The Liaoning Flying Leopards (), also known as the Liaoning Shenyang Sansheng Flying Leopard Club or Liaoning Bengang (

simplified Chinese Simplification, Simplify, or Simplified may refer to: Mathematics Simplification is the process of replacing a mathematical expression by an equivalent one, that is simpler (usually shorter), for example * Simplification of algebraic expressions, ...

: 辽宁本钢), are a Chinese professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...

team based in

Hunnan District Hunnan District (), formerly Dongling District () one of ten districts of the prefecture-level city of Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning Province, Northeast China, and forms part of the eastern and southeastern suburbs. The district contains 12 s ...

Shenyang Shenyang (, ; ; Mandarin pronunciation: ), formerly known as Fengtian () or by its Manchu language, Manchu name Mukden, is a major China, Chinese sub-provincial city and the List of capitals in China#Province capitals, provincial capital of Lia ...

Liaoning Liaoning () is a coastal province in Northeast China that is the smallest, southernmost, and most populous province in the region. With its capital at Shenyang, it is located on the northern shore of the Yellow Sea, and is the northernmost ...

, which plays in the Northern Division of the

Chinese Basketball Association The Chinese Basketball Association (), 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 ...

(CBA). The team used to hold home games in

Benxi Benxi (, ) is a prefecture-level city located in the east of Liaoning province, People's Republic of China, south-southeast of the provincial capital Shenyang. As of the 2020 census, its population was 1,326,018 (1,709,538 in 2010) whom 809,655 ...

, at the Benxi Gymnasium, but relocated to Shenyang in the 2017–18 season. The Liaoning 3SBio Inc. is the club's corporate sponsor while its mascot is a flying leopard. The team plays at the

Liaoning Gymnasium The Liaoning Gymnasium is an indoor arena in Shenyang, China. The arena used mainly for basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete wi ...

History

During the 2004–05 CBA season, Liaoning finished in first place in the North Division, but lost in the Quarter-Finals of the CBA Playoffs to the South Division's

Yunnan Bulls Yunnan Honghe Running Bulls () or Yunnan Honghe or Yunnan Running Bulls were a basketball team in the Southern Division of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), based in Mengzi, Honghe, Yunnan (). They won the 2004 Chinese Basketball Leag ...

. The team would then go on to place seventh and fourth, respectively, over the next two years, before advancing to the CBA Finals following the 2007–08 CBA season. Although Liaoning eventually lost to the

Guangdong Southern Tigers Guangdong Hongyuan Southern Tigers () or Guangdong Southern Tigers, also known as Guangdong Dongguan Bank () for sponsorship reasons, are a Chinese professional basketball team owned by the Guangdong Winnerway (Hongyuan) Group. The team is one o ...

, the club did win the fourth game of the series. This was the team's first victory in the CBA Finals, despite multiple appearances. After finishing in fifth place in the 2009–10 CBA season, Liaoning would miss both the 2010–11 and the 2011–12 CBA playoffs. In 2011, Liaoning Scale Industry took over sponsorship from the Liaoning Panpan Group Co., Ltd. Before the 2012–13 CBA season began, the roster received a massive upheaval. Liaoning made multiple changes including the signings of

Josh Akognon Joshua Emmanuel Akognon (born February 10, 1986) is a Nigerian–American professional basketball player who last played for Montakit Fuenlabrada of the Liga ACB. He played college basketball for Washington State and Cal State Fullerton. Standing ...

and Alexander Johnson. Meanwhile, veteran Bian Qiang retired, and many local players were either transferred or loaned out to other CBA teams. One of the most significant player transactions that occurred was the decision to let go of Zhang Qingpeng.Liaoning new season Parade: Lineup big shake double foreign aid decided the fate of the team
/ref> It would later be revealed that this move was made in the interest of developing sharpshooter

Guo Ailun Guo Ailun () (born November 14, 1993) is a Chinese professional basketball player for the Liaoning Flying Leopards of the Chinese Basketball Association and the Chinese national team. He is the first Chinese basketball player to sign with Jord ...

.Liaoning team explained Zhang Qingpeng leave reasons: desire to cultivate Guo Allan
/ref> On December 2, 2012, the Flying Leopards beat the

Tianjin Gold Lions The Tianjin Ronggang Pioneers () or Tianjin Ronggang or Tianjin Pioneers are a Chinese professional basketball team based in Tianjin, which plays in the Northern Division of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). The Ronggang Import & Export Tr ...

100–81. This was Liaoning's sixth straight home victory against Tianjin.Liaoning scale industry VS Tianjin Steel Wing battlefield 100-81
In 2013, the team started to receive sponsorship from

Benxi Steel Group Benxi Steel Group Corp., Ltd. known as Benxi Steel Group (or Bengang in China) is a Chinese holding company based in Benxi, Liaoning Province, for two steel making group. The company was formed in 2010 as the holding company for Benxi Iron and S ...

. The Flying Leopards have since become regular contenders for the CBA title again, powered by such players as Guo, Han Dejun, and multi-time CBA International MVP

Lester Hudson Lester Hudson III (born August 7, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Shandong Heroes of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). In the 2007–08 season, Hudson recorded the only quadruple-double in NCAA Division I men's ...

. Liaoning lost to the

Beijing Ducks The Beijing Shougang Ducks (''simplified Chinese'': 北京首钢鸭俱乐部篮球队), also known as Beijing Shougang or Beijing Ducks, are a professional basketball team based in Beijing, China, which plays in the North Division of the Chi ...

in six games in the 2015 CBA Finals, and to

Sichuan Blue Whales The Sichuan Jinqiang Blue Whales (sometimes spelled Whale) (四川金强蓝鲸), also known as Sichuan Jinqiang or Sichuan Jinrong Industry, are a professional basketball team based in Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, which plays in th ...

in five games in the 2016 CBA Finals. A brawl broke between players from the visiting Liaoning Flying Leopards and fans of the

after Game 3 of the Chinese Basketball Association 2016 Finals as described in Chuan-Liao Event. In the 2017–18 CBA season, Liaoning defeated

Zhejiang Lions The Zhejiang Guangsha Lions () are a Chinese professional basketball team based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, which plays in the North Division of the Chinese Basketball Association. Guangsha is the name of the club's corporate sponsor, but to prevent ...

in the finals (4–0) and won their first CBA league title. The team relocated their home stadium from Benxi to Shenyang during the play-offs semi-finals. In 2019, 3SBio Inc. officially took the sponsorship, and changed the team name. In the

2020–21 The dash is a punctuation mark consisting of a long horizontal line. It is similar in appearance to the hyphen but is longer and sometimes higher from the baseline. The most common versions are the endash , generally longer than the hyphen b ...

season, former

national team A national sports team (commonly known as a national team or a national side) is a team that represents a nation, rather than a particular club or region, in an international sport. The term is most commonly associated with team sports, for exa ...

player Yang Ming became the new head coach.CBA Roundup: Red-hot Golden Bulls book semifinal clash with Liaoning
Huaxia (

Xinhua News Agency Xinhua News Agency (English pronunciation: )J. C. Wells: Longman Pronunciation Dictionary, 3rd ed., for both British and American English, or New China News Agency, is the official state news agency of the People's Republic of China. Xinhua ...

), 19 April 2021. Accessed 8 November 2021. In the 2021–22 season, they won their second CBA title after sweeping Zhejiang Lions 4–0 in the final, the same as in 2018.

Players

Current roster

Honours

(CBA) ::Winners (2): 2017–18, 2021–22 ::Runners-up (8): 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2007–08, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2019–20,

Notable players

Guo Shiqiang Guo Shiqiang (, born 8 July 1975) is a former Chinese professional basketball player and current coach for the Guangzhou Loong Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association. He is the uncle of Guo Ailun. Playing career Guo started his profess ...

(1990s) *

Li Xiaoyong Li Xiaoyong (born 28 November 1969) is a Chinese former basketball player who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics and in the 2000 Summer Olympics The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad and also known as Syd ...

(1990s) * Wang Zhidan (1990s) *

Wu Naiqun Wu Naiqun (born 4 February 1971) is a former Chinese basketball player who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as t ...

(1990s) *

Wu Qinglong Wu Qinglong (, born on 27 December 1965 in Dalian, Liaoning) is a Chinese basketball coach and former professional player who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics and the 1996 Summer Olympics The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the G ...

(1990s) *

Zhang Qingpeng Zhang Qingpeng (born March 28, 1981 in Fushun, Liaoning) is a former Chinese professional basketball player who played as a point guard for the Beijing Shougang Ducks in the CBA. He also played for the Liaoning Dinosaurs and the Xinjiang F ...

(2001–2014) *

Eric Riley Eric Riley (born June 2, 1970) is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round (33rd pick overall) of the 1993 NBA draft. Riley played for the Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Los Ange ...

(2002–2003) * Ernest Brown (2003–2004, 2006–2008) *

Li Xiaoxu Li Xiaoxu () is a Chinese basketball player who currently plays for Liaoning Flying Leopards in the Chinese Basketball Association The Chinese Basketball Association (), often abbreviated as the CBA, is the first-tier professional men's b ...

(2005–present) *

Jamal Sampson Jamal Wesley Sampson (born May 15, 1983) is an American former professional basketball player. A power forward / center, Sampson is the cousin of the 1983 NBA draft's number one overall pick Ralph Sampson. He attended the University of Califor ...

(2007–2008) *

Awvee Storey Awvee Storey (born April 18, 1977) is a former American professional basketball player and assistant coach for the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA. He played the shooting guard/small forward position. High school career Born in Chicago, Illinois, S ...

(2008–2009) *

Keith Closs Keith Mitchell Closs Jr. (born April 3, 1976) is an American former professional basketball player. He played at the center position. College career At and , Closs played collegiately at Central Connecticut State University, leading the nation ...

(2009) *

Lorenzen Wright Lorenzen Vern-Gagne Wright (November 4, 1975 – July 19, 2010) was an American professional basketball player for 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association. He was drafted seventh overall in the 1996 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers ...

(2009) *

Olumide Oyedeji Olumide Oyedeji (born 11 May 1981) is a Nigerian professional basketball center who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for three seasons. Professional career Oyedeji played at the 1999 and 2000 Nike Hoop Summits. He was select ...

(2009–2010) * Chris Richard (2010–2011) *

Donta Smith Donta Lamont Smith (born November 27, 1983) is an American-Venezuelan professional basketball player for Cangrejeros de Santurce of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional. Playing for Maccabi Haifa, he was named the 2014 Israeli Basketball Premier Leag ...

(2010–2011) * Han Dejun (2010–present) *

(2010–present) *

Rodney Carney Rodney Dion Carney (born April 15, 1984) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the University of Memphis and was selected in the 2006 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls and shortly afterwards traded to ...

(2011–2012) *

Josh Powell Josh Powell (born January 25, 1983) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. Powell won two NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010, and has also spent time with the Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, ...

(2011–2012) *

Shavlik Randolph Ronald Shavlik Randolph (born November 24, 1983) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Duke University before going undrafted in the 2005 NBA draft. In addition to playing in the National Basketba ...

(2011–2012, 2015–2017) * Liu Zhixuan (2012–2022) *

(2012–2013) * Alexander Johnson (2012–2013) *

Solomon Jones Solomon Jones (c. 1756 – September 21, 1822) was a doctor, judge and political figure in Upper Canada. He was born in New Jersey, America around 1756 and the family later moved to New York state. He studied medicine in Albany; at the sta ...

(2013) *

Vernon Macklin Vernon Leon Macklin (born September 25, 1986) is an American basketball coach and former professional basketball player. He is an assistant coach of the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis in the Korean Basketball League (KBL). Macklin played college basketball ...

(2013) *

Dominique Jones Dominique O'Neal Jones (born October 15, 1988) is an American professional basketball player for the Jilin Northeast Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). A noted scorer in college, Jones had the second-highest scoring average in th ...

(2013–2014) *

Hakim Warrick Hakim Hanif Warrick (born July 8, 1982) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Syracuse Orange from 2001 to 2005. Warrick won an NCAA championship in 2003 and blocked a potential game-tying thre ...

(2013–2014) *

Zhao Jiwei Zhao Jiwei (; Traditional Chinese: 趙繼偉; pinyin: Zhào Jì Wěi; born August 25, 1995) is a Chinese professional basketball player who plays for the Liaoning Flying Leopards of the Chinese Basketball Association. He represented China's nati ...

(2013–present) *

(2014–2015, 2015–2019) *

Brandon Bass Brandon Samuel Bass (born April 30, 1985) is an American former professional basketball player. Early life Bass was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the oldest of three siblings; he has a brother, Chris, and sister, Dashia. Bass is the son of C ...

(2017–2020) * Lance Stephenson (2019) *

O. J. Mayo Ovinton J'Anthony Mayo (born November 5, 1987) is an American professional basketball player who plays for Zamalek SC of the Egyptian Basketball Super League (EBSL). He played a single season of college basketball for the USC Trojans while earnin ...

(2020–2021) *

Jonathon Simmons Jonathon Calvin Simmons (born September 14, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for the Shanxi Loongs of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He played one season of Division I college basketball for the University of H ...

(2020–2021) * Zhang Zhenlin (2020–present) * Kyle Fogg (2021–present) *

Jeremy Tyler Jeremy Miles Tyler (born June 21, 1991) is an American professional basketball player for the Piratas de Quebradillas of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). Tyler was drafted with the 39th pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Charlotte Bobcats b ...

(2021) *

Eric Moreland Eric Moreland (born December 24, 1991) is an American professional basketball player, who is currently playing for the Liaoning Flying Leopards of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He played college basketball for the Oregon State Beavers. ...

(2021–present) * JaKarr Sampson (2022–present)

References

External links

Club Profile
at Sina.com {{CBA teams Chinese Basketball Association teams Sport in Liaoning Basketball teams established in 1995 1995 establishments in China