Club Joventut Badalona, S.A.D. (Catalan pronunciation:[ˈklubʒuβənˈtudbəðəˈlonə]) is a Spanish professional basketball club based in Badalona, Catalonia, Spain, playing in the Liga ACB and the EuroCup. Known to their fans as La Penya (in English, The Club), it is one of only two teams that have never been relegated from the top division of the Spanish League. The only other is Real Madrid. In 1994, Joventut Badalona became champion of the FIBA European League (today known as the EuroLeague), the first Catalan basketball club to accomplish such a grandiose achievement and the first Spanish team to do so in the modern era Final Four format.
Badalona has had a basketball team since 30 March 1930, when Joventut was founded as Penya Spirit of Badalona.[1] Apart from basketball, the club initially had teams involved in several sports including cycling, table tennis, and football. In 1932, the club changed its name to Centre Esportiu Badaloní and in 1939, it was forced to become Club Juventud de Badalona. By 1940, basketball was established as the club's main sport and green and black were adopted as the club's colours.
As one of the founding clubs of the Spanish league, Joventut became also one of the top teams in Spain since the 1950s, developing a great rivalry with Real Madrid and with the other neighbouring teams like FC Barcelona, playing memorable duels. Joventut won their first Spanish Cup in 1948 and their two first leagues in 1967 and 1978.
In 1981, Joventut started its golden era by winning their first European title: the FIBA Korać Cup in 1981, by defeating Carrera Venezia in the final played in Barcelona by 105–104 after a game winning shot by Joe Galvin at the buzzer. Joventut repeated title in 1990, this time beating Scavolini Pesaro in the double-legged final.
One year later, in 1991, Joventut achieved their third league, the first under the ACB and repeated title in the following season, after losing the final of the FIBA European League against Partizan, that won thanks to a buzzer beater of Saša Đorđević. However, in 1994, Joventut won the title after winning the Final Four played in Tel Aviv against Olympiacos.
After two years of decline, Joventut clinched their seventh national cup and in the 2000s, started a new golden era with players like Rudy Fernández, and Ricky Rubio developed in the youth teams of the club. During their years at Badalona, Joventut won a FIBA Europe Cup in 2006, by beating Khimki in the final, a ULEB Cup in 2008, beating Akasvayu Girona in the finals,[2] and the eighth Copa del Rey, also in 2008.
Joventut Badalona is one of the only two teams, along with Real Madrid, to have played every year in the top league.
In the 2017–18 season, Joventut was close of the dissolution, but the shareholders voted to save the club.[3] Finally, it could finish the season in the 15th season and avoided the relegation, despite ending in the worst position ever.
Sponsorship naming
Club Joventut de Badalona has received diverse trade names along its history. These are the Joventut denominations along the years:
*Even though number #5 had been retired to honor Rafael Jofresa, from 2002 to 2008 Rudy Fernández kept wearing that number during his stay at the professional team.
Current roster
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.
Depth chart
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.
The Joventut jerseys have always been green with a black stripe across the chest, and the shorts have been traditionally black, with the exception of some years that have been green too. The traditional away jerseys have been white, although in 2008–09 a new silver alternate jersey was introduced.
In 2011 the team, which was known as Joventut GAM by sponsorship reasons, was dissolved and two years later was re-launched again. In its first season after the re-opening, the team promoted to División de Honor.
^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 EuroCup, the team did not have any limitations regarding the number of homegrown players.
^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 EuroCup, the team did not have any limitations regarding the number of overseas players.
^In Liga ACB, the team may register under-22 players linked to the youth system. In EuroCup, the team may register under-20 players linked to the youth system.
References
^"La Penya celebra 90 anys amb la il·lusió de "tornar a omplir de vida" l'Olímpic" (in Catalan). El Nacional. 30 March 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
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