| Liaoning Flying Leopards | |
|---|---|
 | |
| League | CBA |
| Founded | 1953; 72 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) |
TheLiaoning Flying Leopards (simplified Chinese:辽宁飞豹;traditional Chinese:遼寧飛豹;pinyin:Liáoníng Fēibào), also known as theLiaoning Shenyang Sansheng Flying Leopard Club orLiaoning Bengang (辽宁本钢), are a Chinese professionalbasketball team based inHunnan District,Shenyang,Liaoning, which plays in the Northern Division of theChinese Basketball Association (CBA).
The team used to play their home games at the Benxi Gymnasium inBenxi, but relocated to Shenyang in the 2017–18 season. The biopharmacy company 3SBio Inc. is the club's corporate sponsor. The team plays at theLiaoning 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 theFIBA Asia Champions Cup in 1990, and were runners-up in 1988, 1992 and 1999.[1]
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 theABC Champions Cup and won a title in 1990.[1]
Following the establishment of theChinese Basketball Association (CBA) in 1995, the club was officially founded as a professional team as Liaoning Hunters.[4]
During the2004–05 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'sYunnan 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 the2007–08 CBA season. Although Liaoning eventually lost to theGuangdong 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 the2009–10 CBA season, Liaoning would miss both the2010–11 and the2011–12 CBA playoffs.[citation needed]
In 2011, Liaoning Scale Industry took over sponsorship from the Liaoning Panpan Group Co., Ltd.[citation needed]
Before the2012–13 CBA season began, the roster received a massive upheaval. Liaoning made multiple changes including the signings ofJosh Akognon andAlexander Johnson. Meanwhile, veteran Bian Qiang retired, and many local players were either transferred or loaned out to otherCBA 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 sharpshooterGuo Ailun.[6] On 2 December 2012, the Flying Leopards beat theTianjin Gold Lions 100–81. This was Liaoning's sixth straight home victory against Tianjin.[7]
In 2013, the team started to receive sponsorship fromBenxi 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 MVPLester Hudson. Liaoning lost to theBeijing Ducks in six games in the2015 CBA Finals, and toSichuan Blue Whales in five games in the2016 CBA Finals. After Game 3 of the 2016 Finals, abrawl broke between players from the visiting Liaoning Flying Leopards and fans of the Sichuan Blue Whales.[citation needed]
In the2017–18 CBA season, Liaoning defeatedZhejiang 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 the2020–21 season, formernational team playerYang Ming became the new head coach.[12] Under his guidance, the Flying Leopards won three consecutive CBA championships (2021–22,2022–23 and2023–24), and also swept their opponents 4–0 in the finals on all three occasions.[13][14][15]
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility atFIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.
| Liaoning Flying Leopards roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Updated: 4 January 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility atFIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.
| Criteria |
|---|
To appear in this section a player must have either:
|
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(2010–2024)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(2021–2024)JaKarr Sampson(2022–2023)
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