| Shanghai Sharks | |
 |
|
| Founded | 1996 |
| League | CBA |
| Arena | Luwan Gymnasium (capacity: 3,000) |
|---|---|
| Based in | Shanghai, People's Republic of China |
| Team Colours | blue, red, purple |
| Owner | Yao Ming |
| Manager | Li Qiuping |
| Championships | 1 (2001) |
| Division Titles | 1 CBA |
| Mascot | Shark |
| Team Website | http://xiyang.yundongren.com/ |
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 has been the starting all-star center for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA), although as of the 2009 offseason his playing future is in question due to a broken foot that has yet to properly heal.
The team faced serious financial issues in the 2008–09 season, and were in danger of not being able to compete in the 2009–10 season due to their shaky finances. On July 16, 2009, Chinese media reported that Yao had stepped in to purchase the team, presumably enabling them to continue in the CBA.[1]
Contents |
Current Players
| Player Name | Jersey # | Height | Position | Born | with club since | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Zaid Abbas | 6-8 | Forward | 1983 | 2009 |  |
Retired number
- 15 Yao Ming
Notes and references
- ^ Reuters (2009-07-16). "Yao buys Shanghai Sharks". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4330776. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
External links
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