Liga Nacional de Básquetbol

Liga Nacional de Básquetbol
Organising bodyAsociación de Clubes
de Básquetbol
Founded1985 (1985)
by León Najnudel
CountryArgentina
Number of teams20
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toLa Liga Argentina
International cupChampions League Americas
Current championsGimnasia y Esgrima (CR) (2nd title)
(2025–26)
Most championshipsAtenas
(9 titles)
Most appearancesLeonardo Gutiérrez (1,106)[1]
All-time top scorerHéctor Campana (17,359)[1][2]
PresidentEduardo Tassano
TV partnersTyC Sports
DSports
Websitelaliganacional.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

Creation

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

León Najnudel with the ball in the first LNB game ever: Argentino de Firmat v. San Lorenzo (in red uniform), 26 April 1985

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, the first champion of the LNB

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

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.

Clubs (2026–27 season)

Club City Province Arena Capacity Est.
ArgentinoJunínBuenos AiresEl Fortín de las Morochas
1,465
1935
AtenasCórdobaCórdobaCarlos Cerutti
3,500
1938
Boca JuniorsBuenos Aires(autonomous city)Luis Conde
2,000
1905
Ciclista OlímpicoLa BandaSantiago del EsteroVicente Rosales
3,964
1921
Ferro Carril OesteBuenos Aires(autonomous city)Héctor Etchart
4,500
1904
Gimnasia y EsgrimaComodoro RivadaviaChubutSocios Fundadores
2,276
1919
Independiente [es]OlivaCórdobaEl Gigante
1,800
1921
InstitutoCórdobaCórdobaAngel Sandrin
2,000
1918
LanúsLanúsBuenos AiresMicroestadio Antonio Rotili [es]
3,000
1915
Oberá Tenis ClubOberáMisionesDr. Luis Augusto Derna
2,000
1940
PeñarolMar del PlataBuenos AiresIslas Malvinas
8,000
1922
PlatenseFloridaBuenos AiresMicroestadio Vicente López [n 1]
800
1905
QuimsaSantiago del EsteroSantiago del EsteroEstadio Ciudad
5,200
1989
Racing Club [es]ChivilcoyBuenos AiresGrilon Arena
1,200
1914
RegatasCorrientesCorrientesJosé Jorge Contte
4,000
1923
San LorenzoBuenos Aires(autonomous city)Roberto Pando
2,700
1908
San MartínCorrientesCorrientesRaúl A. Ortiz
2,500
1932
La UniónFormosaFormosaCincuentenario
4,500
2004
UniónSanta FeSanta Fe Ángel Malvicino
5,000
1907
Notes
  1. ↑ The team plays its home games at Obras Sanitarias stadium, with capacity for 3,000 spectators.

Champions

List of finals

Ed. Season Champion Series Runner-up Winning Coach Finals MVP
1
1985
Ferro Carril Oeste (1)
2–1
AtenasLuis Martínez [es]Sebastián Uranga [es]
2
1986
Ferro Carril Oeste (2)
3–1
OlimpoLuis MartínezMike Schlegel
3
1987
Atenas (1)
3–1
Ferro Carril OesteWalter Garrone [es]Héctor Campana
4
1988
Atenas (2)
3–0
River PlateWalter GarroneCarlos Cerutti
5
1989
Ferro Carril Oeste (3)
3–2
AtenasLeón NajnudelJim Thomas
6
1990
Atenas (3)
3–0
CañadenseWalter GarroneMarcelo Milanesio
7
1990–91
GEPU (1)
4–2
Estudiantes (BB)Daniel RodríguezHéctor Campana
8
1991–92
Atenas (4)
4–1
GEPURubén MagnanoHéctor Campana
9
1992–93
GEPU (2)
4–2
AtenasOrlando FerrattoJuan Espil
10
1993–94
Peñarol (MDP) (1)
4–1
Independiente (GP)Nestor GarcíaEsteban De la Fuente
11
1994–95
Independiente (GP) (1)
4–1
Olimpia (VT)Mario GuzmánEsteban De la Fuente
12
1995–96
Olimpia (VT) (1)
4–3
AtenasHoracio SeguíJorge Racca
13
1996–97
Boca Juniors (1)
4–1
Independiente (GP)Julio LamasByron Wilson
14
1997–98
Atenas (5)
4–0
Boca JuniorsRubén MagnanoFabricio Oberto
15
1998–99
Atenas (6)
4–3
Independiente (GP)Rubén MagnanoDiego Osella
16
1999–00
Estudiantes (O) (1)
4–3
AtenasSergio HernándezRubén Wolkowyski
17
2000–01
Estudiantes (O) (2)
4–1
LibertadSergio HernándezByron Wilson
18
2001–02
Atenas (7)
4–1
Estudiantes (O)Horacio SeguíWalter Herrmann
19
2002–03
Atenas (8)
4–2
Boca JuniorsOscar SánchezDiego Lo Grippo
20
2003–04
Boca Juniors (2)
4–2
Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP)Sergio HernándezByron Wilson
21
2004–05
Ben Hur (1)
4–1
Boca JuniorsJulio LamasLeonardo Gutiérrez
22
2005–06
Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR) (1)
4–2
LibertadFernando Duró [es]Gabriel Cocha [es]
23
2006–07
Boca Juniors (3)
4–2
PeñarolGabriel Piccato [es]Leonardo Gutiérrez
24
2007–08
Libertad (1)
4–0
QuimsaJulio LamasLaron Profit
25
2008–09
Atenas (9)
4–2
PeñarolRubén MagnanoAndre Laws [es]
26
Peñarol (MDP) (2)
4–1
AtenasSergio HernándezLeonardo Gutiérrez
27
Peñarol (MDP) (3)
4–1
AtenasSergio HernándezLeonardo Gutiérrez
28
Peñarol (MDP) (4)
4–2
Obras SanitariasSergio HernándezFacundo Campazzo
29
Regatas (C)
4–0
LanúsNicolás CasalánguidaPaolo Quinteros
30
Peñarol (MDP) (5)
4–2
RegatasFernando RiveroFacundo Campazzo
31
Quimsa (1)
4–2
Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR)Silvio SantanderRobert Battle
32
San Lorenzo (1)
4–0
La UniónJulio LamasWalter Herrmann
33
San Lorenzo (2)
4–1
RegatasJulio LamasGabriel Deck
34
San Lorenzo (3)
4–2
San Martín (C)Gonzalo GarcíaGabriel Deck
35
San Lorenzo (4)
4–3
Instituto (C)Gonzalo GarcíaDar Tucker
36
2019–20
(season unfinished due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
37
2020–21
San Lorenzo (5)
3–2
QuimsaSilvio SantanderJosé Vildoza
38
2021–22
Instituto (C) (1)
3–1
QuimsaLucas VictorianoMartín Cuello [es]
39
2022–23
 Quimsa (2)
4–1
Boca JuniorsLeandro RamellaEric Anderson
40
2023–24
Boca Juniors (4)
4–2
Instituto (C)Gonzalo PérezJosé Vildoza
41
2024–25
Boca Juniors (5)
4–3
Instituto (C)Gonzalo PérezJosé Vildoza
42
2025–26
Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR) (2)
4–2
QuimsaPablo FavarelSeba Carrasco [es]

Source: Básquet Plus[7]

Titles by club

Club Titles Years won
Atenas 91987, 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 31985, 1986, 1989
GEPU 21990–91, 1992–93
Estudiantes (O)1999–2000, 2000–01
Quimsa2014–15, 2022–23
Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR)2005–06, 2025-26
Independiente 11994–95
Olimpia1995–96
Ben Hur2004–05
Libertad2007–08
Regatas Corrientes2012–13
Instituto 2021–22

Awards

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

Retired numbers

As of July 2025, 18 players have their jerseys retired. Atenas was the team which started this practice (in 2002, with legendary Marcelo Milanesio's #9).[8][9][10]

N° Club Player Pos. Tenure No. ret.
year		 Ref.
4
Quilmes (MdP)Argentina Eduardo DominéSG1990, 1991–20012009[10]
5
AtenasArgentina Héctor CampanaSG1987–88, 1991–92, 1996–2000, 2002–04 2005[9][11]
5
Estudiantes (BB)[n 1]Argentina Hernán JasenSF1996–99, 2012–182018[12]
7
Quilmes (MdP)Argentina Esteban De la FuenteSG1991–93, 1995–97, 2004–052013[10]
7
AtenasArgentina Bruno LábaquePG1994–2003, 2006–09, 2010–172017[13]
7
Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR)Argentina Pablo MoldúSG1994–20062019[14][15]
7
QuimsaArgentina Nicolás AguirrePG2011–13, 2014–152019[16]
8
Peñarol (MdP)Argentina Tato RodríguezPG1994–1998, 1999–2003, 2004–20112011[17][18]
8
Quilmes (MdP)Argentina Guillermo García OyagaPG1970s–80s2013[10]
8
Gimnasia y Esgrima (CR)Argentina Gabriel CochaSG1991–92, 1994–98, 2003–072019[14][15]
8
QuimsaArgentina Fernando SmallPG1998–2004, 2005–082019[16][19]
9
AtenasArgentina Marcelo MilanesioPG1982–20022002[9]
10
Estudiantes (BB)[n 1]Argentina Juan EspilSG1988–1992, 2010–122013[20][21]
11
AtenasArgentina Diego OsellaC1988–1992, 1993–2001, 2003–20102011[22][23][24]
11
QuimsaArgentina Miguel CortijoPG1998–20002011[10][25]
13
Regatas CorrientesArgentina Paolo QuinterosSG2011–22SG[26][27]
14
Estudiantes (BB)[n 1]Argentina Alberto Cabrera[n 2]PG1961–842004[28][29]
14
QuimsaArgentina Gabriel DeckSF2010–162019[16]
Notes
  1. 1 2 3 Number retired for both teams, as Bahía Basket was recognised as a continuity of Estudiantes in the LNB.
  2. ↑ Although Cabrera did not play for Bahía Basket (he left basketball in 1984), the number 14 is also retired in the franchise.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Liga Nacional: los datos y récords históricos on Basquet Plus, 5 Dec 2018
  2. ↑ Leonardo Gutiérrez es el tercer goleador histórico de la Liga Nacional on TyC, 23 Mar 2016
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ Resolución de 1983 para el Campeonato Argentino de Clubes
  5. ↑ REGLAMENTO PARA LA ETAPA DE TRANSICION COMPETENCIA AÑO 1984
  6. ↑ "Se cumplen 30 años del primer partido oficial de la LNB", Basquet Plus, 26 Apr 2015
  7. ↑ "Arranca la Liga y este es el historial de campeones, finalistas y MVPs" (in Spanish). Básquet Plus. September 22, 2025. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Peñarol de Mar del Plata retiró la camiseta de 'Tato' Rodríguez", La Voz, 2011-11-23
  9. 1 2 3 Milanesio y Campana homenajeados con el retiro de las míticas "9" y "5" Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine Pick and Roll website, 2005-11-05
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Dorsales retirados que marcaron historia by Mariano Blanco, Diario Epoca, 11 May 2015
  11. ↑ Atenas retira la camiseta de Héctor "Pichi" Campana Deprecated link archived 2012-09-04 at archive.today, Infobae, 2005-07-12
  12. ↑ Se suma Jasen on Bahía Plus, 2 Sep 2018
  13. ↑ Se retiró Lábaque con una derrota frente a Instituto, LNB website, 12 May 2017
  14. 1 2 Pablo Moldú: «Me llena de orgullo, es un reconocimiento enorme el que nos hace Gimnasia» on Meridiano Digital, 13 Feb 2019
  15. 1 2 Básquet: Emotivo homenaje de Gimnasia de Comodoro Rivadavia al tornquistense Pablo Moldú on Noticias Tornquist, 15 Feb 2019
  16. 1 2 3 El repaso por las camisetas retiradas en la Liga Nacional on Basquet Plus, 14 Ago 2019
  17. ↑ "Peñarol retiró la camiseta de 'Tato' Rodríguez", La Voz del Interior, 2011-11-24
  18. ↑ "La camiseta de Tato dijo hasta siempre", Pickandroll.com.ar, 2011-11-24 (Archive)
  19. ↑ Fernando Small retorna a Quimsa on Web Basketball, 15 Sep 2020
  20. ↑ Espil tuvo su merecido homenaje en Bahía, Clarín, 23 February 2013 (archived)
  21. ↑ ""Espil vivió su noche soñada" at CanchaLlena.com, 22 February 2013". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  22. ↑ Atenas retiró el 11 de Diego Osella, Gualeguaychú a Diario webpage
  23. ↑ Atenas retirará la camiseta 11 en homenaje a Diego Osella Archived 2012-04-01 at the Wayback Machine, La Mañana de Cordoba website
  24. ↑ Atenas retira la camiseta 11 de Osella, Día a Día Deportes
  25. ↑ "Siempre trabajé para soportar la presión del puesto", interview to Cortijo on La Nueva, 24 Feb 2004
  26. ↑ Paolo Quinteros, leyenda: Regatas Corrientes retirará la camiseta número 13 on El Entre Ríos. 14 Dec 2022
  27. ↑ Paolo Quinteros quedó inmortalizado en el olimpo de Regatas on Basquetplus.com. 16 Dec 2022
  28. ↑ "La 14 inmortal" Pick and Roll site, 2004-10-04 (Archive)
  29. ↑ Ordenanza Nº 14604, declarando "Sitio de Interés Cultural e Histórico" al Estadio Osvaldo Casanova Archived 2015-10-05 at the Wayback Machine 2008-01-08
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