Shanghai Sharks

The Shanghai Sharks (simplified Chinese: 上海久事大鲨鱼; traditional Chinese: 上海久事大鯊魚; pinyin: Shànghǎi Jǐushì Dàshāyú) are a Chinese Basketball Association team based in Shanghai.[3]

Shanghai Sharks 上海久事大鲨鱼
Leagues	CBA
Founded	1996 (1996)
History	Shanghai Sharks (1996–present)
Arena	Shanghai Indoor Stadium[1]
Capacity	13,000
Location	Shanghai, China
Team colors	Blue, Orange, White
President	Qian Anke
Head coach	Li Chunjiang
Ownership	Shanghai Jiushi Group[2]
Championships	1 (2002)
Website	shanghaisharks.cn
Home Away Third

It is best known outside China as the club that developed Yao Ming before he entered the National Basketball Association. With Yao on the team, the Sharks made the finals for three seasons in a row (in 1999–2000, 2000–01, and 2001–02), facing the Bayi Rockets each time. They were runners-up the first two years, but won the CBA championship for the first time on their third try, snapping a string of six Bayi Rockets championships in a row.

The team faced serious financial issues in the 2008–09 season, and were in danger of not being able to compete in the 2009–10 season due to their shaky finances. On July 16, 2009, Chinese media reported that Yao had stepped in to purchase the team.[4]

For the 2021–22 Chinese Basketball Association season, they have been on the country's top teams after they accomplished a major winning streak.[5] The team has been guided by head coach Li Chunjiang.[6]

The team itself has become an internet meme by NBA fans. The team is jokingly referred to as a future landing spot for players, mainly high profile stars, who under-perform in a game or series; particularly in the playoffs.[7][8][9][10] Notable players who were subjected to these memes include, but are not limited to, Ben Simmons, Kyle Kuzma, Kristaps Porziņģis, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, Dillon Brooks, Jordan Poole, and Klay Thompson.