Legia Warsaw (basketball)

Did You Know?

• Legia's basketball players were the first Polish team to represent the country in European cup competitions.
• For European games, Legia has used the Arena COS Torwar.
• The team's current home hall, Hala OSiR Bemowo, was converted from a former aircraft hangar.

History

The basketball section of Legia Warsaw was founded in 1929, playing its first game on December 8, 1929, a 31–5 victory over Jutrznia. After a hiatus during World War II, the team was reactivated in 1947 by students from Stefana Batorego, winning the national high school championship and eventually returning to the top league in 1951. Legia played its first international match on September 6, 1953, against UDA Praha. The club won its first national championship in 1956 with a 14–4 record.

The following season, Legia secured a second consecutive title after a decisive game against ŁKS (then competing as Włókniarz Łódź) that required five overtimes; Legia lost that game 77–75 but still won the championship, as it was their only loss in that phase. In the second round they faced Rīgas ASK, then the best team in Europe; though Legia did not advance, their victory in Warsaw was a major surprise. Over 13 years in the 1950s and 1960s, Legia won seven national titles and two Polish cups.

In the 2002–03 season, severe financial problems prevented the club from paying players, most of whom left; Legia finished the season with junior players and was relegated from the top league.