The LNB Élite, currently known for sponsorship reasons as Betclic Élite, is a professional basketball league in France and is the highest level of the French basketball system. The competition has existed since 1921. Since 1987, the Ligue Nationale de Basket (LNB) has governed the league.
Formerly known as the LNB Pro A, each season consists of 16 teams. The bottom two placed teams from each season are relegated to the second tier level Élite 2. The winner of the play-offs of the league are crowned the French national champions.
Competition format All 16 LNB Élite teams play each other twice during the regular season. At the end of the regular season, the top eight teams qualify for the playoffs. The two teams with the worst regular season records are relegated to the 2nd-tier Élite 2.
Through the 1985–86 season, the league championship was determined by a one-off final, or solely by league play. Since then, the format for the league finals has changed many times:
1987–1992: Best-of-3 series 1993: Best-of-5 1994: Best-of-3 1995–1996: Best-of-5 1997–2004: Best-of-3 2005–2012: Single match (at Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy in Paris) 2013–present: Best-of-5 2021 only: Single match due to COVID-19 issues
From the 2003–04 season, through the 2006–07 season, the Pro A League had 18 teams. Through the wild-card system, it will have 18 teams again from the 2014–15 season.
Current teams
Team Home city Arena Capacity BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque Gravelines–Dunkirk Stade des Flandres Boulazac Boulazac Le Palio Cholet Cholet La Meilleraie Chorale Roanne Roanne Halle André Vacheresse Élan Béarnais Pau–Lacq–Orthez Palais des Sports de Pau Élan Chalon Chalon-sur-Saône Le Colisée JDA Dijon Dijon Palais des Sports J.M. Geoffroy JL Bourg Bourg-en-Bresse Ekinox LDLC ASVEL Lyon–Villeurbanne Astroballe Le Mans Sarthe Le Mans Antarès Limoges CSP Limoges Palais des Sports de Beaublanc Nanterre 92 Nanterre Palais des Sports Maurice Thorez Paris Basketball Paris Adidas Arena Saint-Quentin Saint-Quentin, Aisne Palais des Sports Pierre Ratte SIG Strasbourg Strasbourg Rhénus Sport SLUC Nancy Nancy Palais des Sports Jean Weille
Arena rules Currently, LNB Élite clubs must play in arenas that seat at least 3,000 people.
French League history 1920–21 to 1948–49 Excellence 1949–50 to 1962–63 Nationale 1963–64 to 1964–65 Première Division 1965–66 to 1986–87 Nationale 1 1987–88 to 1991–92 Nationale 1A 1992–93 Nationale A1 1993–94 to 2017–18 Pro A 2017–18 to 2020–21 Jeep Élite (title sponsorship took effect in the later stages of the 2017–18 season) 2021–22 to present: Betclic Elite
Title holders
1920–21: Stade Français 1921–22: Lille 1922–23: École Normale Arras 1923–24: FAM 1924–25: FAM 1925–26: FAM 1926–27: Stade Français 1927–28: FAM 1928–29: FAM 1929–30: FAM 1930–31: FAM 1931–32: CAUFA Reims 1932–33: CAUFA Reims 1933–34: Olympique Lillois 1934–35: CAM 1935–36: SCPO 1936–37: CAM 1937–38: SCPO 1938–39: Métro 1939–41: Not held due to WWII 1941–42: Métro 1942–43: Grenoble 1943–44: Grenoble 1944–45: Championnet Sports 1945–46: ESSMG Lyon 1946–47: PUC 1947–48: Union athlétique de Marseille 1948–49: ASVEL 1949–50: ASVEL 1950–51: Racing Club de France 1951–52: ASVEL 1952–53: Racing Club de France 1953–54: Racing Club de France 1954–55: ASVEL 1955–56: ASVEL
1956–57: ASVEL 1957–58: Étoile Charleville-Mézières 1958–59: Chorale Mulsant 1959–60: Étoile Charleville-Mézières 1960–61: Alsace de Bagnolet 1961–62: Alsace de Bagnolet 1962–63: PUC 1963–64: ASVEL 1964–65: Denain Voltaire 1965–66: ASVEL 1966–67: Alsace de Bagnolet 1967–68: ASVEL 1968–69: ASVEL 1969–70: Olympique Antibes 1970–71: ASVEL 1971–72: ASVEL 1972–73: Berck 1973–74: Berck 1974–75: ASVEL 1975–76: ASPO Tours 1976–77: ASVEL 1977–78: Moderne 1978–79: Moderne 1979–80: ASPO Tours 1980–81: ASVEL 1981–82: Moderne 1982–83: Limoges CSP 1983–84: Limoges CSP 1984–85: Limoges CSP 1985–86: Orthez 1986–87: Orthez 1987–88: Limoges CSP 1988–89: Limoges CSP 1989–90: Limoges CSP 1990–91: Olympique Antibes
1991–92: Pau-Orthez 1992–93: Limoges CSP 1993–94: Limoges CSP 1994–95: Olympique Antibes 1995–96: Pau-Orthez 1996–97: PSG Racing 1997–98: Pau-Orthez 1998–99: Pau-Orthez 1999–00: Limoges CSP 2000–01: Pau-Orthez 2001–02: ASVEL 2002–03: Pau-Orthez 2003–04: Pau-Orthez 2004–05: SIG Strasbourg 2005–06: Le Mans Sarthe 2006–07: Chorale Roanne 2007–08: SLUC Nancy 2008–09: ASVEL 2009–10: Cholet 2010–11: SLUC Nancy 2011–12: Élan Chalon 2012–13: JSF Nanterre 2013–14: Limoges CSP 2014–15: Limoges CSP 2015–16: ASVEL 2016–17: Élan Chalon 2017–18: Le Mans Sarthe 2018–19: ASVEL 2019–20: Cancelled due to COVID-19 2020–21: ASVEL 2021–22: ASVEL 2022–23: AS Monaco 2023–24: AS Monaco 2024–25: Paris Basketball 2025–26: AS Monaco
Performance by club Club Champions Winning years ASVEL 21 1949–50, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1974–75, 1976–77, 1980–81, 2001–02, 2008–09, 2015–16, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22 Limoges CSP 11 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1999–00, 2013–14, 2014–15 Pau-Lacq-Orthez 9 1985–86, 1986–87, 1991–92, 1995–96, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04 FAM 7 1923–24, 1924–25, 1925–26, 1927–28, 1928–29, 1929–30, 1930–31 Le Mans Sarthe 5 1977–78, 1978–79, 1981–82, 2005–06, 2017–18 Racing Paris 4 1950–51, 1952–53, 1953–54, 1996–97 Alsace de Bagnolet 3 1960–61, 1961–62, 1966–67 Olympique Antibes 3 1969–70, 1990–91, 1994–95 AS Monaco 3 2022–23, 2023–24, 2025–26 Stade Français 2 1920–21, 1926–27 CAUFA Reims 2 1931–32, 1932–33 CAM 2 1934–35, 1936–37 SCPO 2 1935–36, 1937–38 Métro 2 1938–39, 1941–42 Grenoble 2 1942–43, 1943–44 Étoile Charleville-Mézières 2 1957–58, 1959–60 PUC 2 1946–47, 1962–63 Berck 2 1972–73, 1973–74 ASPO Tours 2 1975–76, 1979–80 Chorale Roanne 2 1958–59, 2006–07 SLUC Nancy 2 2007–08, 2010–11 Élan Chalon 2 2011–12, 2016–17 ICAM Lille 1 1921–22 École Normale Arras 1 1922–23 Olympique Lillois 1 1933–34 Championnet Sports 1 1944–45 ESSMG Lyon 1 1945–46 Marseille 1 1947–48 Denain Voltaire 1 1964–65 SIG 1 2004–05 Cholet 1 2009–10 Nanterre 92 1 2012–13Paris Basketball12024–25
Finals Season Home court advantage Result Home court disadvantage 1st of Regular Season Record 1987–88Limoges CSP 2–0 Cholet Limoges CSP 26–4 1988–89Limoges CSP 2–0 Orthez Limoges CSP 28–2 1989–90Limoges CSP 2–1 Olympique Antibes Limoges CSP 33–1 1990–91Olympique Antibes 2–1 Limoges CSP Olympique Antibes 22–8 1991–92 Limoges CSP 0–2Pau-Orthez Limoges CSP 27–3 1992–93Limoges CSP 3–1 Pau-Orthez Limoges CSP 25–1 1993–94Limoges CSP 2–0 Olympique Antibes Limoges CSP 23–3 1994–95Olympique Antibes 3–1 Pau-Orthez Olympique Antibes 21–5 1995–96Pau-Orthez 3–2 ASVEL Pau-Orthez 27–3 1996–97 ASVEL 0–2PSG Racing Pau-Orthez 24–6 1997–98Pau-Orthez 2–0 Limoges CSP ASVEL 24–6 1998–99Pau-Orthez 2–0 ASVEL Pau-Orthez 27–3 1999–00 ASVEL 1–2Limoges CSP ASVEL 24–6 2000–01 ASVEL 0–2Pau-Orthez ASVEL 24–6 2001–02 Pau-Orthez 0–2ASVEL Pau-Orthez 24–6 2002–03Pau-Orthez 2–1 ASVEL Pau-Orthez 27–3 2003–04Pau-Orthez 2–0 BCM Gravelines Le Mans Sarthe 27–7 2004–05SIG 1–0 (72–68) SLUC Nancy Le Mans Sarthe 25–9 2005–06 SLUC Nancy 0–1 (88–93)Le Mans Sarthe Pau-Orthez 26–8 2006–07 SLUC Nancy 0–1 (74–81)Chorale Roanne SLUC Nancy 25–9 2007–08SLUC Nancy 1–0 (84–53) Chorale Roanne Le Mans Sarthe 23–7 2008–09ASVEL 1–0 (55–41) Entente Orléanaise Loiret ASVEL 22–8 2009–10Cholet 1–0 (81–65) Le Mans Sarthe Cholet 23–7 2010–11 Cholet 0–1 (74–76)SLUC Nancy Cholet 22–8 2011–12Élan Chalon 1–0 (95–76) Le Mans Sarthe BCM Gravelines 27–3 2012–13 SIG 1–3JSF Nanterre BCM Gravelines 21–9 2013–14 SIG 0–3Limoges CSP SIG 20–10 2014–15 SIG 1–3Limoges CSP SIG 30–4 2015–16 SIG 2–3ASVEL Monaco 27–7 2016–17Élan Chalon 3–2 SIG Monaco 30–4 2017–18 Monaco 2–3Le Mans Monaco 25–9 2018–19ASVEL 3–2 Monaco LDLC ASVEL 27–7 2019–20 Not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic Monaco 21–3 2020–21ASVEL 87–74 JDA Dijon JDA Dijon 27–7 2021–22ASVEL 3–2 Monaco LDLC ASVEL 26–8 2022–23Monaco 3–0 Metropolitans 92 Monaco 26–8 2023–24Monaco 3–1 Paris Basketball Monaco 29–52024–25Paris Basketball 3–2 Monaco Paris Basketball23–7 2025–26 Paris Basketball 2–3Monaco Monaco 22–7
Historical players
Alexis Ajinça David Andersen Ron Anderson Roger Antoine Eddie Basden Nicolas Batum Rodrigue Beaubois Louis Bertorelle Éric Beugnot Jean-Paul Beugnot Jim Bilba Yann Bonato Bruce Bowen Michael Brooks Marcus Brown André Buffière Robert Busnel Jacques Cachemire Fabien Causeur René Chocat Don Collins Richard Dacoury Nando de Colo Jean Degros Boris Diaw Yakhouba Diawara Alain Digbeu Bobby Dixon Maxime Dorigo Hervé Dubuisson Zaza Enden Morris Finley Laurent Foirest Evan Fournier Lawrence Funderburke Pierre Galle Ken Gardner Mickaël Gelabale Alain Gilles Rudy Gobert Henri Grange Ricardo Greer Udonis Haslem Thomas Heurtel Edwin Jackson Keith Jennings Cyril Julian İlkan Karaman Frank Kendrick Tarence Kinsey Joffrey Lauvergne John Linehan Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot Ian Mahinmi Marko Milič Bo McCalebb Conrad McRae † Sammy Mejia Jérôme Moïso Robert Monclar Gheorghe Mureșan François Németh Carl Nicks Frank Ntilikina Hugues Occansey Stéphane Ostrowski Tony Parker Žarko Paspalj Johan Petro Jean Perniceni Jacques Perrier Mickaël Piétrus Florent Piétrus Micheal Ray Richardson J.R. Reid Antoine Rigaudeau Stéphane Risacher David Rivers Delaney Rudd Marc Salyers Thabo Sefolosha Will Solomon Blake Schilb Laurent Sciarra Kevin Séraphin Moustapha Sonko Philip Szanyiel Axel Toupane Ronny Turiaf Mirsad Türkcan Roko Ukić Frédéric Weis Victor Wembanyama Léo Westermann Rickie Winslow Michael Young
Players with the most French League championships won PlayerClub(s)Number of Titles Won Richard Dacoury Limoges CSP (8), Racing Paris (1) 9 Alain Gilles ASVEL 8 Frédéric Fauthoux Pau-Lacq-Orthez 7 Didier Gadou Pau-Lacq-Orthez 7 Henri Grange ASVEL 7 Jean-Michel Sénégal ASVEL (2), ASPO Tours (2), Limoges CSP (3) 7 André Buffière Éveil Lyon (1), Marseille (1), ASVEL (4) 6 Laurent Foirest Olympique Antibes (2), Pau-Lacq-Orthez (3), ASVEL (1) 6 Raymond Sahy ASVEL 6
French basketball clubs in European and worldwide competitions
Individual awards
In each Pro A season, individual honors are given to players and head coaches in the Pro A Awards ceremony who performed well during a given season. The awards that are handed out include:
Most Valuable Player Finals MVP Best Young Player Best Scorer Best Sixth Man Best Defender Most Improved Player Best Coach
LNB All-Star Game
Broadcasting In July 2024, the LNB announced it had signed an agreement until 2029 with DAZN which becomes the exclusive broadcaster for the Pro A. DAZN will broadcast all games, as well as the Leaders Cup and All-Star Game. The league's games are also accessible through the FIBA-operated Courtside 1891 platform.
See also French Cup (French Federation Cup) Leaders Cup (French League Cup) Match des Champions (basketball) (French Supercup) LNB Pro B Ligue Féminine de Basketball
Notes and references
External links Official website Eurobasket.com League Page
it:Ligue Nationale de Basket-ball tr:Ligue Nationale de Basketball