The LNB's predecessor league is the now defunct Campeonato Argentino de Clubes, which was organized by the Argentine Basketball Confederation.

Before the league was established, the regular tournament was Campeonato Argentino de Clubes where teams from all the provinces took part.

[5] The first edition of Liga Nacional was played within 1985, with 16 teams participating although Independiente de Tucumán abandoned the championship for economic reasons.

The next season (1986), Ferro Carril Oeste won its second consecutive title, beating Olimpo de Bahía Blanca in 5 games (3-1 on aggregate).

Contested by 20 teams, the top division is divided in two stages: the first one consists of a double round-robin competition, with standings decided by a points system.

[8] These are the yearly individual awards are given by the league as a recognition to the most valuable player (in both, regular season and finals) and the top scorer.