Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional

National Professional Basketball League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2026 LNBP season
SportBasketball
FoundedMarch 11, 2000; 26 years ago (2000-03-11)
CommissionerAlonso Izaguirre
MottoCree en tu juego
(Believe in your game)
No. of teams14
CountryMexico
HeadquartersMexico City, Mexico
ContinentFIBA Americas
Most recent
champions
Fuerza Regia de Monterrey
(6th title)
Most titlesFuerza Regia de Monterrey (6 titles)
BroadcastersAYM Sports
Basket América TV
Canal 26
Canal 66
Capital 21
Fox Sports
Heraldo Televisión
Hi Sports
Multimedios
Televisa
TV4
TVC Deportes
WebsiteLNBP.mx

The National Professional Basketball League (Spanish: Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional or LNBP), officially known as the Liga Caliente LNBP for sponsorship reasons, is the top professional basketball league in Mexico. The league was founded in 2000 with 10 teams.

Notable basketball players who have played in the league include Jamario Moon, Dennis Rodman and Sun Mingming, among many others.

History

Foundation

In January 2000, some teams of CIMEBA (Circuito Mexicano de Básquetbol), the national basketball league in Mexico at the time, exited the league, citing CIMEBA's financial difficulties, and decided to form a new league. On March 11, 2000 the league was founded in the city of Durango with 11 teams participating. These were the founding teams, with the respective city and state:

The first president was Modesto Robledo. The LNBP set out to support and develop professional basketball in Mexico. The first edition of the league started on August 7, 2000 and finished in December, with the regular season finishing on November 11 and the playoffs starting on November 14. The first game was played in Torreón between Algodoneros de Torreón and Dorados de Chihuahua at the Auditorio Municipal: Dorados won, 80–78. The league coexisted in its first seasons with CIMEBA.

Format

Regular season

The regular season is played in round-robin format in which the 8 best-placed teams qualify to the postseason. For every game won 2 points are added and for every game lost one point is added. For example: If team one played 10 games and won 7, losing the remaining 3, it would have 17 points; 14 points for the 7 games won and 3 points for the games lost.

Playoffs

The eight top-seeded teams play each other. The 1st-placed team plays the 8th-place team while the 2nd plays the 7th and the 3rd plays the 6th and so on. The semi-finals are played like the quarterfinals while the Serie Final is played by the two teams remaining with the best-placed team having home field advantage.

Teams

Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional is located in Mexico
Abejas
Gambusinos
Correcaminos
Astros
El Calor
Freseros
Mineros
Soles
Dorados
Fuerza Regia
Lobos
Panteras
Santos
Diablos Rojos
Location of the 2026 LNBP teams
Team City Arena Capacity Founded Joined Head coach
Abejas de León León, Guanajuato Domo de la Feria 4,463 2009 Puerto Rico Jean Serrano
Astros de Jalisco Guadalajara, Jalisco Arena Astros 4,000 2019 Spain Iván Déniz
El Calor de Cancún Cancún, Quintana Roo Polifórum Benito Juárez 4,800 2024 Argentina Néstor García
Correbasket UAT Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas Gimnasio Multidisciplinario UAT Victoria 2,600 2000 2022 United States Lewis LaSalle Taylor
Diablos Rojos del México Benito Juárez, Mexico City Gimnasio Olímpico Juan de la Barrera 5,242 2024 Brazil Gustavo de Conti
Dorados de Chihuahua Chihuahua City, Chihuahua Gimnasio Manuel Bernardo Aguirre 9,600 2000 2019 Spain Jorge Elorduy
Freseros de Irapuato Irapuato, Guanajuato Inforum Irapuato 3,000 2023 Venezuela Christopher Gutiérrez
Fuerza Regia de Monterrey Monterrey, Nuevo León Arena Mobil 5,000 2001 Brazil José Neto
Gambusinos de Fresnillo Fresnillo, Zacatecas Gimnasio Nico Varela 4,500 2002 2025 Argentina Elian Villafañe
Lobos de Puebla Puebla City, Puebla Gimnasio Miguel Hidalgo 4,000 2004 2026 Spain Paco Olmos
Mineros de Zacatecas Zacatecas City, Zacatecas Gimnasio Marcelino González 3,458 2017 2022 Argentina Facundo Müller
Panteras de Aguascalientes Aguascalientes City, Aguascalientes Auditorio Hermanos Carreón 3,000 2003 2023 Spain José Antonio Santaella
Santos del Potosí San Luis Potosí City, San Luis Potosí Auditorio Miguel Barragán 3,400 2003 2023 Canada Doug Plumb
Soles de Mexicali Mexicali, Baja California Auditorio PSF 4,779 2005 Spain Pablo García

List of champions

Season Champion Result Runner-up
2000Correcaminos UAT Tampico4–2Correcaminos UAT Victoria
2001Gallos de Pelea de Ciudad Juárez4–1Lobos UAdeC
2002Correcaminos UAT Victoria4–3Correcaminos UAT Matamoros
2003Panteras de Aguascalientes4–2La Ola Roja del Distrito Federal
2004Santos de San Luis4–2Halcones de Xalapa
2005Halcones de Xalapa4–1Lobos UAdeC
2006Soles de Mexicali4–3Halcones de Xalapa
2007–08Halcones de Xalapa4–3Soles de Mexicali
2008–09Halcones de Xalapa4–2Soles de Mexicali
2009–10Halcones de Xalapa4–1Halcones Rojos Veracruz
2010–11Toros de Nuevo Laredo4–2Pioneros de Quintana Roo
2011–12Halcones Rojos Veracruz4–1Toros de Nuevo Laredo
2012–13Toros de Nuevo Laredo4–2Halcones de Xalapa
2013–14Halcones Rojos Veracruz4–3Pioneros de Quintana Roo
2014–15Soles de Mexicali4–1Pioneros de Quintana Roo
2015–16Pioneros de Quintana Roo4–3Soles de Mexicali
2016–17Fuerza Regia de Monterrey4–2Soles de Mexicali
2017–18Soles de Mexicali4–1Capitanes de la Ciudad de México
2018–19Fuerza Regia de Monterrey4–2Capitanes de la Ciudad de México
2019–20Soles de Mexicali4–3Fuerza Regia de Monterrey
2020Fuerza Regia de Monterrey3–1Aguacateros de Michoacán
2021Fuerza Regia de Monterrey4–0Astros de Jalisco
2022Abejas de León4–0Astros de Jalisco
2023Fuerza Regia de Monterrey4–1Astros de Jalisco
2024Diablos Rojos del México4–1Halcones de Xalapa
2025Fuerza Regia de Monterrey4–1Diablos Rojos del México

Championships

TeamChampionshipRunner-upYear(s) won
Fuerza Regia de Monterrey612016–17, 2018–19, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2025
Soles de Mexicali442006, 2014–15, 2017–18, 2019–20
Halcones de Xalapa442005, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10
Halcones Rojos Veracruz212011–12, 2013–14
Toros de Nuevo Laredo212010–11, 2012–13
Pioneros de Quintana Roo132015–16
Diablos Rojos del México112024
Correcaminos UAT Victoria112002
Correcaminos UAT Tampico102000
Gallos de Pelea de Ciudad Juárez102001
Panteras de Aguascalientes102003
Santos de San Luis102004
Abejas de León102022
Astros de Jalisco03
Capitanes de la Ciudad de México02
Lobos UAdeC02
Aguacateros de Michoacán01
Correcaminos UAT Matamoros01
Ola Roja del Distrito Federal01

Copa Independencia winners

The Copa Independencia (Independence Cup) was a tournament created by the LNBP.

Season Champion Runner-up
2004Lobos UAdeCLechugueros de León
2005Lobos UAdeCCorrecaminos UAT Victoria
2006Lobos Grises UADHalcones de Xalapa
2007–08Lobos Grises UADHalcones Rojos Veracruz

Copa Value winners

The Copa Value is the new Cup tournament established by the LNBP. Replacing the annual All-Star Game.

Season Champion Runner-up
2023Fuerza Regia de MonterreyLibertadores de Querétaro
2024Halcones de XalapaDiablos Rojos del México
2025Soles de MexicaliDiablos Rojos del México
2026Mineros de ZacatecasAstros de Jalisco

Top-scorers

Per game

Season Player PPG Team
2000
2001United States M.Johnson26.8Matamoros Piratas Bagdad
2002
2003United States Devon Ford36.5Panteras de Aguascalientes
2004United States Devon Ford36.5Panteras de Aguascalientes
2005United States Ryan Moore24.8
2006
2007–08United States Devon Ford27.9Panteras de Aguascalientes
2008–09United States Devon Ford (4)26.0Panteras de Aguascalientes
2009–10United States John Millsap25.4Bucaneros de Campeche
2010–11Puerto Rico Ricardo Melendez24.9Panteras de Aguascalientes
2011–12United States Majic Dorsey30.5Águilas Rojas de San Juan del Río
2012–13United States Shannon Shorter27.7Gansos Salvajes
2013–14Puerto Rico Alejandro Carmona25.3
2014–15United States Ollie Bailey25.4
2015–16United States Brandon Davis25.7Bucaneros de Campeche
2016–17United States Justin Keenan24.1Soles de Mexicali
2017–18Puerto Rico Jonathan Rodríguez 27.0Libertadores de Querétaro
2018–19United States Stedmon Lemon23.85Panteras de Aguascalientes
2019–20United States John Taylor23.9Laguneros de La Comarca
2020United States Stedmon Lemon (2)26.7Libertadores de Querétaro
2021United States Vander Blue22.2Libertadores de Querétaro
2022United States Donald Sims24.3Dorados de Chihuahua
2023United States Myke Henry21.0Libertadores de Querétaro
2024United States Deshawndre Washington23.7Halcones Rojos Veracruz
2025United States Michael Bryson17.5Gambusinos de Fresnillo

Source: latinbasket.com

By total points

Season Player Points Team
2000
2001United States Samuel Bowie927
2002
2003United States Devon Ford1502Panteras de Aguascalientes
2004United States Devon FordPanteras de Aguascalientes
2005United States Ryan Moore993Galgos de Tijuana
2006United States Devon Ford961Panteras de Aguascalientes
2007–08United States Kenya Capers1034
2008–09United States Devon Ford (4)1196Panteras de Aguascalientes
2009–10United States John Millsap1000Bucaneros de Campeche
2010–11Puerto Rico Ricardo Melendez696Panteras de Aguascalientes
2011–12United States Daryl Dorsey762Águilas Rojas de San Juan del Río
2012–13Puerto Rico Ricardo Melendez (2)1023Panteras de Aguascalientes
2013–14Puerto Rico Alejandro Carmona976Panteras de Aguascalientes
2014–15United States Steffphon Pettigrew832Abejas de León

Source: latinbasket.com

Players with most awards

PlayerAwardsYears
United States Devon Ford 42003, 2004, 2006, 2009
Puerto Rico Ricardo Melendez22011, 2013
United States Stedmon Lemon22019, 2020

Awards

MVP

Season Player Team
2005United States Justin Aronel HowardFuerza Regia de Monterrey
2006United States Gregory Devon LewisSoles de Mexicali
2007–08 United States Ramel Kinte AllenSantos del Potosí
2008–09 United States Devon FordPanteras de Aguascalientes
2009–10 Uruguay Leandro García Morales Halcones Xalapa
2010–11 United States Mike Smith Lechugueros de León
2011–12 United States Daryl DorseyÁguilas Rojas de San Juan del Río
2012–13 United States Leroy Edjuan HickersonHalcones Xalapa
2013–14 Puerto Rico Renaldo BalkmanHalcones Xalapa
2014–15 United Kingdom Ghana Matthew Bryan-AmaningSoles de Mexicali
2015–16 United Kingdom Ghana Matthew Bryan-Amaning (2)Soles de Mexicali
2016–17United States Justin KeenanSoles de Mexicali
2017–18United States Eugene PhelpsSoles de Mexicali
2018–19Dominican Republic Rigoberto Mendoza Capitanes de Ciudad de México
2019–20Mexico United States Luke MartínezSoles de Mexicali
2020 United States Eric Dawson
United States Jerome Meyinsse		Mineros de Zacatecas
Aguacateros de Michoacán
2021United States Durrell Summers
United States Vander Blue		Dorados de Chihuahua
Libertadores de Querétaro
2022United States Donald Sims
Mexico Jorge Gutiérrez 		Dorados de Chihuahua
Astros de Jalisco
2023Mexico United States Joshua Ibarra
United States Shaquille Johnson		Plateros de Fresnillo
Halcones de Xalapa
2024Dominican Republic Rigoberto Mendoza (2)
Mexico Fabián Jaimes		Capitanes de Ciudad de México
Panteras de Aguascalientes
2025United States Donald Sims (2)
Mexico Gabriel Girón 		Soles de Mexicali
Halcones Xalapa

Source: latinbasket.com

Finals MVP

Season Player Team
2014–15 United States Mexico Román Martínez Soles de Mexicali
2015–16 Mexico Héctor Hernández Pioneros de Quintana Roo
2016–17Mexico United States Juan Toscano-Anderson Fuerza Regia de Monterrey
2017–18Mexico United States Orlando Méndez-ValdezSoles de Mexicali
2018–19Puerto Rico David Huertas Fuerza Regia de Monterrey
2019–20Mexico United States Luke MartínezSoles de Mexicali
2020 Mexico United States J. J. AvilaFuerza Regia de Monterrey
2021Mexico Cristian CortésFuerza Regia de Monterrey
2022United States Michael SmithAbejas de León
2023Mexico Daniel BejaranoFuerza Regia de Monterrey
2024United States Avry HolmesDiablos Rojos del México
2025United States Scott BamforthFuerza Regia de Monterrey

Former teams

See also

References

  1. ↑ includes Canal 6
  2. ↑ includes Adrenalina Sports Network
  3. ↑ includes TVC Deportes 2
  4. ↑ Se impone Fuerza Regia a Selección Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine. June 24, 2006. Retrieved on July 18, 2008.
  5. ↑ Rodman comes back, first in Mexico. October 12, 2004. Retrieved on July 18, 2008.
  6. ↑ Fuerza Regia le quitó lo invicto a Halcones UV[dead link]. October 28, 2007. Retrieved on July 18, 2008.
  7. ↑ "Algodoneros su reto: los play offs". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). July 29, 2003. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Equipos y sedes". lnbp.com.mx (in Spanish). Archived from the original on December 17, 2000. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Habrá dos equipos en Guadalajara". El Informador (in Spanish). April 16, 2000. p. 9C.
  10. ↑ "Jalisco no tendrá equipo". El Informador (in Spanish). August 3, 2000. p. 8C.
  11. ↑ "LNBP, Grupos". lnbp.com.mx. Archived from the original on December 4, 2000. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Noticias de agosto 2000". lnbp.com.mx (in Spanish). Archived from the original on May 4, 2001. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Dispuesto Reyes al diálogo". El Informador (in Spanish). November 2, 2001. p. 8C.
  14. ↑ "Tendrá LNBP 3 equipos más". heraldo.mx. El Heraldo. 1999-03-13. Archived from the original on 2019-09-25. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  15. ↑ {https://www.proballers.com/basketball/player/187876/ford-devon Devon Ford - proballers.com]