Górnik Wałbrzych (basketball)

Górnik Wałbrzych is a Polish men's basketball team, based in Wałbrzych, southwestern Poland, currently in Polish Basketball League. Name 'Górnik' stands for 'Miners' as the city of Walbrzych was known for its thriving mining industry until the early 90s.

History
Górnik was founded in 1946. The most famous departments - basketball and football, were opened in the same year. The basketball team in 1956 won promotion to the Division I, and in 1970 it appeared for the first time in the Polish top flight. Best years for Górnik's basketball team were the 1980s. In 1981, Górnik was Polish league runner-up, in 1982 it won its first championship. That season, club legend Mieczysław Młynarski set the single-game league record by scoring 90 points in a 133–109 win over Pogoń Szczecin. In 1983 and 1986, the club was a runner-up again. Górnik won its second Polish league title in 1988. Then, in the 1990s, coal-mining industry in the city of Wałbrzych collapsed and, lacking sponsorship, Górnik started to decline. In 1995, the White and Blues left the top division due to poor financing, despite finishing 4th. Good times returned in the 2006–07 season, when Górnik, with a new sponsor and under the name Victoria-Górnik, won promotion to the elite Dominet Basket Liga. In 2007–2008, they finished 10th out of 13 teams with a record of 9–15. However, it was relegated to Division I after finishing in last place in the 2008–09 season.

From 2009 through 2011 Górnik played in the Division I but missed playoffs both seasons. Due to financial deterioration, the club restructured and started over from the bottom, Division III (fourth-tier league). Górnik spent three seasons in Division III and won promotion in 2014. From 2014 through 2017 Górnik was contending in Division II and planned to return to Division I. In 2017–18 season, the White and Blues, playing a short rotation, unexpectedly reached the finals and finished second in Division II. Next year, the team advanced to Division I playoffs as 8th seed but lost in the first round (1-3) to no. 1 seed Śląsk Wrocław.

Season 2019-20 was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland. At that time, few games shy to close the regular season, Górnik was leading the Division I standings with 18–5 record. Later on, it was officially named the 2020 Division I Champion. Nevertheless, was not promoted to top flight.

By becoming champions at the end of 2023–24 season, Górnik Wałbrzych was promoted from Liga I after spending 15 years in the lower leagues.

Honours and achievements
Polish Basketball League:
 * Gold medal with cup.svg Winner (2): 1982, 1988
 * Silver medal with cup.svg Runner-up (3): 1981, 1983, 1986
 * 4th place (1989, 1995)

I Liga: Youth leagues:
 * Gold medal with cup.svg Winner (2): 2020, 2024
 * Silver medal with cup.svg Runner-up (4): 2007, 2021, 2022, 2023
 * U-14 Polish League - 4th place (2011)
 * U-18 Polish League Champions (1979,1980)
 * U-18 Polish League Bronze Medalist (2003)
 * U-18 Polish League - 4th place (2002)
 * U-20 Polish League Runner-up (2000)

Notable players

 * 🇵🇱 Mieczysław Młynarski
 * 🇵🇱 Stanisław Kiełbik
 * 🇵🇱 Tadeusz Reschke
 * 🇵🇱 Andrzej Adamek
 * 🇵🇱 Adam Waczyński
 * 🇵🇱 Kamil Chanas
 * 🇺🇸 Jeremy Montgomery
 * 🇵🇱 Rafał Glapiński
 * 🇵🇱 Aleksander Balcerowski

Retired Numbers

 * 4. Zenon Kozłowski

Forward, 2nd most games all time for Górnik (1974-90), with Górnik: 2x Polish League Champion, 3x runner-up

Note: It was agreed that Damian Durski, the product of club's academy and current team captain, is eligible to wear no 4.


 * 5. Tadeusz Reschke

Center, member of Polish National Team, with Górnik: 2x Polish League Champion, 3x runner-up


 * 6. Wojciech Krzykała

Point Guard. With Górnik: 2x Polish League Champion, 3x runner-up


 * 9. Ryszard Wieczorek

Forward. 2x Polish League Champion with Górnik, 1981 runner-up


 * 10. Jerzy Żywarski

Shooting Guard. 2x Polish League Champion with Górnik, 3x runner-up


 * 12. Mieczysław Młynarski

Forward. Member of Polish National Team, 3rd Top Scorer of the 1980 Olympics, 2x EuroBasket Top Scorer, 5th All-Time Polish League Top Scorer (total points), 90 points scored in a single game of tier-1 Polish League (1982). 1982 Polish League Champion with Górnik, 3x runner-up


 * 14. Stanisław Kiełbik

Guard. Member of Polish National Team. 2x Polish League Champion with Górnik, 2x runner-up

Notable players
• 🇵🇱 Andrzej Adamek

• 🇵🇱 Kamil Chanas

• 🇵🇱 Rafał Glapiński

• 🇵🇱 Stanisław Kiełbik

• 🇵🇱 Mieczysław Młynarski

• 🇵🇱 Tadeusz Reschke

• 🇵🇱 Adam Waczyński

• 🇵🇱 Aleksander Balcerowski

• 🇺🇸 Jeremy Montgomery