| Shanghai Sharks | |
| Founded | 1996 |
| League | CBA |
| Based in | Shanghai, China |
| Team Colors | blue, red, purple |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | Li Qiuping |
| Championships | 1(2001) |
| Mascot | shark |
The Shanghai Sharks (Chinese: 上海大鲨鱼; pinyin: Shànghǎi dàshāyú), are a Chinese Basketball Association team based in Shanghai, China. As a form of corporate sponsorship, there is often an additional name used: for many years they were also known as the Shanghai Dongfang Sharks (上海东方), but now are known as Shanghai Xiyang Sharks (上海西洋).
It is best-known outside China as the club that developed Yao Ming before he entered the NBA.
In the 2004–2005 season, the Shanghai Sharks finished in fifth place in the South Division, out of the playoffs. In 2005–2006, they tied for fifth, just one win away from making the playoffs.
In earlier seasons, they did better: they made the finals three years in a row (in 1999–2000, 2000–2001, 2001–2002), facing the Bayi Rockets each time. They were runners-up the first two years, but won the CBA championship for the first time on their third try, snapping a string of six Bayi Rockets championships in a row. Yao was a key player on the team in those years. Yao is currently the starting all-star center for the Houston Rockets, of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Current Players
| Player Name | Jersey # | Height | Position | Born | with club since |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meng Lingyuan | 5 | 6-3 | Guard | 1989 | 2007 |
| Cai Liang | 6 | 6-6 | Forward | 1992 | 2007 |
| Peng Fei | 7 | 6-8 | Forward | 1987 | 2005 |
| Liu Wei | 8 | 6-2 | Guard | 1980 | 1997 |
| Li Gen | 10 | 6-5 | Forward | 1988 | 2008 |
| Gu Aoke | 11 | 6-5 | Forward | 1988 | 2007 |
| Wang Yong | 12 | 6-8 | Forward | 1984 | 2002 |
| Luo Yudong | 13 | 6-5 | Guard | 1983 | 2000 |
| Wang Ligang | 21 | 6-8 | Forward/Center | 1985 | 2000 |
| Dajuan Tate | 23 | 6-5 | Guard | 1981 | 2007 |
| Tian Yuchen | 24 | 6-8 | Center | 1992 | 2007 |
| Wu Yang | 31 | 6-9 | Guard | 1988 | 2007 |
Retired number
- 15 Yao Ming
External links
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