Chinese Basketball Association

For the national basketball association of China, see Chinese Basketball Association (organisation). For the former American professional men's basketball minor league, see Continental Basketball Association. For other uses, see CBA.
Chinese Basketball Association (CBA)
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2014–15 CBA season

CBA logo
Sport Basketball
Founded 1995
Claim to fame "The pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Asia"
Inaugural season 1995–96
No. of teams 20
Country  China
Continent FIBA Asia (Asia)
Most recent champion(s) Beijing Ducks (3rd title)
Most titles Bayi Rockets
Guangdong Southern Tigers (8 titles each)
Level on pyramid 1
Official website CBA
Chinese Basketball Association
Traditional Chinese 中國男子籃球職業聯賽
Simplified Chinese 中国男子篮球职业联赛

The Chinese Basketball Association (simplified Chinese: 中国男子篮球职业联赛; traditional Chinese: 中國男子籃球職業聯賽; pinyin: Zhōngguó Nánzǐ Lánqiú Zhíyè Liánsài), often abbreviated to the CBA, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Asia.

The league is commonly known as the CBA, and this initialism is often used even in Chinese. There is also a Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) for women.

The CBA should also not be confused with the National Basketball League (NBL), which is a professional "Division 2" minor league.

A few Chinese CBA players, such as Wang Zhizhi, Yao Ming, Mengke Bateer, Yi Jianlian, and Sun Yue, have also played in the NBA. Conversely, a limited number of foreign players are allowed for each CBA team. Notable players include NBA All-Stars Stephon Marbury, Steve Francis, Gilbert Arenas, Tracy McGrady, Al Harrington and Metta World Peace, as well as NBA players who were CBA All-Stars Kenyon Martin, J. R. Smith, Aaron Brooks, and Shavlik Randolph.

Background

The league began play in 1994. However, the CBA as the name of a league should not be confused with the "Chinese Basketball Association" organisation, which was founded in June 1956 . In 1996 James Hodges became one of the first Americans to play in the CBA. Today, the regulating body for basketball in China is the Chinese Basketball Management Center (simplified Chinese: 国家体育总局篮球管理中心; traditional Chinese: 國家體育總局籃球管理中心; pinyin: Guójiā Tǐyù Zǒngjú Lánqiú Guǎnlǐ Zhōngxīn).

Other Chinese basketball leagues include the National Basketball League (NBL), the Chinese University Basketball Association (CUBA) and the Chinese High School Basketball League (CHBL) . At one time there was a league called the Chinese New Basketball Alliance (CNBA) , one of whose teams was the Beijing Sea Lions, but it lasted only one season (1996–97) .

Team names

For a full list of teams, see Category:Chinese Basketball Association teams.

The full name of each team usually consists of three parts, in the following order:

  1. A geographic designation (except in the case of the Bayi or "August First" team). Currently all of these are province-level designations (either a province or a Chinese municipality).
  2. A corporate sponsor name; this sponsor may change from year to year or perhaps even in mid-season.
  3. A nickname, such as the name of an animal. This rarely changes.

This can sometimes lead to confusion about what name to use in English because many variants may be seen. Team names are usually abbreviated (in Chinese or English), so that either the corporate sponsor name or the nickname is used interchangeably (rarely both). Also, the nickname can sometimes be translated into English in more than one way; also the corporate sponsor name can change frequently over time.

Changes in nickname are rare, but occasionally happen, as when the Shandong team changed their nickname from the "Flaming Bulls" to the "Lions".

In previous years, the title of the league itself was available for corporate naming sponsorship. In 1999–2000 and 2000–2001 it was known as the "Hilton League", in 2001–2002 and 2002–2003 it was the "Motorola League", and in 2003–2004 it was sponsored by China Unicom. However, this corporate league title was not always used in the news media, and this sponsorship practice was discontinued at the start of the 2004–2005 season.

Current clubs

Timeline

Jiangsu Monkey King Chongqing Soaring Dragons Tianjin Ronggang Dongguan Leopards Shanxi Zhongyu Xinjiang Flying Tigers Hong Kong Flying Dragons Foshan Dralions Pure-Youth Construction Basketball Team Shenzhen Yikang Jilin Northeast Tigers Beijing Olympians Shanghai Sharks Sichuan Blue Whales Zhejiang Golden Bulls Zhejiang Lions Shandong Lions Qingdao DoubleStar Jiangsu Dragons Guangdong Southern Tigers Beijing Ducks Bayi Rockets

Current Teams Defunct Teams

CBA Championship Series

In 2005, the league unveiled the "Mou Zuoyun Cup" (simplified Chinese: 牟作云杯; traditional Chinese: 牟作雲杯; pinyin: Móu Zuòyún Bēi), which was awarded for the first time to the winning team in the finals. Mou Zuoyun (born 1913) was a member of the Chinese men's national basketball team at the 1936 Summer Olympics, and later served as a coach and a pioneer in building Chinese basketball.

Year Champion Result Runners-up Notes
1995-96 Bayi Rockets 3 - 0 Guangdong Southern Tigers Best of five series used for 10 years
1996-97 Bayi Rockets 3 - 0 Liaoning Hunters
1997-98 Bayi Rockets 3 - 0 Liaoning Hunters
1998-99 Bayi Rockets 3 - 0 Liaoning Hunters
1999-00 Bayi Rockets 3 - 0 Shanghai Sharks
2000-01 Bayi Rockets 3 - 1 Shanghai Sharks
2001-02 Shanghai Sharks 3 - 1 Bayi Rockets
2002-03 Bayi Rockets 3 - 1 Guangdong Southern Tigers
2003-04 Guangdong Southern Tigers 3 - 1 Bayi Rockets
2004-05 Guangdong Southern Tigers 3 - 2 Jiangsu Dragons
2005-06 Guangdong Southern Tigers 4 - 1 Bayi Rockets Best of seven series used
2006-07 Bayi Rockets 4 - 1 Guangdong Southern Tigers
2007-08 Guangdong Southern Tigers 4 - 1 Liaoning Hunters
2008-09 Guangdong Southern Tigers 4 - 1 Xinjiang Flying Tigers
2009-10 Guangdong Southern Tigers 4 - 1 Xinjiang Flying Tigers
2010-11 Guangdong Southern Tigers 4 - 2 Xinjiang Flying Tigers
2011-12 Beijing Ducks 4 - 1 Guangdong Southern Tigers
2012-13 Guangdong Southern Tigers 4 - 0 Shandong Lions
2013-14 Beijing Ducks 4 - 2 Xinjiang Flying Tigers
2014-15 Beijing Ducks 4 - 2 Liaoning Flying Leopards

CBA Finals appearances

NumTeamWLPCTNotes
12Guangdong Southern Tigers84.667Made every final from 2002-03 to 2012-13
11Bayi Rockets83.727Made every final from 1995-96 to 2003-04
3Beijing Ducks301.000
3Shanghai Sharks12.333
5Liaoning Flying Leopards05.000
4Xinjiang Flying Tigers04.000
1Jiangsu Dragons01.000
1Shandong Lions01.000

Records

Single Game, Individual

RecordNum.PlayerTeamGameDate
Minutes played
67
Samad Nikkhah BahramiFujian SturgeonsFujian Sturgeons 178–177 Zhejiang Golden BullsFebruary 9, 2014
Points
82
Errick McCollumZhejiang Golden BullsZhejiang Golden Bulls 119–129 Guangdong Southern TigersJanuary 30, 2015
Rebounds
38
Garth JosephShaanxi KylinsShaanxi Kylins 139–88 ShenzhenMarch 20, 2002
Assists
28
Li QunGuangdong Southern TigersGuangdong Southern Tigers 110–101 Nanjing ArmyFebruary 2, 2000
3-pointers made
15
Leon RodgersJilin Northeast TigersJilin Northeast Tigers 124–110 Shanxi Brave DragonsMarch 11, 2009
Blocks
13
Yao MingShanghai SharksJilin Northeast Tigers 126–118 Shanghai Sharks2000-2001 Season
Herve LamizanaTianjin Golden LionsTianjin Golden Lions 113–108 Fujian SturgeonsFebruary 10, 2010
Sean WilliamsFujian SturgeonsFujian Sturgeons 101–94 Jilin Northeast TigersFebruary 26, 2010
Steals
13
Ju WeisongShandong LionsShandong Lions 84–70 Vanguard1995-1996 Season
Zhang YongjunGuangdong Southern TigersBayi Rockets 109–81 Guangdong Southern Tigers1996-1997 Season
Hu XuefengJiangsu DragonsJiangsu Dragons 135–108 Jilin Northeast TigersDecember 1, 2004
Dunks
10
James HodgesLiaoning HuntersLiaoning Hunters 95–85 Shandong Lions1998-1999 Season

Single Season, Individual

RecordNum.PlayerTeamSeason
Points
1266
Anthony MylesDongguan Leopards2005–06
Rebounds
727
Olumide OyedejiBeijing Ducks2004–05
Assists
325
Hu XuefengJiangsu Dragons2004–05
3-pointers
189
Yu JunkaiYunnan Bulls2004–05
Blocks
126
Yao MingShanghai Sharks1999–00
Steals
246
Hu XuefengJiangsu Dragons2004–05
Dunks
140
Lorenzo ColemanXinjiang Flying Tigers2005–06

Career, Individual

Statistics accurate as of end of 2010-11 season.

Team

  • 178 by Fujian Sturgeons vs. Zhejiang Golden Bulls on February 9, 2014 (5 OT)
  • 355 - Fujian Sturgeons (178) vs. Zhejiang Golden Bulls (177) in 5 overtimes on February 9, 2014

Imports

Imports that lasted more than one season in the CBA:

See also

External links