Andrew Pace
Basketball is the second most popular sport in Spain, with the country's top league, Liga ACB, considered one of the best outside of the US. The sport was first introduced to Spain in 1921 by a 35-year-old priest, Eusenio Millán, who had witnessed people playing it in Cuba. Since then, basketball has grown in popularity in Spain, with the country producing some of the brightest NBA stars and consistently performing at the top level internationally.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year basketball started in Spain | 1921 |
| Who brought basketball to Spain | A 35-year-old priest, Eusenio Millán |
| First Spanish player to play in the NBA | Fernando Martín in 1986 |
| Top Spanish League | Liga ACB |
| Number of teams in the Liga ACB | 18 |
| Average attendance of league matches in the 2018-19 season | 6,236 |
| Ranking of Liga ACB in terms of average attendance | 9th highest of any domestic professional indoor sports league in the world |
| Ranking of Liga ACB in terms of popularity | 4th highest of any professional basketball league in the world |
| Number of games played in a season | 34 |
| Format of the competition | Double round-robin |
| Teams that advance to the playoffs | 8 |
| Teams that are relegated to the Primera FEB | 2 |
| Teams that are promoted to the Liga ACB | 2 |
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What You'll Learn
- Basketball arrived in Spain in 1921, brought by a priest from Cuba
- The first game was held in 1933 in the gardens of the old Goya cinema
- Liga ACB is Spain's top basketball league and one of the best outside the US
- Spanish athletes have only recently started to make their mark in the NBA
- Basketball is the second most popular sport in Spain, after football
Basketball arrived in Spain in 1921, brought by a priest from Cuba
Basketball is now the second most popular sport in Spain, behind football. However, it wasn't until 1921 that the sport first arrived in the country. That year, a 35-year-old priest, Eusenio Millán, returned to Barcelona from Cuba. While in Cuba, Father Millán had witnessed people playing this relatively new sport and thought it would be ideal for Spain, where winters can be very cold.
Upon his return to Barcelona, Father Millán began to spread the word about this new sport. It is not clear exactly how he introduced basketball to the country, but his enthusiasm for the game he had seen played in Cuba sparked an interest among the Spanish people. The sport's popularity grew, and by the 1930s, basketball games were being held across the country, in places like tennis courts or handball courts with concrete floors. In 1933, El Rayo Madrid played Real Madrid Baloncesto in the first edition of what would become an annual tournament. Two years earlier, Real Madrid had signed its first star players, announcing in the ABC newspaper that they were looking for "gentlemen interested in this sport" to come to the "club's secretariat, Caballero de Gracia, 15, for instructions".
The Liga ACB, or Liga Endesa for sponsorship reasons, is now the top professional basketball division in Spain. It was founded in 1983 when clubs in the Liga Nacional, which was founded in 1957, decided to break away from the Spanish Basketball Federation and professionalize the league. The league is made up of 18 teams, with the two lowest-placed teams relegated to the Primera FEB and replaced by the top team in that division, as well as the winner of the promotion playoffs. The league has become one of the most popular professional indoor sports leagues in the world, with an average attendance of 6,236 for league matches in the 2018-19 season.
The ACB is considered one of the best leagues outside of the United States, and many American players, often those towards the end of their careers or who weren't able to make it into the NBA, find themselves playing for teams in Spanish cities. The Spanish league system also allows the top eight teams in the standings of the Liga ACB to compete in a national domestic cup competition each year, called the Copa del Rey de Baloncesto.
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The first game was held in 1933 in the gardens of the old Goya cinema
Basketball is the second most popular sport in Spain, after football. The Spanish basketball league, Liga ACB, is considered one of the best outside of the US and is one of the most popular professional indoor sports leagues worldwide. The league is also one of the most lucrative, with revenues of around €30 million in 2020.
The first basketball game in Spain was held in 1933 in the gardens of the old Goya cinema. El Rayo Madrid played Real Madrid Baloncesto in this inaugural match. Two years prior, Real Madrid had put out an announcement in the ABC newspaper, inviting anyone interested in the sport to come to the club's secretariat.
Basketball first came to Spain in 1921, brought by a priest named Eusenio Millán. Having just returned to Barcelona from Cuba, he had seen the relatively new sport played there and thought it would be ideal for Spain's cold winters.
Since its beginnings in Spain, basketball has grown in popularity and success. The country's national team has achieved significant international success, and clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona are consistently top contenders in the Euroleague. Spanish basketball has also produced notable players like Fernando Martín, who was the first Spanish player to participate in the NBA in 1986.
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Liga ACB is Spain's top basketball league and one of the best outside the US
Basketball is the second most popular sport in Spain, after football. Liga ACB, also known as Liga Endesa, is the country's top basketball league and is considered one of the best outside the US. The league is a member of ULEB, and its top teams can compete in Europe, including in the Euroleague and Eurocup, as well as under the FIBA Europe umbrella in the FIBA Europe Cup.
Liga ACB was founded in 1983 when clubs in the Liga Nacional, which was founded in 1957, decided to break away from the Spanish Basketball Federation and professionalize the league. The Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto (ACB) now administers the league, which consists of 18 teams. Each club plays every other club twice during the season, which lasts from October to May, for a total of 34 games. The season is followed by playoffs, with the winner of the playoffs crowned champion.
The league has a system of relegation and promotion with the Primera FEB. The two lowest-placed teams in Liga ACB are relegated to the Primera FEB, and the top teams from the Primera FEB are promoted to Liga ACB, with additional clubs promoted after a series of playoffs.
Liga ACB has a high average attendance, with over 6,000 spectators per game, and eight arenas in the league can host more than 10,000 fans. The league's accumulated revenues were worth around €30 million in 2020, with Endesa and Movistar Plus+ contributing 50% of the revenues.
The rivalry between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, nicknamed El Classico, has been the main attraction for years, with the two teams winning 53 out of 63 championships since 1956. Real Madrid has extended its dominance to the Euroleague, with 10 championships.
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Spanish athletes have only recently started to make their mark in the NBA
Basketball is the second most popular sport in Spain, after football. The sport was introduced to the country in 1921 by a 35-year-old priest, Eusenio Millán, who had seen it being played in Cuba. The first basketball game in Spain was held in 1933 in the gardens of the old Goya cinema, between El Rayo Madrid and Real Madrid Baloncesto.
Despite the sport's long history in the country, Spanish athletes have only recently started to make their mark in the NBA. Fernando Martín was the first Spaniard to join an NBA team in 1985 or 1986. Unfortunately, his career in the NBA was cut short by an injury, and he returned to Spain to play in the ACB until his untimely death in a car accident in 1989.
Since then, the number of Spanish players in the NBA has skyrocketed. Notable Spanish players in the NBA include Pau and Marc Gasol, Nikola Mirotic, Jorge Garbajosa of the Toronto Raptors, and Ricky Rubio of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Rubio is one of the best-paid Spanish NBA players, having signed a three-year deal worth $18 million with the Cavaliers in 2022.
The Liga ACB, Spain's top basketball league, is considered one of the best outside of the United States. The league has attracted many American players, particularly those towards the end of their careers or those who couldn't quite make it to the NBA. The success of Spanish players in the NBA has earned Spain an international reputation for producing talented basketball players.
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Basketball is the second most popular sport in Spain, after football
The Spanish basketball league system is highly organized, with 18 teams competing in the top division and a system of promotion and relegation in place. The league's accumulated revenues were worth around €30 million in 2020, with Endesa and Movistar Plus+ contributing 50% of this figure. The league is a corporation managed by a president, while the member clubs act as shareholders.
Spanish basketball has produced some notable players, including Fernando Martín, considered one of the greatest Spanish players ever, and Ricky Rubio, who played for DKV Joventut Badalona before moving to the NBA in 2011. Spain's national team has also achieved significant international success, and clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona are consistently top contenders in the Euroleague.
However, despite the popularity and success of basketball in Spain, it does not seem to have a larger following than football. This may be because football is considered the "king of all sports" in Spain, and the country has achieved greater international success in this sport compared to basketball. Additionally, media coverage of basketball in Spain is limited, with even NBA games taking a backseat to football in the country's sports media landscape.
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Frequently asked questions
Basketball was first played in Spain in 1921.
A 35-year-old priest, Eusenio Millán, brought basketball to Spain after witnessing people playing the sport in Cuba.
The Liga ACB, also known as Liga Endesa, is the top professional basketball league in Spain.
The league is contested by 18 teams, with the two lowest-placed teams relegated to the Primera FEB each season.
Basketball is the second most popular sport in Spain, behind football (soccer).
