A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
 | |
| Founded | 2006 |
|---|---|
| First season | 2006–07 |
| Country | Montenegro |
| Confederation | FIBA Europe |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Prva B Liga |
| Current champions | Budućnost (14th title) |
| Most championships | Budućnost (14 titles) |
| CEO | Veselin Brajovic |
| TV partners | RTCG |
| Website | www |
The Prva A liga, for sponsorships reasons named the Erste Liga, is the top-tier professional basketball league in Montenegro. It is the highest basketball division organized by the Basketball Association of Montenegro (KSCG). It was established in 2006. shortly after Montenegro declared its independence from Serbia and Montenegro.
The league is sponsored by and named after Erste Bank. Currently, two clubs from the area are playing in the regional ABA League. The most successful club in the Prva A liga is Budućnost Podgorica, which has won 14 titles, after winning the 2022 championship.
History
Before independence
During their history, many Montenegrin basketball clubs played in the top-tier basketball leagues of SFR Yugoslavia, FR Yugoslavia, and Serbia and Montenegro, including Budućnost, Lovćen, Sutjeska, Mornar, KK Primorka, KK Berane, Jedinstvo, and KK Temko Nikšić.
1946–1991: SFR Yugoslavia
From 1946 to 1991, two clubs from Montenegro, Berane (formerly KK Ivangrad) and Budućnost, played in the First Federal Basketball League. Others played in the Second Yugoslav League (during the 80's - First B League) and the Republic League.
Budućnost played in the First League during the nine seasons, with third place on the 1985–86 season as their biggest success at that time.
Below is the list of all-time participants of Montenegrin clubs in the First Yugoslav League.[1]
| Club | 66 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 91 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berane | 12 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Budućnost | - | 8 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 10 |
1992–2006: Serbia and Montenegro
After the breakup of SFR Yugoslavia, until the Montenegrin independence in 2006, eight different Montenegrin teams participated in the First League of FR Yugoslavia / Serbia and Montenegro (YUBA League). Budućnost is the only team which played every single season in that competition, winning the three champion titles. Except them, Lovćen, Mornar, Sutjeska and Primorka are the only teams which participated in more than one season at the highest rank.
During that period, Budućnost became a founder of ABA League, too, where they play an important role until today. At the same time, Budućnost played its first seasons in Euroleague with the quarterfinals as their biggest success in the history of competition.
Below is the list of all-time participants of Montenegrin clubs in the YUBA League.[2]
| Club | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budućnost | 10 | 10 | 11 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Lovćen | - | 9 | 10 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 18 | - |
| Mornar | - | - | 7 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 14 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 12 | 9 |
| Sutjeska | - | - | - | 8 | - | - | - | - | 12 | - | - | - | - | 16 | - |
| Jedinstvo | - | - | - | 15 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Berane | - | - | - | 27 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Temko | - | - | - | 29 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Primorka | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 11 | - | - | - | 17 |
As the most successful Montenegrin basketball team, Budućnost won three national titles in the First League of Yugoslavia.
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| KK Budućnost Podgorica | 3
|
1
|
1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01 |
After independence
Soon after the Montenegrin independence referendum, Basketball Federation of Montenegro founded its own competitions, with the First League as a top-tier competition. During the all history, KK Budućnost was strongly dominant side.
Every season have two parts. During the first part, 8 to 10 clubs are playing league, without teams who are playing in ABA League. Until the season 2019-2020, in the second part, four best-placed teams from the league and two Montenegrin clubs from ABA League were competing in Superliga and four best-placed sides from that phase were participating in playoffs. Final series of playoffs is lasting until three wins of one opponent.
From season 2006-07 to 2016-17, every single champions' title won KK Budućnost. From 2006 to 2012, team from Podgorica created an impressive row of 89 wins with only one defeat in domestic championship. Except that, until 2015, team from Podgorica won every playoff final series with 3-0.
On season 2015-16, during the regular phase of the championship, game between KK Ulcinj and KK Jedinstvo finished with result 127-23. That was the biggest victory in the history of Montenegrin Championship. Except that, KK Ulcinj's player Miloš Popović on the same game scored 59 points, which is another all-time record of Montenegrin League.[3]
An unexpected change came on season 2017-18, when KK Mornar won their first ever national title. In the finals, they surprisingly won the series against ABA League title holder - KK Budućnost (3-1).
Budućnost made a comeback on season 2018-19, defeating Mornar in the finals. During 2019, Montenegrin basketball federation implemented a new system of competition. Instead Superliga as the second phase, two best teams from the first part of season and two Montenegrin representatives in ABA League are directly qualifying for the playoff series.
Season 2019-20 was interrupted after 20 weeks, due to the coronavirus pandemic and Montenegrin basketball federation decided to erase every single result from that edition of competition.[4]
Champions
Since the establishing of competition, only two teams won the titles of Montenegrin champion. In 2018, Mornar was the second team to win the league after a streak of 11 consecutive trophies achieved by Budućnost.
Titles by season
Below is the list of final series of Montenegrin Basketball League playoffs.
Titles by Club
Montenegrin League
Below is a list of clubs with titles won in Montenegrin Basketball League.
| Club | Titles | Runners-up | Years Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budućnost | 15 | 1 | 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| Mornar | 1 | 6 | 2018 |
Overall
Below is an overall list, with titles won in both leagues - Montenegrin Basketball League and FR Yugoslavia / Serbia and Montenegro Championship.
| Club | Titles | Runners-up | Years Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budućnost | 18 | 2 | 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000–01, from 2006-07 to 2016-17, 2018–19, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 |
| Mornar | 1 | 6 | 2018 |
Performances by clubs
Final placements
Since establishing, in Montenegrin basketball league participated 21 different teams. Club which played every single season until now are KK Budućnost, KK Jedinstvo, KK Lovćen, KK Mornar and KK Ulcinj.