Liaoning Flying Leopards

Chinese basketball team

Liaoning Flying Leopards

League| CBA
Founded| 1953; 71 years ago (1953)[a]
History| Liaoning Hunters
(1995–2008)
Liaoning Dinosaurs
(2008–2011)
Liaoning Flying Leopards
(2011–present)
Arena| Liaoning Gymnasium
Capacity| 12,000
Location| Hunnan District, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
Team colors| White, Black, Golden Yellow

Main sponsor| 3SBio Inc.
Head coach| Yang Ming
Championships| 4 (2018, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Retired numbers| 1 (12)

Home

Away

Third

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The Liaoning Flying Leopards (simplified Chinese: 辽宁飞豹; traditional Chinese: 遼寧飛豹; pinyin: Liáoníng Fēibào), also known as the Liaoning Shenyang Sansheng Flying Leopard Club or Liaoning Bengang (辽宁本钢), are a Chinese professional basketball team based in Hunnan District, Shenyang, Liaoning, which plays in the Northern Division of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

The team used to play their home games at the Benxi Gymnasium in Benxi, but relocated to Shenyang in the 2017–18 season. The biopharmacy company 3SBio Inc. is the club's corporate sponsor. The team plays at the Liaoning Gymnasium.

Founded in 1953, Liaoning became a fully professional organization and member of the CBA in 1995, and since then they have won four championships. Liaoning also won the Asian continental title after winning the FIBA Asia Champions Cup in 1990, and were runners-up in 1988, 1992 and 1999.[1]

## History[edit]

The club's history dates back to 1953, when the Northeast Sports Training Class Basketball Team (Chinese: 东北体育训练班篮球队) was formed, which later became the Liaoning Provincial Basketball Team (Chinese: 辽宁省篮球队).[2][3] Liaoning won the national basketball championship in 1985, as well as in 1988, 1989, 1991 and 1992.[2] During the late 1980s and 1990s, Liaoning represented China in the ABC Champions Cup and won a title in 1990.[1]

Following the establishment of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) in 1995, the club was officially founded as a professional team as Liaoning Hunters.[4]

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. 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, 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.[citation needed]

In 2011, Liaoning Scale Industry took over sponsorship from the Liaoning Panpan Group Co., Ltd.[citation needed]

Before the 2012–13 CBA season began, the roster received a massive upheaval. Liaoning made multiple changes including the signings of Josh Akognon 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.[5] It would later be revealed that this move was made in the interest of developing sharpshooter Guo Ailun.[6] On December 2, 2012, the Flying Leopards beat the Tianjin Gold Lions 100–81. This was Liaoning's sixth straight home victory against Tianjin.[7]

In 2013, the team started to receive sponsorship from Benxi Steel Group.[8]

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. Liaoning lost to the Beijing Ducks in six games in the 2015 CBA Finals, and to Sichuan Blue Whales in five games in the 2016 CBA Finals. After Game 3 of the 2016 Finals, a brawl broke between players from the visiting Liaoning Flying Leopards and fans of the Sichuan Blue Whales.[citation needed]

In the 2017–18 CBA season, Liaoning defeated Zhejiang Lions in the finals (4–0) and won their first CBA league title.[9] The team relocated their home stadium from Benxi to Shenyang during the play-offs semi-finals.[10]

In 2019, 3SBio Inc. officially took the sponsorship, and changed the team name.[11] In the 2020–21 season, former national team player Yang Ming became the new head coach.[12] Under his guidance, the Flying Leopards won three consecutive CBA championships (2021–22, 2022–23 and 2023–24), and also swept their opponents 4–0 in the finals on all three occasions.[13][14][15]

## Players[edit]

### Retired numbers[edit]

* #12 – Yang Ming [zh] (PG; 2004–2019); retired on 4 November 2019

### Current roster[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Liaoning Flying Leopards roster

Players | Coaches
| Pos. | No. | Nat. | Name | Ht. | Wt. |  |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

PG | 0 |  | Sharife Cooper | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)  | 82 kg (181 lb)  |  |
F/C | 1 |  | Fu Hao | 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)  | 112 kg (247 lb)  |  |
PG | 2 |  | Jaylen Adams | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)  | 85 kg (187 lb)  |  |
G | 3 |  | Zhao Jiwei | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)  | 79 kg (174 lb)  |  |
G | 4 |  | Kyle Fogg | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)  | 87 kg (192 lb)  |  |
G/F | 5 |  | Zhou Juncheng | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)  | 90 kg (198 lb)  |  |
SF | 7 |  | Zhao Shuzhou | 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)  | 97 kg (214 lb)  |  |
G/F | 10 |  | Cong Mingchen | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)  | 98 kg (216 lb)  |  |
G | 11 |  | Zhang Junhao | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)  | 80 kg (176 lb)  |  |
G | 13 |  | Guo Ailun | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)  | 84 kg (185 lb)  |  |
F/C | 17 |  | Liu Yanyu | 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in)  | 95 kg (209 lb)  |  |
F/C | 22 |  | Li Xiaoxu | 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in)  | 105 kg (231 lb)  |  |
PF | 25 |  | Eric Moreland | 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)  | 99 kg (218 lb)  |  |
SF | 27 |  | Yu Zechen | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)  | 98 kg (216 lb)  |  |
F/C | 28 |  | Lu Zijie | 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)  | 104 kg (229 lb)  |  |
G | 36 |  | Yan Shouqi | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)  | 88 kg (194 lb)  |  |
G/F | 37 |  | Li Huyi | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)  | 81 kg (179 lb)  |  |
C | 55 |  | Han Dejun (C) | 2.15 m (7 ft 1 in)  | 123 kg (271 lb)  |  |
PF | 77 |  | Zhang Zhenlin | 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)  | 102 kg (225 lb)  |  |

Head coach

*   * Yang Ming

Assistant coach(es)

*   * Hugo López
*   * Wu Naiqun

* * *

Legend

* (C) Team captain
* Injured

* * *

* Roster

Updated: 6 April 2024

## Honours[edit]

* Chinese Basketball Association (CBA)
* Winners (4): 2017–18, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
* Runners-up (8): 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2007–08, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2019–20, 2020–21
* Chinese National Basketball Championship
* Winners (5): 1985, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992
* Asian Basketball Club Championship
* Champions (1): 1990
* Runners-up (3): 1988, 1992, 1999

## Notable players[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Criteria

To appear in this section a player must have either:

* Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club
* Played at least one official international match for their national team at any time
* Played at least one official NBA match at any time.

* Guo Shiqiang (1990s)
* Li Xiaoyong (1990s)
* Wang Zhidan (1990s)
* Wu Naiqun (1990s)
* Wu Qinglong (1990s)
* Zhang Qingpeng (2001–2014)
* Eric Riley (2002–2003)
* Ernest Brown (2003–2004, 2006–2008)
* Li Xiaoxu (2005–present)
* Jamal Sampson (2007–2008)
* Awvee Storey (2008–2009)
* Keith Closs (2009)
* Lorenzen Wright (2009)
* Olumide Oyedeji (2009–2010)
* Chris Richard (2010–2011)
* Donta Smith (2010–2011)
* Han Dejun (2010–present)
* Guo Ailun (2010–present)
* Rodney Carney (2011–2012)
* Josh Powell (2011–2012)
* Shavlik Randolph (2011–2012, 2015–2017)
* Liu Zhixuan (2012–2022)
* Josh Akognon (2012–2013)
* Alexander Johnson (2012–2013)
* Solomon Jones (2013)
* Vernon Macklin (2013)
* Dominique Jones (2013–2014)
* Hakim Warrick (2013–2014)
* Zhao Jiwei (2013–present)
* Lester Hudson (2014–2015, 2015–2019)
* Brandon Bass (2017–2020)
* Lance Stephenson (2019)
* O. J. Mayo (2020–2021)
* Jonathon Simmons (2020–2021)
* Zhang Zhenlin (2020–present)
* Kyle Fogg (2021–present)[16]
* Jeremy Tyler (2021)
* Eric Moreland (2021–present)
* JaKarr Sampson (2022–2023)

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ The Liaoning Flying Leopards professional team was founded in 1995 after the establishment of the CBA, however, the team originates from the Northeast Sports Training Class Basketball Team, which was founded in 1953.

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "History". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
2. ^ a b "CBA球队——辽宁衡润飞豹篮球队". sohu.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 1 April 2024.
3. ^ Eurobasket. "Liaoning Flying Leopards basketball, News, Roster, Rumors, Stats, Awards, Transactions, Details-asia-basket". Eurobasket LLC. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
4. ^ "千年老二？还是新王朝建立？让我们来回顾下辽宁队的过往（上）". sohu.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 1 April 2024.
5. ^ Liaoning new season Parade: Lineup big shake double foreign aid decided the fate of the team
6. ^ Liaoning team explained Zhang Qingpeng leave reasons: desire to cultivate Guo Allan
7. ^ Liaoning scale industry VS Tianjin Steel Wing battlefield 100-81 Archived 2012-12-05 at the Wayback Machine
8. ^ "辽宁男篮冠名"本溪药都"". ifeng.com. 3 November 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
9. ^ "Liaoning Flying Leopards Win 2018 CBA Title". Court Side Newspaper. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
10. ^ "辽篮迁至沈阳符合CBA潮流 冲冠保障全面升级". qq.com. 24 March 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
11. ^ "官宣！辽篮更名为辽宁沈阳三生飞豹篮球俱乐部". qq.com. 15 October 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
12. ^ CBA Roundup: Red-hot Golden Bulls book semifinal clash with Liaoning Huaxia (Xinhua News Agency), 19 April 2021. Accessed 8 November 2021.
13. ^ "Liaoning sweep Zhejiang for CBA title". china.org.cn. 27 April 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
14. ^ "辽宁三夺总冠军追平北京 仅次于八一和广东". sina.com.cn (in Chinese). 15 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
15. ^ "Liaoning wins third consecutive CBA championship". Xinhua. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
16. ^ "辽篮外援弗格完成注册 今日对阵宁波有望登场参赛". qq.com. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.

## External links[edit]

* Club Profile at Sina.com (in Chinese)

* v
* t
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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

*[Pos.]: Position(s)
*[No.]: Jersey number
*[Nat.]: Nationality
*[Ht.]: Height
*[Wt.]: Weight
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