Baloncesto Málaga

Unicaja
Unicaja logo
LeaguesLiga ACB
Champions League
Founded1977 (1977)
HistoryCaja de Ronda
(1977–1992)
Unicaja Mayoral
(1992–1993)
Unicaja Polti
(1993–1994)
Unicaja
(1994–present)
ArenaMartín Carpena
Capacity10,699[1]
LocationMálaga, Spain
Team colorsForest green, white, purple and lime
       
PresidentAntonio López Nieto
Head coachIbon Navarro
Team captainAlberto Díaz
OwnershipUnicaja
Championships1 Intercontinental Cup
2 Champions League
1 EuroCup
1 Korać Cup
1 Spanish Championship
3 Spanish Cup
1 Spanish Supercup
Retired numbers1 (5)
Websiteunicajabaloncesto.com
Unicaja Malaga 2024–25 Basketball Champions League championship ceremony

Baloncesto Málaga S.A.D.,[2] also known as Unicaja for sponsorship reasons, is a professional basketball club based in Málaga, Spain. The team plays in the Liga ACB and the Champions League.

Founded in 1977, the team is sponsored by the Spanish bank Unicaja and has carried that sponsorship name since 1992. They play their home games at the Palacio de Deportes José María Martín Carpena, shortly known as the "Martín Carpena". Unicaja has won one Liga ACB title, in 2006, as well as three Copas del Rey, one EuroCup, two Basketball Champions League, one FIBA Korać Cup and one FIBA Intercontinental Cup title.

History

Unicaja was originally founded in 1977, as CB Caja de Ronda.[3][4] In 1992, the club merged another ACB team in the city of Málaga, CB Maristas de Málaga, which was originally founded in 1953 as Ademar Basket Club. Over the years, the club has featured players like: Nacho Rodríguez, Berni Rodríguez, Carlos Cabezas, Jorge Garbajosa, Marcus Brown, Sergei Babkov, Michael Ansley, Louis Bullock, and Kenny Miller, as well as numerous other well-known players. The club won its first title, when it won the European-wide third tier level FIBA Korać Cup in the 2000–01 season. They then won the Spanish King's Cup title in 2005. The next year, in the 2005–06 season, Unicaja won its first-ever Spanish League championship.

The club finished its best years to date, by qualifying for the 2007 Euroleague Final Four, where it was defeated in the semifinals by CSKA Moscow, and thus finished in third place in the EuroLeague. In October 2007, Unicaja faced the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies in a friendly match, and they defeated the Grizzlies, by a score of 102–99. That was one of the 17 times that an NBA team has lost to a foreign club. Pau Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro, two of the greatest Spanish basketball players of all time, played for Memphis in that historical game.[5]

Málaga participated in the European-wide top-tier level league, the EuroLeague, for 15 consecutive seasons (2001–02 season to 2015–16 season). However, in the summer of 2015, it lost its EuroLeague A-licence. Therefore, in the 2016–17 season, Unicaja participated in the second tier level EuroCup. The club immediately won the EuroCup title, in its first season in the league, after winning over Valencia Basket in the league's Finals.[6]

In the 2023–24 season, Unicaja switched from Euroleague Basketball-organised competitions to FIBA's Basketball Champions League. It won the championship after defeating Canarias in the final, which took place in Belgrade.[7] As European champions, Unicaja then played in the 2024 FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Singapore, and won its first world-level title.

In the following 2024–25 season, Unicaja once again won the BCL championship, after defeating Galatasaray in the final of the Final Four in Athens.[8] They became the second team to win consecutive league titles, following San Pablo Burgos.[9]

Logos

  • Logo of the club since 2024.
    Logo of the club since 2024.
  • Former logo of the club.
    Former logo of the club.

Home arenas

ACB 2011–12 game between Unicaja and Real Madrid, at Martín Carpena.

Since 1999, Unicaja Málaga has played its home games at the Palacio de Deportes José María Martín Carpena arena. The arena originally seated 9,743 spectators for basketball games, and was expanded in the year 2010, to a current seating capacity of 11,300 people for basketball games.[10]

Players

Retired numbers

Unicaja retired numbers
No Nat. Player Position Tenure Ceremony date
5 Spain Berni Rodríguez SG 1998–2012 26 June 2012[11]
21 May 2017[12][13]

Current roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Unicaja roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Age
PF 0 Dominican Republic Spain Pérez, Tyson 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) 29 – (1996-01-29)29 January 1996
C 2 Poland Balcerowski, Aleksander 2.15 m (7 ft 1 in) 24 – (2000-11-19)19 November 2000
SG 4 United States Kalinoski, Tyler 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 32 – (1992-12-19)19 December 1992
SF 7 Spain Barreiro, Jonathan 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 28 – (1997-01-16)16 January 1997
PG 9 Spain Díaz, Alberto (C) 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 31 – (1994-04-23)23 April 1994
G/F 14 Bosnia and Herzegovina Germany Đedović, Nihad 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) 35 – (1990-01-12)12 January 1990
F/C 33 France Tillie, Killian 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 27 – (1998-03-05)5 March 1998
C 45 United States Bulgaria Kravish, David 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 32 – (1992-09-12)12 September 1992
PG 55 United States Montenegro Perry, Kendrick 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 32 – (1992-12-23)23 December 1992
F United States Webb III, James 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 32 – (1993-08-19)19 August 1993
G United States Bosnia and Herzegovina Castañeda, Xavier 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) 25 – (2000-03-26)26 March 2000
PF Bosnia and Herzegovina Finland Sulejmanović, Emir 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 30 – (1995-07-13)13 July 1995
SG Dominican Republic Canada Duarte, Chris 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 28 – (1997-07-13)13 July 1997
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Spain Alberto Miranda
  • Spain Ángel Sánchez Cañete
  • Spain Paco Aurioles
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured
Updated: July 3, 2025

Depth chart

Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2
C David Kravish Aleksander Balcerowski † Tyson Pérez †
PF Emir Sulejmanović James Webb III * Killian Tillie
SF Chris Duarte Jonathan Barreiro † Nihad Đedović †
SG Xavier Castañeda Tyler Kalinoski
PG Kendrick Perry Alberto Díaz †

Notes: Blue † – homegrown player[a]; Red * – overseas player[b]; Green ‡ – youth player[c]

Notable players

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Criteria

To appear in this section a player must have either:

  • Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club
  • Played at least one official international match for their national team at any time
  • Played at least one official NBA match at any time.

Head coaches

Season by season

Caja de Ronda

Season Tier Division Pos. W–L Copa del Rey Other cups European competitions
1978–79 2 1ª División B 10th 6–16
1979–80 2 1ª División B 9th 13–17
1980–81 2 1ª División B 1st 19–2–5
1981–82 1 1ª División 10th 10–1–15 Round of 16
1982–83 1 1ª División 12th 6–20 Quarterfinalist
1983–84 1 Liga ACB 10th 14–16
1984–85 1 Liga ACB 14th 13–19
1985–86 2 1ª División B 4th 18–15
1986–87 2 1ª División B 1st 24–10
1987–88 1 Liga ACB 14th 3–30 Copa Príncipe R16
1988–89 1 Liga ACB 5th 23–15 Quarterfinalist
1989–90 1 Liga ACB 5th 21–17 Round of 16 3 Korać Cup R1 1–1
1990–91 1 Liga ACB 10th 19–21 Third round 3 Korać Cup R1 0–2
1991–92 1 Liga ACB 14th 16–23 Second round

CB Maristas

Season Tier Division Pos. W–L Copa del Rey
1981–82 3 2ª División 1st
1982–83 3 2ª División 2nd
1983–84 3 2ª División 2nd
1984–85 2 1ª División B 16th 6–20
1985–86 3 2ª División 2nd
1986–87 2 1ª División B 18th 12–22
1987–88 2 1ª División B 4th 32–13
1988–89 1 Liga ACB 15th 22–17 First round
1989–90 1 Liga ACB 13th 18–22 Round of 16
1990–91 1 Liga ACB 14th 18–22 Second round
1991–92 1 Liga ACB 15th 15–22 First round

Unicaja

Season Tier Division Pos. W–L Copa del Rey Other cups European competitions
1992–93 1 Liga ACB 6th 19–14 First round
1993–94 1 Liga ACB 12th 13–18 Quarterfinalist
1994–95 1 Liga ACB 2nd 32–16 First round
1995–96 1 Liga ACB 6th 27–14 Quarterfinalist 1 European League GS 8–8
1996–97 1 Liga ACB 7th 22–17 3 Korać Cup QF 9–3
1997–98 1 Liga ACB 8th 20–17 3 Korać Cup R16 7–3
1998–99 1 Liga ACB 9th 18–16 Quarterfinalist 3 Korać Cup GS 2–4
1999–00 1 Liga ACB 8th 22–17 Quarterfinalist 3 Korać Cup RU 11–5
2000–01 1 Liga ACB 4th 30–11 Quarterfinalist 3 Korać Cup C 14–2
2001–02 1 Liga ACB 2nd 33–10 Semifinalist 1 Euroleague RS 6–8
2002–03 1 Liga ACB 3rd 29–15 Semifinalist 1 Euroleague T16 8–12
2003–04 1 Liga ACB 4th 23–19 1 Euroleague RS 4–10
2004–05 1 Liga ACB 3rd 27–16 Champion Supercopa 3rd 1 Euroleague RS 6–8
2005–06 1 Liga ACB 1st 35–10 Semifinalist Supercopa 4th 1 Euroleague T16 15–5
2006–07 1 Liga ACB 8th 17–20 Quarterfinalist Supercopa RU 1 Euroleague 3rd 14–11
2007–08 1 Liga ACB 4th 19–19 Quarterfinalist 1 Euroleague T16 13–7
2008–09 1 Liga ACB 3rd 27–11 Runner-up 1 Euroleague T16 10–6
2009–10 1 Liga ACB 4th 21–18 1 Euroleague T16 9–7
2010–11 1 Liga ACB 8th 19–17 1 Euroleague T16 6–10
2011–12 1 Liga ACB 9th 17–17 Quarterfinalist 1 Euroleague T16 4–12
2012–13 1 Liga ACB 9th 18–16 1 Euroleague T16 15–9
2013–14 1 Liga ACB 4th 26–15 Quarterfinalist 1 Euroleague T16 11–13
2014–15 1 Liga ACB 3rd 29–13 Semifinalist 1 Euroleague T16 8–16
2015–16 1 Liga ACB 6th 20–16 Supercopa RU 1 Euroleague T16 11–13
2016–17 1 Liga ACB 4th 24–14 Quarterfinalist 2 EuroCup C 13–9
2017–18 1 Liga ACB 7th 19–17 Quarterfinalist Supercopa SF 1 EuroLeague 9th 13–17
2018–19 1 Liga ACB 6th 22-15 Quarterfinalist 2 EuroCup QF 12–7
2019–20 1 Liga ACB 10th 15–13 Runner-up 2 EuroCup — 11–5
2020–21 1 Liga ACB 11th 17–19 Quarterfinalist 2 EuroCup T16 8–8
2021–22 1 Liga ACB 12th 13–21 3 Champions League QF 6–6
2022–23 1 Liga ACB 3rd 27–13 Champion 3 Champions League 4th 14–4
2023–24 1 Liga ACB 3rd 32–9 Quarterfinalist Supercopa RU 3 Champions League C 14–2
2024–25 1 Liga ACB 4th 26–14 Champion Intercontinental Cup C 3 Champions League C 15–1
Supercopa C

Honours and awards

Domestic competitions

Winners (1): 2005–06
Runners-up (2): 1994–95, 2001–02
Winners (3): 2005, 2023, 2025
Runners-up (2): 2009, 2020
Winners (1): 2024
Runners-up (3): 2006, 2015, 2023
  • Liga de Verano ACB [14]
Winners (4): 1994, 1995, 2000, 2002
Runners-up (1): 1999

European competitions

Third place (1): 2006–07
Winners (1): 2016–17
Winners (2): 2023–24, 2024–25
Winners (1): 2000–01
Runners-up (1): 1999–00

Worldwide competitions

Winners (1): 2024

Other competitions

  • 2nd division championships: (2)
    • 1ª División B: 1981, 1987
  • Andalusia Cup: (17)
    • 1996, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024.
  • Torrox, Spain Invitational Game
    • 2008
  • Trofeo de Platja d'Aro
    • 2008
  • Trofeo Pollinica
    • 2008
  • Trofeo Ciudad de Cordoba, Spain
    • 2009

Individual awards

ACB Finals MVP

Spanish Cup MVP

ACB Slam Dunk Champion

ACB Three Point Shootout Champion

  • Paco Vázquez – 2001

All-EuroLeague Second Team

All-ACB First Team

All-ACB Second Team

EuroCup Finals MVP

Basketball Champions League Final Four MVP

Reserve team

Baloncesto Málaga B is the reserve team of Unicaja, basketball based in Málaga.

From 2007 to 2016, Baloncesto Málaga had an agreement with CB Axarquía, for them to play as the club's main farm team, while Baloncesto Málaga B, which currently plays also under the name Unicaja, was the club's third team until the end of this contract.

Women's team

On 14 July 2017, the club announced the creation of a women's team.[15]

Just in its second season, Unicaja promoted to Liga Femenina 2.[16]

Season by season

Season Tier Division Pos.
2017–18 3 1ª División 2nd
2018–19 3 1ª División 1st

Notes

  1. ^ A homegrown player is a player that played for at least three years before the age of 20 on a Spanish team. In Liga ACB, the team must register at least four homegrown players in rosters of 10–12 players or at least three homegrown players in rosters of 8–9 players. In Champions League, the team must register at least five homegrown players in rosters of 11–12 players or at least four homegrown players in rosters of 10 players.
  2. ^ A overseas player is a player from outside EEA, FIBA Europe or ACP states. In Liga ACB, the team may register at most two overseas players. In Champions League, the team did not have any limitations regarding the number of overseas players.
  3. ^ In Liga ACB, the team may register under-22 players linked to the youth system.

References

  1. ^ "ACB.COM". www.acb.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 June 2024. AFORO: 10.699 espectadores
  2. ^ "Relación de SAD". CSD - Consejo Superior de Deportes (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  3. ^ HISTORIA (in Spanish).
  4. ^ History.
  5. ^ Unicaja defeats Memphis Grizzlies in NBA Euroleague Live 2007 Interbasket. 9 October 2007
  6. ^ "7DAYS EuroCup Finals, Game 3: Unicaja Malaga is the champion!". Eurocupbasketball.com. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  7. ^ "Paint it green: Unicaja win maiden BCL title in Belgrade". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  8. ^ "Final Four MVP Carter leads Unicaja to back-to-back BCL titles". www.championsleague.basketball. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  9. ^ "Unstoppable: Unicaja take down Galatasaray, win BCL again". www.championsleague.basketball. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  10. ^ "Palacio de Deportes, datos de interés" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2014-01-01. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
  11. ^ "El Unicaja retira el dorsal 5 en honor a Berni Rodríguez". www.acb.com (in Spanish). 26 June 2012. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  12. ^ "El dorsal "5" del Unicaja, para siempre en el Carpena en homenaje a Berni". www.acb.com (in Spanish). 19 May 2017. Archived from the original on 12 August 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  13. ^ "El 5 del "Eterno Capitán", para siempre en el Carpena". www.acb.com (in Spanish). 22 May 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  14. ^ Palmarés de las Ligas de Verano ACB - ACB.Com
  15. ^ "Nace Unicaja Baloncesto Femenino" [Unicaja women's basketball borns] (in Spanish). Unicaja Baloncesto. 14 July 2017.
  16. ^ "El Unicaja femenino logró el ascenso a Liga 2" [Unicaja Femenino achieved promotion to Liga 2] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. 20 May 2019.
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