The Baloncesto Superior Nacional, abbreviated as BSN, is the first-tier-level professional men's basketball league in Puerto Rico. It was founded in 1929 and is organized by the Puerto Rican Basketball Federation.
The Baloncesto Superior Nacional, which is played under FIBA rules, currently consists of 12 teams, of which the most successful has been the Vaqueros de Bayamón with 16 titles as of 2022.
The league has produced players that have distinguished themselves in the NBA, EuroLeague, Spain's ACB, and other tournaments throughout the world. Among them, Georgie Torres was the first Puerto Rican to sign an NBA contract & Butch Lee was the first BSN player to win an NBA title. Later on came players like José Ortiz, Ramón Rivas, Daniel Santiago, Carlos Arroyo and J. J. Barea, who were other NBA players that started their careers playing for BSN teams.
Competition format
The BSN games are played under the regular FIBA basketball rules. The twelve teams each play a total of four games amongst themselves, two at home and two away, for a total of 44 games during the regular season. Of the 12 participating teams, the top 8 move on to the postseason.
History
The league began in 1930, and is noted for having had several head coaches who went on to achieve international recognition later in their careers. Among those are Basketball Hall of Fame members Dr. Jack Ramsay, Tex Winter and Red Holzman, who coached the Leones de Ponce in the 1950s and 1960s, and Phil Jackson, who coached the Piratas de Quebradillas and Gallitos de Isabela in the late 1980s. Others notable coaches who have worked for BSN teams include Gene Bartow, Lou Rossini, Del Harris, P. J. Carlesimo, Bernie Bickerstaff, Herb Brown and Sergio Hernández.
During the 1980s, notable players followed in the footsteps of players such as Juan "Pachin" Vicens (1959 Santiago Chile FIBA World Championship's All-Tournament Team) and Butch Lee, the first Puerto Rican and BSN player to enter the NBA. Among those are: Mario 'Quijote' Morales, Raymond Dalmau, Jose 'Piculin' Ortiz, Ramón Rivas, Jerome Mincy, Georgie Torres, Angelo Cruz, Angel Santiago, the late Federico 'Fico' Lopez, Rolando Frazer, Mario Butler, and Rubén Rodríguez, who showcased their talents to all of Puerto Rico's TV viewers and game goers.
New Era 2019-present
On September 19, 2019, the BSN team owners selected Ricardo Dalmau Santana to succeed Fernando Quiñones Bodea as president of the league.
In October 2020, there was a change in ownership with the Vaqueros de Bayamón with retired pro baseball player Yadier Molina purchasing his hometown team outright. In April 2021, the league approved the return of the Cangrejeros under the ownership of Noah Assad and Jonathan Miranda, who were later joined by urban artist Bad Bunny the following month. In October 2022 the Osos de Manatí returned from hiatus, when local Puerto Rican singer Ozuna had purchase the Brujos de Guayama and relocated the team to Manati.
Current teams
Defunct teams
Atenienses de Manatí (2014–2017); played their home games at the Juan Cruz Abreu Coliseum Avancinos de Villalba (1996–1998); played their home games at the José Ibem Marrero Coliseum Conquistadores de Aguada (1994–1998) Criollos de Caguas (1976–2009); played their home games at Héctor Solá Bezares Coliseum Gallitos de Isabela; played their home games at the Jose Abreu Coliseum Indios de Canóvanas; played their home games at Coliseo Carlos Miguel Mangual Maratonistas de Coamo (1985–1996, 1999–2015); played their home games at Edwin "Puruco" Nolasco Coliseum Polluelos de Aibonito (1977–2001); played their home games at Cancha Marron Aponte Santeros de Aguada (2016–2020); played their home games at the Ismael Delgado Coliseum Taínos de Cabo Rojo (1989–1993); played their home games at Rebekah Colberg Cabrera Coliseum Tiburones de Aguadilla (1990s–1998); played their home games at the Luis T. Diaz Coliseum Titanes de Morovis (1977–2006); played their home games in the José Pepe Huyke Coliseum Toritos de Cayey (2002–2004); played their home games at the Cayey Municipal Coliseum
Championships
Number of championships won by teams
*These titles are from Farmacia Martin, a team that later merged with the Atléticos de San Germán