| 2023 RBL season | |
| Association: | FERWABA |
| League: | Rwanda Basketball League |
| Sport: | Basketball |
| Duration: | 12 January – 9 September 2023 |
| No Of Teams: | 12 |
| Season: | Regular season |
| Top Seed: | REG |
| Playoffs: | Playoffs |
| Playoffs Link: |
|
| Prevseason Year: | 2021–22 |
| Prevseason Link: | 2021–22 RBL season |
| Nextseason Year: | 2024 |
| Nextseason Link: | 2024 RBL season |
| Top Scorer: | Olivier Turatsinze (Espoir) |
| Relegate To: | Division 2 |
| Relegate: | RP-IPRC Huye RP-IPRC Kigali Shoot For The Stars RP-IPRC Musanze |
| Playoffs Mvp: | Jean Jacques Nshobozwabyosenumukiza (APR) |
| Finals Champ: | APR (14th title) |
| Finals Runner-Up: | REG |
| Mvp: | Olivier Turatsinze (Espoir) |
The 2023 RBL season was the second season of the Rwanda Basketball League under its current name, while the top-level competition has been organised by the FERWABA for a longer time. The season began on 12 January 2023 with the regular season.[1] The playoffs began on 23 August and ended on 9 September 2023.[2]
APR won a record-extending 14th national title, following a clean sweep of defending champions REG in the finals. With their victory, APR ended a 14-year title drought.[3] APR guard Jean Jacques Nshobozwabyosenumukiza was named Playoffs MVP.[4]
As champions, APR quaified directly for the 2024 BAL season.
Orion was promoted on 17 July 2022 after reaching the finals of the Rwanda Basketball League Division 2.[5] Kigali Titans were also promoted as the D2 champions.[6]
The following non-African players played in the RBL in the 2023 season:[7]
The regular season was decreased from thirteen to twelve teams. This season, four teams are relegated to the Division 2, and the 2024 season will begin with ten teams.
By losing the semi-finals to APR BBC, the Patriots did not reach the finals for the first time in 9 years. APR won finals in a clean sweep, defeating the defending champions REG BBC in four games. This was the league’s first-ever sweep since introducing the best-of-seven format.
In the third place series, the Patriots forfeited Game 1 after not showing up, which resulted in a victory for Espoir BBC.[9]
The winners of the annual awards were announced after the last game of the finals, on 9 September.[10]
After the regular season.[12]
| Category | Player | Team(s) | Statistic | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | Olivier Turatzinse | Espoir | 471 | |
| Rebounds | Kamndoh Betoudji Frank | United Generations for Basketball | 269 | |
| AssiSFT | Jean de Dieu Niyungeho | Espoir | 125 | |
| Steals | Olivier Turatzinse | Espoir | 69 | |
| Blocks | Kamndoh Betoudji Frank | United Generations for Basketball | 59 |