The Korean Basketball League () or simply KBL is a professional men's basketball league in South Korea which was established in 1997. The league consists of ten teams and each team plays a total of 54 games (27 home and 27 away) in the regular season.
History The Korean Basketball League was established in 1997. Prior to the professional era, domestic basketball was an amateur sport and all teams, whether sponsored by a corporate company or a university, participated in the National Basketball Festival (), a competition sanctioned by the Korea Basketball Association. Early teams were sponsored by major companies or universities. The Korea Development Bank (KDB) and Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) established their basketball teams as early as the 1950s and 1960s while Yonsei University and Korea University are considered pioneers of domestic college basketball, having introduced the sport to their institutions before World War II. During the 1970s and 1980s, major industrial companies such as Kia Motors, Hyundai Electronics and Samsung Electronics started their own basketball teams. The predecessor teams of Goyang Orion Orions, Anyang KGC and Wonju DB Promy were founded during the 1990s by smaller-scale companies hoping to take advantage of the "basketball craze".
Professional era The 1996–97 National Basketball Festival ended in January 1997, and the inaugural KBL season began one month later in February. The National Basketball Festival remains an amateur-only tournament to this day and is contested by university reserve teams, amateur teams and the Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps's basketball team.
Sponsoring companies were given the option to register their basketball teams in the upcoming professional league. KDB and IBK opted to sell their teams; however, their new owners chose to re-start the teams as brand new franchises, only acquiring their players and staff but not inheriting the team's legacy or historical records. The founding teams were 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. Some of the teams, such as Anyang SBS Stars, had been based in Seoul but chose to move to another city. The plan was to have a team based in each geographical region rather than only centralized in the Seoul Capital Area. The 1997–98 season was the first full season played and the tenth team, Cheongju SK Knights, was added as a member. The KBL has had ten teams ever since.
The early years of the league were plagued by the financial instability, exacerbated by the 1997 Asian financial crisis which had impacted South Korea especially hard. As with other domestic sports leagues, the KBL was not immune to the economic fall-out. The KBL had difficulty finding a league sponsor for the 1997–98 season while teams were forced to cut costs. Between 1997 and 2001, five of the ten teams had changed ownership due to financial problems.
Format The KBL follows FIBA rules regarding standards of play and court dimensions.
For the regular season, the round-robin format is utilized as each team plays against every other team six times (three home and three away). A total of 54 games are played in six rounds. Only the top six teams in the regular season standings advance to the post-season playoffs.
League structure
KBL Cup The KBL Cup was first introduced in 2020 as a pre-season competition for all teams to test out their strengths before the commencement of the regular season.
It is generally held in September. Aside from the participation of all 10 teams of the KBL league, Sangmu Basketball Team also participates in the KBL Cup, making it a total of 11 teams.
Regular season The regular season runs from October to early April. Each team plays against the other nine teams six times (3 home and 3 away). A total of 54 games are played in six rounds.
The annual KBL Award Ceremony takes place right after the end of the regular season.
Teams which failed to qualify for the post-season playoffs take a short break before commencing their off-season training to prepare them for the upcoming season.
Post-season playoffs The playoffs usually begin a week after the end of the regular season.
Only the top six teams in the regular season standings advance to the post-season playoffs.
The qualification of the six teams for either the quarter-finals or semi-finals of the playoffs are determined by their regular season standings. The teams ranked from third to sixth qualify for the quarter-finals, and the teams ranked first and second earn an automatic advancement to the semi-finals.
The quarter-finals are played in a best-of-three format. The two winning teams of the quarter-finals then advance to the semi-finals.
The semi-finals are played in a best-of-five format. The two winning teams of the semi-finals then compete for the KBL championship title in the finals.
The finals are played in a best-of-seven format.
KBL All-Star Game The KBL All-Star Game is held in mid-January every year. The event is usually held in Seoul, except for multiple occasions where it was held outside of Seoul (2007 in Ulsan, 2017 in Busan, and 2021 in Daegu).
Based on the 2021–22 All-Star Game format, five players from each of the ten teams are nominated for the All-Star fan vote. Only the top 24 players in the fan vote standings are selected to participate in the All-Star Game. The two players with the most number of votes form their respective teams by recruiting eleven players each, regardless of their original teams.
Current clubs
Team City Arena Capacity Founded Joined Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters Anyang Anyang Gymnasium 6,690 1992 1997 Busan KCC Egis Busan Busan Sajik Gymnasium 14,099 1978 1997 Changwon LG Sakers Changwon Changwon Gymnasium 6,000 1994 1997 Daegu KOGAS Pegasus Daegu Daegu Gymnasium 3,867 1994 1997 Goyang Sono Skygunners Goyang Goyang Gymnasium 6,216 1996 1997 Seoul Samsung Thunders Seoul Jamsil Arena 11,069 1978 1997 Seoul SK Knights Seoul Jamsil Students' Gymnasium 5,400 1997 Suwon KT Sonicboom Suwon Suwon KT Sonicboom Arena 3,660 1997 Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus Ulsan Dongchun Gymnasium 5,831 1986 1997 Wonju DB Promy Wonju Wonju Gymnasium 4,600 1996 1997
Results Finals YearChampionsResultRunners-upFinals MVP1997Busan Kia Enterprise4–1Wonju Naray Blue BirdKang Dong-hee (Kia)1997–98Daejeon Hyundai Dynat4–3Busan Kia EnterpriseHur Jae (Kia)1998–99Daejeon Hyundai Dynat4–1Busan Kia EnterpriseCho Sung-won (Hyundai)1999–2000Cheongju SK Knights4–2Daejeon Hyundai GulliversSeo Jang-hoon (SK)2000–01Suwon Samsung Thunders4–1Changwon LG SakersJoo Hee-jung (Samsung)2001–02Daegu Tongyang Orions4–3Seoul SK Knights Marcus Hicks (Tongyang)2002–03Wonju TG Xers4–2Daegu Tongyang OrionsDavid Jackson (TG)2003–04Jeonju KCC Egis4–3Wonju TG Sambo XersLee Sang-min (KCC)2004–05Wonju TG Sambo Xers4–2Jeonju KCC EgisKim Joo-sung (TG Sambo)2005–06Seoul Samsung Thunders4–0Ulsan Mobis PhoebusKang Hyuk (Samsung)2006–07Ulsan Mobis Phoebus4–3Busan KTF Magic WingsYang Dong-geun (Mobis)2007–08Wonju Dongbu Promy4–1Seoul Samsung ThundersKim Joo-sung (Dongbu) 2008–09Jeonju KCC Egis4–3Seoul Samsung ThundersChoo Seung-gyun (KCC)2009–10Ulsan Mobis Phoebus4–2Jeonju KCC EgisHam Ji-hoon (Mobis)2010–11Jeonju KCC Egis4–2Wonju Dongbu PromyHa Seung-jin (KCC)2011–12Anyang KGC4–2Wonju Dongbu PromyOh Se-keun (KGC)2012–13Ulsan Mobis Phoebus4–0Seoul SK KnightsYang Dong-geun (Mobis)2013–14Ulsan Mobis Phoebus4–2Changwon LG SakersMoon Tae-young (Mobis)2014–15Ulsan Mobis Phoebus4–0Wonju Dongbu PromyYang Dong-geun (Mobis)2015–16Goyang Orion Orions4–2Jeonju KCC EgisLee Seung-hyun (Orion)2016–17Anyang KGC4–2Seoul Samsung ThundersOh Se-keun (KGC)2017–18Seoul SK Knights4–2Wonju DB PromyTerrico White (SK)2018–19Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus4–1Incheon Electroland ElephantsLee Dae-sung (Mobis)2019–20 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic2020–21Anyang KGC4–0Jeonju KCC EgisJared Sullinger (KGC)2021–22Seoul SK Knights4–1Anyang KGCKim Sun-hyung (SK)2022–23Anyang KGC4–3Seoul SK KnightsOh Se-keun (KGC)2023–24Busan KCC Egis4–1Suwon KT SonicboomHeo Ung (KCC)2024–25Changwon LG Sakers4–3Seoul SK KnightsHeo Il-young (LG)2025–26Busan KCC Egis4–1Goyang Sono SkygunnersHeo Hoon (KCC)
Titles by club ClubTitlesRunners-upWinning seasonsRunner-up seasonsBusan KCC Egis 7 51997–98, 1998–99, 2003–04, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2023–24, 2025–261999–2000, 2004–05, 2009–10, 2015–16, 2020–21Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus 7 31997, 2006–07, 2009–10, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2018–191997–98, 1998–99, 2005–06Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters 4 12011–12, 2016–17, 2020–21, 2022–232021–22Wonju DB Promy 3 62002–03, 2004–05, 2007–081997, 2003–04, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2017–18Seoul SK Knights 3 41999–2000, 2017–18, 2021–222001–02, 2012–13, 2022–23, 2024–25Seoul Samsung Thunders 2 32000–01, 2005–062007–08, 2008–09, 2016–17Goyang Sono Skygunners 2 22001–02, 2015–162002–03, 2025–26Changwon LG Sakers 1 22024–252000–01, 2013–14Suwon KT Sonicboom 0 2—2006–07, 2023–24Daegu KOGAS Pegasus 0 1—2018–19
Prize money
Champions (finals winners) KRW 100,000,000 + trophy (1997–present) Runners-up (finals losers) KRW 50,000,000 (1997–present) Regular season first place KRW 50,000,000 + trophy (1997–2005) KRW 100,000,000 + trophy (2005–present) Regular season second place KRW 30,000,000 (1997–2005) KRW 50,000,000 (2005–present) Regular season third place KRW 20,000,000 (1997–2005) KRW 30,000,000 (2005–present)
Individual achievements Awards The KBL awards ceremony is held annually at the end of the regular season. As of the 2020–21 season, the following honours are awarded: Most Valuable Player (MVP) Rookie of the Year Foreign Player of the Year Best 5 Defensive Player of the Year Sixth Man Award Skill Development Award Fair Play Award Play of the Season Popularity Award Coach of the Year
The awards ceremony takes place at the conclusion of the regular season, before the playoffs begin. The Playoffs MVP is only awarded at the conclusion of the final Championship game.
Top scorer
YearPlayerTeamPoints per game1997 Carl Ray HarrisWonju Naray Blue Bird32.31997–98 Larry DavisAnyang SBS Stars30.61998–99 Bernard BluntChangwon LG Sakers29.91999–2000 Eric EberzGwangju Goldbank Clickers27.72000–01 Dennis EdwardsAnyang SBS Stars33.42001–02 Eric Eberz (2)Yeosu Korea Tender Prumi28.32002–03 Leon TrimminghamSeoul SK Knights27.42003–04 Charles MinlendJeonju KCC Egis27.12004–05 Nate JohnsonDaegu Orions28.72005–06 Dontae' JonesAnyang KT&G Kites29.22006–07 Pete MickealDaegu Orions35.12007–08 Terrence ShannonIncheon ET Land Black Slamer27.22008–09 Terrence LeatherSeoul Samsung Thunders27.52009–10 Greg StevensonChangwon LG Sakers21.92010–11 Aaron HaynesSeoul Samsung Thunders23.12011–12 Aaron Haynes (2)Changwon LG Sakers27.62012–13 Jasper JohnsonBusan KT Sonicboom19.72013–14 Tyler WilkersonJeonju KCC Egis21.52014–15 Davon JeffersonChangwon LG Sakers21.32015–16 Andre EmmettJeonju KCC Egis26.22016–17 Andre Emmett (2)Jeonju KCC Egis28.82017–18 David SimonAnyang KGC26.12018–19 James MaysChangwon LG Sakers26.6
Draft
Domestic players Domestic players, defined as possessing South Korean citizenship according to FIBA laws, are recruited through an annual rookie draft. The draft was held since 1998. In 2009, an ethnic draft was introduced to allow the recruitment of players who have acquired South Korean nationality, or either of their parents is a Korean. Players recruited through ethnic drafts are waived from being counted as an import player. However, due to the controversial nature of the recruitment rules and the backlash, the ethnic draft was eventually abolished in 2013.
Import players From 2018, all teams are allowed to freely select their import players, subject to a "two-import" quota per team and a salary cap of $700,000. Only one foreign player is allowed to play on court in every quarter.
Asian player quota