Shanghai Sharks
Template:Short description Template:Infobox basketball club Template:Infobox Chinese The Shanghai Sharks (Template:Lang-zh), officially named Shanghai Juss Basketball Club Co., Ltd,<ref>https://www.jusssports.com/en/about</ref> are a Chinese Basketball Association team based in Shanghai.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Sharks are best known outside China for having developed Yao Ming before he entered the National Basketball Association. Yao was the driving force behind their three consecutive appearances in the finals (1999–2000, 2000–01, and 2001–02), facing the Bayi Rockets each time. The Sharks were runners-up the first two years, but won for the first time on their third try, breaking the Rockets' streak of six CBA championships in a row.
In August 1979, the Sharks played the Washington Bullets, the first NBA team to travel to China,<ref name=":Minami">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp with Yao Zhiyuan—father of Yao Ming—as their center.<ref name=":Minami" />Template:Rp
The team faced serious financial issues in the 2008–09 season, and were in danger of not being able to compete in the following season. On July 16, 2009, Chinese media reported that Yao Ming had stepped in to purchase the team.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In the 2021–22 season, under Li Chunjiang, the Sharks experienced a high bested only by the Yao era, reinvigorating their place among China's best basketball teams.<ref name="Xinhua">CBA Roundup: Liaoning, Shanghai earn eight straight wins Xinhua (China Internet Information Center), 11 November 2021. Accessed 11 November 2021.</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Around that time, alongside the CBA as a whole, they became an Internet meme as a future landing spot for high-profile NBA stars who underperform in a game or series, particularly in the playoffs. Kyle Kuzma, Ben Simmons, and Dillon Brooks were prominent victims of such jokes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Honours
- CBA
- Champions (1): 2001–02
- Runners-up (2): 1999–2000, 2000–01
- CBA In-Season Tournament
- Champions (1): 2024–25
- Merlion Cup
- Winners (1): 2016
Players
Roster
Template:Basketball roster nationality note Template:Basketball roster header Template:Player3 Template:Player3 Template:Player3 Template:Player3 Template:Player3 Template:Player3 Template:Player3 Template:Player3 Template:Player3 Template:Player3 Template:Player3 Template:Player3 Template:Player3 Template:Player3 Template:Player3 Template:Player3 Template:Basketball roster footer
Sponsorship
Template:As of, the team's jersey sponsor has been the Chinese sportswear brand Li-Ning.<ref name="Schmitt">Ein Veteran für die Towers Ralf Schmitt (Bild), 25 October 2021. Accessed 26 October 2021.Template:In lang</ref>
Notable players
Sharks players who have either set a club record or won an individual award as a professional player or who have played at least one official international match for his senior national team at any time include:
- Template:Flagicon Wang Zhelin<ref name="Xinhua"/>
- Template:Flagicon Yao Ming
- Template:Flagicon Liu Wei
- Template:Flagicon Jamaal Franklin<ref name="Xinhua"/>
- Template:Flagicon Ray McCallum Jr.<ref name="Schmitt"/>
- Template:Flagicon Yen Hsing-su
- Template:Flagicon Jimmer Fredette
- Template:Flagicon Kenny Lofton Jr.