The National Basketball League () is a 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 ...

minor league Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nor ...

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

, called Chinese Basketball League (CBL) before 2006. It is commonly known as the NBL, and this name (spelled out in letters) is often used even in

Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of ...

. NBL is the second-tier league to the professional

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).

Teams

Current teams

Name changes

* Anhui Jianghuai Lightning (安徽江淮闪电) --> Fujian Lightning (福建闪电) --> Anhui Putian Xingfa Lightning (安徽莆田兴发闪电) * Beijing Capital Sports Shares Eastern Bucks (北京首体股份东方雄鹿) -->

Beijing Bucks The Beijing Bucks are a China, Chinese professional men's basketball club based in Beijing, playing in the National Basketball League (China) (NBL). Since 2018 the team has been owned by the CITIC Guoan Group. Current roster No ...

(北京雄鹿) * Guizhou Shenghang Snow Leopards (贵州森航雪豹) --> Guizhou Guwutang Tea White Tigers (贵州古雾堂茶白虎) * Henan Jiyuan Iron and Steel (河南济源钢铁) --> Henan Jiyuan Coal Industry Golden Elephants (河南济源煤业金象) --> Henan Shedian Laojiu Golden Elephants (河南赊店老酒金象) * Hong Kong Xinlibao Bulls (香港新丽宝公牛) --> Shaanxi Weinan Xingda Northwestern Wolves (陕西渭南信达西北狼) --> Shaanxi Xingda Northwestern Wolves (陕西信达西北狼) * Hunan Yongsheng (湖南勇胜) -->

Hunan Jinjian Rice Industry The National Basketball League () is a professional basketball minor league in China, called Chinese Basketball League (CBL) before 2006. It is commonly known as the NBL, and this name (spelled out in letters) is often used even in Chinese. NB ...

(湖南金健米业) * Jiangsu Guoli Qifu Lions (江苏国立汽服雄狮) --> Jiangsu Guoli Lions (江苏国立雄狮) * Jiangsu Hualan Royal Pandas (江苏华兰皇家熊猫) --> Chongqing Sanhai Lanling Royal Pandas (重庆三海兰陵皇家熊猫) --> Chongqing Huaxi International (重庆华熙国际) * Nanjing Military Region Yueda Great Wall (南京军区悦达长城) --> Eastern Army Yueda Great Wall (东部陆军悦达长城) --> Eastern Yuanchuang Yueda Great Wall (东部原创悦达长城) --> Nanjing Lishui Yueda Great Wall (南京溧水悦达长城) -->

Hefei Yuanchuang The National Basketball League () is a professional basketball minor league in China, called Chinese Basketball League (CBL) before 2006. It is commonly known as the NBL, and this name (spelled out in letters) is often used even in Chinese. NB ...

(合肥原创) * Zhengzhou Dayun (郑州大运) --> Luoyang Jinxing Flaming Horses (洛阳金星) --> Luoyang Zhonghe Flaming Horses (洛阳中赫) --> Luoyang Jinxing Haixiang Flaming Horses (洛阳金星海象)

Former teams

Joined the CBA

* Yunnan Honghe Running Bulls (云南红河奔牛) – 2004, now defunct * Dongguan New Century Leopards (东莞新世纪烈豹) – 2005 *

Zhejiang Guangsha 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 con ...

(浙江广厦猛狮) – 2006 * Qingdao Conson DoubleStar Eagles (青岛国信双星雄鹰) – 2008 * Tianjin Ronggang Gold Lions (天津荣钢金狮) – 2008 * Sichuan Jinqiang Blue Whales (四川金强蓝鲸) – 2013 * Chongqing Wansheng Black Valley Fly Dragons (重庆万盛黑山谷翱龙) – 2014 * Jiangsu Tongxi Monkey Kings (江苏同曦大圣) – 2014

= Name change

= * Guangzhou Free Man (广州自由人) --> Chongqing Wansheng Black Valley Fly Dragons (重庆万盛黑山谷翱龙)

Defunct teams

* Guangzhou Whampoa Chateau Xingbao Liusui (广州黃埔星堡酒庄六穗) – 2013 * Hanzhou Yongtong (杭州永通) – 2011 * Hebei Jidong Cement (河北冀东水泥) – * Hebei Qingquan Running Horses (河北清泉奔马) – 2013 * Heilongjiang Daqing (黑龙江大庆) – * Heilongjiang Zhaozhou Fengshen Sky Lions (黑龙江肇州丰绅天狮) – 2014 *

Hubei Marco Polo The National Basketball League () is a professional basketball minor league in China, called Chinese Basketball League (CBL) before 2006. It is commonly known as the NBL, and this name (spelled out in letters) is often used even in Chinese. NB ...

(湖北马可波罗) – 2014 * Hunan Changsha Bank Park Lane Snow Wolves (湖南长沙银行柏宁雪狼) – 2014 * Jiangxi Xingye Flaming Horses (江西鑫业烈焰马) – 2014 *

Shanxi Yujin The National Basketball League () is a professional basketball minor league in China, called Chinese Basketball League (CBL) before 2006. It is commonly known as the NBL, and this name (spelled out in letters) is often used even in Chinese. NB ...

(山西宇晋) – 2006, merged with the Henan Renhe Dragons (河南仁和猛龙) to form Shanxi Yujin Dragons (山西宇晋猛龙) *

Shenyang Dongjin Shenyang Dongjin Football Club () was a Chinese football club based in Shenyang, Liaoning and their home stadium is the Shenyang Urban Construction University Stadium that has a seating capacity of 12,000. History Founded as Jinan Fulu Football ...

(沈阳东进) – 2011 * Sichuan Shidai Glacier (四川时代冰川) – *

Team Tianjin The National Basketball League () is a professional basketball minor league in China, called Chinese Basketball League (CBL) before 2006. It is commonly known as the NBL, and this name (spelled out in letters) is often used even in Chinese. NBL ...

(天津市男子篮球队) – no nickname or sponsor * Weihai Xinli (威海新力) – 2013 * Yingkou Donghua Shenyang Army (营口东华沈阳部队) –

= Name changes

= * Dongguan Park Lane (东莞柏宁) --> Hunan Changsha Bank Park Lane Snow Wolves (湖南长沙银行柏宁雪狼) * Guangzhou Whampoa Liusui (广州黃埔六穗) --> Guangzhou Whampoa Chateau Xingbao Liusui (广州黃埔星堡酒庄六穗) * Henan Renhe (河南仁和) -->

(山西宇晋) * Team Hubei (湖北省男子篮球队) -->

(湖北马可波罗)

History

Inaugural season

The first regular season of the CBL began in April 2004. Eight teams advanced to the

playoffs The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...

: * Yunnan Honghe Running Bulls (云南红河奔牛) * Yingkou Donghua Shenyang Army (营口东华沈阳部队) * Hebei Jidong Cement (河北冀东水泥) * Sichuan Shidai Glacier (四川时代冰川) *

(山西宇晋) * Heilongjiang Daqing (黑龙江大庆) * Dongguan New Century Leopards (东莞新世纪烈豹) *

(天津市男子篮球队) – no nickname or sponsor On 4 August 2004, Yunnan Honghe Running Bulls defeated Dongguan New Century Leopards to win the first ever CBL championship and were promoted to the CBA for the 2004–2005 season.

2009 NBL ladder (championship round)

References

External links

NBL official website
{{NBL China 2 Sports leagues in China Professional sports leagues in China