TheShanxi Loongs, also known asShanxi SDIC Raptors Club orShanxi Fenjiu Shares are aChinese professionalbasketball team based inTaiyuan,Shanxi, which plays in the Northern Division of theChinese Basketball Association (CBA). The Shanxi Fenjiu Company is the club'scorporate sponsor, while its mascot is adragon.
| Shanxi Loongs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| League | CBA | |||
| Founded | 2001 | |||
| History | Henan Dragons (2001–2006) Shanxi Dragons (2006–2007) Shanxi Brave Dragons (2007–2018) Shanxi Loongs (2018–present) | |||
| Arena | Shanxi Sports Centre Gymnasium Taiyuan Riverside Sports Centre Gymnasium | |||
| Capacity | 8,000 | |||
| Location | Taiyuan,Shanxi,China | |||
| Team colors | White, Burgundy, Orange | |||
| Head coach | Pan Jiang | |||
| Ownership | Shanxi Guotou | |||
| Championships | None | |||
The team was known in English as theShanxi Brave Dragons from the Summer of 2007 until September 2018, when a rebranding ceremony was held, unveiling a new logo and nickname. Loong is the Chinese word for dragon, in both Mandarin and Cantonese.
History
editOriginally known as theHenan Renhe Dragons (河南仁和) due to corporate sponsorship by the Henan Renhe Group (河南仁和集团), the team rebranded as a result of an agreement signed with the Henan Jiyuan Iron & Steel Group (河南济源钢铁集团) in early November, just before the CBA's 2004–05 regular season began (jigang is an abbreviation forjiyuan gangtie or Jiyuan Iron & Steel).[1]
In conjunction with this change—the club moved from its original home city ofZhengzhou toJiyuan—in the middle of its first season.[2] From 2004 to 2006 they were known as theHenan Jigang Dragons (河南济钢猛龙) or Henan Jigang or Henan Dragons, and were based in both Jiyuan andLuoyang,Henan.
During the2004–05 CBA season, the team's first in the league, the Henan Dragons finished in seventh and last place in the CBA's North Division and out of the playoffs. In the2005–06 CBA season they suffered the same fate yet again.
Before the2006–07 CBA season, the team headed toTaiyuan, and changed its name to theShanxi Yujun Dragons or Shanxi Yujun or Shanxi Dragons. They signed with a new sponsor the following year, and became known as the Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons, but the club has fared little better on the court since its relocation.
In January 2010, the Brave Dragons signed formerNBA All-StarStephon Marbury.[3] He only stayed with Shanxi through the end of the2009–10 CBA season, before leaving forFoshan, and eventuallyBeijing.
In August 2011, the Brave Dragons played an exhibition game against theGeorgetown University Hoyas during theWashington, D.C. squad's two-week summer trip toChina, but lost by a final score of 98–81.
Playing in the IBL
editThe Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons participated in the 2008 season of theInternational Basketball League (IBL). The IBL is a spring/summer league based inPortland,Oregon. They were housed at the United States Basketball Academy.
Roster
editNote: Flags indicate national team eligibility atFIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.
| Shanxi Loongs roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Updated: January 4, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable players
editNote: Flags indicate national team eligibility atFIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.
| Criteria |
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To appear in this section a player must have either:
|
Current International players
Jamaal Franklin(2019–present)- Eric Moreland(2019–present)
Former Chinese players
Shan Tao(2007–08)- Shang Ping(2010–12)
- Wang Lei(2005–07)
Wu Tai-hao(2015–2018)
Former International players
Zaid Abbas(2014–15)- Yancy Gates(2015)
- Alexander Johnson(2011)
- Dominique Jones(2015)
- Stephon Marbury(2010)
Olumide Oyedeji(2008–09)- Tim Pickett(2009)
- Leon Rodgers(2010–11)
-
Donta Smith(2008–10) - Shawn Taggart(2011)
- Maurice Taylor(2009–10)
- Jeremy Tyler(2014–15)
- Von Wafer(2014–15)
- Bonzi Wells(2008–09)
- Marcus Williams(2011–14)
Samuel Dalembert(2015–17)- Jamaal Franklin(2015–17)
- Henry Sims(2016–17)
- Brandon Jennings(2017–18)
Luis Scola(2017–18)
Trivia
editThe team and their former coachBob Weiss are subject of the bookBrave Dragons, A Chinese Basketball Team, an American Coach and Two Cultures Clashing which is about the experience of Weiss while he was coaching the team during the 2008–2009 season.
References
edit- ^"仁和正式联姻济钢 CBA新军河南猛龙男篮正式冠名_篮球-CBA_NIKE新浪竞技风暴_新浪网".sports.sina.com.cn.
- ^"河南男篮改迁主场赴济源 俱乐部介于痛与不痛之间 _篮球-CBA_NIKE新浪竞技风暴_新浪网".sports.sina.com.cn.
- ^"Marbury joining pro basketball team in China".ESPN.com. January 18, 2010.