Finnish Basketball League (Korisliiga) History

League status

The SM-sarja is the first-tier professional basketball league in Finland. SM-sarja was established in 1939.
The Korisliiga sits above the Meisten Divisioona IA which effectively forms the second-tier of Finnish basketball.
At the end of regular season, top 8 teams qualify to the play-offs.
The bottom 1 teams are relegated to Meisten Divisioona IA.
Limits of non-Finnish players per team: 4 import players (non-Europeans), 4 Bosman players (with European passport) . Total number of allowed imports and Bosmans is 4.
Available Job Openings in Korisliiga.

League name history

1939-1999: SM-sarja  1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962
1999-2004: SM-koris  1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 2002-2003 2003-2004
2004-2005: Sparliiga  2004-2005
2005 until now: Korisliiga  2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 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 2025-2026
Until 1999
2004-2005
2005-2016
Since 2016

Title holders

  • 1938-39: Ylioppilaskoripalloilijat Helsinki
  • 1939-40: Not held
  • 1940-41: Not held
  • 1941-42: Not held [+]
  • 1942-43: Not held [+]
  • 1943-44: Not held
  • 1944-45: Not held
  • 1945-46: Helsingin NMKY
  • 1946-47: Helsingin NMKY
  • 1947-48: Not held
  • 1948-49: Not held
  • 1949-50: Not held [+]
  • 1950-51: Not held
  • 1951-52: HOK-Veikot Helsinki
  • 1952-53: Not held [+]
  • 1953-54: Not held
  • 1954-55: Not held
  • 1955-56: Not held
  • 1956-57: Not held
  • 1957-58: Not held
  • 1958-59: Not held
  • 1959-60: Not held
  • 1960-61: Not held
  • 1961-62: Not held
  • 1962-63: Not held
  • 1963-64: Helsingin Kisatoverit
  • 1964-65: Not held
  • 1965-66: Not held
  • 1966-67: KTP Kotka
  • 1967-68: Not held
  • 1938-39: Ylioppilaskoripalloilijat Helsinki
  • 1939-40: Not held
  • 1940-41: Not held
  • 1941-42: Not held [+]
  • 1942-43: Not held [+]
  • 1943-44: Not held
  • 1944-45: Not held
  • 1945-46: Helsingin NMKY
  • 1946-47: Helsingin NMKY
  • 1947-48: Not held
  • 1948-49: Not held
  • 1949-50: Not held [+]
  • 1950-51: Not held
  • 1951-52: HOK-Veikot Helsinki
  • 1952-53: Not held [+]
  • 1953-54: Not held
  • 1954-55: Not held
  • 1955-56: Not held
  • 1956-57: Not held
  • 1957-58: Not held
  • 1958-59: Not held
  • 1959-60: Not held
  • 1960-61: Not held
  • 1961-62: Not held
  • 1962-63: Not held
  • 1963-64: Helsingin Kisatoverit
  • 1964-65: Not held
  • 1965-66: Not held
  • 1966-67: KTP Kotka
  • 1967-68: Not held
  • 1968-69: Not held [+]
  • 1969-70: Not held [+]
  • 1970-71: Not held [+]
  • 1971-72: Not held
  • 1972-73: Not held [+]
  • 1973-74: Playboys Espoo
  • 1974-75: Turun NMKY
  • 1975-76: Playboys Espoo
  • 1976-77: Turun NMKY
  • 1977-78: Torpan Pojat Helsinki
  • 1978-79: Playhonka Espoo
  • 1979-80: Pantterit Helsinki
  • 1980-81: Torpan Pojat Helsinki
  • 1981-82: Turun NMKY

Championships by club

TitlesClubYears
9Seagulls 1977-78, 1980-81, 1982-83, 1985-86, 1996-97, 1997-98, 2013-14, 2022-23, 2024-25
8Honka Espoo 1973-74, 1975-76, 1978-79, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2006-07, 2007-08
7HNMKY 1945-46, 1946-47, 1983-84, 1984-85, 1986-87, 1988-89, 1991-92
5KTP-Basket 1966-67, 1987-88, 1990-91, 1992-93, 1993-94
5Bisons 2011-12, 2012-13, 2010-11, 2020-21, 2022-23
4Kouvot 1994-95, 1998-99, 2003-04, 2015-16
3Pantterit 1951-52, 1979-80, 2025-26
3Namika Lahti 1995-96, 1999-00, 2008-09
3Aura Basket 1974-75, 1976-77, 1981-82
3Pyrinto 2009-10, 2010-11, 2013-14
3Kataja 2014-15, 2016-17, 2025-26
3LrNMKY 2004-05, 2005-06, 2023-24
3Karhubasket 2017-18, 2018-19, 2021-22
2Korihait 1989-90, 2015-16
2Vilpas 2019-20, 2020-21
2Nokia 2014-15, 2023-24
1Ylioppilaat 1938-39
1HKT 1963-64

Finals year-by-year

SeasonWinnerResultFinalistRegular Season Champion
1938-39Ylioppilaskoripalloilijat Helsinki20-0Eiran Kisa-Veikot Eiran Kisa-Veikot
1939-45Not held
1945-46Helsingin NMKY25-12Turun Riento TurkuTurun Riento Turku
1946-47Helsingin NMKY11-7Tyovaen Mailapojat Helsinki
1947-51Not held
1951-52HOK-Veikot Helsinki51-44Tyovaen Mailapojat HelsinkiTyovaen Mailapojat Helsinki
1952-63Not held [+]
1963-64Helsingin Kisatoverit74-63Torpan Pojat HelsinkiTorpan Pojat Helsinki
1964-66Not held
1966-67KTP Kotka85-75Tapion Honka EspooKTP Kotka
1967-73Not held
1973-74Playboys Espoo2-1Pantterit HelsinkiTapion Honka Espoo
1974-75Turun NMKY2-1Playboys EspooTurun NMKY
1975-76Playboys Espoo3-2Turun NMKYPlayboys Espoo
1976-77Turun NMKY3-2Playhonka EspooPlayhonka Espoo
1977-78Torpan Pojat Helsinki3-1Playhonka EspooPlayhonka Espoo
1978-79Playhonka Espoo3-1Turun NMKYPantterit Helsinki
1979-80Pantterit Helsinki3-2Pyrinto TamperePantterit Helsinki
1980-81Torpan Pojat Helsinki3-0Pyrinto TampereTorpan Pojat Helsinki
1981-82Turun NMKY3-2Pantterit HelsinkiKTP Kotka
1982-83Torpan Pojat Helsinki3-2Pantterit HelsinkiKTP Kotka
1983-84Helsingin NMKY3-0Scotch Team HonkaHelsingin NMKY
1984-85Helsingin NMKY3-1KTP KotkaHelsingin NMKY
1985-86Torpan Pojat Helsinki3-1KTP KotkaHelsingin NMKY
1986-87Helsingin NMKY3-0KTP KotkaKTP Kotka
1987-88KTP Kotka3-2NMKY Helsinki/SornaistenNMKY Helsinki/Sornaisten
1988-89Helsingin NMKY3-2HoNsU JyvaskylaHoNsU Jyvaskyla
1989-90Uusikaupunki Urheilijat3-1KTP KotkaKTP Kotka
1990-91KTP Kotka3-2HoNsU JyvaskylaKTP Kotka
1991-92Helsingin NMKY4-2Pantterit HelsinkiPantterit Helsinki
1992-93KTP Kotka3-0Torpan Pojat HelsinkiKTP Kotka
1993-94KTP Kotka3-2Torpan Pojat HelsinkiKTP Kotka
1994-95Kouvolan Kouvot3-1Korihait UusikaupunkiKouvolan Kouvot
1995-96Lahden NMKY3-1Torpan Pojat HelsinkiLahden NMKY
1996-97Torpan Pojat Helsinki3-0Kouvolan KouvotTorpan Pojat Helsinki
1997-98Torpan Pojat Helsinki3-0Kouvolan KouvotTorpan Pojat Helsinki
1998-99Kouvolan Kouvot3-1Tapiolan HonkaPiiloset Basket Turku
1999-00Namika Lahti3-2Torpan Pojat HelsinkiTapiolan Honka
2000-01Tapiolan Honka3-0Pyrbasket TamperePyrbasket Tampere
2001-02Tapiolan Honka3-2Namika LahtiTapiolan Honka
2002-03Tapiolan Honka3-1Joensuun Kataja BasketJoensuun Kataja Basket
2003-04Kouvolan Kouvot3-1Namika LahtiTapiolan Honka
2004-05NMKY Lappeenranta3-0Vantaan PussihukatNMKY Lappeenranta
2005-06NMKY Lappeenranta3-2Joensuun Kataja BasketJoensuun Kataja Basket
2006-07Espoon Honka3-0Namika LahtiJoensuun Kataja Basket
2007-08Espoon Honka3-1Kouvot KouvolaNMKY Lappeenranta
2008-09Namika Lahti3-0Joensuun Kataja BasketJoensuun Kataja Basket
2009-10Pyrinto Tampere4-1Torpan Pojat HelsinkiPyrinto Tampere
2010-11Pyrinto Tampere3-2Joensuun Kataja BasketPyrinto Tampere
2011-12Nilan Bisons Loimaa3-1Joensuun Kataja BasketJoensuun Kataja Basket
2012-13Nilan Bisons Loimaa3-2KTP Basket KotkaNilan Bisons Loimaa
2013-14Tampereen Pyrintoe3-1Joensuun Kataja BasketTampereen Pyrintoe
2014-15Joensuun Kataja Basket3-2Nilan Bisons LoimaaKTP Basket Kotka
2015-16Kouvot Kouvola3-2Tampereen PyrintoeJoensuun Kataja Basket
2016-17Joensuun Kataja Basket4-2Salon VilpasSalon Vilpas
2017-18Karhu Kauhajoki4-2Salon VilpasSalon Vilpas
2018-19Karhu Kauhajoki4-1Kouvot KouvolaSalon Vilpas
2019-20Salon VilpasHelsinki SeagullsSalon Vilpas
2020-21Salon Vilpas4-2Karhu KauhajokiHelsinki Seagulls
2021-22Karhu Kauhajoki4-1Salon VilpasKarhu Kauhajoki
2022-23Helsinki Seagulls4-2Karhu KauhajokiKarhu Kauhajoki
2023-24BC Nokia69-63,72-75,76-75,57-77,85-60,79-85,88-65Helsinki SeagullsHelsinki Seagulls
2024-25Helsinki Seagulls4-0Karhubasket KauhajokiHelsinki Seagulls

Finals participants

ClubWLTotal
Seagulls81220
Honka Espoo8513
KTP-Basket5813
HNMKY7310
Kataja369
Kouvot448
Pyrinto358
TMP077
Pantterit246
Namika Lahti336
Vilpas246
Karhubasket336
Aura Basket325
HKT145
Bisons213
SNMKY033
Korihait112
HoNsU Basket022
LrNMKY202
EKV022
Nokia101
PuHu Juniorit011
Tapiolan Honka011
TuNMKY011
Turun NMKY011
Ylioppilaat101
Suurnan Pojat011
MaaSK011
KaPo011

Final Four participants

Club1st2nd3rd4th
Seagulls88107
Honka Espoo8563
HNMKY6121
KTP-Basket55710
Kouvot4410
Kataja3644
Pyrinto3423
Karhubasket3323
Namika Lahti3311
Aura Basket3233
Vilpas2432
Pantterit2421
Bisons2110
LrNMKY2010
Korihait1145
Nokia1003
Ylioppilaat1000
HKT1000
HoNsU Basket0212
PuHu Juniorit0110
TMP0102
EKV0101
TuNMKY0100
HyPo0030
Ylioppilaat II0010
Visa Basket0010
FoKoPo0010
Viipurin0001
Isku0001
Forssan Alku0001
Huima0001
Porvoon Tarmo0001

Players with the most appearances in the Finnish Finals

PlayerFinals AppearancesYears
Lauri Pehkonen91984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1998, 2000, 2001
Mikko Koivisto92012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2026
Kari-Pekka Klinga81981, 1983, 1986, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998
Jarkko Tuomala81985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994
Sami Lehtoranta72002, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014
Ville Makalainen72002, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015
Tom Gustafsson61996, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2009
Marcus Grant61997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004
Jukka Matinen62000, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2013
Juho Nenonen62007, 2008, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022

Players with the most Finnish titles

PlayerCountYears Won
Lauri Pehkonen61984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1998, 2001
Kari-Pekka Klinga51981, 1983, 1986, 1997, 1998
Jarkko Tuomala41988, 1991, 1993, 1994
Jukka Matinen42002, 2003, 2007, 2008
Juho Nenonen42007, 2008, 2020, 2021
Jesse Niemi42010, 2011, 2015, 2017
Mikko Koivisto42012, 2013, 2020, 2021
Teemu Rannikko42015, 2017, 2020, 2021
Tom Gustafsson31996, 2000, 2009
Marcus Grant31999, 2000, 2004