Israeli Basketball Premier League

For the women's league, see Israeli Female Basketball Premier League.

Ligat HaAl (Hebrew: ליגת העל, lit., Supreme League or Premier League), or the Israeli Basketball Premier League, is the top-tier level league of professional competition in Israeli club basketball, making it Israel's primary basketball competition. The league's name is abbreviated as either BSL (Basketball Super League) or ISBL (Israeli Basketball Super League). For sponsorship reasons, the league is also referred to as Ligat Winner Sal (Hebrew: ליגת ווינר סל), lit. Winner Basket League, with "Winner" being the name of a game operated by the league's primary sponsor, Toto Winner.^[1]

Israeli Basketball Premier League

Founded	1953; 70 years ago (1953)
First season	1953–54
Country	Israel
Confederation	FIBA Europe
Number of teams	12
Level on pyramid	1
Relegation to	Liga Leumit
Domestic cup(s)	State Cup
Supercup	League Cup
International cup(s)	EuroLeague EuroCup Champions League Europe Cup
Current champions	Hapoel Holon (2nd title)
Most championships	Maccabi Tel Aviv (55 titles)
CEO	Shmuel Frenkel
TV partners	Sport 5
Website	basket.co.il
2022–23 Israeli Basketball Premier League

The league is run by the Israeli Basketball Super League Administration Ltd.^[2]

Overview

Ligat HaAl comprises the top 12 basketball clubs in Israel, and was founded in 1954.

The league itself is most known in Europe, due to the success of the Israeli teams in European-wide competitions, such as the EuroLeague, EuroCup (formerly called the ULEB Cup), and FIBA's EuroChallenge (formerly called the FIBA EuroCup). Many non-drafted and free agent players from Europe and the NBA play in the Israeli league, as an alternative to NBA competition.

The league is the first division in Israeli basketball: the team that finishes last in a season is relegated to the Second Division, while the Second Division's top 8 teams compete in a play-off system right after the end of the regular season, with the team that reaches the finals series being promoted to the Premier League for the following season.

Format

 

 

Haifa

 

Gilboa

 

Nes Ziona

 

Holon

 

Jerusalem

 

Herzliya

 

Rishon LeZion

 

Tel Aviv

 

Be'er Sheva

 

Eilat

 

Tel Aviv

 

Galil Elyon

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Teams of season 2021–22

There are 12 teams in the league,^[3] and they play against each other thrice. The top eight teams advance to the five-game series Quarter-finals. The winners of the Quarter-finals advance to the Final Four.^[4]

Links with the NBA

 

Omri Casspi

 

Gal Mekel

 

Jordan Farmar

 

Amar'e Stoudemire

 

Deni Avdija

During the 1980s and the early 1990s there were many basketball games between the Israeli League stars and NBA teams such as the Phoenix Suns, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Orlando Magic, and the Los Angeles Lakers, all of which were played in Israel.

In October 2005, Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated the Toronto Raptors 105–103 in an exhibition game that was played in Toronto, Canada; this was the first victory for any European or Israeli team over an NBA team at its home court.

Over the years, the league has exported many of its foreign players to the NBA. In 2009, Omri Casspi became the first Israeli-born NBA player with the Sacramento Kings. Prior to that, three players had been drafted: Doron Sheffer (who played U.S. college basketball at Connecticut), Yotam Halperin and Lior Eliyahu. Oded Kattash agreed to play with the New York Knicks, but he never actually played in the NBA because of the 1998–99 NBA lockout that started on July 1, 1998.

In the 2009 NBA Draft, Omri Casspi was selected 23rd overall by the Sacramento Kings, and Gal Mekel followed in 2013 by signing with Dallas Mavericks. In 2016, Dragan Bender became the highest selection from the Israeli Basketball Premier League to be selected in an NBA draft with the Phoenix Suns taking him at 4th overall. Other players who have moved from the league to the NBA include: Will Bynum, Anthony Parker, Joe Ingles, Roger Mason Jr., P. J. Tucker, Eugene "Pooh" Jeter, Elijah Bryant, Carlos Arroyo, and Nate Robinson.

In 2016, Amar'e Stoudemire retired from the NBA, however on August 1, 2016, he signed a two-year deal with Hapoel Jerusalem, a team he co-owns.^[5] On October 1, 2016, he helped Hapoel Jerusalem win the 2016 Israeli Basketball League Cup.^[6] He also played for Maccabi Tel Aviv during the 2019-20 season, helping them win the 2019–20 Israeli Basketball Premier League championship. He was named MVP of the championship game.^[7]

In 2020 two players declared for the NBA draft. The first being Deni Avdija from Maccabi Tel Aviv and the second being Yam Madar from Hapeol Tel Aviv. Avdija was selected in the first round, 9th overall, by the Washington Wizards, and Madar was taken in the second round with the 47th pick of the draft by the Boston Celtics.

High-profile American Jewish recruits

In 2011, the league imposed a limit of four non-Israelis per team.^[8] Jews are immediately eligible for Israeli citizenship, under Israel's Law of Return.^[8] Consequently, non-Israeli Jewish basketball players are able to join a team in the league without using up one of the few roster spots available for non-Israeli players.^[8]

Examples of Jewish Americans joining teams in the league include Jon Scheyer, Jordan Farmar, Sylven Landesberg, David Blu, Amar'e Stoudemire, and Dan Grunfeld.^[8]

Current clubs

Team	City	Color
Bnei Herzliya	Herzliya
Hapoel Be'er Sheva	Be'er Sheva
Hapoel Eilat	Eilat
Hapoel Galil Elyon	Upper Galilee
Hapoel Gilboa Galil	Gilboa Regional Council
Hapoel Haifa	Haifa
Hapoel Holon	Holon
Hapoel Jerusalem	Jerusalem
Hapoel Tel Aviv	Tel Aviv
Ironi Nes Ziona	Ness Ziona
Maccabi Rishon LeZion	Rishon LeZion
Maccabi Tel Aviv	Tel Aviv

Titles by team

Team	Champions	Runner-Up
Maccabi Tel Aviv	55	7
Hapoel Tel Aviv	5	20
Hapoel Jerusalem	2	6
Hapoel Holon	2	3
Maccabi Haifa	1	3
Hapoel Galil Elyon	1	2
Maccabi Rishon LeZion	1	2
Hapoel Gilboa Galil	1	1
Hapoel Ramat Gan	0	6
Ironi Ramat Gan	0	3
Hapoel Gvat/Yagur	0	3
Hapoel Haifa	0	2
Hapoel Eilat	0	2
Bnei Herzliya	0	1
Elitzur Netanya	0	1
Maccabi Ironi Ra'anana	0	1
Ironi Nahariya	0	1
Maccabi Ashdod	0	1

Title holders

• 1953–54 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1954–55 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1955–56 Not held due to Suez Crisis
• 1956–57 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1957–58 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1958–59 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1959–60 Hapoel Tel Aviv
• 1960–61 Hapoel Tel Aviv
• 1961–62 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1962–63 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1963–64 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1964–65 Hapoel Tel Aviv
• 1965–66 Hapoel Tel Aviv
• 1966–67 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1967–68 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1968–69 Hapoel Tel Aviv
• 1969–70 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1970–71 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1971–72 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1972–73 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1973–74 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1974–75 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1975–76 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1976–77 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1977–78 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1978–79 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1979–80 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1980–81 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1981–82 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1982–83 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1983–84 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1984–85 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1985–86 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1986–87 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1987–88 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1988–89 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1989–90 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1990–91 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1991–92 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1992–93 Hapoel Galil Elyon
• 1993–94 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1994–95 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1995–96 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1996–97 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1997–98 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1998–99 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 1999–00 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 2000–01 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 2001–02 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 2002–03 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 2003–04 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 2004–05 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 2005–06 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 2006–07 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 2007–08 Hapoel Holon
• 2008–09 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 2009–10 Hapoel Gilboa Galil
• 2010–11 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 2011–12 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 2012–13 Maccabi Haifa
• 2013–14 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 2014–15 Hapoel Jerusalem
• 2015–16 Maccabi Rishon LeZion
• 2016–17 Hapoel Jerusalem
• 2017–18 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 2018–19 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 2019–20 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 2020–21 Maccabi Tel Aviv
• 2021–22 Hapoel Holon

Finals

Season	Champion	Runner-up	Score	Format
1953–54	Maccabi Tel Aviv	Hapoel Holon		Regular season only
1954–55
1955–56	Cancelled due to war
1956–57	Maccabi Tel Aviv	Hapoel Tel Aviv		Regular season only
1957–58
1958–59
1959–60	Hapoel Tel Aviv	Maccabi Tel Aviv
1960–61
1961–62	Maccabi Tel Aviv	Hapoel Haifa
1962–63		Hapoel Tel Aviv
1963–64
1964–65	Hapoel Tel Aviv	Hapoel Haifa
1965–66		Maccabi Tel Aviv
1966–67	Maccabi Tel Aviv	Hapoel Tel Aviv
1967–68
1968–69	Hapoel Tel Aviv	Maccabi Tel Aviv
1969–70	Maccabi Tel Aviv	Hapoel Tel Aviv
1970–71
1971–72		Hapoel Gvat/Yagur
1972–73		Ironi Ramat Gan
1973–74
1974–75		Hapoel Ramat Gan
1975–76		Hapoel Gvat/Yagur
1976–77		Hapoel Ramat Gan
1977–78		Hapoel Gvat/Yagur		Mini-league of top six teams from regular season
1978–79		Hapoel Tel Aviv	2:0	Best of 3 series
1979–80				Regular season only
1980–81		Hapoel Ramat Gan
1981–82				Mini-league of top three teams from regular season
1982–83			2:0	Best of 3 series
1983–84			2:0
1984–85		Hapoel Tel Aviv	2:1
1985–86		Maccabi Elitzur Netanya	2:0
1986–87		Hapoel Tel Aviv	2:1
1987–88			2:1
1988–89			2:0
1989–90		Hapoel Galil Elyon	3:0	Best of 5 series
1990–91		Maccabi Rishon LeZion	3:1
1991–92		Hapoel Tel Aviv	3:2
1992–93	Hapoel Galil Elyon		3:1
1993–94	Maccabi Tel Aviv		3:0
1994–95		Hapoel Galil Elyon	3:0
1995–96		Hapoel Jerusalem	3:0
1996–97			3:0
1997–98		Hapoel Eilat	3:0
1998–99		Hapoel Jerusalem	3:1
1999–00		Maccabi Ra'anana	3:1
2000–01		Hapoel Jerusalem	3:0
2001–02		Ironi Ramat Gan	3:0
2002–03		Ironi Naharia	3:0
2003–04		Hapoel Tel Aviv	3:0
2004–05			3:0
2005–06		Hapoel Jerusalem	96–66	Final Four format
2006–07			80–78
2007–08	Hapoel Holon	Maccabi Tel Aviv	73–72
2008–09	Maccabi Tel Aviv	Maccabi Haifa	85–72
2009–10	Gilboa/Galil	Maccabi Tel Aviv	90–77
2010–11	Maccabi Tel Aviv	Gilboa/Galil	91–64
2011–12		Maccabi Ashdod	83–63
2012–13	Maccabi Haifa	Maccabi Tel Aviv	86–79	Single game format
2013–14	Maccabi Tel Aviv	Maccabi Haifa	81–77 ; 82–84 OT	Home and Away format
2014–15	Hapoel Jerusalem	Hapoel Eilat	80–65 ; 88–68
2015–16	Maccabi Rishon LeZion	Hapoel Jerusalem	83–77	Final Four format
2016–17	Hapoel Jerusalem	Maccabi Haifa	83–76
2017–18	Maccabi Tel Aviv	Hapoel Holon	95–75
2018–19		Maccabi Rishon LeZion	89–75
2019–20			86–81
2020–21		Hapoel Gilboa Galil	2:1	Best of 3 series
2021–22	Hapoel Holon	Bnei Herzliya	2:0

Awards

 

Lior Eliyahu, 2-time Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP

• Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP
• Israeli Basketball Premier League Finals MVP
• Israeli Basketball Premier League Quintet
• Israeli Basketball Premier League Defensive Player of the Year
• Israeli Basketball Premier League 6th Man of the Year
• Israeli Basketball Premier League Most Improved Player
• Israeli Basketball Premier League Discovery of the Year
• Israeli Basketball Premier League Coach of the Year

Statistical leaders

Main article: Israeli Basketball Premier League Statistical Leaders

See also

• Israel Basketball Association
• Israeli Basketball State Cup
• League Cup
• Liga Leumit
• Basketball in Israel

Notes and references

1. "BSL Sponsors" (in Hebrew). Israeli Basketball Super League. Retrieved October 25, 2010.
2. The Basketball Super League Administration for Men () basket.co.il
3. "Winner League Basketball, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com.
4. "League format" (in Hebrew). Israeli Basketball Super League. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
5. . Hapoel.co.il. August 1, 2016. Archived from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
6. "הצהרת כוונות: האדומים זכו בגביע ווינר סל". Basket.co.il (in Hebrew). October 1, 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
7. "Former NBA center Stoudemire named MVP of Israeli title game". SI.com. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
8. "NBA News, Scores, Fantasy Games and Highlights 2019-20 | Yahoo Sports". sports.yahoo.com.

External links

• Eurobasket.com League Page
• Official website
• Israeli Sport Website in English