It competes in the A-2 Hrvatska Liga, the second highest basketball league in Croatia.

The original KK Kvarner was founded in 1946, and its greatest success was the final of the Yugoslav Basketball Cup in 1976–77 and 1980–81.

Historically, the club played in the Yugoslav First Basketball League for six seasons in total: in 1974–75, 1976–79, 1980–81 and 1982–83.

The original Kvarner produced some well known Croatian basketball players, including the 1992 Summer Olympics silver medalist Aramis Naglić, Davor Kus, Fran Pilepić, Ivo Nakić and Marino Baždarić.

In 2009, the original Kvarner ceased functioning due to high debt that could not be serviced.