Shanghai Sharks
上海久事大鲨鱼
Color 1
  1. 111177
Color 2
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Color 3
  1. 0029A4
LeaguesCBA
Founded1996 (age 30)
HistoryShanghai Sharks
(1996–present)
ArenaShanghai Indoor Stadium[1]
Capacity13,000
LocationShanghai, China
ColorsBlue, Orange, White
OwnerShanghai Jiushi Group[2]
Championships1 (2002)
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2 bodyEB6715
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Shanghai Sharks
S上海大鲨鱼
T上海大鯊魚
PShànghǎi dàshāyú
YSeung hoi2 daai6 sa1 yu2
JSeong hoi2 daai6 saa1 jyu4
WShanghai tashayü
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The Shanghai Sharks (), officially named Shanghai Juss Basketball Club Co., Ltd,[3] are a Chinese Basketball Association team based in Shanghai.[4]

The Sharks 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. 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 first NBA team to travel to China,[5]: 156 with Yao Zhiyuan—father of Yao Ming—as their center.[5]: 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.[6]

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.[7][8] 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.[9][10][11][12]

Honours

CBA
Champions (1): 2001–02
Runners-up (2): 1999–2000, 2000–01
CBA In-Season Tournament
Champions (2): 2024–25, 2025–26
Merlion Cup
Winners (1): 2016

Sponsorship

As of 2025, the team's jersey sponsor has been the Chinese sportswear brand Li-Ning.[13]

Notable players

Players included in this section are considered notable for having achieved at least one of the following:

  • Set a club record while playing for the Sharks
  • Won an individual award as a professional player
  • Played at least one official international match for their senior national team
  • Been ranked higher than Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James at any point in their careers (e.g., Lenny Cooke in 2001)

The following players meet at least one of the above criteria:

References

  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. ^ https://www.jusssports.com/en/about
  4. ^ "zh:上海哔哩哔哩篮球俱乐部官方网站". Shanghai Sharks. Archived from the original on 2015-05-04. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "Yao buys Shanghai Sharks". ESPN.com. Reuters. 2009-07-16. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
  7. ^ CBA Roundup: Liaoning, Shanghai earn eight straight wins Xinhua (China Internet Information Center), 11 November 2021. Accessed 11 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Hu's career-high sees Guangdong win streak reach 5". China.org.cn. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  9. ^ Recks, Johnny (17 July 2021). "Trolls Who Want Kyle Kuzma to Suit up for Shanghai Sharks Receive Some Bad News". ClutchPoints. Archived April 5, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  10. ^ Abele, Natalie (21 June 2021). "Someone put Ben Simmons on the Shanghai Sharks' roster on Wikipedia after Game 7 loss". Fansided. Archived 5 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine.
  11. ^ Silva, Orlando (3 September 2021). "Shanghai Sharks Incredibly Listed as a Possible Destination for Ben Simmons". Fadeaway World. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  12. ^ Kulkarni, Divij (29 April 2023). "Lakers Fan Ruthlessly Trolled Dillon Brooks Before Lakers vs. Grizzlies Game: "Shanghai Sharks Brooks"". Fadeaway World. Archived 2 May 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  13. ^ Ein Veteran für die Towers Ralf Schmitt (Bild), 25 October 2021. Accessed 26 October 2021.(in German)