Country | Iceland |
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Confederation | FIBA Europe |
Founded | 1964 |
Number of teams | 10 |
Level on pyramid | 2 |
Promotion to | Úrvalsdeild |
Relegation to | Division II |
Domestic cup(s) | Bikarkeppni KKÍ |
Supercup | Meistarakeppni karla |
Current champions | Höttur (2nd title) |
Most championships | Þór Akureyri (6 titles) |
TV partners | Stöð 2 Sport, RÚV |
Website | KKÍ.is |
First Division or D1 (Icelandic: 1. deild karla) is the second tier basketball competition among clubs in Iceland. It is organized by the Icelandic Basketball Federation (Icelandic: Körfuknattleikssamband Íslands - KKÍ). The season consists of a home-and-away schedule of 18 games, followed by a four-team playoff round. Both semifinals and finals series are best-of-three. The top team from the regular-season phase and the four-team playoff round winner are promoted in the Úrvalsdeild. 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 Second Division (Icelandic: 2. deild karla).
The First Division (Icelandic: 1. deild karla) was founded in 1964. Up until 1978 it was known as Second Division (Icelandic: 2. deild karla).
For the first years, from its foundation in 1964 until the 1970–71 season, the First Division was led by the ÍS (with 3 wins) and ÍKF (with 2 wins).
Some years later, from the 1974–75 season, the Fram Reykjavík started their leadership on the First Division and their series of wins, that ended in the 1985-86 season when they won their fourth title.
In 1979, Danny Shouse joined Ármann and took the league by storm. On December 1, 1979, Shouse scored 100 points against Skallagrímur, setting the Icelandic single game scoring record. In January 1980 he scored 76 points in an overtime loss against Grindavík and in February he broke the 70 point barrier again, scoring 72 points against Þór Akureyri. His scoring prowess helped Ármann win Division I and achieve promotion to the Úrvalsdeild karla. Even though Shouse played in the nations tier 2 league during his first season, he was widely regarded as one of the best players in the country.