
The Korean Basketball League (KBL) is a professional men's basketball league in South Korea that was established in 1997. The league consists of 10 teams, and each team plays a total of 54 games (27 home and 27 away) in the regular season. Each game is divided into four quarters, with 10 minutes in each quarter. If the game is tied at the end of the fourth quarter, it goes into overtime, with five minutes added to the clock.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of quarters in a basketball game in South Korea | 4 |
| Duration of each quarter | 10 minutes |
| Total duration of a basketball game in South Korea | 40 minutes |
| Overtime duration | 5 minutes |
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What You'll Learn

Korean Basketball League (KBL)
The Korean Basketball League (KBL) is a professional men's basketball league in South Korea. It was established in 1997, with the inaugural season beginning in February of that year, one month after the conclusion of the 1996-97 National Basketball Festival. The KBL consists of ten teams, each playing a total of 54 games (27 home and 27 away) during the regular season. The regular season typically runs from October to early April, with each team playing against every other team six times (three home and three away).
The KBL follows the FIBA rules regarding standards of play and court dimensions. The league also adheres to FIBA laws when it comes to defining domestic players as those possessing South Korean citizenship. These domestic players are recruited through an annual rookie draft, which has been in place since 1998. In 2009, an ethnic draft was introduced, allowing the recruitment of players with South Korean nationality or those with at least one Korean parent. However, due to controversy and backlash, this ethnic draft was abolished in 2013.
The early years of the KBL were marked by financial instability, coinciding with the 1997 Asian financial crisis that significantly impacted South Korea. The league struggled to find a sponsor for the 1997-98 season, and between 1997 and 2001, five out of the ten teams changed ownership due to financial difficulties.
The founding teams of the KBL included Busan Kia Enterprise, Gyeongnam LG Sakers, Daegu Tongyang Orions, Suwon Samsung Thunders, Wonju Naray Blue Bird, Anyang SBS Stars, Incheon Daewoo Zeus, Daejeon Hyundai Dynat, and Gwangju Nasan Flamans. Over the years, some teams relocated to different cities, with a plan to have a team based in each geographical region rather than centralizing them in the Seoul Capital Area.
The KBL Cup was introduced in 2020 as a pre-season competition for all teams to assess their strengths before the regular season. The Sangmu Basketball Team also participates in the KBL Cup, bringing the total number of teams in the cup to eleven. The annual KBL Award Ceremony takes place after the regular season, followed by the playoffs, which usually begin a week later. Only the top six teams in the regular season standings advance to the post-season playoffs, with their qualification determined by their regular-season performance.
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10-minute quarters
The Korean Basketball League (KBL) is a professional men's basketball league in South Korea. It was established in 1997 with just six teams, but it has since grown to consist of ten teams. Each team plays a total of 54 games (27 home and 27 away) in the regular season.
The KBL follows the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rules regarding standards of play and court dimensions. Each game is played with two teams of five players each. The objective is to shoot the ball through the opponent's hoop while preventing the other team from scoring.
Each game is divided into four quarters of 10 minutes each. If the game is tied at the end of regulation, it goes into overtime, with five minutes added to the clock.
The KBL has grown in popularity over the years and is now one of the most-watched sports leagues in South Korea. The league has a loyal fan base, and its teams have a rich history and culture. From the Jeonju KCC Egis to the Seoul SK Knights, each team has its unique style of play and fan base.
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54 games per season
The Korean Basketball League (KBL) is a professional men's basketball league in South Korea, consisting of ten teams. Each team plays a total of 54 games (27 home and 27 away) during the regular season, which typically runs from October to March or early April of the following year. The KBL follows the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rules regarding standards of play and court dimensions. The round-robin format is utilized, with each team playing against every other team six times (three home and three away). The 54 games are played in six rounds, and only the top six to eight teams in the regular season standings advance to the post-season playoffs.
The KBL was established in 1997, and the inaugural season began in February of that year, following the conclusion of the National Basketball Festival. The early years of the league were challenging due to financial instability and the Asian financial crisis, which impacted South Korea significantly. Despite these early struggles, the KBL has since grown in popularity, attracting fans both in South Korea and worldwide.
The KBL has a rich history and culture, with teams like Jeonju KCC Egis and Seoul SK Knights known for their unique styles of play and dedicated fan bases. The league features some of the best players in the world, both foreign and Korean, making the games highly competitive and entertaining. The KBL Cup, introduced in 2020 as a pre-season competition, adds further excitement to the league.
The regular season consists of 54 games, with each game divided into four quarters of 10 minutes each. If a game ends in a tie, it goes into overtime, with five additional minutes added to the clock. The teams are ranked based on their win-loss record, and the top teams advance to the playoffs, which consist of quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. The KBL Awards Ceremony takes place after the regular season, recognizing outstanding players and teams.
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27 home and 27 away games
The Korean Basketball League (KBL) is a professional men's basketball league in South Korea, established in 1997. The KBL has grown in popularity over the years and is now one of the most-watched sports leagues in the country. The league currently consists of ten teams, and each team plays a total of 54 games in the regular season—27 home games and 27 away games.
The regular season typically starts in October and ends in March or early April of the following year. During the regular season, the round-robin format is utilized, with each team playing against every other team six times (three home games and three away games). This format ensures that all teams compete against each other an equal number of times, fostering a balanced and fair competition.
Each game in the KBL is divided into four quarters of 10 minutes each. If the game is tied at the end of the fourth quarter, it goes into overtime, with an additional five minutes added to the clock. This overtime period provides an opportunity for teams to break the tie and determine a winner.
The KBL showcases some of the best players in the world, both foreign and Korean, contributing to the league's highly competitive and entertaining nature. The teams are ranked based on their win-loss record, with the top six to eight teams advancing to the playoffs. The playoffs consist of three rounds: quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals, with the first round being a best-of-five series.
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Playoffs
The duration of a basketball game in South Korea is slightly different from that in North America, including the Korean Basketball League (KBL). In the KBL, each basketball game consists of four quarters, and each quarter lasts for 10 minutes. This is a total of 40 minutes of game time, which is the same as in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in North America. However, there are some differences in the structure and timing of overtime periods and other in-game breaks.
Now, regarding the playoffs in South Korean basketball, the KBL follows a similar format to other major basketball leagues, with the goal of determining a championship team at the end of the season. The KBL season typically runs from October to April, with the regular season followed by the playoffs. The playoffs are a single-elimination tournament, featuring the top six teams from the regular season. The top two teams in the regular-season standings automatically advance to the second round of the playoffs, while the third- to sixth-placed teams compete in the first round.
The first round of the playoffs consists of best-of-three series, with the third-placed team facing the sixth-placed team, and the fourth-placed team facing the fifth. The higher-ranked teams in these matchups have home-court advantage, hosting the first and, if necessary, third games of the series. The winners of these series then advance to the second round, where they face the top two seeds in best-of-five series. Again, the higher-ranked teams enjoy home-court advantage. The playoff rounds progress in this manner until the KBL Finals, where the remaining two teams compete in a best-of-seven series to determine the league champion.
During the playoffs, the format and timing of games remains consistent with the regular season, with each quarter lasting 10 minutes. However, there may be slight variations in the duration of halftime and other breaks, as these can be adjusted for television broadcasts and other logistical considerations. The team that wins the KBL Finals is crowned the Korean Basketball League champion and represents the peak of basketball achievement in South Korea for that season. The winning team is often celebrated by their fans and the media, and the players and coaches may receive individual awards and recognition for their achievements.
It's worth noting that the KBL has undergone various format changes throughout its history, including adjustments to the number of teams qualifying for the playoffs and the length of series in each round. These changes are implemented by the league to maintain competitiveness, excitement, and fairness for all participating teams. As such, the specific format of the KBL playoffs may evolve over time, but the fundamental structure of a single-elimination tournament remains a consistent feature.
In summary, the South Korean basketball playoffs, a thrilling and competitive affair, adopt a familiar format, with a few unique twists, to crown their champions.
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Frequently asked questions
Each quarter in the Korean Basketball League (KBL) is 10 minutes long.
There are 10 teams in the KBL.
Each team plays a total of 54 games (27 home and 27 away) in the regular season.
The KBL was established in 1997.
Each team has five players on the court during a KBL game.











































