International Basketball Federation
Encyclopedia
The International Basketball Federation, more commonly known as FIBA , from its French name Fédération Internationale de Basketball, is an association of national organizations which governs international competition in basketball
. Originally known as the Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur (hence FIBA), in 1989 it dropped the word Amateur from its official name but retained the initialism, the "BA" now representing the first two letters of basketball.
FIBA defines the international rules of basketball
, specifies the equipment and facilities required, regulates the transfer of athletes across countries, and controls the appointment of international referees
. A total of 214 national federations are now members, organized since 1989 into five zones or "commissions": Africa
, Americas
, Asia
, Europe
, and Oceania
.
The FIBA World Championship
is a world basketball tournament for men's national teams held every four years. Teams compete for the Naismith Trophy
, named in honor of basketball's creator James Naismith
. The tournament structure is similar but not identical to that of the FIFA World Cup
in football; these tournaments have occurred in the same year since 1970. A parallel event for women's teams, the FIBA World Championship for Women
, is also held quadrennially, in the same year as the men's event but in a different country.
In 2009 FIBA announced three new tournaments: two 12-team U-17 World Championships (one each for men and women) to be played in July 2010, and an eight-team FIBA World Club Championship
to be launched in October 2010.
The association was founded in Geneva
in 1932, two years after the sport was officially recognized by the IOC
. Its original name was Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur. Eight nations were founding members: Argentina
, Czechoslovakia
, Greece
, Italy
, Latvia
, Portugal
, Romania
, and Switzerland
. During the 1936 Summer Olympics
held in Berlin
, the Federation named James Naismith
(1861–1939), the founder of basketball
, as its Honorary President.
FIBA has organized a World Championship
for men since 1950 and a World Championship for Women
since 1953. Both events are now held every four years, alternating with the Olympics
.
In 1989, FIBA opened the door to Olympic participation by professional
s such as players from the NBA
in the United States
. At this point, the Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur became the Fédération Internationale de Basketball, but retained FIBA as an abbreviation
.
The Federation headquarters moved to Munich
in 1956, then returned to Geneva in 2002.
Patrick Baumann is the Secretary General of FIBA.
In 1991 it founded FIBA Hall of Fame
, the first induction ceremony was held on 12 September 2007 during EuroBasket 2007
.
Note:
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
. Originally known as the Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur (hence FIBA), in 1989 it dropped the word Amateur from its official name but retained the initialism, the "BA" now representing the first two letters of basketball.
FIBA defines the international rules of basketball
Rules of basketball
The rules of basketball are the rules and regulations that govern the play, officiating, equipment and procedures of basketball. While many of the basic rules are uniform throughout the world, variations do exist. Most leagues or governing bodies in North America, the most important of which are...
, specifies the equipment and facilities required, regulates the transfer of athletes across countries, and controls the appointment of international referees
Official (basketball)
In basketball, an official is a person who has the responsibility to enforce the rules and maintain the order of the game. The title of official also applies to the scorers and timekeepers, as well as other personnel that have an active task in maintaining the game...
. A total of 214 national federations are now members, organized since 1989 into five zones or "commissions": Africa
FIBA Africa
FIBA Africa is a zone within the FIBA basketball association which contains all 53 national African FIBA federations, it was founded in 1961. FIBA Africa maintains offices in Cairo and in Abidjan.-FIBA Africa national teams:Zone 1Zone 2...
, Americas
FIBA Americas
FIBA Americas is a zone within FIBA which contains the 44 FIBA Federations located in the Americas. FIBA Americas is headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico.- National teams :CONCECABACaribbean...
, Asia
FIBA Asia
FIBA Asia is a zone within the International Basketball Federation which contains all 44 Asian FIBA federations.-National teams:East AsiaGulfMiddle AsiaSoutheast AsiaWest Asia-Top ten FIBA Asia teams:...
, Europe
FIBA Europe
FIBA Europe is a zone within the International Basketball Federation which includes all 49 national European basketball federations.-Division A:-Division B: -Division C:...
, and Oceania
FIBA Oceania
FIBA Oceania is a zone within the International Basketball Federation which contains all 21 national basketball associations in Oceania.- Top two FIBA Oceania teams :C Current zone champion- Competitions :* FIBA Oceania Championship...
.
The FIBA World Championship
FIBA World Championship
The FIBA World Championship is an international basketball competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of the International Basketball Federation , the sport's global governing body...
is a world basketball tournament for men's national teams held every four years. Teams compete for the Naismith Trophy
Naismith Trophy
The Naismith Trophy is a trophy awarded to the men's champion of the FIBA World Championship, and is named for basketball inventor James Naismith. The trophy was first awarded for the winner of the 1967 FIBA World Championship...
, named in honor of basketball's creator James Naismith
James Naismith
The first game of "Basket Ball" was played in December 1891. In a handwritten report, Naismith described the circumstances of the inaugural match; in contrast to modern basketball, the players played nine versus nine, handled a soccer ball, not a basketball, and instead of shooting at two hoops,...
. The tournament structure is similar but not identical to that of the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
in football; these tournaments have occurred in the same year since 1970. A parallel event for women's teams, the FIBA World Championship for Women
FIBA World Championship for Women
The FIBA World Championship for Women is a world basketball tournament for women's national teams held quadrennially...
, is also held quadrennially, in the same year as the men's event but in a different country.
In 2009 FIBA announced three new tournaments: two 12-team U-17 World Championships (one each for men and women) to be played in July 2010, and an eight-team FIBA World Club Championship
FIBA World Club Championship
The FIBA World Club Championship is a new annual basketball competition to be contested by the FIBA men's club tournament winners...
to be launched in October 2010.
History
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
in 1932, two years after the sport was officially recognized by the IOC
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
. Its original name was Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur. Eight nations were founding members: Argentina
Argentine Basketball Federation
The Argentine Basketball Federation is the governing body of basketball in Argentina. It is also one of the founding members of the International Basketball Federation , founded in 1932....
, Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Italy
Italian Basketball Federation
The Italian Basketball Federation is the governing body of basketball in Italy.It is a member of the International Basketball Federation ....
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, Portugal
Federação Portuguesa de Basquetebol
The Federação Portuguesa de Basquetebol is the ruling body of basketball in Portugal. It was established on 17 August 1927. It became a member of International Basketball Federation in 1932, as part of the eight founding members.-External links:*...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. During the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
held in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, the Federation named James Naismith
James Naismith
The first game of "Basket Ball" was played in December 1891. In a handwritten report, Naismith described the circumstances of the inaugural match; in contrast to modern basketball, the players played nine versus nine, handled a soccer ball, not a basketball, and instead of shooting at two hoops,...
(1861–1939), the founder of basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, as its Honorary President.
FIBA has organized a World Championship
FIBA World Championship
The FIBA World Championship is an international basketball competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of the International Basketball Federation , the sport's global governing body...
for men since 1950 and a World Championship for Women
FIBA World Championship for Women
The FIBA World Championship for Women is a world basketball tournament for women's national teams held quadrennially...
since 1953. Both events are now held every four years, alternating with the Olympics
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
.
In 1989, FIBA opened the door to Olympic participation by professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
s such as players from the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. At this point, the Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur became the Fédération Internationale de Basketball, but retained FIBA as an abbreviation
Abbreviation
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. Usually, but not always, it consists of a letter or group of letters taken from the word or phrase...
.
The Federation headquarters moved to Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
in 1956, then returned to Geneva in 2002.
Patrick Baumann is the Secretary General of FIBA.
In 1991 it founded FIBA Hall of Fame
FIBA Hall of Fame
FIBA Hall of Fame honors basketball players, coaches and administrators who have contributed to international competitive basketball. It was established by FIBA in 1991. It includes the "Samaranch Library", the biggest basketball library in the world that, as of 2007, has over 10,000 basketball...
, the first induction ceremony was held on 12 September 2007 during EuroBasket 2007
Eurobasket 2007
-Group B:-Group C:-Group D:-Second round:- Group E :- Group F :-Championship bracket:- Quarterfinals :-Classification rounds:- Semifinals :- Third place game:- Final :...
.
Presidents
- 1932–1948:
Switzerland Leon BouffardLéon BouffardLéon Bouffard was a Swiss athlete and sports administrator. As an athlete, he competed in pole vault, winning the Swiss championship in 1914. He was the founder and president of the Swiss Basketball Federation. He co-founded FIBA in 1932 and served as FIBA's president from 1932 to 1948... - 1932-1939:
Canada James A. Naismith (honourary) - 1948–1960:
United States Willard Greim - 1960–1968:
Brazil Antonio dos Reis CarneiroAntonio dos Reis CarneiroAntonio dos Reis Carneiro was a Brazilian basketball administrator. He co-founded Brazilian Basketball Federation and Brazilian Basketball Confederation and served as the president for those organizations... - 1968–1976:
Egypt Abdel Moneim WahbyAbdel Moneim WahbyAbdel Moneim Wahby was an Egyptian basketball player, referee and administrator. He has played for the Egypt national basketball team in the 1936 Olympics. As a referee, he worked at the 1948 Olympics and 1952 Olympics... - 1976–1984:
Philippines Gonzalo Puyat II - 1984–1990:
France Robert BusnelRobert BusnelRobert Busnel was a French basketball player, coach and administrator.-Career:... - 1990–1998: United States George E. KillianGeorge E. KillianGeorge E. Killian, born on April 6, 1924 in Valley Stream, New York, U.S. is a sports administrator and currently the president of the International University Sports Federation ....
- 1998–2002:
Senegal Abdoulaye Seye Moreau - 2002–2006:
Hong Kong Dr. Carl Men Ky Ching (程万琦) - 2006–2010:
Australia Bob Elphinston - 2010–2014: France Yvan Mainini (ran unopposed)
Secretaries General
- 1932–1976:
United Kingdom Renato William JonesRenato William JonesRenato William Jones , also known as R. William, or simply William Jones, was a popularizer of basketball in Europe and in Asia... - 1976–1995:
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Borislav StankovićBorislav StankovicBorislav "Bora" Stanković is a Serbian former basketball player and coach, as well as a longtime administrator in the sport's various governing bodies. For his contributions to the game of basketball he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991.Stanković was born in Bihać, Bosnia and... - 1995–present: Switzerland Patrick Baumann
National teams
| Tournament | Men's FIBA World Championship The FIBA World Championship is an international basketball competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of the International Basketball Federation , the sport's global governing body... | Women's FIBA World Championship for Women The FIBA World Championship for Women is a world basketball tournament for women's national teams held quadrennially... | U-19 Men's FIBA Under-19 World Championship The FIBA Under-19 World Championship is a men's under-19 only basketball competition organized by FIBA. From its inauguration in 1979 until 2007 it was held every four years... | U-19 Women's FIBA Under-19 World Championship for Women The FIBA Under-19 World Championship for Women is a women's under-19 only basketball competition organized by FIBA.-Summaries:-Medal table:-Participation details:-External links:*... | U-17 Men's FIBA Under-17 World Championship The FIBA Under-17 World Championship is an under-17 basketball championship of the International Basketball Federation . The event was for the first time in July 2010 and is held bi-annually.-Summaries:-Medal table:-MVP Awards:... | U-17 Women's FIBA Under-17 World Championship for Women The FIBA Under-17 World Championship for Women is an under-17 basketball championship of the International Basketball Federation. The event started in July 2010 and will be held bi-annually.-Summaries:-Medal table:-MVP Awards:-Participation Details:... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Championship FIBA World Championship The FIBA World Championship is an international basketball competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of the International Basketball Federation , the sport's global governing body... |
||||||
| Olympics Basketball at the Summer Olympics Basketball has been a Summer Olympics sport for men consistently since 1936. Prior to its inclusion as a medal sport, it was held as demonstration event in 1904 and 1932, both in the United States. Women's basketball was played in the Olympics only since 1976.... |
N/A | |||||
| Commission | Men's | Women's | U-18 Men's | U-18 Women's | U-16 Men's | U-16 Women's |
| FIBA Africa FIBA Africa FIBA Africa is a zone within the FIBA basketball association which contains all 53 national African FIBA federations, it was founded in 1961. FIBA Africa maintains offices in Cairo and in Abidjan.-FIBA Africa national teams:Zone 1Zone 2... |
||||||
| FIBA Americas FIBA Americas FIBA Americas is a zone within FIBA which contains the 44 FIBA Federations located in the Americas. FIBA Americas is headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico.- National teams :CONCECABACaribbean... |
||||||
| FIBA Asia FIBA Asia FIBA Asia is a zone within the International Basketball Federation which contains all 44 Asian FIBA federations.-National teams:East AsiaGulfMiddle AsiaSoutheast AsiaWest Asia-Top ten FIBA Asia teams:... |
||||||
| FIBA Europe FIBA Europe FIBA Europe is a zone within the International Basketball Federation which includes all 49 national European basketball federations.-Division A:-Division B: -Division C:... |
||||||
| FIBA Oceania FIBA Oceania FIBA Oceania is a zone within the International Basketball Federation which contains all 21 national basketball associations in Oceania.- Top two FIBA Oceania teams :C Current zone champion- Competitions :* FIBA Oceania Championship... |
||||||
| Commission | U-20 Men's | U-20 Women's | ||||
| FIBA Europe FIBA Europe FIBA Europe is a zone within the International Basketball Federation which includes all 49 national European basketball federations.-Division A:-Division B: -Division C:... |
||||||
- FIBA no longer holds Under-21 World Championships and Under-20 Zone Championships, except in Europe.
Clubs
| FIBA Tournament | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| World Club Championship FIBA World Club Championship The FIBA World Club Championship is a new annual basketball competition to be contested by the FIBA men's club tournament winners... |
Upcoming | |
| Women's World League FIBA Women's World League FIBA Women's World League was an annual women's basketball competition organised by FIBA from 2003 to 2007.-2006-07:Preliminary Round:Group A Group B Final Tournament... |
Defunct | |
| FIBA Americas League FIBA Americas League The FIBA Americas League is an international men's basketball club cup competition played annually by clubs of Americas, and is organized by FIBA Americas. The first edition started on December 4, 2007.-Format:The 16 participating clubs are divided in four groups of four teams each... |
 Argentina Regatas Corrientes |
N/A |
| FIBA Asia Champions Cup FIBA Asia Champions Cup The FIBA Asia Champions Cup is the Asian club championship for basketball organized by FIBA Asia, and takes place every year.-Summary:- Titles by team :- Titles by country :-References:*... |
 Lebanon Al Riyadi Beirut |
N/A |
| FIBA Africa Champions Cup FIBA Africa Clubs Champions Cup The FIBA Africa Clubs Champions Cup is the highest caliber men's basketball competition for clubs, organized by the FIBA Africa and played by the champions of the leagues of the African countries.-Finals:- Winners by country:... |
 Angola Primeiro de Agosto |
N/A |
| EuroChallenge EuroChallenge The EuroChallenge is the 3rd tier level transnational men's professional club basketball competition in Europe. It is organized and run by FIBA Europe... |
 Slovenia Krka Novo MestoKrka Basketball Club -Depth Chart:-In: Marko Đurković Curtis Stinson Jerome Jordan Jimmy Baxter Allan Ray... |
N/A |
| European SuperCup FIBA Europe SuperCup Women The SuperCup Women is a Super Cup competition organized by FIBA Europe and contested between the winners of EuroLeague Women and EuroCup Women. The first edition of the Cup took place on October 20, 2009 and was contested between Spartak Moscow Region and Galatasaray in Vidnoye.-Performance by... |
N/A |  Russia Spartak Moscow |
| Tournament | Men's | Women's |
| NBA National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada... /WNBA Women's National Basketball Association The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association... |
United States Dallas Mavericks Dallas Mavericks The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011... |
United States Minnesota Lynx Minnesota Lynx The Minnesota Lynx are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1999 season... |
| Euroleague/Euroleague Women EuroLeague Women The EuroLeague Women is the highest professional basketball league in Europe for women’s clubs.Unlike Euroleague for men, the competition is entirely organized by FIBA Europe.-Between 2004-2011:... |
 Greece Panathinaikos |
 Halcon Avenida |
| ULEB Eurocup/EuroCup Women EuroCup Women The EuroCup Women is the second-caliber professional basketball league with teams from European clubs from national leagues joined in FIBA Europe.It succeeds the Ronchetti Cup.- System of competition :... |
UNICS Kazan UNICS Kazan UNICS Kazan is a professional basketball club in Kazan, Russia playing in the PBL. Their home arena is Basket Hall Arena.Though officially the professional club was founded in 1991 , UNICS traces its origin back to KSU's college team Burevestnik which participated in USSR student championships... |
Greece Athinaikos Sony Athinaikos Athens Sony Athinaikos Athens is the women's professional basketball team of Athens-based multi-sports club Athinaikos, founded in 1917. The team currently participates in the EuroCup, that it won in 2010.-Roster:... |
| Liga Sudamericana Liga Sudamericana The Liga Sudamericana is the second most important South American basketball tournament at club level, the first being the FIBA Americas League. It is organized by the South American Basketball Confederation.The league usually includes domestic champions, and some runner-ups, from the leading... |
Brazil UniCEUB/BRB |
N/A |
| Campeonato Sudamericano de Clubes Campeonato Sudamericano de Clubes The Campeonato Sudamericano de Clubes is an international men's basketball cup competition organized by the South American Basketball Confederation and played annually by invitee South American clubs.-Format:... |
 Uruguay Club Biguá de Villa BiarritzClub Biguá de Villa Biarritz Club Biguá is a professional basketball team based in Montevideo, playing in the Liga Uruguaya de Basketball. Founded on 1931, in a fusion of the Biguá and the Club Biarritz, the club is polisportive, and have others sports. The club win three federal tourneys... |
N/A |
| NBL National Basketball League (Australasia) The National Basketball League, also known as the iiNet NBL Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Australasia.... /WNBL Women's National Basketball League The Women's National Basketball League is the pre-eminent women's professional basketball league in Australia. It currently is composed of ten teams. The league was founded in 1981 and is the women's counterpart to the National Basketball League... (Australasia Australasia Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes... ) |
 New Zealand New Zealand BreakersNew Zealand Breakers The New Zealand Breakers are a professional basketball team competing in the Australasian National Basketball League. The Breakers joined the NBL for the 2003/04 season as one of two expansion clubs. The club is based in the city of Auckland, New Zealand and play their home games at the North... |
Australia Bulleen Boomers Bulleen Boomers -History:The Bulleen Templestowe Basketball Club was established in 1969 and after missing out in 1983 was accepted into the Women's National Basketball League, WNBL, in 1984. Applications were prepared and presented by Jan Collinson, who remained the club’s delegate to the League for many years... |
Note:
- The men's Euroleague is totally controlled by ULEBULEBULEB was founded in 1991, with the aim to help in the cooperation and development of European professional club basketball leagues...
, a consortium of European domestic and transnational leagues. The ULEB Eurocup, known as the ULEB Cup until the 2008–09 season, is jointly run by ULEB and FIBA Europe, but only the two preliminary rounds of that competition are run by FIBA Europe. Both competitions, however, use FIBA's rule set. By contrast, both the EuroLeague Women and EuroCup Women, despite the similar names to the corresponding men's competitions, are completely controlled by FIBA Europe.
- The Liga Sudamericana and the Campeonato Sudamericano de Clubes is operated by the South American Basketball Confederation, an affiliate of FIBA AmericasFIBA AmericasFIBA Americas is a zone within FIBA which contains the 44 FIBA Federations located in the Americas. FIBA Americas is headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico.- National teams :CONCECABACaribbean...
.
- The NBL and WNBL are separate organisations based in AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Both leagues, which use FIBA rules, have teams throughout Australia plus the New Zealand BreakersNew Zealand BreakersThe New Zealand Breakers are a professional basketball team competing in the Australasian National Basketball League. The Breakers joined the NBL for the 2003/04 season as one of two expansion clubs. The club is based in the city of Auckland, New Zealand and play their home games at the North...
, a men's professional basketball team based in AucklandAucklandThe Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
- The Philippine Basketball AssociationPhilippine Basketball AssociationThe Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
based in the PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, is the oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the National Basketball AssociationNational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
of the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. (Note that in this context, "oldest" refers to the date that the league operated as fully professional. For example, many European leagues predate the PBA—the European Champions Cup, which evolved into the Euroleague, has existed since 1958, but the leagues that sent teams to the Champions Cup were nominally amateur until at least the 1970s, if not later.)
FIBA World Rankings
- #1 men's team:
- #1 women's team:
- #1 combined ranking: United StatesUSA BasketballUSA Basketball is a non-profit organization and the governing body for basketball in the United States. The organization represents the United States in FIBA and the men's and women's national basketball teams in the United States Olympic Committee...