Before independence During their history, many Montenegrin basketball clubs played in the top-tier basketball leagues of
SFR Yugoslavia,
FR Yugoslavia, and
Serbia and Montenegro, including
Budućnost,
Lovćen,
Sutjeska,
Mornar,
KK Primorka,
KK Berane,
Jedinstvo, and
KK Temko Nikšić.
1946–1991: SFR Yugoslavia From 1946 to 1991, two clubs from Montenegro, Berane (formerly KK Ivangrad) and Budućnost, played in the
First Federal Basketball League. Others played in the
Second Yugoslav League (during the 80's - First B League) and the Republic League. Budućnost played in the First League during the nine seasons, with third place on the
1985–86 season as their biggest success at that time. Below is the list of all-time participants of Montenegrin clubs in the First Yugoslav League.
1992–2006: Serbia and Montenegro After the
breakup of SFR Yugoslavia, until the
Montenegrin independence in 2006, eight different Montenegrin teams participated in the First League of FR Yugoslavia / Serbia and Montenegro (
YUBA League). Budućnost is the only team which played every single season in that competition, winning the three champion titles. Except them, Lovćen, Mornar, Sutjeska and Primorka are the only teams which participated in more than one season at the highest rank. During that period, Budućnost became a founder of
ABA League, too, where they play an important role until today. At the same time, Budućnost played its first seasons in Euroleague with the quarterfinals as their biggest success in the history of competition. Below is the list of all-time participants of Montenegrin clubs in the YUBA League. As the most successful Montenegrin basketball team, Budućnost won three national titles in the First League of Yugoslavia.
After independence Soon after the
Montenegrin independence referendum, Basketball Federation of Montenegro founded its own competitions, with the First League as a top-tier competition. During the all history,
KK Budućnost was strongly dominant side. Every season have two parts. During the first part, 8 to 10 clubs are playing league, without teams who are playing in ABA League. Until the season 2019-2020, in the second part, four best-placed teams from the league and two Montenegrin clubs from ABA League were competing in
Superliga and four best-placed sides from that phase were participating in playoffs. Final series of playoffs is lasting until three wins of one opponent. From season 2006-07 to 2016-17, every single champions' title won KK Budućnost. From 2006 to 2012, team from Podgorica created an impressive row of 89 wins with only one defeat in domestic championship. Except that, until 2015, team from Podgorica won every playoff final series with 3-0. On season 2015-16, during the regular phase of the championship, game between
KK Ulcinj and
KK Jedinstvo finished with result
127-23. That was the biggest victory in the history of Montenegrin Championship. Except that, KK Ulcinj's player Miloš Popović on the same game scored 59 points, which is another all-time record of Montenegrin League. An unexpected change came on season 2017-18, when
KK Mornar won their first ever national title. In the finals, they surprisingly won the series against ABA League title holder - KK Budućnost (3-1). Budućnost made a comeback on season 2018-19, defeating Mornar in the finals. During 2019, Montenegrin basketball federation implemented a new system of competition. Instead Superliga as the second phase, two best teams from the first part of season and two Montenegrin representatives in ABA League are directly qualifying for the playoff series. Season 2019-20 was interrupted after 20 weeks, due to the
coronavirus pandemic and Montenegrin basketball federation decided to erase every single result from that edition of competition. == Champions ==