The 2020–21 Dutch Basketball League (DBL) was the 61st season of the Dutch Basketball League, the highest professional basketball league in the Netherlands. The season started on 3 October 2020 and ended on 27 May 2021.
It was the first season after the 2019–20 season was ended prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The league expanded to 12 teams with the addition of Yoast United, Almere Sailors and The Hague Royals. This marked the highest number of teams since the 2007–08 season. ZZ Leiden won its fourth national title after defeating Heroes Den Bosch in the Finals.
On 15 October 2020, the season was suspended for at least four weeks due to government regulations regarding the pandemic. On 19 December 2020, it was announced the competition would restart in January 2021 with a new format.
Teams After falling sponsorship revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the DBL lowered the minimum budget for teams from €300,000 to €150,000 .Eindelijk topbasketbal: The Hague Royals gaat in Dutch Basketball League uitkomen
On 1 May 2020, Apollo Amsterdam announced it will not play in the DBL season because of uncertainty due to the pandemic. The DBL announced the remaining eight teams will return for the 2020–21 season. On 5 August, it was announced Basketball Community Gelderland has obtained a licence. On 20 August, it was announced Apollo Amsterdam has obtained a license. On 27 August, the DBL announced the entrance of The Hague Royals and Almere Sailors. BC Gelderland later revealed Yoast United as their new club name.
Stadiums and locations
Note: Table lists in alphabetical order. Club Location Venue Capacity Almere Sailors Almere Topsportcentrum Almere Apollo Amsterdam Amsterdam Apollohal Aris Leeuwarden Leeuwarden Kalverdijkje BAL Weert Sporthal Boshoven Den Helder Suns Den Helder Sporthal Sportlaan Donar Groningen MartiniPlaza Feyenoord Rotterdam Topsportcentrum Rotterdam Heroes Den Bosch 's-Hertogenbosch Maaspoort Landstede Hammers Zwolle Landstede Sportcentrum The Hague Royals The Hague Sportcampus Zuiderpark Yoast United Bemmel De Schaapskooi ZZ Leiden Leiden Vijf Meihal
Sponsored club names As is common practice in European basketball, the following clubs carried the name of their sponsor this season: Club Sponsored name Until Feyenoord Zeeuw & Zeeuw Feyenoord 2021 Yoast United Yoast United 2023
Personnel and kits Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Main sponsor Almere Sailors (interim) Erreà Flevo MakelaardijApollo Amsterdam Nike Paul Meijering SteelAris Leeuwarden Jako FriezonBAL Spalding EnerparkingDen Helder Suns Burned –Donar (interim) Macron AmysoftFeyenoord Adidas Zeeuw & ZeeuwHeroes Den Bosch Macron Data CityLandstede Hammers Acerbis LandstedeThe Hague Royals Burned Yoast United Matthew Otten Jako Yoast SEOZZ Leiden Peak Zorg en Zekerheid
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment ZZ Leiden Rolf Franke End of contract 30 March 2020 Pre-season Geert Hammink 17 May 2020 Donar Erik Braal End of contract 14 April 2020 Ivan Rudež 17 April 2020 Apollo Amsterdam Patrick Faijdherbe End of contract 31 March 2020 Laki Lakner 1 May 2020 Yoast UnitedNone Matthew Otten 9 August 2020 The Hague RoyalsNone Bert Samson 20 June 2020 Almere SailorsNone Eric Kropf 13 August 2020 Apollo Amsterdam Laki Lakner Resigned 24 January 2021 11th (0–3) Erwin van der Hart 27 January 2021 Almere Sailors Eric Kropf Fired 10 March 2021 12th (1–9) Gregory Tjin-A-Koeng 10 March 2021 Donar Ivan Rudež Fired 12 April 2021 3rd Pete Miller 12 April 2021
Regular season Table
Results
Elite A Table and Results Teams carry the results from the regular season with them and play each other twice. All six teams are already qualified for the play-offs.
Elite B Table and Results Teams carry the results from the regular season with them and play each other twice. The two highest ranked teams qualify for the playoffs as seventh and eight seed.
Playoffs The format of the playoffs was changed due to the compressed schedule. Quarterfinals were played as two-legged series, the semifinals as a best-of-three series and the finals as a best-of-five series.
Bracket
Quarterfinals The quarterfinals were played in a two-legged format and were played on 8 May and 11 May 2021.
Semifinals The semifinals were played in a best of three series and were played on 15 May, 18 May and 20 May.
Finals ZZ Leiden reached the finals for the first time since 3 years, Heroes Den Bosch for the first time since 6 years. It is the sixth time the teams met each other in the finals, the last time being in 2012.
Statistics
Individual statistic leaders Category Player Team(s) Statistic Points per game Emmanuel Nzekwesi ZZ Leiden 20.3 Rebounds per game Quatarrius Wilson BAL 10.1 Assists per game Austin Luke Yoast United 9.3 Steals per game Bolden Brace Den Helder Suns 2.6 Blocks per game Bart Bijnsdorp The Hague Royals 1.4 Turnovers per game Deividas Kumelis The Hague Royals 4.8 Minutes per game Juan Davis Feyenoord 33.3 FG% Andrés IbargüenYoast United 69.1%
Individual game highs Category Player Team Statistic Points Austin Luke Yoast United 43 Rebounds Quatarrius Wilson (2×) BAL 18 Eric Kibi The Hague Royals Assists Deividas Kumelis The Hague Royals 16 Steals Arūnas Mikalauskas Feyenoord 8 Blocks Four players Four player 4 Three pointers Austin Luke Yoast United 9
Final standings BAL, winners of the DBL Cup, refused to apply for the FIBA Europe Cup.
Dutch clubs in European competitions Team Competition ProgressDonar Champions League First qualifying roundFIBA Europe Cup Regular seasonHeroes Den Bosch FIBA Europe Cup Regular season
References