Okapi Aalst is a Belgian professional basketball club from Aalst, Belgium. The club competes in the top tier BNXT League and plays its home games in the Okapi Forum, which has a seating capacity of 2,800 people.

Okapi is a long-time participant of the Belgian first division, is the owner of one Belgian Cup and two Supercups. As well, Aalst was a regular participant in European competitions in the past.

In its history the team has included many quality players who would be named Belgian League MVP or have played for top Euroleague and NBA teams, such as Chris Copeland and Matt Lojeski.

History

Okapi was founded on 15 November 1949 by a group of friends in Aalst, almost all going to the school named Aalsterse Atheneum. Piet de Coninck van Noyen was one of the founders. In 1956, Odilon Ringoir became the first chairman of the club. In 1957, the municipality of Aalst allowed the team to play outside at the Hopmarkt and as a result more spectators watched the team's matches. In the winter months, the team played inside a shoe factory in Terjoden. In the 1958–59 season, Okapi promoted to the fourth national league. In 1969, the first foreign players where signed to keep up with opposing teams.

In the 1969–70 season, Okapi won the national second division title in an impressive way by going unbeaten in all 44 games. In the 1970–71 season, the club made its maiden debut at the First National League. The team stayed there for five years until it was relegated again. The downfall lasted shortly as the team promoted back the next season. In the following seasons, Okapi enjoyed the first league in which local Derbys against Black Boys Aalst were played. In 1980, the team relegated once again.

In the 2011–12 season, Aalstar won its first trophy ever with its Belgian Basketball Cup victory. Okapi defeated Antwerp Giants 96–89 after overtime. By winning the Cup, Okapi qualified for the Belgian Supercup the next season, which it also won after defeating BC Oostende. In 2013, Okapi won the Supercup for the second consecutive year by beating Oostende once again.

In the 2013–14 season, Okapi reached the Finals of the Belgian League for the first time. In the Finals, the team was swept by Oostende, which went on to win its third straight title.

In June 2020, the team changed its name from Okapi Aalstar back to Okapi Aalst. Since the 2021–22 season, Okapi plays in the BNXT League, in which the national leagues of Belgium and the Netherlands have been merged.

Honours and titles

Belgian League:

Belgian Cup

  • Winners (1): 2011–12 Runners-up (3): 1963–64, 1997–98, 2012–13

Belgian Supercup

  • Winners (2): 2012, 2013

Belgian Second Division

  • Winners (3): 1969-70, 1974-75, 2005–06

Season by season

SeasonTierLeaguePos.Belgian CupEuropean competitionsOther competitions
2011–121BLB5thChampion3 EuroChallengeT16
2012–131BLB4thRunner–up3 EuroChallengeT16SupercupC
2013–141BLB2ndSemifinalist3 EuroChallengeRSSupercupC
2014–151BLB3rdSemifinalist3 EuroChallengeT16
2015–161BLB2ndSemifinalist
2016–171BLB5thSemifinalist
2017–181BLB4thQuarterfinalist
2018–191BLB7thQuarterfinalist
2019–201PBL8th
2020–211PBL7thSemifinalist
2021–221BNXT13th–
2022–231BNXT12th–
2023–241BNXT15thRound of 16
2024–251BNXT13thQuarterfinalist
2025–261BNXTQuarterfinalist

Logos

  • The official Okapi Aalstar crest
  • Crelan Okapi Aalstar (2015–2020)

Players

Current roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Okapi Aalst roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Age G/F 0 United States men's national basketball team Colbert III, Eddie 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) F 1 Belgium men's national basketball team Pieters, Daan 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 18 – (2007-06-09)9 June 2007 F 2 Belgium men's national basketball team Raedschelders, Alexander 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 20 – (2005-06-09)9 June 2005 F/C 3 Montenegro men's national basketball team Maraš, Ivan (C) 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 39 – (1986-04-20)20 April 1986 SG 4 Belgium men's national basketball team Ünal, Jasper 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) 22 – (2003-07-03)3 July 2003 SG 5 Belgium men's national basketball team De Boeck, Jorn 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) 22 – (2004-02-03)3 February 2004 G 6 Belgium men's national basketball team Temmerman, Glenn 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 24 – (2001-07-01)1 July 2001 G 9 Belgium men's national basketball team Van Den Eynde, Niels 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) 25 – (2000-12-27)27 December 2000 F 10 Belgium men's national basketball team Ledegen, Siebe 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) 23 – (2003-01-16)16 January 2003 SF 11 Belgium men's national basketball team Massey, Ozzy 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 23 – (2002-10-30)30 October 2002 C 15 Belgium men's national basketball team Palinckx, Mattias 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 29 – (1997-02-17)17 February 1997 SG 18 United States men's national basketball team Kreps, Malcolm 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 24 – (2001-10-11)11 October 2001 G 21 United States men's national basketball team Maddox, Dante 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 24 – (2002-01-15)15 January 2002Head coach Belgium Olivier Foucart Assistant coach(es) Belgium Stijn Penninck Legend (C) Team captain(FA) Free agentInjured Updated: January 23, 2026
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Age
G/F0United States men's national basketball teamColbert III, Eddie1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
F1Belgium men's national basketball teamPieters, Daan1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)18 – (2007-06-09)9 June 2007
F2Belgium men's national basketball teamRaedschelders, Alexander1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)20 – (2005-06-09)9 June 2005
F/C3Montenegro men's national basketball teamMaraš, Ivan (C)2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)39 – (1986-04-20)20 April 1986
SG4Belgium men's national basketball teamÜnal, Jasper1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)22 – (2003-07-03)3 July 2003
SG5Belgium men's national basketball teamDe Boeck, Jorn1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)22 – (2004-02-03)3 February 2004
G6Belgium men's national basketball teamTemmerman, Glenn1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)24 – (2001-07-01)1 July 2001
G9Belgium men's national basketball teamVan Den Eynde, Niels1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)25 – (2000-12-27)27 December 2000
F10Belgium men's national basketball teamLedegen, Siebe1.99 m (6 ft 6 in)23 – (2003-01-16)16 January 2003
SF11Belgium men's national basketball teamMassey, Ozzy1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)23 – (2002-10-30)30 October 2002
C15Belgium men's national basketball teamPalinckx, Mattias2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)29 – (1997-02-17)17 February 1997
SG18United States men's national basketball teamKreps, Malcolm1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)24 – (2001-10-11)11 October 2001
G21United States men's national basketball teamMaddox, Dante1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)24 – (2002-01-15)15 January 2002

Notable players

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Criteria
To appear in this section a player must have either: Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club Played at least one official international match for their national team at any time Played at least one official NBA match at any time.

External links

  • (in English)