USSR Premier Basketball League

The USSR Premier Basketball League, or Soviet Union Premier Basketball League (also called Supreme League), was the first-tier men's professional basketball league in the former Soviet Union. The league existed from 1923 to 1991, as the top professional basketball league of the Soviet Union, and from 1991 to 1992, as the top professional basketball league of the CIS. In the years 1924, 1928, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1956, 1959, 1963, and 1967, the league was contested by city teams, regional teams, and state national teams, rather than individual sports clubs.

CSKA Moscow was the league's most successful club, having won the league's championship 24 times, including winning 9 consecutive championships, from 1976 to 1984. The league featured the players of the senior men's Soviet Union national basketball team. The league exists in a similar format today, as the VTB United League. Although, the VTB United League can include clubs from countries that were not a part of the Soviet Union.

USSR League history

 * 1923–24 to 1935–36 Soviet Union Regional League
 * 1936–37 to 1990–91 Soviet Union National League
 * ......1991 to 1992...... CIS National League

Title holders

 * 1923–24: Team Moscow
 * 1924–27: Not held
 * 1927–28: Team Moscow
 * 1928–33: Not held
 * 1933–34: Team Leningrad
 * 1934–35: Team Moscow
 * 1935–36: Team Leningrad
 * 1936–37: Dynamo Moscow
 * 1937–38: Burevestnik Leningrad
 * 1938–39: Lokomotiv Moscow
 * 1939–40: Burevestnik Leningrad
 * 1940–43: Not held
 * 1943–44: Armia Tbilisi
 * 1944–45: CDKA Moscow
 * 1945–46: Armia Tbilisi
 * 1946–47: Žalgiris Kaunas
 * 1947–48: Dynamo Moscow
 * 1948–49: Tartu Ülikool
 * 1949–50: Dinamo Tbilisi
 * 1950–51: Žalgiris Kaunas
 * 1951–52: VVS Moscow
 * 1952–53: Dinamo Tbilisi
 * 1953–54: Dinamo Tbilisi
 * 1954–55: Rīgas ASK
 * 1955–56: Latvian SSR Team
 * 1956–57: Rīgas ASK
 * 1957–58: Rīgas ASK
 * 1958–59: Team Moscow
 * 1959–60: CSKA Moscow
 * 1960–61: CSKA Moscow
 * 1961–62: CSKA Moscow
 * 1962–63: Team Moscow
 * 1963–64: CSKA Moscow
 * 1964–65: CSKA Moscow
 * 1965–66: CSKA Moscow
 * 1966–67: Ukrainian SSR Team
 * 1967–68: Dinamo Tbilisi
 * 1968–69: CSKA Moscow
 * 1969–70: CSKA Moscow
 * 1970–71: CSKA Moscow
 * 1971–72: CSKA Moscow
 * 1972–73: CSKA Moscow
 * 1973–74: CSKA Moscow
 * 1974–75: Spartak Leningrad
 * 1975–76: CSKA Moscow
 * 1976–77: CSKA Moscow
 * 1977–78: CSKA Moscow
 * 1978–79: CSKA Moscow
 * 1979–80: CSKA Moscow
 * 1980–81: CSKA Moscow
 * 1981–82: CSKA Moscow
 * 1982–83: CSKA Moscow
 * 1983–84: CSKA Moscow
 * 1984–85: Žalgiris Kaunas
 * 1985–86: Žalgiris Kaunas
 * 1986–87: Žalgiris Kaunas
 * 1987–88: CSKA Moscow
 * 1988–89: Stroitel Kyiv
 * 1989–90: CSKA Moscow
 * 1990–91: Kalev Tallinn
 * 1991–92: Spartak Saint Petersburg

League medalists

 * Most championships won: CSKA Mosow: 24
 * Most consecutive championships won: CSKA Moscow: 9 (1976–1984)

Historical players

 * By Former Soviet Federation places of birth:

Armenian SSR:
 * Armenak Alachachian

Azerbaijan SSR:
 * Aleksandr Petrov

Byelorussian SSR:
 * Ivan Edeshko

Estonian SSR:
 * Heino Enden
 * Heino Kruus
 * Ilmar Kullam
 * Jaak Lipso
 * Joann Lõssov
 * Tiit Sokk
 * Priit Tomson

Georgian SSR:
 * Mikheil Korkia
 * Otar Korkia
 * Guram Minashvili
 * Levan Moseshvili
 * Zurab Sakandelidze
 * Vladimer Ugrekhelidze

Kazakh SSR:
 * Alzhan Zharmukhamedov

Karelo-Finnish SSR:
 * Andrey Makeyev

Latvian SSR:
 * Alvils Gulbis
 * Oļģerts Hehts
 * Juris Kalniņš
 * Jānis Krūmiņš
 * Igors Miglinieks
 * Raimonds Miglinieks
 * Valdis Muižnieks
 * Maigonis Valdmanis
 * Valdis Valters
 * Gundars Vētra

Lithuanian SSR:
 * Stepas Butautas
 * Raimundas Čivilis
 * Valdemaras Chomičius
 * Gintaras Einikis
 * Gintaras Krapikas
 * Sergejus Jovaiša
 * Artūras Karnišovas
 * Rimas Kurtinaitis
 * Algirdas Linkevičius
 * Darius Lukminas
 * Šarūnas Marčiulionis
 * Modestas Paulauskas
 * Arvydas Sabonis
 * Arūnas Visockas

Russian SFSR:
 * Vladimir Andreev
 * Vladimir Arzamaskov
 * Sergei Bazarevich
 * Sasha Belov
 * Sergei Belov
 * Arkady Bochkaryov
 * Ivan Dvorny
 * Valeri Fedorov
 * Andrei Fetisov
 * Vadim Kapranov
 * Vasily Karasev
 * Vyacheslav Khrynin
 * Evgeni Kisurin
 * Anatoly Konev
 * Yuri Korneev
 * Sergei Kovalenko
 * Igor Kudelin
 * Andrey Lopatov
 * Mikhail Mikhailov
 * Valery Miloserdov
 * Anatoly Myshkin
 * Nikita Morgunov
 * Viktor Pankrashkin
 * Sergei Panov
 * Evgeniy Pashutin
 * Yuri Selikhov
 * Mikhail Semyonov
 * Sergei Tarakanov
 * Vladimir Tkachenko
 * Aleksandr Travin
 * Gennadi Volnov
 * Stanislav Yeryomin
 * Viktor Zubkov

Ukrainian SSR:
 * Alexander Belostenny
 * Aleksandr Salnikov
 * Sasha Volkov

Uzbek SSR:
 * Valeri Tikhonenko

Historical coaches
Armenian SSR:
 * By Former Soviet Federation places of birth:
 * Armenak Alachachian
 * Stepan Spandaryan

Georgian SSR:
 * Otar Korkia

Lithuanian SSR:
 * Vladas Garastas

Russian SFSR:
 * Sergei Belov
 * Alexander Gomelsky
 * Vladimir Kondrashin
 * Vladimir Obuchov
 * Yuri Selikhov
 * Pavel Tsetlin
 * Konstantin Travin

The lineups and rosters of the USSR League champions

 * Scroll down to see more.

1923–24: Team Moscow: Belyaev, A. Kovalev, S. Pashkov, V. Strepiheev, S. Chesnokov.

1927–28: Team Moscow: S. Vorobyov, A. Gusev, M.Medvedev, N. Strokin, K. Travin.

1933–34: Team Leningrad: F. Hostilius, Krasovskii, S. Kuznetsov, M. Morozov, P. Osipov, Vn. Rodionov, G. Tishinskiy.

1934–35: Team Moscow: E. Bokunyaev, V. Gorokhov, Zimin, A. Lobanov, M. Semichastny, J. Titov, K. Travin, A. Tolkachev.

1935–36: Team Leningrad: F. Hostilius, A. Elenskiy, Kuznetsov, V. Kurkov, M. Sverckov, G. Tishinskiy.

1936–37: Dynamo Moscow: V. Gorokhov, A. Grigoriev, V. Dmitriev, Alexander Zaitsev, A. Zinin, Rumyantsev, S. Spandaryan.

1937–38: Burevestnik Leningrad: B. Abramov, V. Zhebokritsky, B. Kondrashov, A. Selivanov, Stepanov.

1938–39: Lokomotiv Moscow: En. Alekseev, Belyaev, A. Lobanov, V. Kiselev, Romishevsky, Y. Titov, K. Travin.

1939–40: Burevestnik Leningrad: B. Abramov, V. Zhebokritsky, Zlobin, V. Kondrashov, V. Razzhivin, Rogov, A. Selivanov, Stepanov.

1943–44: Armia Tbilisi: N. Jorjkia, L. Dzekonsky, Ermakov, G. Zahlyan, B. Oganezov, B. Sarkisov, M. Filippov.

1944–45: CSKA Moscow: Ev. Alekseev, En. Alekseev, Bajkov, Grebenshchikov, V. Kudryashov, S. Kuznetsov, B. Mershin.

1945–46: Armia Tbilisi: G. Akhvlediani, A. Vachadze, G. Gupalov, L. Dzekonsky, N. Jorjikia, S. Oganezov, B. Sarkisov, O. Sulaberidze, M. Filippov.

1946–47: Žalgiris Kaunas: S. Butautas, A. Vilimas, V. Dzenis, I. Kilšauskas, J. Lagunavičius, V. Majorovas, K. Petkevičius, V. Sercevičius, V. Kulakauskas.

1947–48: Dynamo Moscow: G. Bajkov, V. Vlasov, V. Kolpakov, A. Konev, Kogan, Y. Ozerov, Al. Saychuk, P. Sergeev, B. Fedotov, Yuri Ushakov.

1948–49: Tartu Ülikool: U. Kiivet, H. Krevald, I. Kull, V. Laats, I. Lysov, G. Rekker, H. Russak, E. Ehaveer, O.Õun, H. Kruus.

1949–50: Dinamo Tbilisi: D. Godziashvili, N. Jorjikia, V. Zhgenti, S. Tortladze, L. Intskirveli, S. Korkashvili, O. Korkia, A. Meskhi, J. Nizharadze, G. Rukhadze.

1950–51: Žalgiris Kaunas: I. Balakauskas, G. Butautas, J. Lagunavičius, A. Nemcevičius, K. Petkevičius, Z. Sabulis, V. Sercevičius, L. Tendzegolskis, V. Timleris.

1951–52: VVS Moscow: Ev. Alekseev, En. Alekseev, V. Antonov, G. Gupalov, E. Kazakov, A. Konev, A. Moiseev, D. Osipov, G. Silins, S. Tarasov.

1952–53: Dinamo Tbilisi: G.K. Abashidze, G.A. Abashidze, V. Gvantseladze, N. Jorjikia, M. Eganov, V. Zhgenti, L. Intskirveli, A. Kiladze, O. Korkia, G. Minashvili, J. Nizharadze.

1953–54: Dinamo Tbilisi: G.K. Abashidze, G.A. Abashidze, M. Asitashvili, N. Jorjikia, V. Zhgenti, L. Intskirveli, M. Kvachantiradze, A. Kiladze, O. Korkia, G. Kutchava, J. Nizharadze.

1954–55: Rīgas ASK: M. Valdmanis, T. Gavars, A. Gulbis, T. Kalhert, J. Krumins, A. Leonchik, V. Muiznieks, G. Silins, V. Skalder, O. Hecht, L. Jankowski.

1955–56: Latvian SSR Team: M. Valdmanis, I. Veritis, J. Kalnins, T. Kalhert, R. Karnitis, J. Krumins, A. Leonchik, V. Muiznieks, G. Silins, O. Hecht, L. Jankowski.

1956–57; Rīgas ASK: M. Valdmanis, I. Veritis, A. Gulbis, J. Davids, T. Kalhert, J. Krumins, A. Leonchik, V. Muiznieks, Ostrouhs J., G. Silins, O. Hecht.

1957–58: Rīgas ASK: M. Valdmanis, I. Veritis, A. Gulbis, T. Kalhert, J. Krumins, A. Leonchik, V. Muiznieks, G. Muiznieks, G. Silins, O. Hecht.

1958–59: Team Moscow: A. Alachachan, A. Astakhov, N. Balabanov, Bochkarev, G. Volnov, V. Zubkov, Korneev Yu, Y. Ozerov, Semenov, M. Studenetsky, V. Torban.

1959–60: CSKA Moscow: A. Alachachan, A. Astakhov, A. Bochkarev, Volkov, V. Zubkov, Karpov, V. Kopylov, Semenov, P. Sirotinsky, A. Travin, V. Kharitonov.

1960–61: CSKA Moscow: A. Alachachan, A. Astakhov, Bochkarev, G. Volnov, Volkov, V. Zubkov, Karpov, V. Kopylov, Semenov, P. Sirotinsky, A. Travin, B. Kharitonov.

1961–62: CSKA Moscow: A. Alachachan, A. Astakhov, Bochkarev, G. Volnov, Volkov, V. Zubkov, Karpov, V. Kovalchuk, Y. Korneev, J. Lipso, Semenov, S. Sirotinsky, A. Travin.

1962–63: Team Moscow: A. Alachachan, A. Astakhov, Bochkarev, G. Volnov, Volkov, V. Zubkov, Yu. Korneev, A. Kulkov, J. Lipso, Petrov, A. Travin, V. Hrynin, A. Shatalin.

1963–64: CSKA Moscow: A. Alachachan, A. Astakhov, A. Borodin, A. Bochkarev, G. Volnov, V. Zubkov, Yuri Korneev, A. Kulkov, J. Lipso, P. Sirotinsky, A. Travin.

1964–65: CSKA Moscow: A. Alachachan, A. Astakhov, A. Borodin, A. Bochkarev, I. Bryansk, G. Volnov, V. Zubkov, B. Kapranov, Y. Korneev, A. Kulkov, J. Lipso, A. Travin.

1965–66: CSKA Moscow: A. Alachachan, A. Astakhov, A. Borodin, A. Bochkarev, I. Bryansk, G. Volnov, V. Zubkov, B. Kapranov, A. Kovalev, Yuri Korneev, A. Kulkov, J. Lipso, V. Rodionov, A. Travin.

1966–67: Ukrainian SSR Team: V. Bryantsev, A. Valtin, B. Gladun, Novikov, V. Okipnyak, B. Pinchuk, A. Polivoda, L. Poplawski, W. Saluhin, N. Sushak, G. Chechurov.

1967–68: Dinamo Tbilisi: V. Altabaev, B. Bolqvadze, A. Kazandjian, Z. Karabak, M. Korkia, A. Lejava, Z. Leontiev, S. Magalashvili, R. Mamaladze, L. Moseshvili, V. Narimanidze, A. Skhiereli, V. Ugrekhelidze, T. Chikhladze.

1968–69: CSKA Moscow: Andreev, A. Astakhov, Belov, A. Blick, G. Volnov, V. Kapranov, N. Kovyrkin, N. Kryuchkov, A. Kulkov, J. Lipso, P. Nesterov, B. Selikhov, A. Sidyakin.

1969–70: CSKA Moscow: V. Andreev, S. Belov, A. Blick, N. Gilgner, A. Zharmukhamedov, V. Illyuk, V. Kapranov, N. Kovyrkin, N. Kryuchkov, A. Kulkov, V. Mercy, Ne. Selikhov, A. Sidyakin.

1970–71: CSKA Moscow: Andreev, Belov, N. Gilgner, I. Edeshko, A. Zharmukhamedov, V. Illyuk, V. Kapranov, Kovalenko, N. Kovyrkin, A. Kulkov, V. Mercy, C. Subbotin.

1971–72: CSKA Moscow: V. Andreev, S. Belov, I. Edeshko, A. Zharmukhamedov, V. Illyuk, V. Kapranov, Kovalenko, N. Kovyrkin, A. Kulkov, V. Miloserdov, V. Petrakov, C. Astrebov.

1972–73: CSKA Moscow: Andreev, Belov, N. Dyachenko, I. Edeshko, A. Zharmukhamedov, V. Illyuk, Kovalenko, N. Kovyrkin, A. Kulkov, V. Miloserdov, V. Petrakov, C. Astrebov.

1973–74. CSKA Moscow: V. Akimov, Belov, N. Dyachenko, I. Edeshko, A. Zharmukhamedov, V. Illyuk, Kovalenko, N. Kovyrkin, P. Lushenko, V. Miloserdov, V. Petrakov, C. Astrebov

1974–75: Spartak Leningrad: V. Arzamas, A. Belov, A. Bolshakov, L. Ivanov, S. Kuznetsov, A. Makeev, Y. Pavlov, M. Silantyev, V. Fedovrov, Yu. Shtukin, V. Yakovlev.

1975–76: CSKA Moscow: Mr. Avdeev, Belov, N. Dyachenko, I. Edeshko, S. Eremin, A. Zharmukhamedov, Kovalenko, S. Kovalenko, N. Kovyrkin, V. Miloserdov, V. Petrakov, C. Astrebov.

1976–77: CSKA Moscow: Belov, A. Gusev, I. Edeshko, S. Eremin, A. Zharmukhamedov, Kovalenko, S. Kovalenko, A. Lopatov, A. Meleshkin, V. Miloserdov, A. Mishkin, B. Petrakov.

1977–78: CSKA Moscow: V. Arzamas, Belov, A. Gusev, S. Eremin, A. Zharmukhamedov, Kovalenko, S. Kovalenko, A. Lopatov, A. Meleshkin, V. Miloserdov, A. Mishkin, B. Petrakov.

1978–79: CSKA Moscow: Belov, A. Gusev, I. Edeshko, S. Eremin, A. Zharmukhamedov, Kovalenko, S. Kovalenko, A. Lopatov, A. Meleshkin, V. Miloserdov, A. Mishkin, B. Petrakov.

1979–80: CSKA Moscow: Belov, A. Belostenny, S. Eremin, A. Zharmukhamedov, Kovalenko, S. Kovalenko, A. Lopatov, V. Miloserdov, A. Mishkin, Pankrashin, V. Petrakov, S. Tarakanov.

1980–81: CSKA Moscow: Gusev, S. Eremin, Kovalenko, S. Kovalenko, M. Kozhelyanko, V. Kuzmin, A. Lopatov, V. Miloserdov, A. Mishkin, Pankrashin, V. Petrakov, S. Tarakanov.

1981–82: CSKA Moscow: Gusev, S. Eremin, A. Kovtun, M. Kozhelyanko, V. Kuzmin, R. Kurtinaitis, A. Lopatov, A. Meleshkin, V. Miloserdov, A. Mishkin, Pankrashin, S. Tarakanov.

1982–83: CSKA Moscow: Gusev, S. Eremin, V. Kuzmin, A. Lopatov, A. Lyndin, A. Meleshkin, A. Mishkin, Pankrashin, Popov, D. Sukharev, S. Tarakanov, V. Tkachenko.

1983–84: CSKA Moscow: S. Bazarevich, A. Gusev, S. Eremin, A. Ermolinsky, A. Lopatov, A. Mishkin, Pankrashin, Popov, D. Sukharev, S. Tarakanov, V. Tkachenko, H. Enden.

1984–85: Žalgiris Kaunas: M. Arlauskas, A. Brazys, A. Visockas, S. Jovaiša, G. Krapikas, R. Kurtinaitis, M. Lekarauskas, A. Sabonis, V. Chomičius, R. Čivilis, V. Jankauskas.

1985–86: Žalgiris Kaunas: A. Brazys, A. Visockas, S. Jovaiša, G. Krapikas, R. Kurtinaitis, M. Lekarauskas, A. Sabonis, V. Chomičius, R. Čivilis, V. Jankauskas.

1986–87: Žalgiris Kaunas: A. Brazys, A. Visockas, A. Venclovas, S. Jovaiša, G. Krapikas, R. Kurtinaitis, M. Lekarauskas, A. Sabonis, V. Chomičius, R. Čivilis, V. Jankauskas.

1987–88: CSKA Moscow: V. Berezhnoj, Volkov, V. Goborov, Gorin, A. Lopatov, I. Miglinieks, Minaev, Pankrashin, S. Popov, S. Tarakanov, V. Tkachenko, H. Enden.

1988–89: Budivelnyk Kyiv: A. Belostenny, Volkov, E. Dolgov, A. Kovtun, Y. Kosenko, V. Levitsky, E. Murzin, S. Orehov, I. Pinchuk, A. Podkovyrov, Yu. Silvestrov, A. Shaptala, A. Shevchenko.

1989–90: CSKA Moscow: V. Berezhnoj, Gorin, A. Gusev, A. Kornev, S. Kocherin, A. Lopatov, A. Meleshkin, Minaev, S. Popov, G. Rezcov, S. Tarakanov, V. Tkachenko.

1990–91: Kalev Tallinn: S. Babenko, G. Jackson, A. Karavaev, G. Kullamäe, A. Kuusmaa, M. Metstak, A. Nagel, M. Noormets, R. Pehka, I. Saksakulm, T. Sokk, A. Toomiste.

1991–92 (CIS League): Spartak Saint Petersburg: V. Gorin, V. Dolopchi, V. Karasev, J. Kisurin, A. Maltsev, M. Mikhailov, V. Mishnev, S. Panov, Z. Pashutin, A. Potapov, A. Fetisov, G. Schetinin.

Successor leagues

 * Russian Super League 1 (1st-tier): (1992–2010)
 * Russian Professional League: (2010–2013)
 * VTB United League: (2008–present)