Úrvalsdeild karla (English: Men's Premier League), also known as Subway deildin for sponsorship reasons, is the highest men's professional basketball competition among clubs in Iceland, where play determines the national champion. It is organized by the Icelandic Basketball Federation (Icelandic: Körfuknattleikssamband Íslands - KKÍ). The season consists of a home-and-away schedule of 22 games, followed by an eight-team playoff round. Quarterfinals, semifinals and finals series are best-of-five. The bottom clubs are relegated, and replaced by the top team from the regular-season phase and the four-team playoff round winner of the second-level First Division (Icelandic: 1. deild karla).

History

Creation and first years 1951-1959

The league was founded in 1951 as 1. deild karla (English: Men's 1st division) and its first season was played in April 1952 with five teams, Íþróttafélag Keflavíkurflugvallar (ÍKF), Íþróttafélag Reykjavíkur (ÍR), Íþróttafélag Stúdenta (ÍS), Gosi and Glímufélagið Ármann, participating. The team of ÍKF had the advantage of its close proximity with the US Naval Air Station at Keflavík International Airport and therefore could play competitive games with American players who had high school and college experience. They were furthermore coached by two American naval personnel, Gene Crowley and John Wahl. During the tournament, ÍKF won all four of its games with an average of 10.8 points.

For the first years decade the league was dominated by ÍKF (with 4 wins) and ÍR (with 3 wins); with ÍS finally breaking their dominance in 1959.

ÍR's dominance and the arrival of the Americans 1960-1980

From 1960 to 1964, ÍR, under the leadership of Helgi Jóhannsson, won five straight championships followed by KR winning four straight. From 1969 to 1977, ÍR added seven championships in 9 years. Its last victory in 1977 marked an end of an era and the rise of the Suðurnes rivals Keflavík and Njarðvík.

In September 1975, Jimmy Rogers became the first foreign born professional basketball player in Iceland when he signed a three-month contract with Ármann in preparations for their games against Honka Playboys in the FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup. Shortly later, KR signed fellow American Curtis Carter who immediately caught the attention of the fans and media with his powerful play and dunks. Together, they were credited for revolutionizing the Icelandic basketball scene. More Americans followed, including Rick Hockenos, Tim Dwyer and Danny Shouse.

Njarðvík's leadership

The next two decades, exactly from 1980–81 season to the 1997–98 season, Njarðvík (known as ÍKF until 1969) lead the league with 10 wins. In the same period, Keflavík won 4 titles and the KR won their eighth title.

Modern era

From the 2000–01 season, many teams have divided the lead of the league. In the 2005–06 season, the Njarðvík won their thirteenth title. In the following season, the 2006–07 season, the KR won their tenth title and one more year later, in the 2007–08 season, the Keflavík won their ninth title.

冰岛超级联赛是冰岛最高水平的篮球比赛,每年举办一次。这个锦标赛吸引了来自全国各地的顶级篮球俱乐部参加。比赛通常在冰岛各大城市的体育馆举行,为球迷们提供了观赏高水平篮球比赛的机会。

冰岛超级联赛的比赛水平非常高,参赛球队都是经过严格选拔的顶级球队。比赛期间,球员们展现出卓越的篮球技巧和团队合作能力,为观众们带来了精彩的比赛。

这个锦标赛的比赛规模庞大,吸引了大量的篮球爱好者和球迷。观众们可以在比赛现场感受到激烈的比赛氛围,并为自己支持的球队加油助威。

冰岛超级联赛不仅仅是一场篮球比赛,还是一个聚集篮球爱好者的社交活动。比赛期间,球迷们可以结识新朋友,分享篮球的乐趣,并共同见证顶级球队的较量。

总之,冰岛超级联赛是冰岛篮球界最重要的赛事之一,为球迷们提供了观赏高水平篮球比赛的机会,同时也是一个篮球爱好者相互交流的平台。无论是球员还是观众,都能在这个锦标赛中感受到篮球的魅力和激情。