The Lithuanian basketball league system is a series of interconnected competitions for professional basketball clubs in the European country of Lithuania. It is a hierarchical system that employs promotion and relegation between competitions at different "tiers". Basketball in Lithuania is governed by the FIBA-affiliated Lithuanian Basketball Federation.
Leagues
Men's As in a typical promotion and relegation system, the NKL champion earns the right to promotion to the LKL for the following season, while the last-placed LKL team is relegated to the NKL; the same thing applies between the RKL and the NKL. Movement between tiers is not automatic, as a club must meet the higher league's licensing and financial criteria, and an eligible club may decline promotion. In reality, teams often remain in their respective leagues regardless of final standing. LevelLeague1LKL Lithuanian Basketball League
Lietuvos krepšinio lyga
(10 teams)2NKL National Basketball League
Nacionalinė krepšinio lyga
(15 teams)3RKL Regional Basketball League
Regioninė krepšinio lyga
(56 teams in 2 divisions)LSKL Lithuanian Students Basketball League
Lietuvos studentų krepšinio lyga
Women's LevelLeague1MLKL Women Lithuanian Basketball League
Moterų Lietuvos Krepšinio Lyga
(10 teams)
Other domestic competitions
King Mindaugas Cup S. Darius and S. Girėnas Cup LKU Leaders' Cup/Lyderių taurė KTU Cup Queen's Cup/Karalienės taurė
See also
League system European professional club basketball system Basketball in Lithuania EuroLeague
References