The Shanghai Sharks ( zh, s=上海久事大鲨鱼, t=上海久事大鯊魚, p=Shànghǎi Jǐushì Dàshāyú) are a

Chinese Basketball Association The Chinese Basketball Association (), often abbreviated as the CBA, is the first-tier men's professional basketball league in China. The league is commonly known by fans as the CBA, and this acronym is even used in Chinese on a regular basis ...

team based in

Shanghai Shanghai, Shanghainese: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: is a direct-administered municipality and the most populous urban area in China. The city is located on the Chinese shoreline on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the ...

. The Sharks, who share their colors with the

New York Knicks The New York Knickerbockers, shortened and more commonly referred to as the New York Knicks, are an American professional basketball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the Na ...

, are best known outside China for having developed

Yao Ming Yao Ming ( zh, c=姚明; born September 12, 1980) is a Chinese basketball executive and former professional player. He played for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and the Houston Rockets of the National Baske ...

before he entered the

National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...

. Yao was the driving force behind their three consecutive appearances in the finals (1999–2000, 2000–01, and 2001–02), facing the

Bayi Rockets The Bayi Rockets ( zh, c=八一双鹿电池火箭 , p=Bāyī Shuānglù Diànchí Huǒjiàn) were a professional basketball team based in Nanchang, Jiangxi, China, which played in the South Division of the Chinese Basketball Association. The Roc ...

each time. The Sharks 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 Washington Wizards are an American professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C. The Wizards compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. The team plays i ...

, the first NBA team to travel to China, with Yao Zhiyuan - father of Yao Ming - as their center. 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. 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.CBA Roundup: Liaoning, Shanghai earn eight straight wins
Xinhua (

China Internet Information Center China Internet Information Center () is a state-run web portal of the People's Republic of China's State Council Information Office and the China International Communications Group. History The China Internet Information Center was launched ...

), 11 November 2021. Accessed 11 November 2021. Around that time, alongside the CBA as a whole, they became an

Internet meme An Internet meme, or meme (, Help:Pronunciation respelling key, ''MEEM''), is a cultural item (such as an idea, behavior, or style) that spreads across the Internet, primarily through Social media, social media platforms. Internet memes manif ...

as a future landing spot for high-profile NBA stars who underperform in a game or series, particularly in the playoffs.

Kyle Kuzma Kyle Alexander Kuzma (born July 24, 1995) is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Utah Utes and was named first-team all-conference ...

Ben Simmons Benjamin David Simmons (born 20 July 1996) is an Australian professional basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for one season with the LSU Tigers, a ...

, and

Dillon Brooks Dillon Brooks ( ; born January 22, 1996) is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Oregon Ducks, where he was named a consensus second- ...

were prominent victims of such jokes.

Honours

; CBA :Champions (1): 2001–02 :''Runners-up (2):'' 1999–2000, 2000–01 ;CBA In-Season Tournament :Champions (1): 2024–25 ;

Merlion Cup The Merlion Cup is an invitational association football, football tournament that was held in Singapore annually from 1982–1986, in 1992, 2009 and 2019 and 2023. Participants included full national sides, Olympic sides, Invitational XI's and ...

:Winners (1):

2016 2016 was designated as: * International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly. * International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Internationa ...

Players

Roster

Sponsorship

, the team's jersey sponsor has been the Chinese sportswear brand

Li-Ning Li-Ning Company Limited is a Chinese sportswear and sports equipment company founded by former Olympic gymnast Li Ning. The company endorses a number of international athletes and teams worldwide in pursuit of the North American market(s). His ...

.Ein Veteran für die Towers
Ralf Schmitt (

Bild ''Bild'' (, ) or ''Bild-Zeitung'' (, ) is a German tabloid newspaper published by Axel Springer SE. The paper is published from Monday to Saturday; on Sundays, its sister paper '' Bild am Sonntag'' () is published instead, which has a differen ...

), 25 October 2021. Accessed 26 October 2021.

Notable players

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: *

Wang Zhelin Wang Zhelin (, pronounced ; born January 20, 1994) is a Chinese basketball player for the hoops club in the Chinese Basketball Association. He was drafted in the second round (57th overall) in the 2016 NBA draft by the Memphis Grizzlies. Pr ...

* Liu Wei *

Jamaal Franklin Jamaal Eric Franklin (born July 21, 1991) is an American professional basketball player for the Guangzhou Loong Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). Franklin played college basketball for San Diego State, where he was the Mountain ...

* Ray McCallum Jr. *

Yen Hsing-su Yen Hsing-su (; born 8 September 1976), also known as Johnny Yen, is a Taiwanese basketball coach and former basketball player, singer and actor. Since 2017 he has been the assistant coach of the Chinese Taipei men's national basketball team. F ...

Jimmer Fredette James Taft "Jimmer" Fredette (born February 25, 1989) is an American former professional basketball player who serves as the managing director of the USA Basketball 3x3 Men’s National Team. Fredette was the 2011 National Player of the Year i ...

Kenny Lofton Jr. Kenneth Wayne Lofton Jr. (born August 14, 2002) is an American professional basketball player for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He played college basketball for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. He is a two-time al ...

References

External links

SINA.com.cn profile

Shanghai Sharks on Weibo.com
{{CBA teams Sports clubs and teams in Shanghai Chinese Basketball Association teams Basketball teams established in 1996 1996 establishments in Shanghai Internet memes introduced in 2021