Bulgarian Basketball League (National Basketball League) History
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League status
The A Division is the first-tier professional basketball league in Bulgaria. A Division was established in 1942.
The NBL sits above the BBL Division A which effectively forms the second-tier of Bulgarian basketball.
At the end of regular season, top 8 teams qualify to the play-offs.
Limits of non-Bulgarian players per team: 6 import players (non-Europeans), 6 Bosman players (with European passport) . Total number of allowed imports and Bosmans is 6.
League name history
1942-1992: A Division
1992-2008: Pro A1 1996-1997 1997-1998 1998-1999 2000-2001 2001-2002 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008
2008 until now: National Basketball League 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025
League logos
 Until 2008 |  Since 2008 |
Title holders
- 2010-11:
Lukoil Akademik Sofia - 2011-12: Lukoil Akademik Sofia
- 2012-13: Lukoil Akademik Sofia
- 2013-14:
Levski Sofia - 2014-15: Lukoil Akademik Sofia
- 2015-16:
Rilski Sportist Samokov
- 2016-17:
BC Beroe Stara Zagora - 2017-18: Levski Sofia
- 2018-19:
Balkan Botevgrad - 2019-20: Not held
- 2020-21: Levski Lukoil Sofia
- 2021-22: Balkan Botevgrad
- 2022-23:
Balkan Botevgrad - 2023-24: Rilski Sportist Samokov
- 2024-25: Rilski Sportist Samokov
- 2010-11: Lukoil Akademik Sofia
- 2011-12: Lukoil Akademik Sofia
- 2012-13: Lukoil Akademik Sofia
- 2013-14: Levski Sofia
- 2014-15: Lukoil Akademik Sofia
- 2015-16: Rilski Sportist Samokov
- 2016-17: BC Beroe Stara Zagora
- 2017-18: Levski Sofia
- 2018-19: Balkan Botevgrad
- 2019-20: Not held
- 2020-21: Levski Lukoil Sofia
- 2021-22: Balkan Botevgrad
- 2022-23: Balkan Botevgrad
- 2023-24: Rilski Sportist Samokov
- 2024-25: Rilski Sportist Samokov
Championships by club
| Titles | Club | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 4 |  Akademik S. | 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2014-15 |
| 6 | Levski | 2009-10, 2013-14, 2017-18, 2013-14, 2017-18, 2020-21 |
| 3 |  Balkan | 2018-19, 2021-22, 2022-23 |
| 4 | Rilski | 2008-09, 2015-16, 2023-24, 2024-25 |
| 2 |  Beroe | 2016-17, 2016-17 |
Finals year-by-year
Finals participants
| Club | W | L | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Levski | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Balkan | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Akademik S. | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Rilski | 3 | 2 | 5 |
 Spartak Pleven | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Cherno More | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Chernomorets | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Beroe | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Final Four participants
| Club | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akademik S. | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Levski | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Balkan | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Rilski | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Beroe | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Cherno More | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Spartak Pleven | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Chernomorets | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Yambol | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Akademik P. | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| CSKA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Players with the most appearances in the Bulgarian Finals
| Player | Finals Appearances | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Kris Minkov | 10 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2024 |
| Veselin Veselinov | 9 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| Dimitar Dimitrov | 8 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| Georgi Georgiev | 7 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2021 |
| Tencho Banev | 6 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 |
| Bozhidar Avramov | 6 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2019 |
| Deyan Karamfilov | 6 | 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025 |
| Ilko Valchev | 5 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 |
| Ivaylo Perepechaev | 5 | 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019 |
| Nikolay Georgiev | 5 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022 |
Players with the most Bulgarian titles
| Player | Count | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| Kris Minkov | 8 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2024 |
| Veselin Veselinov | 6 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018 |
| Dimitar Dimitrov | 5 | 2014, 2015, 2019, 2022, 2023 |
| Ilko Valchev | 4 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 |
| Tencho Banev | 4 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 |
| Brandon Heath | 3 | 2011, 2012, 2013 |
| Bozhidar Avramov | 3 | 2011, 2012, 2013 |
| Todor Stoykov | 3 | 2011, 2012, 2013 |
| Preslav Peshev | 3 | 2012, 2013, 2015 |
| Matey Mitev | 3 | 2012, 2013, 2015 |
