The Shanghai Sharks (simplified Chinese: 上海久事大鲨鱼; traditional Chinese: 上海久事大鯊魚; pinyin: Shànghǎi Jǐushì Dàshāyú) are a Chinese Basketball Association team based in Shanghai.[3]

Shanghai Sharks
上海久事大鲨鱼
LeaguesCBA
Founded1996; 28 years ago (1996)
HistoryShanghai Sharks
(1996–present)
ArenaShanghai Indoor Stadium[1]
Capacity13,000
LocationShanghai, China
Team colorsBlue, Orange, White
     
PresidentQian Anke
Head coachLiu Peng
OwnershipShanghai Jiushi Group[2]
Championships1 (2002)
Websiteshanghaisharks.cn
Shanghai Sharks
Traditional Chinese上海大鯊魚
Simplified Chinese上海大鲨鱼

The Sharks, who share their colors with the New York Knicks, are best known outside China for having developed Yao Ming before he entered the National Basketball Association. Yao was the driving force behind their three consecutive appearances in the finals (1999–2000, 2000–01, and 2001–02), facing the Bayi Rockets each time. They were runners-up the first two years, but won for the first time on their third try, breaking the Rockets' streak of six CBA championships in a row.

In August 1979, the Sharks played the Washington Bullets, the first NBA team to travel to China,[4]: 156  with Yao Zhiyuan - father of Yao Ming - as their center.[4]: 156 

The team faced serious financial issues in the 2008–09 season, and were in danger of not being able to compete in the following season. On July 16, 2009, Chinese media reported that Yao Ming had stepped in to purchase the team.[5]

In the 2021–22 season, under Li Chunjiang, the Sharks experienced a high bested only by the Yao era, reinvigorating their place among China's best basketball teams.[6][7] Around that time, alongside the CBA as a whole, they became an Internet meme as a future landing spot for high profile NBA stars who underperform in a game or series, particularly in the playoffs. Kyle Kuzma, Ben Simmons and Dillon Brooks were prominent victims of such jokes.[8][9][10][11]

Honours edit

CBA
Champions (1): 2001–02
Runners-up (2): 1999–2000, 2000–01
Merlion Cup
Winners (1): 2016

Players edit

Roster edit

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

Shanghai Sharks roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt.
G 1   Li Timwing 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) 86 kg (190 lb)
PF 2   Noah Vonleh 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 110 kg (243 lb)
PG 3   Yuen Tongman 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 78 kg (172 lb)
SG 5   Liu Zheng 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 82 kg (181 lb)
SF 7   Guo Haowen 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 91 kg (201 lb)
C 9   Yan Pengfei 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 116 kg (256 lb)
G 11   Yogi Ferrell 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 81 kg (179 lb)
G 12   Dai Hao 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 78 kg (172 lb)
F 14   Li Hongquan 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 102 kg (225 lb)
F 17   Zhang Zhiyao 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) 87 kg (192 lb)
G/F 18   Liu Zipeng 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 90 kg (198 lb)
G/F 19   Liu Zhengqing 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 90 kg (198 lb)
SF 20   Dung Hao 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 95 kg (209 lb)
F 21   Athens Ma 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 97 kg (214 lb)
PG 23   Pan Wei 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 80 kg (176 lb)
F 24   Ren Junwei 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 96 kg (212 lb)
G 25   Wan Menglin 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 88 kg (194 lb)
PF 32   Liu Lijia 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 103 kg (227 lb)
PG 33   Luo Hanhen 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 82 kg (181 lb)
C 94   Wang Zhelin 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in) 121 kg (267 lb)
Head coach
  •   Liu Peng
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  •   Injured

Updated: November 1, 2023

Sponsorship edit

As of 2021, the team's jersey sponsor has been the Chinese sportswear brand Li-Ning.[12]

Notable players edit

Sharks players who have either set a club record or won an individual award as a professional player or who have played at least one official international match for his senior national team at any time include:

References edit

  1. ^ "新年新面貌!徐家汇体育公园升级焕新颜_上观新闻".
  2. ^ Huang, Andrea (29 April 2019). "Shanghai Sharks Basketball Club fully acquired by Shanghai Jiushi". Yutang Sports. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  3. ^ 上海哔哩哔哩篮球俱乐部官方网站. Shanghai Sharks.
  4. ^ a b Minami, Kazushi (2024). People's Diplomacy: How Americans and Chinese Transformed US-China Relations during the Cold War. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9781501774157.
  5. ^ "Yao buys Shanghai Sharks". ESPN.com. Reuters. 2009-07-16. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
  6. ^ a b c CBA Roundup: Liaoning, Shanghai earn eight straight wins Xinhua (China Internet Information Center), 11 November 2021. Accessed 11 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Hu's career-high sees Guangdong win streak reach 5". China.org.cn. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Trolls Who Want Kyle Kuzma to Suit up for Shanghai Sharks Receive Some Bad News". 17 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Someone put Ben Simmons on the Shanghai Sharks' roster on Wikipedia after Game 7 loss". 21 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Shanghai Sharks Incredibly Listed as a Possible Destination for Ben Simmons". 3 September 2021.
  11. ^ "Lakers Fan Ruthlessly Trolled Dillon Brooks Before Lakers vs. Grizzlies Game: "Shanghai Sharks Brooks"". 29 April 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  12. ^ a b Ein Veteran für die Towers Ralf Schmitt (Bild), 25 October 2021. Accessed 26 October 2021.(in German)

External links edit