2018–19 ABA League First Division


The 2018–19 ABA League First Division is the 18th season of the ABA League with 12 teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia and Serbia participating in it. It is the first time since the 2011–12 season that there are no participants from North Macedonia.

Format changes

On March 13, 2018, the Adriatic League Assembly decided to abolish the National standings and, as of the 2018–19 season, participants are determined only based on the results in the competitions under the umbrella of the Adriatic League. Promotion and relegation will now be based on the First and Second Division. The last place team in the First Division is relegated to the Second Division, while the winner of the Second Division is promoted. Also, as of the 2018–19 season, the 11th placed team of the 2018–19 First Division season and the runners-up of the 2018–19 Second Division season will play in a Relegation Playoff for a spot in the 2019–20 First Division season. The format of the Qualifiers will be best of three, while the home court advantage will be given to the team that played in the First Division in the previous season.
The maximum number of clubs from one country in the First Division is five. The last placed club in the First Division will have a guaranteed place in the Second Division in the following season. The confirmed competition system shall not be changed until the end of the 2024–25 season, if there are no significant changes in the European basketball by then.

Teams

Promotion and relegation

A total of 12 teams will contest the league, including 11 sides from the 2017–18 season and one promoted from the 2017–18 Second Division.
;Team promoted from Second Division
;Team relegated to Second Division
TeamHome cityArenaCapacity
Budućnost VOLIPodgoricaMorača Sports Center
CedevitaZagrebDom sportova
CibonaZagrebDražen Petrović Hall
Crvena zvezda mtsBelgradeAleksandar Nikolić Hall
FMPBelgradeŽeleznik Hall
IgokeaAleksandrovacLaktaši Sports Hall
KrkaNovo MestoLeon Štukelj Hall
Mega BemaxSremska MitrovicaPinki Sports Hall
MornarBarTopolica Sport Hall
Partizan NISBelgradeAleksandar Nikolić Hall
Petrol OlimpijaLjubljanaArena Stožice
ZadarZadarKrešimir Ćosić Hall

Personnel and sponsorship

Coaching changes

Regular season

The season began on September 28, 2018. The regular season ended on March 17, 2019.

League table

Positions by round

Results

Playoffs

The semi-finals will be played in a best-of-three format, while the Finals were played in a best-of-five format. Playoffs will begin on 23 March 2019 and planned to end by 22 April 2019.

Bracket


2018–19 ABA League Champions

Crvena zvezda mts
4th title

Semifinals

Finals

Relegation playoffs

As of the 2018–19 season, the 11th placed team of the 2018–19 First Division season and the runners-up of the 2018–19 Second Division season will play in the Qualifiers for a spot in the 2019–20 First Division season.
As the team coming from the ABA League, Zadar had the home court advantage in the first and third game of the series, while MZT was the host of the second game of the Qualifiers series. Zadar won the series 2−1 and kept its First League status.

Teams

Statistical leaders

PIR">Performance Index Rating">PIR

Points

Rebounds

Assists

Awards

MVP List

MVP of the Round

RoundPlayerTeamPerformance Index Rating|
1 Dragan Apić FMP40
2 Sava Lešić Igokea30
3 Nemanja Vranješ Mornar33
4 Uroš Luković Mornar31
5 Luka Božić Zadar36
6 Luka Božić Zadar33
7 Stefan Pot FMP39
8 Luka Božić Zadar36
9 Jacob Pullen Cedevita43
10 Vanja Marinković Partizan32
11 Marko Ljubičić Cibona30
12 Dragan Apić FMP34
13 Dragan Apić FMP42
14 Luka Božić Zadar25
15 Elgin Cook Cedevita32
16 Filip Bundović Cibona29
17 Nemanja Vranješ Mornar29
18 Stefan Pot FMP35
19 Luka Ašćerić Mega Bemax35
20 Dominik Mavra Krka37
21 Goga Bitadze Budućnost VOLI31
22 Danilo Anđušić Igokea30
SF1 Dejan Davidovac Crvena zvezda mts26
SF2 Vanja Marinković Partizan22
SF3 Nemanja Gordić Budućnost VOLI16
F1 Billy Baron Crvena zvezda mts27
F2 K. C. Rivers Crvena zvezda mts20
F3 Norris Cole Budućnost VOLI20
F4 Norris Cole Budućnost VOLI36
F5 K. C. Rivers Crvena zvezda mts21

Source:

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

Attendances

Attendances include playoff games:

Clubs in European competitions