Úrvalsdeild karla
Founded1951 (1951)
First season1952
CountryIceland
ConfederationFIBA Europe
Number of teams12
Level on pyramid1
Relegation to1. deild
Domestic cup(s)Bikarkeppni KKÍ
SupercupMeistarakeppni karla
Current championsTindastóll (1st title)
Most championshipsKR (18 titles)
All-time top scorerValur Ingimundarson
CEOHannes S. Jónsson
TV partnersStöð 2 Sport
Websitewww.kki.is
2023–24 Úrvalsdeild karla

Úrvalsdeild karla (English: Men's Premier League), also known as Subway deildin for sponsorship reasons, is the highest men's professional basketball competition among clubs in Iceland, where play determines the national champion. It is organized by the Icelandic Basketball Federation (Icelandic: Körfuknattleikssamband Íslands - KKÍ). The season consists of a home-and-away schedule of 22 games, followed by an eight-team playoff round. Quarterfinals, semifinals and finals series are best-of-five. The bottom clubs are relegated, and replaced by the top team from the regular-season phase and the four-team playoff round winner of the second-level First Division (Icelandic: 1. deild karla).

History

Creation and first years 1951-1959

The league was founded in 1951 as 1. deild karla (English: Men's 1st division) and its first season was played in April 1952 with five teams, Íþróttafélag Keflavíkurflugvallar (ÍKF), Íþróttafélag Reykjavíkur (ÍR), Íþróttafélag Stúdenta (ÍS), Gosi and Glímufélagið Ármann, participating. The team of ÍKF had the advantage of its close proximity with the US Naval Air Station at Keflavík International Airport and therefore could play competitive games with American players who had high school and college experience. They were furthermore coached by two American naval personnel, Gene Crowley and John Wahl. During the tournament, ÍKF won all four of its games with an average of 10.8 points.[1]

For the first years decade the league was dominated by ÍKF (with 4 wins) and ÍR (with 3 wins); with ÍS finally breaking their dominance in 1959.

ÍR's dominance and the arrival of the Americans 1960-1980

From 1960 to 1964, ÍR, under the leadership of Helgi Jóhannsson, won five straight championships followed by KR winning four straight. From 1969 to 1977, ÍR added seven championships in 9 years. Its last victory in 1977 marked an end of an era and the rise of the Suðurnes rivals Keflavík and Njarðvík.

In September 1975, Jimmy Rogers became the first foreign born professional basketball player in Iceland[2] when he signed a three-month contract with Ármann in preparations for their games against Honka Playboys in the FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup.[3] Shortly later, KR signed fellow American Curtis Carter who immediately caught the attention of the fans and media with his powerful play and dunks.[4] Together, they were credited for revolutionizing the Icelandic basketball scene.[5][6] More Americans followed, including Rick Hockenos, Tim Dwyer and Danny Shouse.

Njarðvík's leadership

The next two decades, exactly from 1980–81 season to the 1997–98 season, Njarðvík (known as ÍKF until 1969)[7][8] lead the league with 10 wins. In the same period, Keflavík won 4 titles and the KR won their eighth title.

Modern era

From the 2000–01 season, many teams have divided the lead of the league. In the 2005–06 season, the Njarðvík won their thirteenth title. In the following season, the 2006–07 season, the KR won their tenth title and one more year later, in the 2007–08 season, the Keflavík won their ninth title.

Teams

The Úrvalsdeild karla originated in 1951 and, currently, consists of 12 teams. The current Úrvalsdeild karla teams for the 2021–22 season are:

Team City, Region Arena Founded Colours Head coach
Breiðablik Kópavogur Smárinn 1967       Iceland Pétur Ingvarsson
Grindavík Grindavík HS-Orku Höllin 1972       Iceland Daníel Guðni Guðmundsson
ÍR Reykjavík Hertz Hellirinn 1950     North Macedonia Borce Ilievski
Keflavík Keflavík Blue Höllin 1974     Iceland Hjalti Þór Vilhjálmsson
KR Reykjavík DHL Höllin 1956     Iceland Helgi Már Magnússon
Njarðvík Njarðvík Ljónagryfjan 1952 (as ÍKF)     Iceland Einar Árni Jóhannsson
Stjarnan Garðabær Mathús Garðabæjar Höllin 1993     Iceland Arnar Guðjónsson
Tindastóll Sauðárkrókur Sauðárkrókur 1907       Iceland Baldur Þór Ragnarsson
Valur Reykjavík Origo Höllin 1951 (as Gosi)       Iceland Finnur Freyr Stefánsson
Vestri Ísafjörður Ísjakinn 1965       Iceland Pétur Már Sigurðsson
Þór Akureyri Akureyri Höllin 1915     Iceland Bjarki Ármann Oddsson
Þór Þorlákshöfn Þorlákshöfn Icelandic Glacial Höllin 1991       Iceland Lárus Jónsson

Champions

Season Champion Score Runner-up Champion's coach
1952 ÍKF League ÍR United States Gene Croley and United States Jom Wahl[9]
1953 ÍKF (2) ÍR
1954 ÍR ÍKF Iceland Helgi Jóhannsson[10]
1955 ÍR (2) Gosi Iceland Helgi Jóhannsson[10]
1956 ÍKF (3) ÍR
1957 ÍR (3) Iceland Helgi Jóhannsson[10]
1958 ÍKF (4) ÍS
1959 ÍS[11] ÍR
1960 ÍR (4) KFR Iceland Helgi Jóhannsson[12]
1961 ÍR (5) KFR Iceland Helgi Jóhannsson[13]
1962 ÍR (6) Ármann Iceland Helgi Jóhannsson[14][15]
1963 ÍR (7) Ármann Iceland Helgi Jóhannsson[16][17] and Iceland Einar Ólafsson
1964 ÍR (8) Ármann Iceland Helgi Jóhannsson[18]
1965 KR 64–54[lower-alpha 1] ÍR United States Philip Bensing[lower-alpha 2][19]
1966 KR (2) League ÍR United States Philip Bensing or United States Thomas Curren[lower-alpha 3]
1967 KR (3) 72–43[lower-alpha 4] ÍR Iceland Einar Bollason
1968 KR (4) League ÍR United States Gordon Godfrey
1969 ÍR (9) 68–41[lower-alpha 5] KR Iceland Einar Ólafsson[22]
1970 ÍR (10) 2–0[lower-alpha 6] Ármann Iceland Einar Ólafsson[23]
1971 ÍR (11) League KR Iceland Einar Ólafsson[24]
1972 ÍR (12) 85–76[lower-alpha 7] KR Iceland Einar Ólafsson[25]
1972–73 ÍR (13) 91–73[lower-alpha 8] KR Iceland Einar Ólafsson[26]
1973–74 KR (5) 85–84[lower-alpha 9] Ármann Iceland Einar Bollason
1974–75 ÍR (14) League KR Iceland Einar Ólafsson[27]
1975–76 Ármann ÍR Iceland Ingvar Sigurbjörnsson
1976–77 ÍR (15) KR Iceland Þorsteinn Hallgrímsson
1977–78 KR (6) 96–88[lower-alpha 10] Njarðvík United States Andrew Piazza
1978–79 KR (7) 77–75[lower-alpha 11] Valur Iceland Gunnar Gunnarsson
1979–80 Valur League Njarðvík United States Tim Dwyer
1980–81 Njarðvík (5)* Valur United States Danny Shouse
1981–82 Njarðvík (6) Fram Iceland Hilmar Hafsteinsson
1982–83 Valur (2) Keflavík United States Tim Dwyer (2)
1983–84 Njarðvík (7) 2–0 Valur Iceland Gunnar Þorvarðarson
1984–85 Njarðvík (8) 2–1 Haukar Iceland Gunnar Þorvarðarson (2)
1985–86 Njarðvík (9) 2–0 Haukar Iceland Gunnar Þorvarðarson (3)
1986–87 Njarðvík (10) 2–0 Valur Iceland Valur Ingimundarson
1987–88 Haukar 2–1 Njarðvík Iceland Pálmar Sigurðsson
1988–89 Keflavík 2–1 KR Iceland Jón Kr. Gíslason
1989–90 KR (8) 3–0 Keflavík Hungary Dr. László Németh
1990–91 Njarðvík (11) 3–2 Keflavík Iceland Friðrik Ingi Rúnarsson
1991–92 Keflavík (2) 3–2 Valur Iceland Jón Kr. Gíslason (2)
1992–93 Keflavík (3) 3–0 Haukar Iceland Jón Kr. Gíslason (3)
1993–94 Njarðvík (12) 3–2 Grindavík Iceland Valur Ingimundarson (2)
1994–95 Njarðvík (13) 4–2 Grindavík Iceland Valur Ingimundarson (3)
1995–96 Grindavík 4–2 Keflavík Iceland Friðrik Ingi Rúnarsson (2)
1996–97 Keflavík (4) 3–0 Grindavík Iceland Sigurður Ingimundarson
1997–98 Njarðvík (14) 3–0 KR Iceland Friðrik Ingi Rúnarsson (3)
1998–99 Keflavík (5) 3–2 Njarðvík Iceland Sigurður Ingimundarson (2)
1999–00 KR (9) 3–1 Grindavík Iceland Ingi Þór Steinþórsson
2000–01 Njarðvík (15) 3–1 Tindastóll Iceland Friðrik Ragnarsson and Iceland Teitur Örlygsson
2001–02 Njarðvík (16) 3–0 Keflavík Iceland Friðrik Ragnarsson (2)
2002–03 Keflavík (6) 3–0 Grindavík Iceland Sigurður Ingimundarson (3)
2003–04 Keflavík (7) 3–1 Snæfell Iceland Falur Harðarson and Iceland Guðjón Skúlason
2004–05 Keflavík (8) 3–1 Snæfell Iceland Sigurður Ingimundarson (4)
2005–06 Njarðvík (17) 3–1 Skallagrímur Iceland Einar Árni Jóhannsson
2006–07 KR (10) 3–1 Njarðvík Iceland Benedikt Guðmundsson
2007–08 Keflavík (9) 3–0 Snæfell Iceland Sigurður Ingimundarson (5)
2008–09 KR (11) 3–2 Grindavík Iceland Benedikt Guðmundsson (2)
2009–10 Snæfell 3–2 Keflavík Iceland Ingi Þór Steinþórsson (2)
2010–11 KR (12) 3–1 Stjarnan Iceland Hrafn Kristjánsson
2011–12 Grindavík (2) 3–1 Þór Þorlákshöfn Iceland Helgi Jónas Guðfinnsson
2012–13 Grindavík (3) 3–2 Stjarnan Iceland Sverrir Þór Sverrisson
2013–14 KR (13) 3–1 Grindavík Iceland Finnur Freyr Stefánsson
2014–15 KR (14) 3–1 Tindastóll Iceland Finnur Freyr Stefánsson (2)
2015–16 KR (15) 3–1 Haukar Iceland Finnur Freyr Stefánsson (3)
2016–17 KR (16) 3–2 Grindavík Iceland Finnur Freyr Stefánsson (4)
2017–18 KR (17) 3–1 Tindastóll Iceland Finnur Freyr Stefánsson (5)
2018–19 KR (18) 3–2 ÍR Iceland Ingi Þór Steinþórsson (3)
2019–20 Season discontinued due to the COVID-19 outbreak[28]
2020–21 Þór Þorlákshöfn (1) 3–1 Keflavík Iceland Lárus Jónsson (1)
2021–22 Valur (3) 3–2 Tindastóll Iceland Finnur Freyr Stefánsson (6)
2022–23 Tindastóll (1) 3–2 Valur Iceland Pavel Ermolinskij (1)

Notes

  1. ↑ As KR and ÍR tied at the end of the season, an extra game was played for tiebreaking.
  2. ↑ Last name sometimes spelled Benzing.
  3. ↑ The Icelandic Basketball Association lists Bensing as the coach of the 1966 team[20] but other sources state that he left the job in December 1965 and that Curren started coaching at the club in January 1966. Curren was the head coach of the team during its games in the 1966–67 FIBA European Champions Cup in December 1966.[21]
  4. ↑ As KR and ÍR tied at the end of the season, an extra game was played for tiebreaking.
  5. ↑ As ÍR and KR tied at the end of the season, an extra game was played for tiebreaking.
  6. ↑ ÍR won the championship after the leagues first playoffs.[23] A playoff format was not used again until the 1983–84 season.
  7. ↑ As KR and ÍR tied at the end of the season, an extra game was played for tiebreaking.
  8. ↑ As KR and ÍR tied at the end of the season, an extra game was played for tiebreaking.
  9. ↑ As KR and Ármann tied at the end of the season, an extra game was played for tiebreaking.
  10. ↑ As KR and Njarðvík tied at the end of the season, an extra game was played for tiebreaking.
  11. ↑ As KR and Valur tied at the end of the season, an extra game was played for tiebreaking.

Titles per club

Titles Club
18 KR
17 Njarðvík / ÍKF1
15 ÍR
9 Keflavík
3 Grindavík
3 Valur
1 Ármann, Haukar, ÍS, Snæfell, Tindastóll, Þór Þorlákshöfn
  1. ÍKF merged into Ungmennafélag Njarðvíkur in 1969 and became its basketball subdivision. It is today known as Njarðvík. The club won 4 titles under the ÍKF name and added 13 more after the merger

Statistical leaders

The league has kept scoring stats since adopting the Úrvalsdeild karla name in 1978. During the 1988–1989 season, it added more categories, including rebounds, assists and steals and prior to the 1994–1995 season it added blocks.

Úrvalsdeild karla all-time scoring leaders

Player nationality set by the player's national team affiliation. In bold, active players.

Stats through end of 2018–19 Úrvalsdeild karla season:

Rank Player Games Points Average
1. Iceland Valur Ingimundarson 400 7,355 18.4
2. Iceland Páll Axel Vilbergsson 407 6,949 17.1
3. Iceland Guðjón Skúlason 409 6,649 16.3
4. Iceland Teitur Örlygsson 405 6,579 16.2

Úrvalsdeild karla all-time rebounding leaders

Player nationality set by the player's national team affiliation. In bold, active players.

Stats through the end of the 2020–21 Úrvalsdeild karla season:[29][30]

Rank Player Games Rebounds Average
1. Iceland Hlynur Bæringsson 344 3,635 10.6
2. Iceland Guðmundur Bragason1 332 3,260 9.8
3. Iceland Friðrik Erlendur Stefánsson 357 3,212 9.0
4. Iceland Ómar Örn Sævarsson 366 2,847 7.8
5. United States John Rhodes 136 2,548 18.8
6. Iceland Páll Axel Vilbergsson 407 2,471 6.1
7. United States Rondey Robinson 167 2,476 14.8
8. Iceland Jónatan James Bow 221 2,118 9.6

1 Statistics for rebounds where not kept during Guðmundur's first season. Overall, he played 348 games in the Úrvalsdeild.[31]

Úrvalsdeild karla all-time assists leaders

Player nationality set by the player's national team affiliation. In bold, active players.

Stats through the end of the 2020–21 Úrvalsdeild karla season:

Rank Player Games Assists Average
1. Iceland Justin Shouse 230 1,486 6.5
2. Iceland Jón Arnar Ingvarsson 340 1,393 4.1
3. Iceland Jón Kr. Gíslason1 214 1,359 4.1
4. Iceland Hörður Axel Vilhjálmsson 225 1,337 5.9
5. Iceland Eiríkur Önundarson - 1,308 -
6. Iceland Sverrir Þór Sverrisson - 1,300 -

1 Assists where not counted during Jón Kr. Gíslason's first five seasons where he played 93 games.

Awards and honors

Domestic All-First Team

The Men's Domestic All-First Team is an annual Úrvalsdeild honor bestowed on the best players in the league following every season.

Domestic Player of the Year

Foreign Player of the Year

Úrvalsdeild Men's Playoffs MVP

Úrvalsdeild Playoffs MVP award is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the Úrvalsdeild playoffs.

Defensive Player of the Year

Newcomer of the Year

Coach of the Year

See also

References

  1. ↑ Skapti Hallgrímsson (2001). Leikni framar líkamsburðum (in Icelandic). pp. 34–35. ISBN 9979-60-630-4.
  2. ↑ "Ármenningar fá bandarískan risa". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 10 September 1975. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  3. ↑ "Ármenningar sömdu við einn svartan í nótt!". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). 10 September 1975. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  4. ↑ ""Trukkurinn" vakti mikla hrifningu". Tíminn (in Icelandic). 14 October 1975. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  5. ↑ "Vallarstarfsmenn fyrstu meistararnir". Fréttablaðið (in Icelandic). 7 November 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  6. ↑ Stefán Kristjánsson (27 February 1988). "Bylting í körfunni". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  7. ↑ Ytri aðstæður og innri efling starfsins
  8. ↑ Fram stofnar körfuknattleiksdeild
  9. ↑ Íþróttafél. Keflavíkurstarfsmanna vann Íslandsmótið
  10. 1 2 3 Ágúst Ásgeirsson (11 March 2007). Heil öld til heilla - Saga ÍR í 100 ár. Íþróttafélag Reykjavíkur. p. 569.
  11. ↑ "Íþróttafélag stúdenta Íslandsmeistari í körfuknattleik 1959". Þjóðviljinn (in Icelandic). 17 April 1959. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  12. ↑ Í.R. vann verðskuldaðan sigur
  13. ↑ ÍR Íslandsmeistari í körfuknattleik
  14. ↑ "Tímarit.is".
  15. ↑ ÍR Íslandsmeistari 1962
  16. ↑ ÍR átti mótið
  17. ↑ Takmarkið með þátttöku er aðöðlast reynslu í harðri keppni
  18. ↑ ÍR í evrópukeppnina í haust
  19. ↑ "KR Íslandsmeistari". Þjóðviljinn (in Icelandic). 4 May 1965. p. 5.
  20. ↑ "Meistaratitlar karla". kki.is (in Icelandic). Icelandic Basketball Association. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  21. ↑ "Evrópumeistararnir Simmenthal leika við KR 18. þ.m." Þjóðviljinn (in Icelandic). 2 November 1966. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  22. ↑ ÍR-ingar endurheimta Íslandsmeistaratitilinn í körfuknattleik
  23. 1 2 "ÍR hlaut titilinn". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 24 March 1970. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  24. ↑ Íslandsmeistarar 1971
  25. ↑ Sigurinn blasti við HSK
  26. ↑ Átök, en síðan yfirburðasigur
  27. ↑ ÍR-ingar urðu íslandsmeistarar í körfubolta
  28. ↑ Ingvi Þór Sæmundsson (18 March 2020). "Körfuboltatímabilið blásið af - Engir Íslandsmeistarar". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  29. ↑ "Körfuboltakvöld: Umræða um Sigga Þorsteins". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  30. ↑ "Heildartölfræði einstaklinga á úrvalsdeildarferlinum". kki.is (in Icelandic). Icelandic Basketball Association. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  31. ↑ "Guðmundur L Bragason: Ferillinn í úrvalsdeild". kki.is (in Icelandic). Icelandic Basketball Association. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
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