Albanian national basketball team
| Albania | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| FIBA ranking | 92 | ||
| Joined FIBA | 1947 | ||
| FIBA zone | FIBA Europe | ||
| National federation | FSHB | ||
| Coach | Antonis Constantinides | ||
| Nickname(s) | Kuq e Zinjtë (The Red and Blacks) Shqiponjat (The Eagles) |
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| Olympic Games | |||
| Appearances | None | ||
| FIBA World Cup | |||
| Appearances | None | ||
| EuroBasket | |||
| Appearances | 2 (1947, 1957) | ||
| Medals | None | ||
| Uniforms | |||
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| First international | |||
 Italy 60–15 Albania  (Praha, Czechoslovakia; 27 April 1947) |
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| Biggest win | |||
Albania 112–77 Iceland  (Wolfenbüttel, FR Germany; 1975) |
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| Biggest defeat | |||
 Belgium 114–11 Albania (Praha, Czechoslovakia; 28 April 1947) |
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The Albanian national basketball team (Albanian: Federata Shqiptare e Basketbollit) is the national basketball team of Albania and it has represented the nation since 1947. Having not played a competitive game since 2012, the national team will return to action in 2016 for EuroBasket 2017 qualification.
Basketball was introduced in Albania in the early 20th century, and it became popular in the 1920s following the end of World War I as sports societies and clubs were being formed all over the country, and basketball was soon introduced to the major towns and cities in Albania. Basketball was played informally by teams representing different sports clubs, and it wasn't until September 1945 that a National Basketball Committee was formed that would be responsible for dealing with the issues basketball teams in the country faced. The committee paved the way for the creation of the Albanian Basketball Association (ABA) a year later in 1946, which became a member of FIBA in 1947, and whose main goals were to enable clubs to compete in national competitions, as well a promote the sport. The first National Championship in Albania was held in 1946, and a year later the first Women's National Championship also took place. In 1951 the ABA created the Republic's Cup, which was a competition open to all professional and amateur basketball clubs in Albania, with the women's and youth versions of the competition both starting in 1952. During the Communist regime in Albania, the National Spartakiad was held between 1959 and 1989, where basketball was one of the more popular sports in display in the country's biggest sports events. In 1999 the ABA held the first Albanian Basketball Supercups for men and women, which is played between the winners of the league and cup.
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