Serbian Basketball League (Meridianbet Kosarkaska lige Srbije) History

League status

The Meridianbet Kosarkaska lige Srbije is the first-tier professional basketball league in Serbia. KLS was established in 1945.
The KLS sits above the Druga Muska Liga Srbije which effectively forms the second-tier of Serbian basketball.
At the end of regular season, top 16 teams qualify to the play-offs.
Limits of non-Serbian players per team: 4 import players (non-Europeans), 4 Bosman players (with European passport) . Total number of allowed imports and Bosmans is 4.

League name history

1945-1992: Prva savezna kosarkaska liga  1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967
1992[+]-1995: YUBA League  1992-1993 1993-1994 1994-1995
1995-1996: Sportstar YUBA League  1995-1996
1996-2002: Winston YUBA League  1996-1997 1997-1998 1998-1999 1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002
2002-2003: Frikom YUBA League  2002-2003
2003-2004: Efes Pils YUBA League  2003-2004
2004-2005: Atlas Pils YUBA League  2004-2005
2005-2006[+]: Sinalco Prva Liga  2005-2006
2006[+]-2007: Sinalco KLS  2006-2007
2007-2011: Swisslion KLS  2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011
2011-2013: Agroziv KLS  2011-2012 2012-2013
2013-2021: Kosarkaska Liga Srbije  2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021
2016-2019: Mozzart KLS  2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019
2019-2021: Kosarkaska Liga Srbije  2019-2020 2020-2021
2021-2025: Admiral Bet KLS  2021-2022 2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025
2025 until now: Meridianbet Kosarkaska lige Srbije 
Until 1992
1992-1996
1996-2002
2002-2003
2003-2005
2005-2006
2006-2007
2007-2011
2011-2013
2013-2021
2016-2019
2019-2021
2021-2025
Since 2025

Title holders

Championships by club

TitlesClubYears
23Crvena zvezda 1945-46, 1946-47, 1947-48, 1948-49, 1949-50, 1950-51, 1951-52, 1952-53, 1953-54, 1954-55, 1968-69, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1997-98, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24
22Partizan 1975-76, 1978-79, 1980-81, 1986-87, 1991-92, 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2024-25
7Split 1970-71, 1971-72, 1976-77, 1987-88, 1988-89, 1989-90, 1990-91
6Zadar 1964-65, 1966-67, 1967-68, 1973-74, 1974-75, 1985-86
6P.Olimpija 1956-57, 1958-59, 1960-61, 1961-62, 1965-66, 1969-70
4OKK Beograd 1957-58, 1959-60, 1962-63, 1963-64
1BKK Radnicki 1972-73
3Cibona 1981-82, 1983-84, 1984-85
2Bosna S. 1977-78, 1979-80
2Buducnost 1999-00, 2000-01
1Jolly JBS 1982-83
1Proleter 1955-56
1Yugoslavian Army 1944-45

Finals year-by-year

SeasonChampionResultRunner-Up
1944-45Yugoslavian Army21-18PR Serbia
1945-46KK Crvena Zvezda Beograd
1946-47KK Crvena Zvezda Beograd
SeasonWinnerResultFinalistRegular Season Champ
1947-48KK Crvena Zvezda BeogradKK Crvena Zvezda Beograd
1948-49KK Crvena Zvezda BeogradKK Crvena Zvezda Beograd
1949-50KK Crvena Zvezda BeogradKK Crvena Zvezda Beograd
1950-51KK Crvena Zvezda BeogradKK Crvena Zvezda Beograd
1951-52KK Crvena Zvezda BeogradKK Crvena Zvezda Beograd
1952-53KK Crvena Zvezda Beograd
1953-54KK Crvena Zvezda Beograd
1954-55KK Crvena Zvezda BeogradKK Crvena Zvezda Beograd
1955-56KK Proleter ZrenjaninKK Proleter Zrenjanin
1956-57ASK Olimpija Ljubljana
1957-58OKK Beograd
1958-59ASK Olimpija Ljubljana
1959-60OKK Beograd
1960-61ASK Olimpija Ljubljana
1961-62ASK Olimpija LjubljanaASK Olimpija Ljubljana
1962-63OKK Beograd
1963-64OKK Beograd
1964-65KK Zadar
1965-66ASK Olimpija Ljubljana
1966-67KK Zadar
1967-68KK Zadar
1968-69KK Crvena Zvezda Beograd
1969-70ASK Olimpija Ljubljana
1970-71Jugoplastika Split
1971-72Jugoplastika Split
1972-73Radnicki Beograd
1973-74KK Zadar
1974-75KK Zadar
1975-76KK Partizan Beograd
1976-77Jugoplastika Split
1977-78KK Bosna Sarajevo
1978-79KK Partizan Beograd
1979-80KK Bosna Sarajevo
1980-81KK Partizan Beograd
1981-82KK Cibona Zagreb2-0KK Partizan BeogradKK Partizan Beograd
1982-83Sibenka Sibenik2-1KK Bosna SarajevoSibenka Sibenik
1983-84KK Cibona Zagreb2-1KK Crvena Zvezda BeogradKK Cibona Zagreb
1984-85KK Cibona Zagreb2-1KK Crvena Zvezda BeogradKK Cibona Zagreb
1985-86KK Zadar2-1KK Cibona ZagrebKK Cibona Zagreb
1986-87KK Partizan Beograd2-0KK Crvena Zvezda BeogradKK Cibona Zagreb
1987-88Jugoplastika Split2-1KK Partizan BeogradJugoplastika Split
1988-89Jugoplastika Split3-0KK Partizan BeogradKK Partizan Beograd
1989-90Jugoplastika Split3-1KK Crvena Zvezda BeogradJugoplastika Split
1990-91Pop 84 Split3-0KK Partizan BeogradPop 84 Split
1991-92KK Partizan Beograd3-0KK Crvena Zvezda BeogradKK Partizan Beograd
1992-93KK Crvena Zvezda Beograd3-2KK Partizan Sintelon Beograd
1993-94KK Crvena Zvezda Beograd4-1KK Partizan Sintelon BeogradKK Partizan Sintelon Beograd
1994-95KK Partizan Inex Beograd4-1TG Borovica PodgoricaKK Partizan Inex Beograd
1995-96KK Partizan Inex Beograd3-2KK BFC Beocin
1996-97KK Partizan Zepter Beograd3-1KK FMP Zeleznik BeogradKK Partizan Zepter Beograd
1997-98KK Crvena Zvezda Beograd3-1KK FMP Zeleznik BeogradKK Partizan Zepter Beograd
1998-99Not held [+]
1999-00Buducnost Podgorica3-0KK Partizan Zepter BeogradBuducnost Podgorica
2000-01Buducnost Podgorica3-2KK Partizan ICN BeogradBuducnost Podgorica
2001-02KK Partizan ICN Beograd3-0Buducnost PodgoricaBuducnost Podgorica
2002-03KK Partizan Mobtel Beograd3-0KK FMP Zeleznik BeogradKK Partizan Mobtel Beograd
2003-04KK Partizan Mobtel Beograd3-1Hemofarm Vrsac
2004-05KK Partizan Pivara MB Beograd3-1Hemofarm Vrsac
2005-06KK Partizan Pivara MB Beograd3-0KK Crvena Zvezda Beograd
2006-07BC Partizan Igokea Beograd3-1KK Crvena Zvezda Beograd
2007-08BC Partizan Igokea Beograd3-1Hemofarm Stada Vrsac
2008-09BC Partizan Igokea Beograd3-2KK Crvena Zvezda Beograd
2009-10BC Partizan Igokea Beograd3-0Hemofarm Stada VrsacKK Borac Cacak
2010-11KK Partizan mt:s Beograd3-0Hemofarm Stada VrsacKK Crvena Zvezda DIVA Beograd
2011-12KK Partizan mt:s Beograd3-1KK Crvena Zvezda DIVA BeogradKK Vojvodina Novi Sad II
2012-13KK Partizan mt:s Beograd3-1KK Crvena Zvezda DIVA BeogradKK Vojvodina Novi Sad II
2013-14KK Partizan NiS Beograd3-1KK Crvena Zvezda Telekom BeogradKK FMP Beograd
2014-15KK Crvena Zvezda Telekom Beograd3-0KK Partizan NiS BeogradKK FMP Beograd
2015-16KK Crvena Zvezda Telekom Beograd3-1KK Partizan NiS BeogradKK FMP Beograd
2016-17KK Crvena Zvezda MTS Beograd3-0KK FMP BeogradKK Vrsac Swisslion
2017-18KK Crvena Zvezda MTS Beograd3-0KK FMP BeogradKK Dynamic Vip Pay Beograd
2018-19KK Crvena Zvezda MTS Beograd3-1KK Partizan NiS BeogradOKK Novi Pazar
2019-20Not held [+]
2020-21KK Crvena Zvezda MTS Beograd2-1BC Mega SoccerBet BeogradMladost Z Admiral Zemun
2021-22KK Crvena Zvezda MTS Beograd2-0KK FMP Meridian BeogradKK Zlatibor Cajetina
2022-23KK Crvena Zvezda MTS Beograd2-0KK FMP Meridian BeogradKK Zlatibor Cajetina
2023-24KK Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Beograd1-0KK Partizan Mozzart Bet BeogradKK Vojvodina Novi Sad
2024-25KK Partizan Mozzart Bet Beograd2-0KK Spartak Office Shoes SuboticaKK Vrsac Swisslion
2025-26Not held

Finals participants

ClubWLTotal
Partizan191231
Crvena zvezda121123
Vrsac055
Split404
Cibona314
FMP BG044
Buducnost213
FMP Zeleznik033
Bosna S.011
Spartak011
Zadar101
Jolly JBS101
Sloven011
Mega BG011
Beocin011
Yugoslavian Army101
PR Serbia011

Final Four participants

Club1st2nd3rd4th
Partizan171141
Crvena zvezda91174
Split4001
Cibona3131
Buducnost2111
Zadar1032
Jolly JBS1000
Yugoslavian Army1000
Vrsac0514
FMP BG0332
FMP Zeleznik0141
Mega BG0118
Bosna S.0112
Sloven0100
PR Serbia0100
Spartak0100
Vojvodina II0020
Radnicki 19500013
Borac CA0012
Rabotnicki0010
Sabac0010
Lovcen0010
Metalac VL0010
PR Croatia0010
Vojvodina S Gas0002
P.Olimpija0001
Sloboda T.0001
BNS Banatsko0001
Beocin0001

Players with the most appearances in the Serbian Finals

PlayerFinals AppearancesYears
Branko Lazic122012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Srdjan Kalember91946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954
Milan Bjegojevic91947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955
Petar Bozic92004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Aleksandar Gec81946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953
Miroslav Beric81991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001
Bojan Bakic82000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011
Milorad Sokolovic71946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952
Ladislav Demsar71949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955
Ivo Nakic71985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992

Players with the most Serbian titles

PlayerCountYears Won
Srdjan Kalember91946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954
Milan Bjegojevic91947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955
Branko Lazic92015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Aleksandar Gec81946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953
Petar Bozic82005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Milorad Sokolovic71946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952
Ladislav Demsar71949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955
Dusan Kecman72003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012
Uros Tripkovic72003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Dragan Godzic61947, 1948, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955