Amanda Knapp
Basketball is a popular sport in Saudi Arabia, with the country hosting several basketball leagues and competitions. The Saudi Premier League is the top tier of basketball in the country, with AL Ittihad crowned champions in the most recent season. The Saudi Basketball Federation also organises the Ministry Cup tournament, which sees teams such as Al-Ittihad and Al-Salam compete. In addition to domestic competitions, Saudi Arabia's national basketball team has competed in international tournaments, such as the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the league | Saudi Basketball League (SBL) |
| Current title holder | Al Ittihad |
| Other teams | Al Fateh, Al Ahli, Al Nasr, Al Salam, Al Khaleej, Al-Ula |
| Other competitions | Premier League, West Asia Super League, Ministry Cup tournament, FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers |
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What You'll Learn
Saudi Premier League
Saudi Arabia does have a basketball league, known as the Saudi Premier League. The league appears to be referred to interchangeably as the Premier League or the SBL.
The Saudi Premier League is a national basketball league, with teams based across Saudi Arabia. The SBL appears to be the top tier of basketball in the country, with a Division 1 also in place.
The 2024/2025 season is currently underway, with live scores, results, H2H stats, odds, and other information available online. The most recent results show Ohod beat Al Fateh, Al Ahli topped Al Nasr, and Al Ittihad lost to Al-Ula.
The Saudi Premier League appears to be a well-established competition, with a range of teams competing. The league is covered by basketball websites and appears to have a dedicated following, with fans able to access a wealth of information and statistics on the competition.
The SBL is an important part of basketball in Saudi Arabia and the wider region, with teams and players striving to achieve success and qualify for international competitions.
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Saudi Basketball Federation
The Saudi Basketball Federation, also known as SBF, is the official governing body of basketball in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Established in 1963, the SBF aims to promote and develop basketball in the country, offering a high-quality experience for athletes, coaches, referees, and the wider sports community.
The current president of the Saudi Basketball Federation is Dr. Ghassan Tashkandi, who has been instrumental in leading the national team, nicknamed the Green Falcons, towards success in recent years. One of the notable achievements of the federation was the national team's third-place finish in the Asian Championship for men's teams in 1998. The Green Falcons have also qualified for the 2025 Asia Cup and are preparing for the final window of qualifiers.
The SBF has a strong focus on providing opportunities for excellence in basketball within Saudi Arabia and on the global stage. The federation organizes the Saudi Arabian SBL, which features teams like Al Ittihad, Al Fateh, Al Ahli, and Al Nasr, who compete in a regular season format. The SBL has seen impressive performances, with players like Donte McGill and Josh Nicholas topping scoring charts in recent games.
Captain Abdul Mohsen Khalaf Al-Mawlid is one of the most prominent players associated with the Saudi Basketball Federation. He has achieved a unique distinction by entering the Guinness Book of Records as the largest basketball player to participate in official competitions.
The Saudi Basketball Federation also has a notable presence in the media, with a dedicated media center in Riyadh, providing updates on the achievements of the national team and the progress of the SBL. The federation's contact information includes an address in the Al-Hada District of Riyadh, within the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex.
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Saudi Arabia SBL
Saudi Arabia does have a basketball league, known as the Saudi Basketball League (SBL). It is a men's basketball competition and the current title holder is Al Ittihad. The Saudi Basketball Federation's national team has also participated in the Asian Qualifiers for the FIBA Asia Cup, hosted in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The SBL appears to be a popular league, with several sources providing scores, standings, schedules, and team stats. For example, Ohod beat Al Fateh by three points in a close game during SBL Round 18 of the regular season. In another match, Al Ahli topped Al Nasr in a crucial game during SBL Round 16.
The SBL also seems to attract international players. Devin Ebanks, for instance, was named the best performer during SBL Round 15. Donte McGill, an American, scored an impressive 53 points in his last game in Saudi Arabia during SBL Round 16.
The Saudi Basketball Federation's team, Al-Ittihad, has achieved notable successes. In addition to their victory over Al-Salam in the Ministry Cup tournament, they defeated Astana of Kazakhstan in the West Asia Super League finals.
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West Asia Super League
Saudi Arabia is one of the participating countries in the FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL), a regional basketball league organised by FIBA Asia. The league consists of clubs from West Asia and the Gulf regions, with 18 teams playing in the 2022-23 season. The Saudi Al-Ittihad team achieved their first victory in the West Asia Super League (Final 8) finals in their second match, defeating Astana of Kazakhstan 79-76.
The West Asia Super League is divided into two zones: West Asia and the Gulf. The top four teams from each zone compete in the Final 8 for the title. The inaugural season of the WASL began on 19 December 2022 and ended in May 2023. The first points in the league were scored by Al Bashaer's Aaron Clyde. Kuwait SC were the inaugural champions of the Gulf League, while Al Riyadi Beirut won the inaugural West Asia League title.
The West Asia Super League features clubs from various countries in the region, including Lebanon, with Al Riyadi being a dominant force, having won back-to-back West Asia titles. Other participating countries include Qatar, which hosted the FIBA West Asia Super League Final 8, and Saudi Arabia, which has a strong basketball presence with its national team, the Green Falcons, and clubs like Al-Ittihad and Al Ahli.
The league has attracted players from around the world, with American players like Stedmon Lemon, Thomas Wimbush, and Kahlil Thomas making their mark in the region. The West Asia Super League also recognises outstanding performances through awards such as the MVP of the Week and Player of the Week. Players like Elijah Thomas, Hollis Thompson, and Stedmon Lemon have received these accolades.
The West Asia Super League adds to the vibrant basketball culture in the region, with Saudi Arabia also hosting its own domestic league, the Saudi Arabian SBL, which features clubs like Ohod, Al Fateh, Al Ahli, and Al Nasr. The SBL has produced top scorers like Josh Nicholas and seen impressive performances from players like Edgar Sosa and Donte McGill.
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International Basketball Federation
The International Basketball Federation, also known as FIBA, is the global governing body for the sport of basketball. Founded in 1932 in Geneva, Switzerland, FIBA was established two years after basketball was officially recognised by the IOC (International Olympic Committee). The original name of the association was the 'Fédération Internationale de basket-ball amateur' (hence the acronym FIBA). In 1989, the organisation dropped the word 'amateur' from its name but kept the acronym.
FIBA is an association of national organisations that oversee and regulate the sport worldwide. It defines the rules of basketball, specifies equipment and facilities, organises international competitions, and controls the appointment of international referees. The federation also governs the transfer of athletes across countries.
FIBA has 212 national federations as members, which are organised into five zones: Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. Each national federation is assigned to a zone by the Central Board upon admission to FIBA. The federation moved its headquarters to Munich in 1956, and then back to Geneva in 2002. In 2013, FIBA moved into its new headquarters, "The House of Basketball", in Mies, Switzerland.
FIBA organises international basketball competitions, including the FIBA Basketball World Cup for men's national teams, held every four years. The tournament features teams competing for the Naismith Trophy, named after basketball's founder, James Naismith. FIBA also organises the men's and women's FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament and the Summer Olympics Basketball Tournament. In 1992, FIBA allowed professional players, including those from the NBA, to participate in the Olympic Games. This marked a significant moment in the sport's history, with the subsequent US men's team, dubbed the "Dream Team", dominating the 1992 Olympic tournament.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Saudi Arabia has a basketball league.
The Saudi Basketball League (SBL) is a basketball competition for men played in Saudi Arabia.
You can follow the Saudi Basketball League on Sofascore.com, where you can find live results, tables, statistics, fixtures, and live streams.
The current title holder of the Saudi Basketball League is AL Ittihad.
