Club Baloncesto León was a basketball team, based in León, Spain.
History
Early years (1981-1988) Baloncesto León was founded by José Antonio Moirón García, Enrique Emperador Marcos, Juan Carlos Rodríguez Villanueva, Lisardo Mourelo González and Alberto Sobrín Martínez in León on 20 May 1981.
It began to play in Tercera División, the fourth division of Spanish basketball. In 1981, the team was promoted to Segunda División. After four years playing in the third tier, Baloncesto León was promoted to Primera División B, the second division.
Aranzana's first era (1989-1997) In the middle of the 1988-1989 season, the coach Mariano Parra was sacked because Baloncesto León was in relegation posts. Then Baloncesto León signed Gustavo Aranzana, the coach of Cajapalencia, a team which was playing in Segunda División. Baloncesto León managed to leave relegation, and the next year, led by Xavi Fernández, was promoted to the ACB for first time in its history.
Baloncesto León's years under Aranzana's leadership were the most successful in the history of the team. Both in the 1991-1992 and 1992-1993 seasons, Baloncesto León reached position six in ACB.
In 1994 several things changed. The team changed the color of the T-shirt from yellow and green to red. Also, Xavi Fernandez transferred to FC Barcelona. Finally, in 1997, Aranzana left the team.
Decline and relegation (1997-2000) In 1997, Edu Torres was hired as coach. He left the team after two years of failing to enter the playoffs. In 1999-2000, the team, coached by José Luis Oliete, was the last team in the classification, so Baloncesto León was relegated to LEB.
LEB (since 2000) and Aranzana's second era (since 2005)
Since 2000, Baloncesto León has been playing in the second category of Spanish basketball. The team has come close to promotion on several occasions, but has not achieved it.
After being coached by Roberto Herreras, Quino Salvo and Ángel Jareño, in 2005, Gustavo Aranzana was signed again as coach. In 2005–2006, Baloncesto León was, along with CAI Zaragoza, the highest-ranking team in the LEB regular season. In fact, Baloncesto León won the Regular Season. In the playoff, Baloncesto León easily defeated Palma Aqua Mágica and reached the semifinal round. Both final competitors of the semifinals get promoted. The rival was Bruesa GBC, 5th in regular season, which defeated Baloncesto León by 3-0. CAI Zaragoza did not get promoted.
In 2006–2007 the team reached the second position in the end of the Regular Season. For first time in several years the team got a private sponsorship, Climalia. In the playoff, Baloncesto León defeated again Palma Aqua Mágica, (3-2). In the semifinals, they played versus CAI Zaragoza. León won the round 3–2, so, along with Ricoh Manresa got promoted to Liga ACB the 5/26/2007.
In the 2007–2008 season, León made a very poor season and they were relegated again to LEB Oro after winning only eight of their 34 matches. Their most surprising winning was in Vitoria, against Tau Cerámica. After that season, León continues playing in the LEB League, where they reached the play-offs in the next two seasons with Javier de Grado as coach.
After the 2011–2012 season the club ceased in activity and was dissolved. A new club was created to replace old Baloncesto León. It is called Fundación Baloncesto León and played its first season at Liga EBA.
Season by season SeasonTierDivisionPos.Copa del ReyOther cupsEuropean competitions1980–81 43ª División 2nd 1981–82 43ª División1st 1982–83 32ª División 15th 1983–84 32ª División 5th 1984–85 32ª División 3rd 1985–86 32ª División1st 1986–87 21ª División B 8th 19–15 1987–88 21ª División B 17th 23–22 1988–89 21ª División 11th 17–16 1989–90 21ª División B2nd 19–11 1990–91 1Liga ACB 20th 16–22Quarterfinalist1991–92 1Liga ACB 6th 27–12Quarterfinalist1992–93 1Liga ACB 6th 19–16Third round3 Korać Cup QF 7–51993–94 1Liga ACB 13th 14–18Third round3 Korać Cup 6–41994–95 1Liga ACB 9th 19–19Quarterfinalist1995–96 1Liga ACB 12th 18–20Quarterfinalist1996–97 1Liga ACB 6th 21–17Semifinalist1997–98 1Liga ACB 11th 14–20 3 Korać Cup 13–11998–99 1Liga ACB 16th 13–21 1999–00 1Liga ACB18th 10–24 2000–01 2LEB 5th 24–10 Copa Príncipe SF2001–02 2LEB 5th 20–15 2002–03 2LEB 3rd 20–19 2003–04 2LEB 4th 23–19 2004–05 2LEB 3rd 28–13 2005–06 2LEB 3rd 29–11 Copa Príncipe SF2006–07 2LEB2nd 28–16 Copa Príncipe C2007–08 1Liga ACB18th 8–26 2008–09 2LEB Oro 8th 18–18 2009–10 2LEB Oro 7th 19–18 2010–11 2LEB Oro 6th 21–17 2011–12 2LEB Oro 14th 15–19
Trophies and awards
Trophies Copa Príncipe: (1) 2007 Copa Castilla y León: (1) 2004
Individual awards LEB Oro MVP Michael Wilson – 2001
Notable players
Xavi Fernández José Lasa Essie Hollis Corny Thompson Tate Decker Óscar Yebra Paolo Quinteros Amal McCaskill J.R. Reid Byron Houston
Notable coaches Gustavo Aranzana
List of coaches José Estrada 1980–1984 Antonio Garrido 1984–1987 José Clavijo 1987–1988 Mariano Parra 1988–1989 Gustavo Aranzana 1989–1997, 2005–2008 Eduard Torres 1997–1999 José Luis Oliete 1999–2000 Roberto Herreras 2002 Quino Salvo 2002–2003 Angel Jareño 2003–2005 Javier de Grado 2008–2012
External links Baloncesto León Official Website Retrato nº75: Baloncesto León