The ABA League Assembly, held on 24 July 2017, in Belgrade, Serbia, decided to organize the ABA League Second Division with 12 participants. Based on the results in the national championships and by taking into account which clubs have sent applications for participation in the ABA League Second Division, these teams will play in the inaugural season of the ABA League Second Division.[1]
Teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia previously played similar second-tier competition called First B Federal League when they were part of SFR Yugoslavia. The First B Federal League was played for 11 seasons from 1980 to 1991.
On 12 March 2020, the ABA League Assembly temporarily suspended the 2019–20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] On 27 May 2020, the ABA League Assembly canceled definitely the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] On 29 June 2020, the Assembly decided to extend the number of clubs from 12 to 14 until the 2024–25 season.[4] Further on 15 July 2024 Assembly changed competition format to number 16 teams divided into 4 groups of 4 teams each. [5]
The champions of the Second Division are promoted to a following Adriatic League First Division season, while the last-placed team in the First Division are relegated to a following season of the Second Division.[1] Also, as of the 2018–19 season, the 11th placed team of the ABA League First Division and the 2nd placed team of the Second Division, will play in the Qualifiers for a spot in the First Division for the following season.[6]
Koper Primorska was disqualified from the ABA League in December 2020 after failing to play two consecutive games due to financial problems.[8] Later that month, the club also withdrew from the Slovenian League and was disbanded.[9][10]