Okapi Aalst

{{Infobox Basketball club | name = Okapi Aalst | logo = Okapi Aalst logo.png | image_size = 180px | leagues = [[BNXT League]] | founded = {{Start date and age|df=y|1949|11|15}} | history = {{collapsible list|'''BBC Aalst''' 1949–2002 '''Okapi Aalstar''' 2002–2020 '''Okapi Aalst''' 2020–present}} | arena = Okapi Forum | capacity = 2,800 | location = [[Aalst, Belgium]] | colors = Blue, White, {{color box|#002FA7}} {{color box|white}} | president = Kristof De Saedeleer | ceo = Bart De Moor | coach = Olivier Foucart | captain = [[Ivan Maraš]] | championships = '''1''' [[Belgian Basketball Cup|Belgian Cup]] '''2''' [[Belgian Basketball Supercup|Belgian Supercups]] | website = [http://www.okapiaalst.be okapiaalst.be] |h_body= 002FA7 |h_pattern_b=_basket_in_white |h_shorts=FFFFFF |h_pattern_s=stripes |a_body= 002FA7 |a_pattern_b=_basket_with_white |a_shorts= 002FA7 |a_pattern_s=_stripes }} '''Okapi Aalst''' is a [[Belgium|Belgian]] professional [[basketball]] club from [[Aalst, Belgium|Aalst]], [[Belgium]]. The club competes in the top tier [[BNXT League]] and plays its home games in the Okapi Forum, which has a [[seating capacity]] of 2,800 people.

Okapi is a long-time participant of the Belgian first division, is the owner of one Belgian Cup and two Supercups. As well, Aalst was a regular participant in European competitions in the past.

In its history the team has included many quality players who would be named [[Ethias League MVP|Belgian League MVP]] or have played for top [[Euroleague]] and [[NBA]] teams, such as [[Chris Copeland]] and [[Matt Lojeski]].

==History== Okapi was founded on 15 November 1949 by a group of friends in Aalst, almost all going to the school named Aalsterse Atheneum. Piet de Coninck van Noyen was one of the founders. In 1956, Odilon Ringoir became the first chairman of the club. In 1957, the municipality of Aalst allowed the team to play outside at the Hopmarkt and as a result more spectators watched the team's matches. In the winter months, the team played inside a shoe factory in Terjoden. In the 1958–59 season, Okapi promoted to the fourth national league. In 1969, the first foreign players where signed to keep up with opposing teams.<ref name=history/>

In the 1969–70 season, Okapi won the national second division title in an impressive way by going unbeaten in all 44 games. In the 1970–71 season, the club made its maiden debut at the [[Pro Basketball League|First National League]]. The team stayed there for five years until it was relegated again. The downfall lasted shortly as the team promoted back the next season. In the following seasons, Okapi enjoyed the first league in which local Derbys against Black Boys Aalst were played. In 1980, the team relegated once again.<ref name="history">{{cite web |title=Geschiedenis |url=https://www.okapiaalst.be/teams/club-info/geschiedenis/ |website=Okapi Aalst |access-date=10 July 2021 |language=nl-BE}}</ref>

In the 2011–12 season, Aalstar won its first trophy ever with its [[Belgian Basketball Cup]] victory. Okapi defeated [[Antwerp Giants]] 96–89 after overtime.<ref name=cup/> By winning the Cup, Okapi qualified for the [[Belgian Basketball Supercup|Belgian Supercup]] the next season, which it also won after defeating [[BC Oostende]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20120930_038|title=Okapi Aalst wint Supercup basket|work=Het Nieuwsblad|date=30 September 2012 |access-date=30 August 2019}}</ref> In 2013, Okapi won the Supercup for the second consecutive year by beating Oostende once again.<ref name=supercup>{{cite web|url=http://www.sport.be/nl/basketbal/article.html?Article_ID=656966&v=08082017|title=Okapi Aalstar wint Supercup|work=sport.be|access-date=30 August 2019}}</ref>

In the 2013–14 season, Okapi reached the Finals of the Belgian League for the first time. In the Finals, the team was swept by Oostende, which went on to win its third straight title.

In June 2020, the team changed its name from Okapi Aalstar back to Okapi Aalst.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sporza.be/nl/2020/06/09/basketbalclub-aalstar-wordt-opnieuw-okapi-aalst~1591728340063/|title=Basketbalclub Aalstar wordt opnieuw Okapi Aalst|date=9 June 2020|work=sporza.be|access-date=13 June 2020}}</ref> Since the [[2021–22 BNXT League|2021–22 season]], Okapi plays in the [[BNXT League]], in which the national leagues of Belgium and the Netherlands have been merged.<ref>{{cite web |title=Licenties BNXT League 2021-2022 toegekend |url=https://www.dutchbasketballleague.nl/nieuws/licenties-bnxt-league-2021-2022-toegekend/ |website=Basketball League |access-date=10 July 2021 |language=nl}}</ref>

==Honours and titles== '''[[Basketball League Belgium Division I|Belgian League]]:''' *Runners-up (2): [[2013–14 Ethias League|2013–14]] [[2015-2016]]

'''[[Belgian Basketball Cup|Belgian Cup]]''' * '''Winners''' (1): 2011–12<ref name=cup>{{cite web|url=http://www.sport.be/nl/basketbal/article.html?Article_ID=577347&v=08082017|title=Aalstar wint knotsgekke bekerfinale|work=sport.be|access-date=30 August 2019}}</ref> **Runners-up (3): 1963–64, 1997–98, [[2012–13 Belgian Basketball Cup|2012–13]]

'''[[Belgian Basketball Supercup|Belgian Supercup]]''' *'''Winners''' (2): 2012, 2013<ref name=supercup/>

'''[[Belgian Second Division (basketball)|Belgian Second Division]]''' *'''Winners (3):''' 1969-70, 1974-75, 2005–06

==Season by season== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%" |- !Season !Tier !League !{{Tooltip|Pos.|Position after playoffs}} ![[Belgian Basketball Cup|Belgian Cup]] ! colspan=2 | European competitions ! colspan=2 | Other competitions |- | bgcolor=efefef | [[2011–12 Ethias League|2011–12]] || align=center| 1 || [[Basketball League Belgium Division I|BLB]] | align=center|5th | bgcolor=gold | Champion | '''3''' [[2011–12 FIBA EuroChallenge|EuroChallenge]] || align=center|{{Tooltip|T16|Top 16}} | colspan=2 | |- | bgcolor=efefef | [[2012–13 Ethias League|2012–13]] || align=center| 1 || [[Basketball League Belgium Division I|BLB]] | align=center|4th | bgcolor=silver | Runner–up | '''3''' [[2012–13 FIBA EuroChallenge|EuroChallenge]] || align=center|{{Tooltip|T16|Top 16}} | [[Belgian Basketball Supercup|Supercup]] || bgcolor=gold align=center|{{Tooltip|C|Champions}} |- | bgcolor=efefef | [[2013–14 Belgian Basketball League|2013–14]] || align=center| 1 || [[Basketball League Belgium Division I|BLB]] | bgcolor=silver align=center|2nd | [[2013–14 Belgian Basketball Cup|Semifinalist]] | '''3''' [[2013–14 FIBA EuroChallenge|EuroChallenge]] || align=center|{{Tooltip|RS|Regular Season}} | [[Belgian Basketball Supercup|Supercup]] || bgcolor=gold align=center|{{Tooltip|C|Champions}} |- | bgcolor=efefef | [[2014–15 Belgian Basketball League|2014–15]] || align=center| 1 || [[Basketball League Belgium Division I|BLB]] | align=center|3rd | [[2014–15 Belgian Basketball Cup|Semifinalist]] | '''3''' [[2014–15 EuroChallenge|EuroChallenge]] || align=center|{{Tooltip|T16|Top 16}} | colspan=2 | |- | bgcolor=efefef | [[2015–16 Belgian Basketball League|2015–16]] || align=center| 1 || [[Basketball League Belgium Division I|BLB]] | bgcolor=silver align=center|2nd | [[2015–16 Belgian Basketball Cup|Semifinalist]] | colspan=2| | colspan=2 | |- | bgcolor=efefef | [[2016–17 Belgian Basketball League|2016–17]] || align=center| 1 || [[Basketball League Belgium Division I|BLB]] | align=center|5th | [[2016–17 Belgian Basketball Cup|Semifinalist]] | colspan=2| | colspan=2 | |- | bgcolor=efefef | [[2017–18 Belgian Basketball League|2017–18]] || align=center| 1 || [[Basketball League Belgium Division I|BLB]] | align=center|4th | [[2017–18 Belgian Basketball Cup|Quarterfinalist]] | colspan=2| | colspan=2 | |- | bgcolor=efefef | [[2018–19 Pro Basketball League|2018–19]] || align=center| 1 || [[Basketball League Belgium Division I|BLB]] | align=center|7th | Quarterfinalist | colspan=2| | colspan=2 | |- | bgcolor=efefef | [[2019–20 Pro Basketball League|2019–20]]{{efn|The 2019–20 season was cancelled early due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].}} || align=center| 1 || [[Basketball League Belgium Division I|PBL]] | align=center|8th | | colspan=2| | colspan=2 | |- | bgcolor=efefef | [[2020–21 Pro Basketball League|2020–21]] || align=center| 1 || [[Basketball League Belgium Division I|PBL]] | align=center| 7th | [[2020–21 Belgian Basketball Cup|Semifinalist]] | colspan=2| | colspan=2 | |- | bgcolor=efefef | [[2021–22 BNXT League|2021–22]] || align=center| 1 || [[BNXT League|BNXT]] | align=center| 13th | align=center| – | colspan=2| | colspan=2 | |- | bgcolor=efefef | [[2022–23 BNXT League|2022–23]] || align=center| 1 || [[BNXT League|BNXT]] | align=center| 12th | align=center| – | colspan=2 | | colspan=2 | |- | bgcolor=efefef | [[2023–24 BNXT League|2023–24]] || align=center| 1 || [[BNXT League|BNXT]] | align=center| 15th | align=center| [[2023–24 Belgian Basketball Cup|Round of 16]] | colspan=2 | | colspan=2 | |- | bgcolor=efefef | [[2024–25 BNXT League|2024–25]] || align=center| 1 || [[BNXT League|BNXT]] | align=center| 13th | align=center| [[2024–25 Belgian Basketball Cup|Quarterfinalist]] | colspan=2 | | colspan=2 | |- | bgcolor=efefef | [[2025–26 BNXT League|2025–26]] || align=center| 1 || [[BNXT League|BNXT]] |style="background:#cc9966; text-align:center;"|3rd | align=center| [[2025–26 Belgian Basketball Cup|Quarterfinalist]] | colspan=2 | | colspan=2 | |} {{Notelist}}

==Logos== <gallery> Okapi Aalstar logo.png|The official Okapi Aalstar crest Crelan Okapi.png|'''Crelan Okapi Aalstar''' (2015–2020) </gallery>

==Players== {{See also|Category:Okapi Aalst players}}

===Current roster=== {{Basketball roster nationality note}} {{Basketball roster header|team=Okapi Aalst | wt=n}}  {{player3 | num = 0 | nat = USA | first = Eddie | last = Colbert III | pos = GF | m = 1.98 | year = | month = | date = }} {{player3 | num = 1 | nat = BEL | first = Daan | last = Pieters | pos = F | m = 1.96 | year = 2007 | month = 06 | date = 09 }} {{player3 | num = 2 | nat = BEL | first = Alexander| last = Raedschelders| pos = F | m = 1.98 | year = 2005 | month = 06 | date = 09 }} {{player3 | num = 3 | nat = MNE | first = Ivan | last = Maraš | pos = FC | m = 2.08 | year = 1986 | month = 04 | date = 20 | note=C}} {{player3 | num = 4 | nat = BEL | first = Jasper | last = Ünal | pos = SG | m = 1.87 | year = 2003 | month = 07 | date = 03 }} {{player3 | num = 5 | nat = BEL | first = Jorn | last = De Boeck | pos = SG | m = 1.84 | year = 2004 | month = 02 | date = 03 }} {{player3 | num = 6 | nat = BEL | first = Glenn | last = Temmerman | pos = G | m = 1.90 | year = 2001 | month = 07 | date = 01 }} {{player3 | num = 9 | nat = BEL | first = Niels | last = Van Den Eynde| pos = G | m = 1.78 | year = 2000 | month = 12 | date = 27 }} {{player3 | num = 10 | nat = BEL | first = Siebe | last = Ledegen | pos = F | m = 1.99 | year = 2003 | month = 01 | date = 16 }} {{player3 | num = 11 | nat = BEL | first = Ozzy | last = Massey | pos = SF | m = 1.95 | year = 2002 | month = 10 | date = 30 }} {{player3 | num = 15 | nat = BEL | first = Mattias | last = Palinckx | pos = C | m = 2.08 | year = 1997 | month = 02 | date = 17 }} {{player3 | num = 18 | nat = USA | first = Malcolm | last = Kreps | pos = SG | m = 1.80 | year = 2001 | month = 10 | date = 11 }} {{player3 | num = 21 | nat = USA | first = Dante | last = Maddox | pos = G | m = 1.88 | year = 2002 | month = 01 | date = 15 }} {{Basketball roster footer | head_coach = * {{flagicon|BEL}} Olivier Foucart | asst_coach = * {{flagicon|BEL}} Stijn Penninck | FA = yes | roster_url = https://www.okapiaalst.be/teams/okapi-a/ | transaction_url = https://www.okapiaalst.be/nieuws/ | accessdate = January 23, 2026 }}

===Notable players=== {{Basketball notable players criteria}} {{columns-list|colwidth=22em| *{{flagicon|USA}} [[Daren Queenan]] *{{flagicon|USA}} [[Chris Copeland]] *{{flagicon|USA}} [[Derek Raivio]] *{{flagicon|USA}} [[Justin Holiday]] *{{flagicon|USA}} [[Mike Doyle (basketball)|Mike Doyle]] *{{flagicon|USA}} [[Da'Sean Butler]] *{{flagicon|USA}} [[John Tofi]] *{{flagicon|USA}} [[Alex Ruoff]] *{{flagicon|USA}} [[Trevor Huffman]] *{{flagicon|USA}} [[Christopher Young (basketball)|Christopher Young]] *{{flagicon|USA}} [[Dante Maddox Jr.]] *{{flagicon|YUG}} [[Borislav Vučević]] *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Matt Lojeski]] *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Ronny Bayer]] *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Frank Van Impe]] *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Pieter Loridon]] *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Steve Ibens]] *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Thomas Van Den Spiegel]] *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Niels Van Den Eynde]] }}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.eurobasket.com/team.asp?Cntry=BEL&Team=331 Eurobasket.com team profile] {{in lang|en}}

[[Category:Basketball teams in Belgium]] [[Category:Sports clubs and teams in East Flanders]] [[Category:Aalst, Belgium|Okapi Aalster]] [[Category:Pro Basketball League teams]] [[Category:Basketball teams established in 1949]] [[Category:1949 establishments in Belgium]]