2017–18 ABA League First Division


The 2017–18 ABA League First Division was the 17th season of the ABA League with 12 teams from Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Macedonia participating in it. It was the inaugural season as the first tier as a part of two level competition.

Format changes

On May 23, 2017, ABA League Assembly has decided that there will be 12 clubs competing in the league in the 2017–18 season. Having analysed the current situation in European and the regional basketball, as well as the fact that the ABA League is still not officially recognized by the national basketball federations, and with a goal to protect the interests of the ABA League founding clubs, the clubs that have competed in the 2016–17 season will have a right to participate in the forthcoming season as well and the priority of participation will be given to the founders of the ABA League. The formula to determine the participants which will be respected is the following:
Two additional spots will be allocated to the clubs from countries, whose clubs have achieved the best coefficients in the country rankings during the 2016–17 season. Those two countries are Serbia and Montenegro. The places from Serbia will be filled in accordance with the final standings of the Basketball League of Serbia, in accordance with the recognition and cooperation with the ABA League.
In accordance with the previously mentioned decisions, the participating clubs of the ABA League for the 2017–18 season are: Cedevita, Zadar, Cibona, Union Olimpija, Igokea, Budućnost VOLI, MZT Skopje Aerodrom and Mornar, while the remaining four places, were determined in accordance with the standings in the Basketball League of Serbia.

Teams

National standings

The numbers of teams by country is determined by a coefficient that is the sum of all victories clubs from a certain country achieve in a regular season divided by the number of clubs from that country. By using this coefficient majority of places for current season are allocated, while the remaining places are given via wild cards from league board.
Country2016–17 coeff.2017–18 no. of clubs
316.254
114.002
313.333
113.001
19.001
19.001
Total10best coeff. 12

Team allocation

League positions of the previous domestic league season after playoffs shown in parentheses.

Venues and locations

TeamHome cityArenaCapacity
Budućnost VOLIPodgoricaMorača Sports Center
CedevitaZagrebDražen Petrović
CibonaZagrebDražen Petrović
Crvena zvezda mtsBelgradeAleksandar Nikolić
FMPBelgradeŽeleznik Hall
IgokeaAleksandrovacLaktaši Sports Hall
Mega BemaxSremska MitrovicaSports Hall Pinki
MornarBarTopolica Sport Hall
MZT Skopje AerodromSkopjeJane Sandanski
Partizan NISBelgradeAleksandar Nikolić
Petrol OlimpijaLjubljanaArena Stožice
ZadarZadarKrešimir Ćosić

Personnel and sponsorship

Coaching changes

Regular season

League table

Positions by round

Results

Playoffs

The semi-finals was played in a best-of-three format, while the Finals were played in a best-of-five format. Playoffs started on 17 March 2018, while the Finals ended on 14 April 2018.


2017–18 ABA League Champions

Budućnost VOLI
1st title

Semifinals

Finals

Final standings

Statistical leaders

, after the end of the Regular Season.

PIR">Performance Index Rating">PIR

Points

Rebounds

Assists

Awards

MVP List

MVP of the Round

[ABA League [Player of the Month Award|MVP of the Month]]

Attendances

Attendances include playoff games:

ABA League clubs in European competitions