1996–97 Chinese Basketball Association season

League| CBA
Season| 1996–97
Duration|

* 27 November 1996–26 February 1997 (regular season)
* 2–30 March 1997 (playoffs)
* 23–30 March 1997 (finals)

Number of teams| 12
Regular season
Season champions| Bayi Rockets
Season MVP|  Hu Weidong (Jiangsu Dragons)
Relegated| Zhejiang Squirrels
Jinan Army
Finals
Champions| Bayi Rockets (2nd title)
Runners-up| Liaoning Hunters
Semifinalists| Guangdong Southern Tigers
Shandong Flaming Bulls
Awards
CBA Coach of the Year| Wang Fei (Bayi Rockets)
Li Ge (Liaoning Hunters)

← 1995–96

1997–98 →

The 1996–97 CBA season was the second season of the Chinese Basketball Association. The season was held from 27 November 1996 to 30 March 1997.

The Shanghai Sharks and Sichuan Pandas were promoted from the Second Division.[1][2]

## Teams

[edit]

Team  | Head coach  | City  | Arena  | Capacity

|
|
|
|

Air Force  |  Ma Lianzhong |  |  |
Bayi Rockets |  Wang Fei |  |  |
Beijing Ducks |  Yuan Chao |  |  |
Guangdong Southern Tigers |  Wang Lifa |  |  |
Jiangsu Dragons |  Xia Hongfa |  |  |
Jinan Army  |  Zhang Bin |  |  |
Liaoning Hunters |  Li Ge |  |  |
Shandong Flaming Bulls |  Ye Peng |  |  |
Shanghai Sharks |  Li Qiuping |  |  |
Shenyang Army  |  Xuan Chengbin |  |  |
Sichuan Pandas  |  Yang Ming  |  |  |
Zhejiang Squirrels |  Pan Jianping |  |  |

### Team changes

[edit]

#### To CBA

[edit]

Teams promoted from Second Division

* Shanghai Sharks
* Sichuan Pandas

#### From CBA

[edit]

Team relegated to Second Division

* Nanjing Army
* Vanguard/Police

|

## Regular season

[edit]

### League table

[edit]

Rank  | 1996–97 CBA regular season

|

Team  | W | L | Pts | Pct. | Tiebreaker
1  | Bayi Rockets | 19 | 3 | 41 | 86.4% |
2  | Liaoning Hunters | 18 | 4 | 40 | 81.8% |
3  | Shandong Flaming Bulls | 14 | 8 | 36 | 63.6% |
4  | Guangdong Southern Tigers | 13 | 9 | 35 | 59.1% |
5  | Shanghai Sharks | 13 | 9 | 35 | 59.1% |
6  | Jiangsu Dragons | 12 | 10 | 34 | 54.5% |
7  | Air Force | 9 | 13 | 31 | 40.9% |
8  | Shenyang Army | 9 | 13 | 31 | 40.9% |
9  | Beijing Ducks | 8 | 14 | 30 | 36.4% |
10  | Zhejiang Squirrels | 7 | 15 | 29 | 31.8% |
11  | Sichuan Pandas | 7 | 15 | 29 | 31.8% |
12  | Jinan Army | 3 | 19 | 25 | 13.6% |
Key to colors  | Qualification for playoffs

|

| Qualification for relegation playoffs

### Results

[edit]

12 teams played against each other teams twice.

Home \ Away  | AFO  | BYR | BJD | GDS | JSD | JNA  | LNH | SDB | SHS | SYA  | SCP  | ZJS

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Air Force  |  | 75–100  | 71–75  | 96–90  | 83–88  | 89–69  | 73–95  | 73–64  | 86–68  | 81–77  | 85–83  | 69–79
Bayi Rockets | 105–64  |  | 102–85  | 108–82  | 107–69  | 104–82  | 80–92  | 89–76  | 90–88  | 98–83  | 115–83  | 105–60
Beijing Ducks | 70–77  | 82–114  |  | 96–92  | 70–75  | 89–64  | 85–95  | 95–74  | 72–91  | 63–68  | 96–74  | 74–49
Guangdong Southern Tigers | 95–76  | 100–90  | 78–63  |  | 97–82  | 108–75  | 78–84  | 89–94  | 66–77  | 86–83  | 81–76  | 77–58
Jiangsu Dragons | 85–89  | 83–98  | 83–77  | 83–85  |  | 108–94  | 101–113  | 95–80  | 73–72  | 85–73  | 100–84  | 90–69
Jinan Army  | 64–85  | 90–127  | 77–81  | 68–76  | 98–103  |  | 85–105  | 77–82  | 81–85  | 79–70  | 81–73  | 69–64
Liaoning Hunters | 97–76  | 81–98  | 85–71  | 90–89  | 85–67  | 96–68  |  | 73–79  | 97–69  | 94–83  | 87–77  | 77–50
Shandong Flaming Bulls | 92–73  | 79–109  | 92–74  | 69–82  | 93–78  | 85–70  | 80–95  |  | 98–72  | 95–76  | 76–66  | 88–70
Shanghai Sharks | 82–56  | 61–75  | 65–70  | 68–85  | 90–73  | 80–73  | 68–64  | 65–62  |  | 68–47  | 89–76  | 68–53
Shenyang Army  | 84–81  | 92–83  | 70–63  | 86–56  | 72–76  | 82–74  | 80–106  | 68–78  | 74–68  |  | 97–82  | 71–59
Sichuan Pandas  | 67–65  | 68–77  | 67–62  | 75–67  | 92–99  | 83–73  | 96–89  | 71–91  | 71–78  | 74–65  |  | 78–71
Zhejiang Squirrels | 74–53  | 70–83  | 70–58  | 98–101  | 80–77  | 77–63  | 76–90  | 69–72  | 49–59  | 57–54  | 80–64  |

Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Red = away team win.
Matches with lighter background shading were decided after overtime.

## Playoffs

[edit]

The top 8 teams in the regular season advanced to the playoffs.[2]

### Bracket

[edit]

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fifth place game| | | 5–8th classification semi-finals| | | Quarter-finals| | | Semi-finals| | | Finals
| | | | |
| 1| Bayi Rockets| 128| 110| 2
| | |
| | | 8| Shenyang Army| 78| 69| 0| | |
| | | | | | | |
| 8| Shenyang Army| 92| 72| 1 (164)| | 1| Bayi Rockets| 109| 119| 2
| | | | | | | |
| | | 5| Shanghai Sharks| 91| 94| 1 (185)| | | | | 4| Guangdong Southern Tigers| 81| 84| 0| |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | 4| Guangdong Southern Tigers| 84| 87| 2|
| | | | |
| | | | 5| Shanghai Sharks| 74| 82| 0| | |
| | |
| 5| Shanghai Sharks| 90| 68| 1 (158)| | 1| Bayi Rockets| 100| 102| 2
| | | | |
| 6| Jiangsu Dragons| 73| 96| 1 (169)| | | | | 2| Liaoning Hunters| 68| 66| 0
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | 3| Shandong Flaming Bulls| 102| 77| 2|
| | |
| | | 6| Jiangsu Dragons| 72| 74| 0| | |
| | | | |
| Seventh place game| 6| Jiangsu Dragons| 121| 105| 2| | 3| Shandong Flaming Bulls| 70| 77| 0| Third place game
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | 7| Air Force| 118| 99| 0| | | | | 2| Liaoning Hunters| 93| 78| 2| | |
| | | | | | |
| 8| Shenyang Army| 99| 75| 1 (174)| | 2| Liaoning Hunters| 80| 85| 2| | 4| Guangdong Southern Tigers| 87| 78| 1 (165)
| | | | |
| 7| Air Force| 94| 97| 1 (191)| | | 7| Air Force| 55| 77| 0| | | 3| Shandong Flaming Bulls| 69| 79| 1 (148)
| | | | | | | | |

### Quarter-finals

[edit]

#### (1) Bayi Rockets vs. (8) Shenyang Army

[edit]

2 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Bayi Rockets | 128-78 | Shenyang Army

|
|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

5 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Shenyang Army | 69-110 | Bayi Rockets

|
|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

#### (2) Liaoning Hunters vs. (7) Air Force

[edit]

2 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Liaoning Hunters | 80-55 | Air Force

|
|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

5 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Air Force | 77-85 | Liaoning Hunters

|
|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

#### (3) Shandong Flaming Bulls vs. (6) Jiangsu Dragons

[edit]

2 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Shandong Flaming Bulls | 102-72 | Jiangsu Dragons

|
|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

5 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Jiangsu Dragons | 74-77 | Shandong Flaming Bulls

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|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

#### (4) Guangdong Southern Tigers vs. (5) Shanghai Sharks

[edit]

2 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Guangdong Southern Tigers | 84-74 | Shanghai Sharks

|
|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

5 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Shanghai Sharks | 82-87 | Guangdong Southern Tigers

|
|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

### Semi-finals

[edit]

#### (1) Bayi Rockets vs. (4) Guangdong Southern Tigers

[edit]

9 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Bayi Rockets | 109-81 | Guangdong Southern Tigers

|
|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

16 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Guangdong Southern Tigers | 84-119 | Bayi Rockets

|
|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

#### (2) Liaoning Hunters vs. (3) Shandong Flaming Bulls

[edit]

12 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Liaoning Hunters | 93-70 | Shandong Flaming Bulls

|
|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

16 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Shandong Flaming Bulls | 77-78 | Liaoning Hunters

|
|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

### 5–8th classification semi-finals

[edit]

#### (5) Shanghai Sharks vs. (8) Shenyang Army

[edit]

9 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Shenyang Army | 92-91 | Shanghai Sharks

|
|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

16 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Shanghai Sharks | 94-72 | Shenyang Army

|
|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

#### (6) Jiangsu Dragons vs. (7) Air Force

[edit]

12 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Air Force | 118-121 | Jiangsu Dragons

|
|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

16 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Jiangsu Dragons | 105-99 | Air Force

|
|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

### Finals

[edit]

#### (1) Bayi Rockets vs. (2) Liaoning Hunters

[edit]

23 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Bayi Rockets | 100-68 | Liaoning Hunters

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|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

30 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Liaoning Hunters | 66-102 | Bayi Rockets

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|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

### Third place game

[edit]

#### (3) Shandong Flaming Bulls vs. (4) Guangdong Southern Tigers

[edit]

23 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Guangdong Southern Tigers | 87-69 | Shandong Flaming Bulls

|
|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

30 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Shandong Flaming Bulls | 79-78 | Guangdong Southern Tigers

|
|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

### Fifth place game

[edit]

#### (5) Shanghai Sharks vs. (6) Jiangsu Dragons

[edit]

19 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Shanghai Sharks | 90-73 | Jiangsu Dragons

|
|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

26 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Jiangsu Dragons | 96-68 | Shanghai Sharks

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|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

### Seventh place game

[edit]

#### (7) Air Force vs. (8) Shenyang Army

[edit]

19 March 1997
19:30

[ Boxscore]

Shenyang Army | 99-94 | Air Force

|
|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

26 March 1997
19:30

[ Boxscore]

Air Force | 97-75 | Shenyang Army

|
|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

## Relegation playoffs

[edit]

The bottom 4 teams advanced to relegation playoffs. The Zhejiang Squirrels and Jinan Army were relegated to the Second Division after the relegation playoffs.

### League table

[edit]

Rank  | Relegation playoffs

|

Team  | W | L | Pts | Pct. | Tiebreaker
9  | Beijing Ducks | 5 | 1 | 11 | 83.3% |
10  | Sichuan Pandas | 4 | 2 | 10 | 66.7% |
11  | Zhejiang Squirrels | 3 | 3 | 9 | 50.0% |
12  | Jinan Army | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0.0% |
Key to colors  | Relegation to Second Division

|

### Games

[edit]

9 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Beijing Ducks | 92-82 | Jinan Army

|
|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

9 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Zhejiang Squirrels | 71-67 | Sichuan Pandas

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|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

12 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Jinan Army | 75-92 | Beijing Ducks

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|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

12 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Sichuan Pandas | 74-64 | Zhejiang Squirrels

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|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

19 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Beijing Ducks | 71-64 | Sichuan Pandas

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|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

19 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Jinan Army | 77-90 | Zhejiang Squirrels

|
|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

23 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Sichuan Pandas | 76-70 | Beijing Ducks

|
|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

23 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Zhejiang Squirrels | 85-71 | Jinan Army

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|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

26 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Beijing Ducks | 95-69 | Zhejiang Squirrels

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|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

26 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Sichuan Pandas | 81-69 | Jinan Army

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|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

30 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Zhejiang Squirrels | 66-80 | Beijing Ducks

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|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

30 March 1997
19:30

Boxscore

Jinan Army | 79-85 | Sichuan Pandas

|
|

Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

## All-Star Weekend

[edit]

The 1997 CBA All-Star Game was played on April 5, 1997, in Shanghai.

The South All-Stars defeated the North All-Stars 98-84. Hu Weidong from the Jiangsu Dragons was named MVP of the All-Star Game.

James Hodges from the Liaoning Hunters won the Slam Dunk Contest, and Saulius Štombergas from the Shanghai Sharks won the Three-Point Shootout.[1]

## Statistics

[edit]

### Team statistic leaders

[edit]

Category | Team | Statistic[3]

|
|

Points per game | Bayi Rockets | 98.0
Rebounds per game | Liaoning Hunters
Zhejiang Squirrels | 31.0
Assists per game | Liaoning Hunters | 14.5
Steals per game | Bayi Rockets | 12.0
Blocks per game | Shanghai Sharks | 4.9
Turnovers per game | Sichuan Pandas | 14.7
Fouls per game | Air Force | 20.0
FG% | Shandong Flaming Bulls | 57.0%
FT% | Liaoning Hunters | 70.4%
3P% | Liaoning Hunters | 43.8%

## Awards

[edit]

These are the award winners for the 1996-97 CBA regular season.[1][4]

### Annual awards

[edit]

1996–97 CBA awards  Award | Recipient(s)

|

CBA Most Valuable Player | Hu Weidong (Jiangsu Dragons)
CBA Coach of the Year | Wang Fei (Bayi Rockets)
Li Ge (Liaoning Hunters)

## Notes

[edit]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c 新浪体育 (2005-12-07). "96-97赛季CBA-冠名希尔顿 胡卫东当选MVP". Archived from the original on 21 February 2024. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
2. ^ a b 搜狐体育. "Data Source". Retrieved 2011-11-25.
3. ^ "球队 - 基础数据". cbaleague.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
4. ^ "荣誉榜". cbaleague.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* CBA Official Website
* CBA Official Data Website

* v
* t
* e

Chinese Basketball Association

Seasons|

* 1995–96
* 1996–97
* 1997–98
* 1998–99
* 1999–00
* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24

Playoffs|

* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

Teams|

| Northern Division|

* Beijing Ducks
* Beijing Royal Fighters
* Jilin Northeast Tigers
* Liaoning Flying Leopards
* Qingdao Eagles
* Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin
* Shanxi Loongs
* Sichuan Blue Whales
* Tianjin Pioneers
* Xinjiang Flying Tigers

|

Southern Division|

* Fujian Sturgeons
* Guangdong Southern Tigers
* Guangzhou Loong Lions
* Jiangsu Dragons
* Nanjing Monkey Kings
* Ningbo Rockets
* Shanghai Sharks
* Shenzhen Leopards
* Zhejiang Golden Bulls
* Zhejiang Lions

Awards|

* CBA MVP
* CBA Finals MVP
* CBA Scoring Champion
* CBA Rebounding Champion
* CBA Best Defender
* CBA Record Holders

* Category

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template