010–17 | 2017 | [16] |
7 |
Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR) | Pablo Moldú |
SG | 1994–2006 | 2019 | [17][18] |
7 |
Quimsa | Nicolás Aguirre |
PG | 2011–13, 2014–15 | 2019 | [19] |
8 |
Peñarol (MdP) | Tato Rodríguez |
PG | 1994–1998, 1999–2003, 2004–2011 | 2011 | [20][21] |
8 |
Quilmes (MdP) | Guillermo García Oyaga |
PG | 1970s–80s | 2013 | [13] |
8 |
Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR) | Gabriel Cocha |
SG | 1991–92, 1994–98, 2003–07 | 2019 | [17][18] |
8 |
Quimsa | Fernando Small |
PG | 1998–2004, 2005–08 | 2019 | [19][22] |
9 |
Atenas | Marcelo Milanesio |
PG | 1982–2002 | 2002 | [12] |
10 |
Estudiantes (BB)[n 1] | Juan Espil |
SG | 1988–1992, 2010–12 | 2013 | [23][24] |
11 |
Atenas | Diego Osella |
C | 1988–1992, 1993–2001, 2003–2010 | 2011 | [25][26][27] |
11 |
Quimsa | Miguel Cortijo |
PG | 1998–2000 | 2011 | [13][28] |
13 |
Regatas Corrientes | Paolo Quinteros |
SG | 2011–22 | SG | [29][30] |
14 |
Estudiantes (BB)[n 1] | Alberto Cabrera [n 2] |
PG | 1961–84 | 2004 | [31][32] |
14 |
Quimsa | Gabriel Deck |
SF | 2010–16 | 2019 | [19] |
- Notes
- ^ a b c Number retired for both teams, as Bahía Basket was recognised as a continuity of Estudiantes in the LNB.
- ^ Although Cabrera did not play for Bahía Basket (he left basketball in 1984), the number 14 is also retired in the franchise.
References
[edit]- ^ a b Liga Nacional: los datos y récords históricos on Basquet Plus, 5 Dec 2018
- ^ Leonardo Gutiérrez es el tercer goleador histórico de la Liga Nacional on TyC, 23 Mar 2016
- ^ 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.
- ^ Resolución de 1983 para el Campeonato Argentino de Clubes
- ^ REGLAMENTO PARA LA ETAPA DE TRANSICION COMPETENCIA AÑO 1984
- ^ "Se cumplen 30 años del primer partido oficial de la LNB", Basquet Plus, 26 Apr 2015
- ^ Zarate Basket at LNB
- ^ Ferro, el primer campeón que marcó la historia on LNB
- ^ Boca le ganó a Instituto por 78-77 y se consagró bicampeón de la Liga Nacional de Básquet on TN.com.ar. 20 Jul 2025
- ^ "Historial de Campeones de la Liga" (in Spanish). LNB official website. Archived from the original on 2010-08-30. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
- ^ "Peñarol de Mar del Plata retiró la camiseta de 'Tato' Rodríguez", La Voz, 2011-11-23
- ^ a b c Milanesio y Campana homenajeados con el retiro de las míticas "9" y "5" Pick and Roll website, 2005-11-05
- ^ a b c d e Dorsales retirados que marcaron historia by Mariano Blanco, Diario Epoca, 11 May 2015
- ^ Atenas retira la camiseta de Héctor "Pichi" Campana, Infobae, 2005-07-12
- ^ Se suma Jasen on Bahía Plus, 2 Sep 2018
- ^ Se retiró Lábaque con una derrota frente a Instituto, LNB website, 12 May 2017
- ^ a b Pablo Moldú: «Me llena de orgullo, es un reconocimiento enorme el que nos hace Gimnasia» on Meridiano Digital, 13 Feb 2019
- ^ a b Básquet: Emotivo homenaje de Gimnasia de Comodoro Rivadavia al tornquistense Pablo Moldú on Noticias Tornquist, 15 Feb 2019
- ^ a b c El repaso por las camisetas retiradas en la Liga Nacional on Basquet Plus, 14 Ago 2019
- ^ "Peñarol retiró la camiseta de 'Tato' Rodríguez", La Voz del Interior, 2011-11-24
- ^ "La camiseta de Tato dijo hasta siempre", Pickandroll.com.ar, 2011-11-24 (Archive)
- ^ Fernando Small retorna a Quimsa on Web Basketball, 15 Sep 2020
- ^ Espil tuvo su merecido homenaje en Bahía, Clarín, 23 February 2013 (archived)
- ^ "Espil vivió su noche soñada" at CanchaLlena.com, 22 February 2013
- ^ Atenas retiró el 11 de Diego Osella, Gualeguaychú a Diario webpage
- ^ Atenas retirará la camiseta 11 en homenaje a Diego Osella Archived 2012-04-01 at the Wayback Machine, La Mañana de Cordoba website
- ^ Atenas retira la camiseta 11 de Osella, Día a Día Deportes
- ^ "Siempre trabajé para soportar la presión del puesto", interview to Cortijo on La Nueva, 24 Feb 2004
- ^ Paolo Quinteros, leyenda: Regatas Corrientes retirará la camiseta número 13 on El Entre Ríos. 14 Dec 2022
- ^ Paolo Quinteros quedó inmortalizado en el olimpo de Regatas on Basquetplus.com. 16 Dec 2022
- ^ "La 14 inmortal" Pick and Roll site, 2004-10-04 (Archive)
- ^ Ordenanza Nº 14604, declarando "Sitio de Interés Cultural e Histórico" al Estadio Osvaldo Casanova 2008-01-08
External links
[edit]
- Official website
(in Spanish, French, English, and Chinese) - Pick and Roll (news, info & statistics) (in Spanish)
- Argentinian league on Latinabasket.com
- (news, info & statistics)
