Organising body | Kenyan Basketball Federation |
---|---|
Founded | 1987 |
First season | 1987 |
Country | Kenya |
Number of teams | 12 |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Relegation to | KBF Division 1 |
International cup(s) | Basketball Africa League (BAL) |
Current champions | Nairobi City Thunder (1st title) (2023–24) |
Most championships | KPA (9 titles) |
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The KBF Premier League, also known as the KBF National Basketball Classic League, is the premier basketball league for clubs in Kenya. The league currently consist out of twelve teams. The most successful team in the history of the league is KPA with nine national championships.
The champions of the KBF Premier League are eligible to play in the qualifying rounds of the Basketball Africa League (BAL).
The league was established in 1987 and has been won by seven different clubs since then.[1]
Current teams
[edit]The following were the twelve teams for the 2019 season:[2]
- KPA
- Ulinzi Warriors
- Nairobi City Thunder
- Equity Bank
- Emyba
- Strathmore
- Eldonets
- Lakerside
- KCA U
- Umoja
- USIU Tigers
- World Hope
List of champions
[edit]- 1987: KPA
- 1988: Barclays Eagles
- 1989: Posta
- 1990: KPA
- 1991: KPA
- 1992: Posta
- 1993: Posta
- 1994: Co-op Bank
- 1995: Co-op Bank
- 1996: Co-op Bank
- 1997: Co-op Bank
- 1999: Ulinzi Warriors
- 2000: NSSF Stars
- 2001: KCB Lions
- 2002: Ulinzi Warriors
- 2003: Ulinzi Warriors
- 2004: Ulinzi Warriors
- 2005: Ulinzi Warriors
- 2006: Ulinzi Warriors
- 2007: KCB Lions
- 2008: KCB Lions
- 2009: KCB Lions
- 2010: Co-op Bank
- 2011: Co-op Bank
- 2012: Co-op Bank
- 2014: KPA
- 2015: Ulinzi Warriors
- 2016: KPA
- 2017: KPA
- 2018: KPA
- 2019: Ulinzi Warriors
- 2022: KPA
- 2023: KPA
- 2024: Nairobi City Thunder
Performance by club
[edit]Club | Winners | Runners-up | Years won | Years runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|
KPA | 9 | 2 | 1987, 1990, 1991, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023 | 2009, 2024 |
Ulinzi Warriors | 8 | 3 | 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2015, 2019 | 2014, 2018, 2022 |
Co-op Bank | 7 | 1 | 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2010, 2011, 2012 | 2016 |
KCB Lions | 4 | 2 | 2001, 2007, 2008, 2009 | 2010, 2011 |
Posta | 3 | —
|
1989, 1992, 1993 | —
|
Nairobi City Thunder | 1 | 1 | 2024 | 2019 |
Barclays Eagles | 1 | —
|
1988 | —
|
NSSF Stars | 1 | —
|
2000 | —
|
USIU Tigers | —
|
2 | —
|
2012, 2015 |
Blades | —
|
1 | —
|
2017 |
Equity Dumas | —
|
1 | —
|
2023 |
Finals (2009–present)
[edit]Season | Champions | Runners-up | Finals score | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | KCB Lions (4) | KPA | 2–0
|
|
2010 | Co-op Bank (4) | KCB Lions | ||
2011 | Co-op Bank (5) | KCB Lions | ||
2012 | Co-op Bank (6) | USIU Tigers | 3–0
|
|
2014 | KPA (4) | Ulinzi Warriors | 3–1
|
|
2015 | Ulinzi Warriors (7) | USIU Tigers | 3–0
|
|
2016 | KPA (5) | Co-op Bank | 3–1
|
|
2017 | KPA (6) | Blades | 3–0
|
|
2018 | KPA (7) | Ulinzi Warriors | 3–0
|
|
2019 | Ulinzi Warriors (8) | Nairobi City Thunder | 3–1
|
|
2021–22 | KPA (8) | Ulinzi Warriors | 3–2
|
[3] |
2023 | KPA (9) | Equity Dumas | 3–1
|
[4] |
2023–24 | Nairobi City Thunder | KPA | 3–0
|
[5] |
Individual awards
[edit]Most Valuable Player
- 2021–22: Kennedy Wachira (KPA)[3]
- 2022-23: Eugene Adera (KPA)[3]
- 2023–24: Albert Odero (Nairobi City Thunder)[6]
Playoffs MVP
- 2023–24: Griffin Ligare (Nairobi City Thunder)[7]
References
[edit]- ^ "History at fore when KPA take on Coop bank". www.michezoafrika.com. 20 November 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "Kenyan Basketball, Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Standings - afrobasket". Eurobasket LLC. Archived from the original on 6 August 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
- ^ a b c Onyango, Washington (26 April 2022). "KPA dock Ulinzi to be crowned KBF Premier League champions". The Standard. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
- ^ Onyango, Washington. "KPA edge Equity Dumas to win KBF men's Premier League". The Standard. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ Olobulu, Timothy (20 July 2024). "INVINCIBLES! – Stylish Thunder strike down KPA to clinch first ever league title". Capital Sports. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ Olobulu, Timothy (20 July 2024). "INVINCIBLES! – Stylish Thunder strike down KPA to clinch first ever league title". Capital Sports. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ Olobulu, Timothy (20 July 2024). "INVINCIBLES! – Stylish Thunder strike down KPA to clinch first ever league title". Capital Sports. Retrieved 21 July 2024.