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Organising body | Chinese Basketball Management Center |
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Founded | 1995 |
First season | 1995–96 |
Country | China |
Federation | Chinese Basketball Association |
Confederation | FIBA Asia (FIBA Asia Champions Cup) |
Divisions | 2 |
Number of teams | 20 |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Current champions | Liaoning Flying Leopards (4th title) (2023–24) |
Most championships | Guangdong Southern Tigers (11 titles) |
Most appearances | Zhou Peng (740) |
All-time top scorer | Lester Hudson (13,076) |
TV partners | CCTV, Migu Video |
Website | CBALeague.com |
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Chinese Basketball Association | |||||||||||||||
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Traditional Chinese | 中國男子籃球職業聯賽 | ||||||||||||||
Simplified Chinese | 中国男子篮球职业联赛 | ||||||||||||||
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The Chinese Basketball Association (simplified Chinese: 中国男子篮球职业联赛; traditional Chinese: 中國男子籃球職業聯賽; pinyin: Zhōngguó Nánzǐ Lánqiú Zhíyè Liánsài), often abbreviated as the CBA, is the first-tier professional men's 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. The CBA should not be confused with the National Basketball League (NBL), which is a professional minor league. There is also a Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA).
A few Chinese players who competed in the CBA in the early stages of their careers—including Wang Zhizhi, Mengke Bateer, Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian, Sun Yue, and Zhou Qi—have also played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Others such as Xue Yuyang and Wang Zhelin were chosen in the draft, but have not played in the NBA.
Only a limited number of foreign players are allowed on each CBA team. Notable imports include former NBA All-Stars Stephon Marbury, Tracy McGrady, Gilbert Arenas, Steve Francis, Metta World Peace and Kenyon Martin—as well as several NBA veterans who would become CBA All-Stars—Michael Beasley, Aaron Brooks, Jimmer Fredette, Al Harrington, Lester Hudson, Randolph Morris, Shavlik Randolph, Jeremy Lin and J.R. Smith.