Liga Española de Baloncesto (1957–1983)

The Liga Española de Baloncesto (English: Spanish Basketball League), whose top division was known as Primera División (English: First Division), was the old 1st Tier level basketball league in Spain, from 1957 to the 1982–83 season. It was organized by the Spanish Basketball Federation, and it was contested by the best clubs of the country. In 1983, the clubs decided to create the Basketball Clubs Association, and transformed the top division into the new Liga ACB, although that league was also named Primera División until 1988.

Spanish Basketball League
Liga Española de Baloncesto
SportBasketball
Founded1957
Inaugural season1957
Ceased1982–83 season
(renamed as Liga ACB)
No. of teams14
Country Spain
Continent FIBA Europe (Europe)
Most titlesReal Madrid (22 titles)
TV partner(s)TVE
Level on pyramid1st tier
Related
competitions		Spanish King's Cup

Format

The league was played in a double round-robin format without playoffs. Two points were conceded for a winning game, one for a draw, and no points for the loser. The worst teams of each season were relegated to the second division (Segunda División, called Primera División B since 1978). The winner of the league qualified for the FIBA European Champions Cup (now called EuroLeague).

History

The league was created in 1957 with the aim of publicising the basketball in Spain. In its first edition composed by six teams, two from Madrid (Real Madrid and Estudiantes) and four from the province of Barcelona (Barcelona, Joventut Badalona, Aismalíbar from Montcada i Reixac and Orillo Verde from Sabadell), and played with a double round-robin format. The league was played in 49 days at only two venues: Frontón Vista Alegre in Madrid and Palacio de Deportes de Montjuic in Barcelona.[1]

Two years later, teams from other regions first entered in the league.

Winners
SeasonChampionRunner-up
1957Real MadridFC Barcelona
1958Real MadridJoventut
1958–59FC BarcelonaReal Madrid
1959–60Real MadridJoventut
1960–61Real MadridOrillo Verde
1961–62Real MadridJoventut
1962–63Real MadridEstudiantes
1963–64Real MadridPicadero JC
1964–65Real MadridPicadero JC
1965–66Real MadridPicadero JC
1966–67JoventutReal Madrid
1967–68Real MadridEstudiantes
1968–69Real MadridJoventut
1969–70Real MadridPicadero JC
SeasonChampionRunner-up
1970–71Real MadridJoventut
1971–72Real MadridFC Barcelona
1972–73Real MadridJoventut
1973–74Real MadridFC Barcelona
1974–75Real MadridFC Barcelona
1975–76Real MadridFC Barcelona
1976–77Real MadridFC Barcelona
1977–78JoventutReal Madrid
1978–79Real MadridFC Barcelona
1979–80Real MadridFC Barcelona
1980–81FC BarcelonaReal Madrid
1981–82Real MadridFC Barcelona
1982–83FC BarcelonaReal Madrid

Source[2]

Titles
TeamWinnersRunners-up
Real Madrid
22
5
FC Barcelona
3
9
Joventut
2
6
Picadero JC
0
4
Estudiantes
0
3
Orillo Verde
0
1

Liga Nacional Primera División Top Scorers by season
Main article: ACB statistical leaders
Season Top Scorer Club Scoring Average / Total Points
1957 Alfonso MartínezReal Madrid18.0
1958 Alfonso Martínez (2)Real Madrid17.2
1958–59 Johnny BáezReal Madrid19.9
1959–60 Alfonso Martínez (average) (3)
Johnny Báez (total points) (2)		Barcelona
Real Madrid		20.2
439 points
1960–61 Francisco LlobetOrillo Verde20.4
1961–62 Wayne HightowerReal Madrid19.7
1962–63 Emiliano RodríguezReal Madrid19.9
1963–64 Emiliano Rodríguez (2)Real Madrid22.7
1964–65 Lorenzo AlocénHelios24.2
1965–66 Miles AikenÁguilas23.9
1966–67 Alfonso Martínez (4)Joventut Badalona22.1
1967–68 Clifford LuykReal Madrid24.3
1968–69 Charles ThomasSan José Irpen25.6
1969–70 Charles Thomas (2)San José Irpen24.1
1970–71 Alfredo Pérez GómezBreogán27.1
1971–72 Gonzalo Sagi-VelaEstudiantes21.6
1972–73 Alfredo Pérez Gómez (2)Breogán23.2
1973–74 John CoughranYMCA31.7
1974–75 Ray PriceBaskonia32.2
1975–76 Walter Szczerbiak (average)
Bob Fullarton (total points)		Real Madrid
Breogán		30.9
968 points
1976–77 Bob GuyetteBarcelona32.0
1977–78 Essie HollisAskatuak41.0
1978–79 Nate Davis (average)
Webb Williams (total points)		Askatuak
Baskonia		34.5
730 points
1979–80 Nate Davis (2)Valladolid29.7
1980–81 Lars HansenOAR Ferrol27.4
1981–82 Larry McNeillCanarias34.4
1982–83 Claude GregoryBaskonia30.6

References
  1. "Un paseo por la primera liga" (in Spanish). ACB.com. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  2. Históricos Liga Nacional; ACB.com

See also
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