Lietuvos Krepšinio Lyga
Encyclopedia
The Lietuvos krepšinio lyga (LKL) (English: Lithuanian Basketball League) is Lithuania
's premier professional men's basketball
league, composed of 12 teams.
. They won the league's championship trophy for six consecutive years, from 1994 through 1999. Their main rival during those years was Atletas
, but in the 1999/2000 season, this dominant run was ended by the Lietuvos rytas
. In 2000/01 season the Greens got their revenge by beating Vilnius in the finals. In 2001/2002, Lietuvos rytas, led by Ramūnas Šiškauskas
and Arvydas Macijauskas
, once again defeated Žalgiris. However, during the next three seasons Žalgiris took control of the league and outplayed Lietuvos rytas (2003, 2004, 2005). In 2006, Vilnius joined Žalgiris in the strongest European basketball competition Euroleague
. That season the Reds, led by Robertas Javtokas
, Simas Jasaitis
and Fred House
, have swept Žalgiris 4–0. But from then on Žalgiris started winning once again – two titles in a row (2007, 2008). In 2008/2009 Lietuvos rytas won the league, beating Žalgiris 4–1. The winners were led by Chuck Eidson
, Artūras Jomantas
and Marijonas Petravičius
. In 2009/10 season Vilnius claimed first back to back title, beating Žalgiris 4–3. 2010/11 saw Kaunas reclaim the tile, beating Vilnius 4–1.
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
's premier professional men's 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...
league, composed of 12 teams.
History
Since the league was founded, it has been dominated by ŽalgirisBC Žalgiris
BC Žalgiris is a professional basketball team that is based in Kaunas, Lithuania. It is one of the oldest teams in the Euroleague and plays domestically in the Lietuvos krepšinio lyga , and regionally in the VTB United League...
. They won the league's championship trophy for six consecutive years, from 1994 through 1999. Their main rival during those years was Atletas
BC Aisciai-Atletas
BC Aisčiai was a professional basketball club of Kaunas, Lithuania, which was participating in the LKL and the Baltic League. In 2009 team was united with Kaunas TRIOBET.The NBA center Žydrūnas Ilgauskas represented Atletas at the very beginning of his career...
, but in the 1999/2000 season, this dominant run was ended by the Lietuvos rytas
BC Lietuvos Rytas
BC Lietuvos rytas is a professional basketball club based in Vilnius, Lithuania playing in the Lithuanian Basketball League , the VTB United League, and the Eurocup...
. In 2000/01 season the Greens got their revenge by beating Vilnius in the finals. In 2001/2002, Lietuvos rytas, led by Ramūnas Šiškauskas
Ramunas Šiškauskas
Ramūnas Šiškauskas in height and he weighs 220 lbs. . He is currently with CSKA Moscow.-Player profile:Šiškauskas is a physical forward who can easily play, both on offense and defense, at the guard positions, on the wing, and also in the paint...
and Arvydas Macijauskas
Arvydas Macijauskas
Arvydas Macijauskas is a retired Lithuanian professional basketball player. He announced termination of his career after his last club, Olympiacos, released him following a prolonged judicial litigation.-Early years:...
, once again defeated Žalgiris. However, during the next three seasons Žalgiris took control of the league and outplayed Lietuvos rytas (2003, 2004, 2005). In 2006, Vilnius joined Žalgiris in the strongest European basketball competition Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
. That season the Reds, led by Robertas Javtokas
Robertas Javtokas
Robertas Javtokas is a Lithuanian professional basketball player. Javtokas is 2.11 m in height and weighs 122 kg . He plays the center position. He has been a member of the Lithuanian national team since 2000...
, Simas Jasaitis
Simas Jasaitis
Simas Jasaitis is a Lithuanian professional basketball player. He is a small forward and currently plays for Türk Telekom B.K.. He also represents the Lithuanian national basketball team.-Pro career:...
and Fred House
Fred House
Frederick "Fred" House is an American professional basketball player. He currently plays with the pro club Azovmash Mariupol. He was born in Valdosta, in the U.S...
, have swept Žalgiris 4–0. But from then on Žalgiris started winning once again – two titles in a row (2007, 2008). In 2008/2009 Lietuvos rytas won the league, beating Žalgiris 4–1. The winners were led by Chuck Eidson
Chuck Eidson
Chuck Eidson is an American professional basketball player. He is 2.02 m tall and he plays mainly at the small forward position. He can also play at both the point guard and shooting guard positions as well as a point forward...
, Artūras Jomantas
Arturas Jomantas
Artūras Jomantas is a Lithuanian professional basketball player, currently playing in Lietuvos Rytas since 2006. He also played for Mažeikiai Nafta and Šiauliai .-Pro career:...
and Marijonas Petravičius
Marijonas Petravicius
Marijonas Petravičius is a Lithuanian professional basketball player. He currently a free agent. He is a member of the Lithuania national team...
. In 2009/10 season Vilnius claimed first back to back title, beating Žalgiris 4–3. 2010/11 saw Kaunas reclaim the tile, beating Vilnius 4–1.
LKL teams
Podium by season
| Season | Champion | Runner-up | Bronze medal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–94 | Žalgiris | Atletas | Drobė |
| 1994–95 | Žalgiris | Atletas | – |
| 1995–96 | Žalgiris | Atletas | – |
| 1996–97 | Žalgiris | Plungė Olimpas | – |
| 1997–98 | Žalgiris | Atletas | Lietuvos rytas |
| 1998–99 | Žalgiris | Lietuvos rytas | Sakalai BC Sakalai BC „Sakalai“ is a professional basketball club based in Vilnius, Lithuania playing in the Lithuanian Basketball League and the Baltic Basketball League. They play their home games at the 1,000-seat Ekinstos laisvalaikio centras.... |
| 1999–00 | Lietuvos rytas | Žalgiris | Šiauliai BC Šiauliai BC „Šiauliai“ is the professional basketball club of Šiauliai, Lithuania. The club competes in the Lithuanian Basketball League, Baltic Basketball League and ULEB Eurocup. It has won the 3rd place award in the LKL a record 9 times.-Club History:The team was head coached by Antanas Sireika for... |
| 2000–01 | Žalgiris | Lietuvos rytas | Šiauliai BC Šiauliai BC „Šiauliai“ is the professional basketball club of Šiauliai, Lithuania. The club competes in the Lithuanian Basketball League, Baltic Basketball League and ULEB Eurocup. It has won the 3rd place award in the LKL a record 9 times.-Club History:The team was head coached by Antanas Sireika for... |
| 2001–02 | Lietuvos rytas | Žalgiris | Alytus BC Alytus BC „Alytus“ is the major basketball club of Alytus, Lithuania participating in the Lietuvos Krepšinio Lyga and the Baltic Basketball League.... |
| 2002–03 | Žalgiris | Lietuvos rytas | Alytus BC Alytus BC „Alytus“ is the major basketball club of Alytus, Lithuania participating in the Lietuvos Krepšinio Lyga and the Baltic Basketball League.... |
| 2003–04 | Žalgiris | Lietuvos rytas | Šiauliai BC Šiauliai BC „Šiauliai“ is the professional basketball club of Šiauliai, Lithuania. The club competes in the Lithuanian Basketball League, Baltic Basketball League and ULEB Eurocup. It has won the 3rd place award in the LKL a record 9 times.-Club History:The team was head coached by Antanas Sireika for... |
| 2004–05 | Žalgiris | Lietuvos rytas | Šiauliai BC Šiauliai BC „Šiauliai“ is the professional basketball club of Šiauliai, Lithuania. The club competes in the Lithuanian Basketball League, Baltic Basketball League and ULEB Eurocup. It has won the 3rd place award in the LKL a record 9 times.-Club History:The team was head coached by Antanas Sireika for... |
| 2005–06 | Lietuvos rytas | Žalgiris | Šiauliai BC Šiauliai BC „Šiauliai“ is the professional basketball club of Šiauliai, Lithuania. The club competes in the Lithuanian Basketball League, Baltic Basketball League and ULEB Eurocup. It has won the 3rd place award in the LKL a record 9 times.-Club History:The team was head coached by Antanas Sireika for... |
| 2006–07 | Žalgiris | Lietuvos rytas | Šiauliai BC Šiauliai BC „Šiauliai“ is the professional basketball club of Šiauliai, Lithuania. The club competes in the Lithuanian Basketball League, Baltic Basketball League and ULEB Eurocup. It has won the 3rd place award in the LKL a record 9 times.-Club History:The team was head coached by Antanas Sireika for... |
| 2007–08 | Žalgiris | Lietuvos rytas | Šiauliai BC Šiauliai BC „Šiauliai“ is the professional basketball club of Šiauliai, Lithuania. The club competes in the Lithuanian Basketball League, Baltic Basketball League and ULEB Eurocup. It has won the 3rd place award in the LKL a record 9 times.-Club History:The team was head coached by Antanas Sireika for... |
| 2008–09 | Lietuvos rytas | Žalgiris | Šiauliai BC Šiauliai BC „Šiauliai“ is the professional basketball club of Šiauliai, Lithuania. The club competes in the Lithuanian Basketball League, Baltic Basketball League and ULEB Eurocup. It has won the 3rd place award in the LKL a record 9 times.-Club History:The team was head coached by Antanas Sireika for... |
| 2009–10 | Lietuvos rytas | Žalgiris | Šiauliai BC Šiauliai BC „Šiauliai“ is the professional basketball club of Šiauliai, Lithuania. The club competes in the Lithuanian Basketball League, Baltic Basketball League and ULEB Eurocup. It has won the 3rd place award in the LKL a record 9 times.-Club History:The team was head coached by Antanas Sireika for... |
| 2010–11 | Žalgiris | Lietuvos rytas | Rūdupis BC Rūdupis Rūdupis is a professional basketball club based in Prienai, playing in the Lithuanian Basketball League, the Baltic Basketball League and the Eurocup. In the 2008/09 season, Rūdupis became the champion of the NKL and won challenge match for a slot in the LKL. In their debut LKL season Rūdupis took... |
Performance by club
| Team | Winners | Runners-Up | Bronzes | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Žalgiris | |
|
|
1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011 |
| Lietuvos rytas | |
|
|
2000, 2002, 2006, 2009, 2010 |
| Atletas | |
|
|
|
| Plungė Olimpas | |
|
|
|
| Šiauliai BC Šiauliai BC „Šiauliai“ is the professional basketball club of Šiauliai, Lithuania. The club competes in the Lithuanian Basketball League, Baltic Basketball League and ULEB Eurocup. It has won the 3rd place award in the LKL a record 9 times.-Club History:The team was head coached by Antanas Sireika for... |
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| BC Alytus BC Alytus BC „Alytus“ is the major basketball club of Alytus, Lithuania participating in the Lietuvos Krepšinio Lyga and the Baltic Basketball League.... |
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| Drobė | |
|
|
|
| BC Sakalai BC Sakalai BC „Sakalai“ is a professional basketball club based in Vilnius, Lithuania playing in the Lithuanian Basketball League and the Baltic Basketball League. They play their home games at the 1,000-seat Ekinstos laisvalaikio centras.... |
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| BC Rūdupis BC Rūdupis Rūdupis is a professional basketball club based in Prienai, playing in the Lithuanian Basketball League, the Baltic Basketball League and the Eurocup. In the 2008/09 season, Rūdupis became the champion of the NKL and won challenge match for a slot in the LKL. In their debut LKL season Rūdupis took... |
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