Baloncesto Málaga
Baloncesto Málaga S.A.D., 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.
Article
Baloncesto Málaga
Unicaja Malaga 2024–25 Basketball Champions League championship ceremony
Baloncesto Málaga S.A.D., 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 two FIBA Intercontinental Cup titles.
History
Baloncesto Málaga
Unicaja was originally founded in 1977, as CB Caja de Ronda. 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.
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.
From 2001–02 to 2020–21 seasons, the team competes in Euroleague Basketball competitions, until they switched to FIBA's Basketball Champions League since the 2021–22 season. In the 2023–24 season, Uncaja won the championship after defeating Canarias in the final, which took place in Belgrade. 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. They became the second team to win consecutive league titles, following San Pablo Burgos.
Logos
Baloncesto Málaga
• Logo of the club since 2024. • Former logo of the club.
Home arenas
Baloncesto Málaga
ACB 2011–12 game between Unicaja and Real Madrid, at Martín Carpena.
• Pabellón Guadaljaire (1977–78) • Pabellón Tiro Pichón (1978–81) • Pabellón Ciudad Jardín (1981–99) • Palacio de Deportes José María Martín Carpena (1999–present)
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.
Players
Retired numbers
<table><thead><tr><th>Unicaja retired numbers</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>No</td><td>Nat.</td><td>Player</td><td>Position</td><td>Tenure</td><td>Ceremony date</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td></td><td>Berni Rodríguez</td><td>SG</td><td>1998–2012</td><td>26 June 2012 21 May 2017</td></tr></tbody></table>
Current roster
<table><thead><tr><th>Unicaja roster</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Players</td><td>Coaches</td></tr><tr><td>Pos.</td><td>No.</td><td>Nat.</td><td>Name</td><td>Ht.</td><td></td><td>Age</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>PF</td><td>0</td><td></td><td>Pérez, Tyson</td><td>2.02 m (6 ft 8 in)</td><td></td><td>30 – 29 January 1996</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>G</td><td>1</td><td></td><td>Audige, Chase</td><td>1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)</td><td></td><td>26 – 26 June 1999</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>C</td><td>2</td><td></td><td>Balcerowski, Aleksander</td><td>2.15 m (7 ft 1 in)</td><td></td><td>25 – 19 November 2000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>F</td><td>3</td><td></td><td>Webb III, James</td><td>2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)</td><td></td><td>32 – 19 August 1993</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>SG</td><td>4</td><td></td><td>Kalinoski, Tyler</td><td>1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)</td><td></td><td>33 – 19 December 1992</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>SF</td><td>7</td><td></td><td>Barreiro, Jonathan</td><td>2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)</td><td></td><td>29 – 16 January 1997</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>PG</td><td>9</td><td></td><td>Díaz, Alberto (C)</td><td>1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)</td><td></td><td>31 – 23 April 1994</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>PG</td><td>11</td><td></td><td>Cobbs, Justin</td><td>1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)</td><td></td><td>34 – 16 March 1991</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>G/F</td><td>14</td><td></td><td>Đedović, Nihad</td><td>1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)</td><td></td><td>36 – 12 January 1990</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>PF</td><td>19</td><td></td><td>Sulejmanović, Emir</td><td>2.05 m (6 ft 9 in)</td><td></td><td>30 – 13 July 1995</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>F/C</td><td>21</td><td></td><td>Rubit, Augustine</td><td>2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)</td><td></td><td>36 – 14 August 1989</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>SG</td><td>27</td><td></td><td>Duarte, Chris</td><td>1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)</td><td></td><td>28 – 13 July 1997</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>F/C</td><td>33</td><td></td><td>Tillie, Killian</td><td>2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)</td><td></td><td>27 – 5 March 1998</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>C</td><td>45</td><td></td><td>Kravish, David</td><td>2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)</td><td></td><td>33 – 12 September 1992</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>PG</td><td>55</td><td></td><td>Perry, Kendrick</td><td>1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)</td><td></td><td>33 – 23 December 1992</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>
Depth chart
<table><thead><tr><th>Pos.</th><th>Starting 5</th><th>Bench 1</th><th>Bench 2</th><th>Bench 3</th><th></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>C</td><td>David Kravish</td><td>Aleksander Balcerowski †</td><td>Augustine Rubit </td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>PF</td><td>Tyson Pérez †</td><td>Killian Tillie</td><td>Emir Sulejmanović</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>SF</td><td>James Webb III </td><td>Jonathan Barreiro †</td><td></td><td>Nihad Đedović †</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>SG</td><td>Chris Duarte</td><td>Tyler Kalinoski</td><td>Chase Audige</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>PG</td><td>Kendrick Perry</td><td>Alberto Díaz †</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>
Season by season
Caja de Ronda
<table><thead><tr><th>Season</th><th>Tier</th><th>Division</th><th>Pos.</th><th>W–L</th><th>Copa del Rey</th><th>Other cups</th><th>European competitions</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1978–79</td><td>2</td><td>1ª División B</td><td>10th</td><td>6–16</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1979–80</td><td>2</td><td>1ª División B</td><td>9th</td><td>13–17</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1980–81</td><td>2</td><td>1ª División B</td><td>1st</td><td>19–2–5</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1981–82</td><td>1</td><td>1ª División</td><td>10th</td><td>10–1–15</td><td>Round of 16</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1982–83</td><td>1</td><td>1ª División</td><td>12th</td><td>6–20</td><td>Quarterfinalist</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1983–84</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>10th</td><td>14–16</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1984–85</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>14th</td><td>13–19</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1985–86</td><td>2</td><td>1ª División B</td><td>4th</td><td>18–15</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1986–87</td><td>2</td><td>1ª División B</td><td>1st</td><td>24–10</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1987–88</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>14th</td><td>3–30</td><td></td><td>Copa Príncipe</td><td>R16</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1988–89</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>5th</td><td>23–15</td><td>Quarterfinalist</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1989–90</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>5th</td><td>21–17</td><td>Round of 16</td><td></td><td>3 Korać Cup</td><td>R1</td><td>1–1</td></tr><tr><td>1990–91</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>10th</td><td>19–21</td><td>Third round</td><td></td><td>3 Korać Cup</td><td>R1</td><td>0–2</td></tr><tr><td>1991–92</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>14th</td><td>16–23</td><td>Second round</td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>
CB Maristas
<table><thead><tr><th>Season</th><th>Tier</th><th>Division</th><th>Pos.</th><th>W–L</th><th>Copa del Rey</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1981–82</td><td>3</td><td>2ª División</td><td>1st</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1982–83</td><td>3</td><td>2ª División</td><td>2nd</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1983–84</td><td>3</td><td>2ª División</td><td>2nd</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1984–85</td><td>2</td><td>1ª División B</td><td>16th</td><td>6–20</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1985–86</td><td>3</td><td>2ª División</td><td>2nd</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1986–87</td><td>2</td><td>1ª División B</td><td>18th</td><td>12–22</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1987–88</td><td>2</td><td>1ª División B</td><td>4th</td><td>32–13</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1988–89</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>15th</td><td>22–17</td><td>First round</td></tr><tr><td>1989–90</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>13th</td><td>18–22</td><td>Round of 16</td></tr><tr><td>1990–91</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>14th</td><td>18–22</td><td>Second round</td></tr><tr><td>1991–92</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>15th</td><td>15–22</td><td>First round</td></tr></tbody></table>
Unicaja
<table><thead><tr><th>Season</th><th>Tier</th><th>Division</th><th>Pos.</th><th>W–L</th><th>Copa del Rey</th><th>Other cups</th><th>European competitions</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1992–93</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>6th</td><td>19–14</td><td>First round</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1993–94</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>12th</td><td>13–18</td><td>Quarterfinalist</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1994–95</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>2nd</td><td>32–16</td><td>First round</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1995–96</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>6th</td><td>27–14</td><td>Quarterfinalist</td><td></td><td>1 European League</td><td>GS</td><td>8–8</td></tr><tr><td>1996–97</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>7th</td><td>22–17</td><td></td><td></td><td>3 Korać Cup</td><td>QF</td><td>9–3</td></tr><tr><td>1997–98</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>8th</td><td>20–17</td><td></td><td></td><td>3 Korać Cup</td><td>R16</td><td>7–3</td></tr><tr><td>1998–99</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>9th</td><td>18–16</td><td>Quarterfinalist</td><td></td><td>3 Korać Cup</td><td>GS</td><td>2–4</td></tr><tr><td>1999–00</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>8th</td><td>22–17</td><td>Quarterfinalist</td><td></td><td>3 Korać Cup</td><td>RU</td><td>11–5</td></tr><tr><td>2000–01</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>4th</td><td>30–11</td><td>Quarterfinalist</td><td></td><td>3 Korać Cup</td><td>C</td><td>14–2</td></tr><tr><td>2001–02</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>2nd</td><td>33–10</td><td>Semifinalist</td><td></td><td>1 Euroleague</td><td>RS</td><td>6–8</td></tr><tr><td>2002–03</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>3rd</td><td>29–15</td><td>Semifinalist</td><td></td><td>1 Euroleague</td><td>T16</td><td>8–12</td></tr><tr><td>2003–04</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>4th</td><td>23–19</td><td></td><td></td><td>1 Euroleague</td><td>RS</td><td>4–10</td></tr><tr><td>2004–05</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>3rd</td><td>27–16</td><td>Champion</td><td>Supercopa</td><td>3rd</td><td>1 Euroleague</td><td>RS</td><td>6–8</td></tr><tr><td>2005–06</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>1st</td><td>35–10</td><td>Semifinalist</td><td>Supercopa</td><td>4th</td><td>1 Euroleague</td><td>T16</td><td>15–5</td></tr><tr><td>2006–07</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>8th</td><td>17–20</td><td>Quarterfinalist</td><td>Supercopa</td><td>RU</td><td>1 Euroleague</td><td>3rd</td><td>14–11</td></tr><tr><td>2007–08</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>4th</td><td>19–19</td><td>Quarterfinalist</td><td></td><td>1 Euroleague</td><td>T16</td><td>13–7</td></tr><tr><td>2008–09</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>3rd</td><td>27–11</td><td>Runner-up</td><td></td><td>1 Euroleague</td><td>T16</td><td>10–6</td></tr><tr><td>2009–10</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>4th</td><td>21–18</td><td></td><td></td><td>1 Euroleague</td><td>T16</td><td>9–7</td></tr><tr><td>2010–11</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>8th</td><td>19–17</td><td></td><td></td><td>1 Euroleague</td><td>T16</td><td>6–10</td></tr><tr><td>2011–12</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>9th</td><td>17–17</td><td>Quarterfinalist</td><td></td><td>1 Euroleague</td><td>T16</td><td>4–12</td></tr><tr><td>2012–13</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>9th</td><td>18–16</td><td></td><td></td><td>1 Euroleague</td><td>T16</td><td>15–9</td></tr><tr><td>2013–14</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>4th</td><td>26–15</td><td>Quarterfinalist</td><td></td><td>1 Euroleague</td><td>T16</td><td>11–13</td></tr><tr><td>2014–15</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>3rd</td><td>29–13</td><td>Semifinalist</td><td></td><td>1 Euroleague</td><td>T16</td><td>8–16</td></tr><tr><td>2015–16</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>6th</td><td>20–16</td><td></td><td>Supercopa</td><td>RU</td><td>1 Euroleague</td><td>T16</td><td>11–13</td></tr><tr><td>2016–17</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>4th</td><td>24–14</td><td>Quarterfinalist</td><td></td><td>2 EuroCup</td><td>C</td><td>13–9</td></tr><tr><td>2017–18</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>7th</td><td>19–17</td><td>Quarterfinalist</td><td>Supercopa</td><td>SF</td><td>1 EuroLeague</td><td>9th</td><td>13–17</td></tr><tr><td>2018–19</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>6th</td><td>22-15</td><td>Quarterfinalist</td><td></td><td>2 EuroCup</td><td>QF</td><td>12–7</td></tr><tr><td>2019–20</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>10th</td><td>15–13</td><td>Runner-up</td><td></td><td>2 EuroCup</td><td>—</td><td>11–5</td></tr><tr><td>2020–21</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>11th</td><td>17–19</td><td>Quarterfinalist</td><td></td><td>2 EuroCup</td><td>T16</td><td>8–8</td></tr><tr><td>2021–22</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>12th</td><td>13–21</td><td></td><td></td><td>3 Champions League</td><td>QF</td><td>6–6</td></tr><tr><td>2022–23</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>3rd</td><td>27–13</td><td>Champion</td><td></td><td>3 Champions League</td><td>4th</td><td>14–4</td></tr><tr><td>2023–24</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>3rd</td><td>32–9</td><td>Quarterfinalist</td><td>Supercopa</td><td>RU</td><td>3 Champions League</td><td>C</td><td>14–2</td></tr><tr><td>2024–25</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td>4th</td><td>26–14</td><td>Champion</td><td>Intercontinental Cup</td><td>C</td><td>3 Champions League</td><td>C</td><td>15–1</td></tr><tr><td>Supercopa</td><td>C</td></tr><tr><td>2025–26</td><td>1</td><td>Liga ACB</td><td></td><td></td><td>Quarterfinalist</td><td>Intercontinental Cup</td><td>C</td><td>3 Champions League</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Supercopa</td><td>SF</td></tr></tbody></table>
Honours and awards
Domestic competitions
Winners (1): 2005–06 Runners-up (2): 1994–95, 2001–02
Winners (3): (/wiki/2005CopadelReydeBaloncesto), (/wiki/2023CopadelReydeBaloncesto), (/wiki/2025CopadelReydeBaloncesto) Runners-up (2): (/wiki/2009CopadelReydeBaloncesto), (/wiki/2020CopadelReydeBaloncesto)
• Spanish Supercup
Winners (1): (/wiki/2024SupercopadeEspañadeBaloncesto) Runners-up (3): (/wiki/2006SupercopadeEspañadeBaloncesto), (/wiki/2015SupercopadeEspañadeBaloncesto), (/wiki/2023SupercopadeEspañadeBaloncesto)
Winners (4): 1994, 1995, 2000, 2002 Runners-up (1): 1999
European competitions
Third place (1): 2006–07
Winners (1): 2016–17
• FIBA Champions League
Winners (2): 2023–24, 2024–25
Winners (1): 2000–01 Runners-up (1): 1999–00
Worldwide competitions
• FIBA Intercontinental Cup
Winners (2): (/wiki/2024FIBAIntercontinentalCup), (/wiki/2025FIBAIntercontinentalCup)
Other competitions
• 2nd division championships: (2) • 1ª División B: 1981, 1987 • Andalusia Cup: (18) • 1996, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025. • Torrox, Spain Invitational Game • 2008 • Trofeo de Platja d'Aro • 2008 • Trofeo Pollinica • 2008 • Trofeo Ciudad de Cordoba, Spain • 2009
Individual awards
EuroCup Finals MVP
Basketball Champions League Final Four MVP
• Kendrick Perry – 2024 • Tyson Carter – 2025
Reserve team
Baloncesto Málaga
Baloncesto Málaga B is the reserve team of Unicaja basketball based in Málaga, and play in the Tercera FEB.
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
Baloncesto Málaga
On 14 July 2017, the club announced the creation of a women's team.
Just in its second season, Unicaja promoted to Liga Femenina 2.
Season by season
<table><thead><tr><th>Season</th><th>Tier</th><th>Division</th><th>Pos.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2017–18</td><td>3</td><td>1ª División</td><td>2nd</td></tr><tr><td>2018–19</td><td>3</td><td>1ª División</td><td>1st</td></tr></tbody></table>