{{Short description|Estonian basketball team}} {{about|the basketball club dissolved in 2005|the previous Ehitustööriist|BC Kalev|the previous Pirita|BC Tallinna Kalev}} {{Infobox Basketball club | color1 = #FFFFFF | color2 = #007AC3 | color3 = #FFFFFF | name = KK Kalev | nickname = Kalev | logo = | imagesize = | leagues = USSR Premier Basketball League<br>Korvpalli Meistriliiga | founded = 1920 | dissolved = 2005 | history = '''Kalev'''<br>(1920–1994)<br>'''Kalev/Auma'''<br>(1994-95)<br>'''Kalev'''<br>(1995–2005) | arena = Kalev Sports Hall | location = Tallinn, Estonia | colors = Blue, White<br/>{{color box|#007AC3}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}} | president = | coach = | championships = '''1''' Soviet Championship<br>'''18''' Estonian Championships<br>'''9''' Estonian Cups | website = | h_body =007AC3 | h_pattern_b = _whitesides | h_shorts =007AC3 | h_pattern_s = _whitesides | a_body =FFFFFF | a_pattern_b =_bluesides | a_shorts =FFFFFF | a_pattern_s =_bluesides }} '''Kalev''' (also known as '''Tallinn Kalev''', '''Korvpalliklubi Kalev''') was a professional basketball club from Tallinn, Estonia. The team played in the Estonian Basketball League and in the Soviet Union Basketball League. Their home arena was Kalev Sports Hall.
Kalev was a professional basketball team representing Estonia in Soviet Union Basketball League until 1992; thereafter Kalev was designed like a national team with the best 12 players from all over Estonia.
==History== Kalev was founded in 1920 with the eponymous sports Estonian society. Kalev became winner of the second to last championship of the USSR Premier Basketball League in 1991 <ref>[http://www.the-sports.org/basketball-soviet-union-premier-league-presentation-medal-winners-s6-c0-b0-g52-t4037.html The-Sports.org Soviet Union Premier League : presentation and medal winners.]</ref> and in 1991–92 season the team became runner-up of the open Commonwealth of Independent States league.<ref>[http://sports123.com/bsk/msov.html Sports123.com Basketball Men: Soviet Union: Championship.]</ref> After the collapse of the Soviet Union leading players left to play in European basketball clubs. In the season 1993–94 the club almost collapsed, and a year later, in season 1994–95, played in the Estonian Championship already under brand Kalev/Auma. In the 1995–96 season the team is regaining its former name in saw the return of Martin Müürsepp and Margus Metstak, and in the 1996–97 season Tiit Sokk returned from Panathinaikos. In the 1999–98 season for the club signed Rauno Pehka and Gert Kullamäe who returned to the team Sergei Babenko and American players. In the same season Tiit Sokk leaves from Tallinn to play in Greece. In the 1999–2000 season the club won the champion of Estonia. The season 2004–05 became runner-up of the Estonian Cup. The next season the historic Kalev merged into BC Kalev/Cramo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohtuleht.ee/178338/sooniku-kalev-taandub|title=Sooniku Kalev taandub|language=Estonian|publisher=Õhtuleht|date=1 August 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ekspress.delfi.ee/news/paevauudised/kalev-on-surnud-elagu-kalev?id=69019517|title=Kalev on surnud? Elagu Kalev!|language=Estonian|publisher=Delfi|date=30 June 2005}}</ref>
Kalev is often confused with Estonian team Tallinna/Kalev TLÜ, which has no connections with KK Kalev.
==Honours & achievements== '''USSR League''' * Winners (1): 1990–91 * Runners-up (1): 1991–92 '''USSR Cup''' * Runners-up (1): 1977–78 '''Estonian League''' * Winners (18): 1927, 1930, 1931, 1943, 1944 (<small>winter</small>), 1945, 1946, 1947, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03, '''Estonian Cup''' * Winners (9): 1946, 1948, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1995–96, 2000-01
== Notable players == ===Players on the NBA draft=== {{NBA Draft legend|}} {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left;" |- ! style="{{Basketball color cell|KK Kalev}}"| Position ! style="{{Basketball color cell|KK Kalev}}"| Player ! style="{{Basketball color cell|KK Kalev}}"| Year ! style="{{Basketball color cell|KK Kalev}}"| Round ! style="{{Basketball color cell|KK Kalev}}"| Pick ! style="{{Basketball color cell|KK Kalev}}"| Drafted by |- |PF/C |{{flagicon|EST}} Martin Müürsepp |1996 |1st round |25th |Utah Jazz, traded to Miami Heat |}
{{Basketball notable players criteria}}{{Columns-list|* {{Flagicon|EST}} Jaak Salumets * {{Flagicon|EST}} Heino Enden * {{Flagicon|EST}} Jaak Lipso * {{Flagicon|EST}} Tiit Sokk * {{Flagicon|EST}} Aleksei Tammiste * {{Flagicon|EST}} Joann Lõssov * {{Flagicon|EST}} Martin Müürsepp * {{Flagicon|EST}} Margus Metstak * {{Flagicon|EST}} Gert Kullamäe * {{Flagicon|EST}} Aivar Kuusmaa * {{Flagicon|EST}} Valmo Kriisa * {{Flagicon|EST}} Rauno Pehka * {{Flagicon|EST}} Kristjan Kangur|colwidth=}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.fibaeurope.com/pageID_ls1bk3afInUm5w6Y5KKKX1.compID_BYg5Rb55Jw-G5I3MZ6JB01.season_2004.roundID_3670.teamID_1471.html Tallinn Kalev on Fibaeurope.com]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tallinna Kalev (1920-2005)}} Category:Basketball teams in Estonia