LNB Élite

The LNB Élite, currently known for sponsorship reasons as Betclic Élite, is a professional basketball league in France and is the highest level of the French basketball system. The competition has existed since 1921. Since 1987, the Ligue Nationale de Basket (LNB) has governed the league.

Formerly known as the LNB Pro A, each season consists of 16 teams. The bottom two placed teams from each season are relegated to the second tier level Pro B. The winner of the play-offs of the league are crowned the French national champions.

Competition format

All 16 LNB Élite teams play each other twice during the regular season. At the end of the regular season, the top eight teams qualify for the playoffs. The two teams with the worst regular season records are relegated to the 2nd-tier Pro B.

Through the 1985–86 season, the league championship was determined by a one-off final, or solely by league play. Since then, the format for the league finals has changed many times:

1987–1992: Best-of-3 series
1993: Best-of-5
1994: Best-of-3
1995–1996: Best-of-5
1997–2004: Best-of-3
2005–2012: Single match (at Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy in Paris)
2013–present: Best-of-5
2021 only: Single match due to COVID-19 issues

From the 2003–04 season, through the 2006–07 season, the Pro A League had 18 teams. Through the wild-card system, it will have 18 teams again from the 2014–15 season.

Current teams

Arena rules

Currently, LNB Pro A clubs must play in arenas that seat at least 3,000 people.

French League history

1920–21 to 1948–49 Excellence
1949–50 to 1962–63 Nationale
1963–64 to 1964–65 Première Division
1965–66 to 1986–87 Nationale 1
1987–88 to 1991–92 Nationale 1A
1992–93 Nationale A1
1993–94 to 2017–18 Pro A
2017–18 to 2020–21 Jeep Élite (title sponsorship took effect in the later stages of the 2017–18 season)
2021–22 to present: Betclic Elite

Title holders

1920–21: Stade Français
1921–22: Lille
1922–23: École Normale Arras
1923–24: FAM
1924–25: FAM
1925–26: FAM
1926–27: Stade Français
1927–28: FAM
1928–29: FAM
1929–30: FAM
1930–31: FAM
1931–32: CAUFA Reims
1932–33: CAUFA Reims
1933–34: Olympique Lillois
1934–35: CAM
1935–36: SCPO
1936–37: CAM
1937–38: SCPO
1938–39: Métro
1939–41: Not held due to WWII
1941–42: Métro
1942–43: Grenoble
1943–44: Grenoble
1944–45: Championnet Sports
1945–46: ESSMG Lyon
1946–47: PUC
1947–48: Union athlétique de Marseille
1948–49: ASVEL
1949–50: ASVEL
1950–51: Racing Club de France
1951–52: ASVEL
1952–53: Racing Club de France
1953–54: Racing Club de France
1954–55: ASVEL
1955–56: ASVEL

1956–57: ASVEL
1957–58: Étoile Charleville-Mézières
1958–59: Chorale Mulsant
1959–60: Étoile Charleville-Mézières
1960–61: Alsace de Bagnolet
1961–62: Alsace de Bagnolet
1962–63: PUC
1963–64: ASVEL
1964–65: Denain Voltaire
1965–66: ASVEL
1966–67: Alsace de Bagnolet
1967–68: ASVEL
1968–69: ASVEL
1969–70: Olympique Antibes
1970–71: ASVEL
1971–72: ASVEL
1972–73: Berck
1973–74: Berck
1974–75: ASVEL
1975–76: ASPO Tours
1976–77: ASVEL
1977–78: Moderne
1978–79: Moderne
1979–80: ASPO Tours
1980–81: ASVEL
1981–82: Moderne
1982–83: Limoges CSP
1983–84: Limoges CSP
1984–85: Limoges CSP
1985–86: Orthez
1986–87: Orthez
1987–88: Limoges CSP
1988–89: Limoges CSP
1989–90: Limoges CSP
1990–91: Olympique Antibes

1991–92: Pau-Orthez
1992–93: Limoges CSP
1993–94: Limoges CSP
1994–95: Olympique Antibes
1995–96: Pau-Orthez
1996–97: PSG Racing
1997–98: Pau-Orthez
1998–99: Pau-Orthez
1999–00: Limoges CSP
2000–01: Pau-Orthez
2001–02: ASVEL
2002–03: Pau-Orthez
2003–04: Pau-Orthez
2004–05: SIG Strasbourg
2005–06: Le Mans Sarthe
2006–07: Chorale Roanne
2007–08: SLUC Nancy
2008–09: ASVEL
2009–10: Cholet
2010–11: SLUC Nancy
2011–12: Élan Chalon
2012–13: JSF Nanterre
2013–14: Limoges CSP
2014–15: Limoges CSP
2015–16: ASVEL
2016–17: Élan Chalon
2017–18: Le Mans Sarthe
2018–19: LDLC ASVEL
2019–20: Cancelled due to COVID-19
2020–21: LDLC ASVEL
2021–22: LDLC ASVEL
2022–23: AS Monaco
2023–24: AS Monaco

Performance by club

Finals

Historical players

Players with the most French League championships won

French basketball clubs in European and worldwide competitions

Individual awards

In each Pro A season, individual honors are given to players and head coaches in the Pro A Awards ceremony who performed well during a given season. The awards that are handed out include:

LNB All-Star Game

Broadcasting

In July 2024, the LNB accounced it had signed an agreement until 2029 with DAZN which becomes the exclusive broadcaster for the Pro A. DAZN will broadcast all games, as well as the Leaders Cup and All-Star Game. The league's games are also accessible through the FIBA-operated Courtside 1891 platform.

Notes and references

External links