Of all sports, basketball is the most popular in Latvia. For almost a century now, we have been witnessing breathtaking victories, experiencing surges of unforgettable emotions, and, what is more, we have been proud of Latvia, our country.
Basketball hoops are hoisted high in many a yard - in cities, towns and farmsteads. Basketball tournaments have become an integral part of various city anniversaries and art and culture festivals. Teams of medics, civil servants and parliament members compete and do it well.
The Latvian Basketball Union was established in 1923 and is one of the eight founders of the International Basketball Federation FIBA. Latvia won the First European Men's Basketball Championship in 1935. The Latvian women's basketball team TTT and its historical records of winning 17 European Championships and 18 USSR Championships have yet to be surpassed. At the end of the 1950s, the team ASK Riga were the winners of the first two European Cups. Basketball players from the VEF team followed suit, scoring brilliant victories and showing such ardent passion for the game that it often enabled them to gain the upper hand over the-then-mighty Moscow teams.
The most brilliant Latvian basketball players have become legends of world basketball, and their achievements have been inscribed in the golden pages of the Latvian basketball history. The origins of the Latvian Basketball League are closely related to Latvia regaining its independence. At present, basketball clubs of Latvia successfully participate in tournaments of SEB Baltic Basketball League and European clubs and a number of Latvian basketball players have been drafted to play for various clubs all over the world.
High rankings in European championships have always been within the reach of Latvia's national basketball teams and more often than ever Latvia hosts important tournaments with the participation of the best continental clubs. These achievements are the result of the never-ending popularity of the game, a constellation of excellent players and coaches, and hard work of the athletes.
