The Latvian-Estonian Basketball League (, ), is the top-tier men's basketball league in Latvia and Estonia. The competition was introduced in 2018 and is organised by the Estonian Basketball Association and the Latvian Basketball Association.
History Following the demise of the Baltic Basketball League, the LEBL was established in 2018 when the Latvijas Basketbola līga (LBL) and the Korvpalli Meistriliiga (KML) largely merged. In its inaugural season, 15 teams participated in the league. After a Final Four is played to determine the winner of the league, there are playoffs to decide the national champions of Latvia and Estonia. The first game was played on 28 September 2018, with Estonian champions BC Kalev/Cramo hosting a game against the Latvian champions BK Ventspils. On 9 April 2019, BK Ventspils won the first league championship. On 19 November 2021, representatives of the Latvian Basketball Association and the Estonian Basketball Association agreed to continue the development of a joint league for the next three years. Both parties acknowledged that the league promotes the development of players and coaches, attracts basketball fans and inspires young people to focus on basketball.
In June 2022, Ukrainian club BC Prometey joined the league as the Ukrainian SuperLeague was suspended due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The team played its home games in Riga.
Title sponsorships Since inaugural season, the League has had title sponsorship rights sold to two companies, most recently to the Optibet betting company.
Period Sponsor Name 2018–2019 Olympic Entertainment Group OlyBet Latvian-Estonian Basketball League2019–2024 Paf Paf Latvian-Estonian Basketball League2024–2026 Optibet Optibet Latvian-Estonian Basketball League
Competition format The competition follows a double round-robin format. During the course of a season each club plays each other club twice (once at home and once away). Teams' rankings at season end are determined by winning percentage. At season end, the eight top teams play-off, pitting the first place standings team against the 8th place team, and so on. The play-off format initially was supposed to be Quarterfinals and Final Four, but since the inaugural season it has changed every season.
For the 2023–24 season play-off format changed. Quarterfinals and semifinals are to be played in best-of-three series, while bronze and gold medals are to be played out in one game with hosts being a team that finished regular season higher in the standings.
Home Grown Player Rule A foreign player (not Latvian or Estonian) who has been registered and played in the Latvian National Championship or the Estonian National Championship for three consecutive seasons between the ages of 12 and 19 is considered to be a local player.
Current teams
Team Home city Arena Capacity BC PärnuPärnuPärnu Sports Hall Bigbank/KalevTallinnTondiraba Sports CenterKalev Sports Hall BK LiepājaLiepājaLiepāja Olympic Center BK OgreOgreArēna Ogre BK VentspilsVentspilsVentspils Olympic Center Keila CoolbetKeilaKeila Health Center Keila KK Latvijas UniversitāteRigaO. Kalpaka RTDP Rigas Ekselences Juniori Rīgas ZeļļiTeam Sports Games Hall TalTech/ALEXELATallinnTalTech Sports Hall Tartu Ülikool Maks & MooritsTartuUniversity of Tartu Sports Hall Valmiera Glass VIAValmieraValmiera Olympic Center VEF RīgaRigaRimi Olympic Sports Center ViimsiHaabneemeForus Sports Center
Results SeasonFinalThird and fourth placeWinnersScoreSecond placeThird placeScoreFourth place2018–19DetailsBK Ventspils102–80VEF RīgaBC Kalev/Cramo87–85BK Ogre2019–20DetailsCurtailed and voided due to the COVID-19 pandemic2020–21DetailsBC Kalev/Cramo86–75VEF RīgaBK Ogre75–73AVIS UTILITAS Rapla2021–22DetailsVEF Rīga95–64KK Viimsi/SportlandPärnu Sadam84–77BK Ogre2022–23DetailsBC Prometey77–62VEF RīgaTartu Ülikool Maks & Moorits63–60BC Kalev/Cramo2023–24DetailsBC Prometey91–83BC Kalev/CramoVEF Rīga84–76BK Ventspils2024–25DetailsVEF Rīga88–82Rīgas ZeļļiBC Kalev/Cramo92–69BK Ogre2025–26DetailsValmiera Glass VIA100–95Tartu Ülikool Maks & MooritsVEF Rīga87–72Kalev/Cramo
Performance by club + ClubWinnersRunners-upYears wonYears runner-up VEF Rīga232022, 20252019, 2021, 2023 BC Prometey202023, 2024– Kalev/Cramo1120212024 BK Ventspils102019– Valmiera Glass VIA102026– Viimsi01–2022 Rīgas Zeļļi01–2025 Tartu Ülikool Maks & Moorits01–2026
Records Player records The following records include games played since the league was established in 2018. These records do not include any games played in local championship playoffs, Latvian Basketball League and Estonian Basketball League respectively.
Highest Performance Index Rating (PIR) in a game 60 by Matej Radunić ( Keila KK), against Valmiera Glass VIA on 17 March 2023
Most points in a game 41 by Jalen Riley ( VEF Rīga), against BK Liepāja on 5 February 2022 41 by Matej Radunić ( Keila KK), against Valmiera Glass VIA on 17 March 2023 41 by Roberts Blūms ( VEF Rīga), against Tallinn Kalev/SNABB on 21 January 2024
Most rebounds in a game 24 by Kristaps Dārgais ( BK Ogre), against Viimsi on 19 November 2025
Most assists in a game 22 by Tony Wroten ( BC Kalev/Cramo), against Jēkabpils/SMScredit.lv on 24 January 2019
Most steals in a game 10 by Alterique Gilbert ( Pärnu Sadam), against BK Liepāja on 5 March 2022 10 by Kevin Johnson ( Keila KK), against Viimsi on 24 September 2023
Most blocks in a game 7 by Klāvs Čavars ( VEF Rīga), against Jēkabpils/SMScredit.lv on 9 February 2019 7 by Tomáš Pavelka ( Tartu Ülikool Maks & Moorits), against Pärnu Sadam on 7 December 2022 7 by Quion Burns ( Keila KK), against TalTech/ALEXELA on 12 November 2025
Most 3-point field goals made in a game 11 by Jalen Riley ( VEF Rīga), against BK Liepāja on 5 February 2022
Team records Biggest home win: BC Kalev/Cramo 122–48 Keila KK in the 2024–25 season
Biggest away win: Tallinn Kalev/SNABB 52–110 BC Prometey in the 2023–24 season
Longest winning streak: 24 games by BC Kalev/Cramo in the 2023–24 season
Largest attendance at a game: 5,972 – VEF Rīga against Rīgas Zeļļi at Xiaomi Arena on 13 April 2025
Awards
See also Korvpalli Meistriliiga Latvijas Basketbola līga
References
External links