How are basketball league tables decided?
I · Intermediate · Scoring, time and winning · 3 of 13Checked 13 October 2026
The team with more points at the end wins. In FIBA round-robin competitions a win is worth 2 classification points and a loss 1; a forfeit earns 0. Teams with the same record are separated first by the results of the games between them, then by points difference.
How it works
| Order | Tie-break between teams with the same win-loss record |
|---|---|
| 1 | Win-loss record in the games between them |
| 2 | Points difference in the games between them |
| 3 | Points scored in the games between them |
| 4 | Points difference in all group games |
| 5 | Points scored in all group games |
| 6 | FIBA ranking (national teams), or a draw |
Forfeit and default:
- Forfeit: a team is not ready with 5 players 15 minutes after the scheduled start, prevents the game being played or refuses to play. The game is lost 20–0 with 0 classification points.
- Default: a team has fewer than 2 players able to play during the game. The other team wins: the score stands if it is ahead, otherwise 2–0. The defaulting team gets 1 classification point.
Tricky cases
Why does a team get a point for losing?
So that a forfeit, which earns nothing, is worse than a defeat on the court.
Can a team play on with four players?
Yes. A game continues until a team has fewer than 2 players able to play.
Why the rule exists
Giving a point for a loss, and none for a forfeit, rewards a team for turning up and finishing its games.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FIBA round-robin competitions | As above | App D; A20; A21 |
| Leagues | May use their own tables and tie-breaks | Not covered |
From the rule book
FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026, Articles 1.4, 20 and 21 and Appendix D, valid from 1 October 2026. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: FIBA Official Basketball Rules (PDF).