Serie A2 (basketball)

{{Short description|Professional men's basketball league in Italy}} {{For|the women's league|Serie A2 (women's basketball)}} {{update|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox basketball league |name = Serie A2 |image = Lega Nazionale Pallacanestro.png |pixels = 180 |country = Italy |other countries= |organiser = Lega Nazionale Pallacanestro (LNP) |fed = |confed = FIBA Europe |founded = {{Start date and age|1974}} |first = 1974–75 |folded = |divisions = |teams = 20 |feeds = |promotion = LBA |relegation = Serie B |levels = 2 | pyramid = Italian basketball league system |domest_cup = Coppa Italia LNP |supercup = Supercoppa LNP |overseas_tournament= |confed_cup = | champions = | most_champs = 18 teams<br/>(1 title each) |top_scorer = | tv = {{ill|Lega Nazionale Pallacanestro|lt=LNP|it|Lega Nazionale Pallacanestro (2013)}} |sponsor = | president = | ceo = |website = [http://www.legapallacanestro.com/ legapallacanestro.com] |current = }}

'''Serie A2''', known for sponsorship reasons as '''Serie A2 Old Wild West''', is a men's basketball league in Italy. It constitutes the second-tier of the Italian league pyramid, below the first division LBA and above the third division Serie B, with promotion/relegation occurring between these leagues.

It is run by the Lega Nazionale Pallacanestro (LNP), itself regulated by the FIP, the Italian federation.

==Names== <div style="font-size:100%"> {| |- |width="20"|  |valign="top"| * 1974–2001: '''Serie A2''' * 2001–2013: '''LegaDue Basket''' * 2013–2014: '''Divisione Nazionale A Gold Basket''' * 2014–''present'': '''Serie A2''' |} </div>

== History == thumb|right|Logo used from 2013 until 2019 The league was created in May 1974, by the Lega Basket, the organisation in charge of running the LBA (to this day), that decided to create a new second division with 10 clubs. The two that were relegated during that season, and 8 from the now-former second tier Serie B, chosen with an on and off the court criteria.

The 1975–76 season saw 12 clubs take part, after a complicated system had seen a transfer of clubs from the Serie A1 to the A2.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.legabasket.it/other/storia.pdf#page=2 |title=Storia della Lega Basket |author= |website=Lega Basket.it |access-date=7 August 2015 |language=Italian |trans-title=Lega Basket history}}</ref>

In June 2001, the LegaDue was created to replace the Serie A2. Lega Basket now took part in running the league, though a system of promotion and relegation between the leagues remained.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.legabasket.it/other/storia.pdf#page=6 |title=Storia della Lega Basket |author= |website=Lega Basket.it |access-date=7 August 2015 |language=Italian |trans-title=Lega Basket history}}</ref>

During the 2013 summer, another revamp was decided. The LegaDue was amalgamated with the third division DNA, to form a two-tiered league, the DNA (Divisione Nazionale A) Gold and DNA Silver. The two DNA's had separate season's, but the first ranked team in DNA Silver joined the seven best Gold teams to compete for the single promotion spot in the Serie A. The next best eight Silver squads fought for one spot in the next Gold season, whilst the three worst teams were relegated.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Basket/Italia/04-10-2013/legadue-nuova-via-mancinelli-soragna-basile-amoroso-rocca-di-bella-201292012247.shtml |title=Al via Lega Gold e Silver. Nuova formula e tanti big |last=Sciascia |first=Giuseppe |date=4 October 2013 |website=Gazzetta.it |access-date=7 August 2015 |language=Italian |trans-title=At the start of the Gold and Silver League. A new formula and so many stars}}</ref>

The next season saw the league retake its Serie A2 moniker, keeping a similar but tweaked hybrid model, with the eight best Gold and the four best Silver teams taking part in the promotion playoffs (still for the one spot), whilst the last two Gold and the penultimate and ante-penultimate Silver squads play a relegation play out (the last ranked Silver team was relegated outright).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Basket/03-10-2014/basket-serie-a2-via-domenica-ultima-stagione-divisa-due-90633578955.shtml |title=Basket, Serie A2: al via domenica l'ultima stagione divisa in due |last=Banzola |first=Alberto |date=3 October 2014 |website=Gazzetta.it |access-date=7 August 2015 |language=Italian |trans-title=Basketball, Serie A2: at the start [of the league] on Sunday, the last season divided in two}}</ref>

== Competition format == For the 2015–16 season, the Serie A2 Basket is composed of 32 teams with a regional subdivision in two equal groups of sixteen, East and West.

Each team plays the others in its subgroup twice, the first ranked team of each group then plays the eighth ranked team of the other group (e.g. East #1 against West #8), then the second best against the seventh, and so on, to form a promotion playoffs (for one place) of sixteen teams.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legapallacanestro.com/home/comunicato-lnp-sulle-delibere-del-consiglio-federale/ |title=Comunicato LNP sulle delibere del Consiglio Federale |author= |date=25 June 2015 |website=LegaPallacanestro.com |access-date=7 August 2015 |language=Italian |trans-title=LNP press release on the Federal Council resolutions |archive-date=28 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150728092851/http://www.legapallacanestro.com/home/comunicato-lnp-sulle-delibere-del-consiglio-federale/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Since the 2018–19 season the Playoffs winner is the third promoted team to LBA. The two other promoted clubs, which are also the top seeded on the League Table at the end of the Regular Season, have to face a final of two matches to decide the winner of the Serie A2.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sportando.basketball/fortitudo-virtus-sara-la-finale-per-il-campione-ditalia-serie-a2/ |title=Fortitudo - Virtus sarà la finale per il campione d'Italia Serie A2 |author= |website=sportando.basketball |access-date=26 April 2019 |language=Italian |trans-title=Fortitudo - Virtus will be the Final for the champion of the Italian Serie A2 |archive-date=26 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426145354/https://sportando.basketball/fortitudo-virtus-sara-la-finale-per-il-campione-ditalia-serie-a2/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Since the 2019–20 season the Playoffs winners (2 tournaments) are promoted to LBA.

== Current clubs (2024–2025) == {| class="wikitable sortable" !Team !City |- |Avellino Basket || Avellino |- |Fortitudo Bologna || Bologna |- |New Basket Brindisi || Brindisi |- |Pallacanestro Cantù || Cantù |- |Benedetto XIV Cento || Cento |- |UEB Cividale || Cividale del Friuli |- |Juvi Cremona 1952 || Cremona |- |Pallacanestro Forlì || Forlì |- |Libertas Livorno || Livorno |- |Urania Milano || Milan |- |Nardò Basket || Nardò |- |OrziBasket || Orzinuovi |- |Victoria Libertas Pesaro || Pesaro |- |Unione Cestistica Casalpusterlengo || Piacenza |- |Real Sebastiani Rieti || Rieti |- |Rinascita Basket Rimini || Rimini |- |Basket Torino || Turin |- |APU Udine || Udine |- |Scaligera Basket Verona || Verona |- |Nuova Pallacanestro Vigevano 1955 || Vigevano |}

==League champions== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left" |- !Season !Champions !Other promoted team |- | 2001–02 || '''Pastificio di Nola Napoli''' || – |- | 2002–03 || '''Sanic Teramo''' || Pallacanestro Messina |- | 2003–04 || '''Bipop Reggio Emilia''' || Sicc Cucine Jesi |- | 2004–05 || '''Upea Capo d'Orlando''' || Caffè Maxim Bologna |- | 2005–06 || '''Eurorida Scafati''' || Premiata Montegranaro |- | 2006–07 || '''Sebastiani Rieti''' || Scavolini Pesaro |- | 2007–08 || '''Carife Ferrara''' || Pepsi Caserta |- | 2008–09 || '''Pallacanestro Varese''' || Vanoli Soresina |- | 2009–10 || '''Enel Brindisi''' || Dinamo Sassari |- | 2010–11 || '''A.S. Junior Pallacanestro Casale''' || Reyer Venezia |- | 2011–12 || '''Trenkwalder Reggio Emilia''' || Enel Brindisi |- | 2012–13 || '''Pistoia Basket 2000''' || – |- | 2013–14 || '''Aquila Basket Trento''' || – |- | 2014–15 || '''Manital Torino''' || – |- | 2015–16 || '''Centrale del Latte Brescia''' || – |- | 2016–17 || '''Segafredo Virtus Bologna''' || – |- | 2017–18 || '''Alma Pallacanestro Trieste''' || – |- | 2018–19 || '''Lavoropiù Fortitudo Bologna''' || Virtus Roma & Treviso |- | 2019–20 || ''Not assigned''{{efn|Due to the COVID-19 pandemic}}|| – |- | 2020–21 || '''GeVi Napoli''' & '''Bertram Tortona'''|| – |- | 2021–22 || '''Scaligera Verona''' || – |- | 2022–23 || '''Vanoli Basket''' || Giorgio Tesi Group Pistoia |- | 2023–24 || '''Pallacanestro Trieste''' & '''Trapani Shark''' || – |- | 2024–25 || '''APU Udine''' || Acqua S.Bernardo Cantù |- | 2025–26 || '''Givova Scafati''' || |- |}

==MVP== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; width: 50%;" |- !width=5%|Season !width=25%|MVP !width=20%|Team |- |2009–10 || {{flagicon|USA}} Omar Thomas || New Basket Brindisi |- |2010–11 || {{flagicon|USA}} Ricky Hickman || Junior Casale |- |2011–12 || {{flagicon|USA}} Dwight Hardy || Pistoia Basket |- |2012–13 || {{flagicon|USA}} Casper Ware || Junior Casale |- |2013–14 || {{flagicon|ITA}} Davide Pascolo || Aquila Basket Trento |- |2014–15<ref name=2015Migliori>{{cite web |url=http://www.legapallacanestro.com/a2/serie-a2-gold-monroe-e-ramagli-i-migliori-della-stagione-2014-15/ |title=Serie A2 Gold, Monroe e Ramagli i migliori della stagione 2014-15 |author= |date=24 April 2015 |website=LegaPallacanestro.com |access-date=7 August 2015 |language=Italian |trans-title=Serie A2 Gold, Monroe and Ramagli the 2014-15 season's best |archive-date=26 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426135811/http://www.legapallacanestro.com/a2/serie-a2-gold-monroe-e-ramagli-i-migliori-della-stagione-2014-15/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> || {{flagicon|USA}} Darryl Monroe || Tezenis Verona |- |2015–16<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legapallacanestro.com/damian-hollis-%C3%A8-il-novipi%C3%B9-mvp-della-finale/ |title=Damian Hollis è il Novipiù MVP della finale |author= |website=basketnet.it |access-date=25 June 2016 |language=Italian |trans-title=Damian Hollis is the Novipiù MVP of the final}}</ref> || {{flagicon|USA}} Damian Hollis || Centrale del Latte Brescia |}

==Best Coach== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; width: 50%;" |- !width=5%|Season !width=25%|Coach !width=20%|Team |- |2003–04 || {{flagicon|ITA}} Fabrizio Frates || Pallacanestro Reggiana |- |2004–05 || {{flagicon|ITA}} Giovanni Perdichizzi || Orlandina Basket |- |2005–06 || {{flagicon|ITA}} Luca Dalmonte || Basket Club Ferrara |- |2006–07 || {{flagicon|ITA}} Giampiero Ticchi || Basket Rimini Crabs |- |2007–08 || {{flagicon|ITA}} Sandro Dell'Agnello || Basket Livorno |- |2008-09 || {{flagicon|ITA}} Andrea Trinchieri || Veroli Basket |- |2009–10 || {{flagicon|ITA}} Luigi Garelli || Nuova Pallacanestro Vigevano |- |2010–11 || {{flagicon|ITA}} Giulio Griccioli || Scafati Basket |- |2011–12 || {{flagicon|ITA}} Massimiliano Menetti || Pallacanestro Reggiana |- |2012–13 || {{flagicon|ITA}} Alberto Martelossi || Basket Brescia Leonessa |- |2013–14 || {{flagicon|ITA}} Maurizio Buscaglia || Aquila Basket Trento |- |2014–15<ref name=2015Migliori /> || {{flagicon|ITA}} Alessandro Ramagli || Scaligera Basket Verona |- |2015–16<ref>[http://www.megabasket.it/2016/06/06/featured/eugenio-dalmasson-alma-trieste-allenatore-dellanno-per-la-serie-a2-citroen/ Eugenio Dalmasson (Alma Trieste) allenatore dell’anno per la Serie A2 Citroen {{in lang|it}}.]</ref> || {{flagicon|ITA}} Eugenio Dalmasson || Trieste |- |2019–20 || NOT ASSIGNED || |- |2020–21 || {{flagicon|ITA}} Alessandro Ramagli || Scaligera Basket Verona |}

Regular season, play-offs not included.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;" |- ! colspan="7" style="text-align:center;background-color:silver;" | Top scorers by scoring average (1987–88 to present) |- !Season !Player<br/>(league's top scorer) !Club !Scoring average |-

| align="center" | 1982–83 || {{flagicon|USA}} Roscoe Pondexter || Cover Jeans Roseto || align="center" | 30.7 |- |- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 1983–84 || {{flagicon|YUG}} Dražen Dalipagić || Gedeco Udine || align="center" | 29.1 |-

| align="center" | 1984–85 || {{flagicon|USA}} Joe Bryant || Rieti || align="center" | 32.6 <ref>[https://www.pistoiasport.com/serie-a2-joe-bryant-nel-quintetto-all-time-fu-top-scorer-con-lolimpia-pistoia/ Serie A2, Joe Bryant in the quintet “All Time”: he was top scorer with Olimpia Pistoia - pistoiasport.com]</ref>

|- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 1985–86 || {{flagicon|USA}} Joe Bryant || Rieti || align="center" | 37.6

|- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 1986–87 || {{flagicon|USA}} Joe Bryant || Reggio Calabria || align="center" | 33.3

|- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 1987–88 || {{flagicon|USA}} Joe Bryant (4×)|| Pistoia || align="center" | 36.3

|- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 1988–89 || {{flagicon|YUG}} Dražen Dalipagić (2×)|| Glaxo Verona || align="center" | 35.3

|- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 1988–90 || {{flagicon|USA}} Mike Mitchell || Filodoro Brescia || align="center" | 32.4

|- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 1990–91 || {{flagicon|BRA}} Oscar Schmidt || Pavia || align="center" | 43.6

|- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 1991–92 || {{flagicon|USA}}{{flagicon|IRE}} Ron Rowan || Pistoia || align="center" | 31.9

|- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 1992-93 || {{flagicon|BRA}} Oscar Schmidt (2×) || Pavia || align="center" | 39.2

|- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 1993–94 || {{flagicon|CRO}} Arijan Komazec || Pallacanestro Varese || align="center" | 31.8

|- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 1994–95 || {{flagicon|ITA}} Carlton Myers || Rimini || align="center" | 30.5

|- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 1995–96 || {{flagicon|USA}} Mike Mitchell (2×) || Pallacanestro Reggiana || align="center" | 32.8

|- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 1996–97 || {{flagicon|USA}} Kareem Townes || Juvecaserta || align="center" | 26.8

|- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 1997–98 || {{flagicon|USA}} Steve Burtt || Imola || align="center" | 27.9 <ref>[https://www.eurobasket.com/Italy/basketball-league-serie-a2_1997-1998.aspx Serie A2 (1997-1998) - eurobasket.com]</ref> |- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 1998–99 || {{flagicon|USA}} Rodney Monroe || Termal Imola || align="center" | 25.1 <ref>[https://www.eurobasket.com/Italy/basketball-league-serie-a2_1998-1999.aspx Serie A2 (1998-1999) - eurobasket.com]</ref> |- | align="center" | 1999–00 || {{flagicon|USA}} Rodney Monroe (2×) || Fabriano Basket || align="center" | 21.8 <ref>[https://www.eurobasket.com/Italy/basketball-league-serie-a2_1999-2000.aspx Serie A2 (1999-2000) - eurobasket.com]</ref> |- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 2000–01 || {{flagicon|USA}} Antonio Granger || Pallacanestro Biella || align="center" | 25.6 <ref>[https://www.eurobasket.com/Italy/basketball-league-serie-a2_2000-2001.aspx Serie A2 (2000-2001) - eurobasket.com]</ref> |- | align="center" | 2001–02 || {{flagicon|USA}} Horace Jenkins || C.S. Borgomanero || align="center" |30.4 |- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 2002-03 || {{flagicon|ITA}} Mario Boni || Teramo Basket || align="center" | 29.2 <ref>[https://www.eurobasket.com/Italy/basketball-legadue_2002-2003.aspx Serie A2 (2002-2003) - eurobasket.com]</ref> |- |- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 2003–04 || {{flagicon|USA}} Drew Nicholas || Fabriano Basket || align="center" | 27.1 <ref>[https://www.eurobasket.com/Italy/basketball-legadue_2003-2004.aspx Serie A2 (2003-2004) - eurobasket.com]</ref> |- |- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 2004-05 || {{flagicon|ITA}} Vincenzo Esposito || Imola || align="center" | 26.9 <ref>[https://www.eurobasket.com/Italy/basketball-legadue_2004-2005.aspx Serie A2 (2004-05) - eurobasket.com]</ref> |- | align="center" | 2005-06 || {{flagicon|USA}} Sean Colson || JuveCaserta || align="center" | 30.6 <ref>[https://www.eurobasket.com/Italy/basketball-legadue_2005-2006.aspx Serie A2 (2005-2006) - eurobasket.com]</ref> |- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 2006-07 || {{flagicon|USA}} Lionel Chalmers || Dinamo Sassari || align="center" | 26.7 |- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 2007-08|| {{flagicon|USA}} Tim Pickett || Termal Imola || align="center" | 22.6 <ref>[https://www.eurobasket.com/Italy/basketball-legadue_2007-2008.aspx Serie A2 (2007-08) - eurobasket.com]</ref> |- |- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 2008-09|| {{flagicon|USA}} Joe Bunn || Termal Imola || align="center" | 23.2 <ref>[https://www.eurobasket.com/Italy/basketball-legadue_2008-2009.aspx Serie A2 (2008-09) - eurobasket.com]</ref> |- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 2009-10|| {{flagicon|USA}} Trent Whiting || Termal Imola || align="center" | 22.3 <ref>[https://www.eurobasket.com/Italy/basketball-legadue_2009-2010.aspx Serie A2 (2009-10) - eurobasket.com]</ref> |- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 2010-11|| {{flagicon|USA}} Trent Whiting (2×) || Termal Imola || align="center" | 22.4 <ref>[https://www.eurobasket.com/Italy/basketball-legadue_2010-2011.aspx Serie A2 (2010-11) - eurobasket.com]</ref> |- bgcolor=#F5F5F5 | align="center" | 2011-12|| {{flagicon|USA}} Troy Bell || Azzurro Napoli Basket || align="center" | 23.2 <ref>[https://www.eurobasket.com/Italy/basketball-legadue_2011-2012.aspx Serie A2 (2011-12) - eurobasket.com]</ref> |}

<small>Source: [http://web.legabasket.it/statistics/index.do.phtml LegaBasket.it STATISTICHE {{in lang|it}}.]</small>

==Distinctions== These players have played in the Serie A2.

===FIBA Hall of Fame=== *{{flagicon|BRA}} Oscar Schmidt *{{flagicon|YUG}} Dražen Dalipagić

===Basketball Hall of Fame=== *{{flagicon|BRA}} Oscar Schmidt *{{flagicon|YUG}} Dražen Dalipagić *{{flagicon|USA}} Bob McAdoo *{{flagicon|USA}} Alex English

===FIBA's 50 Greatest Players (1991)=== *{{flagicon|BRA}} Oscar Schmidt *{{flagicon|YUG}} Dražen Dalipagić *{{flagicon|ITA}} Antonello Riva

===Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame=== *{{flagicon|USA}} Alex English *{{flagicon|USA}} Bob McAdoo

==See also== *Italian LNP Cup

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Sources== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20250920055617/https://www.playbasket.it/view.php?type=1&lang=it&id=104520&eid=1&obj=3106 Top scorers per season] playbasket.it

==External links== *[http://www.legapallacanestro.com/ Official website] {{in lang|it}}

Category:Serie A2 Basket 2 Italy Category:1974 establishments in Italy Italy