Absheron Lions

Absheron Lions
NicknameThe Lions
LeaguesAzerbaijan Basketball League
Founded1 January 2022 (2022-01-01)
HistoryAbsheron Lions
(2022–present)
LocationBaku, Azerbaijan
Head coachErhan Toker

Absheron Lions (in Azerbaijani: Abşeron Lions Basketbol Klubu) is a professional basketball club based in Baku, Azerbaijan. The team currently competes in the Azerbaijan Basketball League, the country's top-tier basketball competition. The team was founded in 2022.[1]

History

The Absheron Lions were founded in 2022 with the aim of revitalizing professional basketball in the Absheron region. The club debuted in the Azerbaijan Basketball League in the 2022–23 season, finishing in fourth position and reaching the semi-finals.[2] The following year, they reached the semi-finals again. In the 2024–25 season, Absheron reached the semi-finals for the third consecutive time, after advancing past the play-in.[3]

As the third placed team in the previous season, Lions qualified for the 2025–26 FIBA Europe Cup qualifying rounds, where they will make their European debut.[4]

Players

Current roster

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

Absheron Lions roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht.
G 1 McAlpine, Aubrey 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 36 – (1989-09-03)3 September 1989
SG 2 Abdullayev, Ismayil 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 17 – (2008-06-28)28 June 2008
F 7 Shaw, Jalen 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 25 – (2000-07-07)7 July 2000
PF Orelik, Gediminas 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 35 – (1990-05-14)14 May 1990
PG Frazier, J. J. 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) 30 – (1995-09-19)19 September 1995
PF Chidom, Arinze 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 28 – (1997-09-09)9 September 1997
F Allen-Eikens, De'Sean 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 25 – (2000-04-03)3 April 2000
C Donat, Saadettin 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) 24 – (2001-01-07)7 January 2001
G/F Jackson, De'Ondre 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 29 – (1996-07-03)3 July 1996
F Aliyev, Rustam 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 31 – (1994-04-04)4 April 1994
F/C Mammadli, Nijat 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 27 – (1998-03-23)23 March 1998
PG Ibrahimov, Azar 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 16 – (2009-04-27)27 April 2009
SF Novruzlu, Tamerlan 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) 16 – (2009-12-03)3 December 2009
Head coach
  • Vacant
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured
Updated: 4 August 2025

Head coaches

  • Erhan Toker (2024–present)[5]

Season by season

[6]

Season Tier Division Pos. W–L Cup Other cups European competitions
2022–23 1 ABL 4th 19–9 —
2023–24 1 ABL 4th 12–6 —
2024–25 1 ABL 4th 8–11 TBD —
2025–26 1 ABL FIBA Europe Cup TBD

Trophies and awards

  • Azerbaijan Cup
    • Runners-up: 2023–24

See also

References

  1. ^ Eurobasket. "Absheron Baku basketball, News, Roster, Rumors, Stats, Awards, Transactions, Details-eurobasket". Eurobasket LLC. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  2. ^ www.eurobasket.com https://www.eurobasket.com/Azerbaijan/Azerbaijan-Basketball-League-History.aspx. Retrieved 4 August 2025. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ^ "Absheron defeats NTD in Azerbaijan Basketball League play-in - PHOTO". İdman və Biz. 11 April 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  4. ^ "Clubs announced for FIBA Europe Cup 2025-26 season". www.fiba.basketball. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  5. ^ "Erhan Toker: "We will fight to qualify for the group stage of the FIBA Europe Cup"". İdman və Biz. 25 July 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  6. ^ Eurobasket. "Absheron Baku Basketball History". Eurobasket LLC. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
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