China men's national basketball team

History

China has traditionally been the basketball powerhouse in Asia and won the FIBA Asia Cup 14 out of 16 times between 1975 and 2005. At the 1984 Summer Olympics basketball tournament, the Chinese made their debut, starting a streak of nine qualifications in a row.

At the 2000 Olympics, Li Nan had a noteworthy performance as he scored 25 points on 6 three-pointers in a win against Italy.

The Chinese failed to defend its championship at the 2007 FIBA Asia Cup. This was due to the automatic berth at the 2008 Beijing Olympics as the host nation, thus, China sent its "U23"Team to the 2007 tournament and finished 10th while its primary "A" team participated at the 2007 Stanković Cup which took place around the same time as the 2007 FIBA Asia Cup.

The team often struggled against top flight non-Asian competitors. However, in some cases, China refuted their critics and beat some the top European teams. In the 2004 Athens Olympics, China, coached by Del Harris, advanced to the final eight after a 67–66 win over defending world champion Serbia and Montenegro.

At the 2006 FIBA World Cup, China, coached by Lithuanian Jonas Kazlauskas also advanced to the second round from Group D, earning two victories against Senegal and Slovenia in five group play matches before falling in the round of sixteen to the eventual silver medalists Greece, 95–64; the team's overall placing by the end of the tournament from amongst the twenty-four competing sides was fifteenth.

In 2008, some questions surrounded whether the recently injured Yao Ming would still captain the squad. In mid-July, it was confirmed that he would still continue to be the captain.

At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Yao ended up as the third leading scorer of the competition with 20.7 points per game while also leading in rebounds with 9.3 per game. The game where Yao really made his mark was against New Zealand where he scored a tournament-high 39 points while also grabbing 13 rebounds, second most in a single game that year.

In the following years, the Chinese faced major struggles with injuries. In 2008, a then NBA prospect Xu Yong was forced to end his career at the age of 19 after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma. In December 2010, Yao was diagnosed with a stress fracture on his left ankle – the injury was related to the ankle sprain that he suffered earlier that year. Speculations arose whether China's basketball icon would ever be able to play again.

When Yao's retirement was finally announced in July 2011 it was considered a big blow to the national team, whose success had largely depended on him for many years. Yet, critics were optimistic that China would continue to improve on its international performances. In 2016, a new era of Chinese stars would begin to form, as NBA draftees in Zhou Qi and Wang Zhelin would gain considerable amounts of attention for their successes in China.

At the 2012 Olympics, it was Yi Jianlian who stepped up by averaging 14.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, highlighted by a 30-point, 12-rebound game against Spain to start the tournament.

In 2018, the team was invited to play at the 2018 NBA Summer League. They played a total of 5 games and won 1.

China hosted the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup which automatically qualified the team.

2023 World Cup qualification

In November 2021, China announced its 16-player squad for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification. The Guangdong Southern Tigers and the Liaoning Flying Leopards, the finalists of the 2020–21 Chinese Basketball Association season, contributed most as each team had four players called up.

Results

Olympic Games

FIBA World Cup

FIBA Asia Cup

Main article: FIBA Asia Cup

Source:

FIBA Asia Challenge

• 2012 FIBA Asia Cup – 5th
• 2014 FIBA Asia Cup – 4th
• 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge – 5th

Asian Games

• 1974 Asian Games – [[File:Bronze medal with cup.svg|16px]] 3rd
• 1978 Asian Games – [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] 1st
• 1982 Asian Games – [[File:Silver medal with cup.svg|16px]] 2nd
• 1986 Asian Games – [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] 1st
• 1990 Asian Games – [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] 1st
• 1994 Asian Games – [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] 1st
• 1998 Asian Games – [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] 1st
• 2002 Asian Games – [[File:Silver medal with cup.svg|16px]] 2nd
• 2006 Asian Games – [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] 1st
• 2010 Asian Games – [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] 1st
• 2014 Asian Games – 5th
• 2018 Asian Games – [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] 1st
• 2022 Asian Games – [[File:Bronze medal with cup.svg|16px]] 3rd

East Asian Basketball Championship

• 2009 East Asian Basketball Championship – [[File:Bronze medal with cup.svg|16px]] 3rd
• 2011 East Asian Basketball Championship – [[File:Bronze medal with cup.svg|16px]] 3rd
• 2013 East Asian Basketball Championship – [[File:Silver medal with cup.svg|16px]] 2nd
• 2017 East Asian Basketball Championship – 4th

East Asian Games

• 1993 East Asian Games – [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] 1st
• 1997 East Asian Games – [[File:Bronze medal with cup.svg|16px]] 3rd
• 2001 East Asian Games – [[File:Gold medal with cup.svg|16px]] 1st
• 2005 East Asian Games – [[File:Bronze medal with cup.svg|16px]] 3rd
• 2009 East Asian Games – 4th
• 2013 East Asian Games – [[File:Silver medal with cup.svg|16px]] 2nd

Team

Current roster

Roster for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification against South Korea on 28 November and 1 December 2025.

• CHN Guo Shiqiang
• CHN Li Ang
• ESP Joaquín Ruiz Lorente
• ESP Ángel Sánchez-Cañete
• CHN Wang Han
• (C) Team captain
• Club – describes last club before the tournament
• Age – describes age on 5 August 2025

Past rosters

1936 Summer Olympics: 15th among 21 teams

Shen Yi-Tung, Tsai Yen-Hung, Wang Hung-Pin, Wang Shi-Hsuan, Wang Yu-Tseng, Wong Nan-Chen, Liu Bao-Cheng, Liu Yun-Chang, Mou Tso-Yun, Li Shao-Tang, Yu Sai-Chang

1948 Summer Olympics: 18th among 23 teams

Edward Lee, Lee Tsun-Tung, Woo Cheng-Chang, Wee Tian-Siak, Pao Sung-Yuan, Chia Chung-Chang, Chua Bon-Hua, Kya Is-Kyun, Yu Sai-Chang, Jose Yee

1978 FIBA World Championship: 11th among 14 teams

Wang Zongxing, Chen Kai, Kuang Lubin, Xing Weining, Wang Deli, Huang Pinjie, Mu Tiezhu, Ji Zhaoguang, Zhang Weiping, Liu Jizeng, Zhang Mingwei, He Juhua (Coach: Qian Chenghai)

1982 FIBA World Championship: 12th among 13 teams

Wang Zongxing, Ji Zhaoguang, Xu Xiaoliang, Kuang Lubin, Sun Fengwu, Wang Libin, Huang Yunlong, Feng Wei, Li Qiuping, Li Yaguang, Han Pengshan, Lu Jinqing (Coach: Qian Chenghai)

1984 Summer Olympics: 10th among 12 teams

Kuang Lubin, Ji Zhaoguang, Wang Libin, Liu Jianli, Hu Zhangbao, Lu Jinqing, Sun Fengwu, Zhang Bin, Huang Yunlong, Guo Yonglin, Wang Haibo, Li Yaguang (Coach: Qian Chenghai)

1986 FIBA World Championship: 9th among 24 teams

Wang Libin, Zhang Yongjun, Li Yaguang, Wang Fei, Huang Yunlong, Xu Xiaoliang, Zhang Bin, Li Feng, Sun Fengwu, Sha Guoli, Song Tao, Gong Luming (Coach: Qian Chenghai)

1988 Summer Olympics: 11th among 12 teams

Li Yaguang, Wang Fei, Wang Libin, Zhang Yongjun, Xu Xiaoliang, Zhang Bin, Huang Yunlong, Sun Fengwu, Zhang Xuelei, Chen Chijef, Song Ligang, Gong Luming, Sha Guoli (Coach: Qian Chenghai)

1990 FIBA World Championship: 14th among 16 teams

Li Chunjiang, Wang Fei, Sun Fengwu, Zhang Yongjun, Zhang Bin, Shan Tao, Song Ligang, Ma Jian, Gong Xiaobin, Zhang Degui, Wang Zhidan, Gong Luming (Coach: Wang Zhangyou)

1992 Summer Olympics: 12th among 12 teams

Hu Weidong, Li Chunjiang, Zhang Yongjun, Sun Fengwu, Ma Jian, Shan Tao, Wang Zhidan, Wu Qinglong, Gong Xiaobin, Sun Jun, Song Ligang, Adiljan (Coach: Jiang Xingquan)

1994 FIBA World Championship: 8th among 16 teams

Hu Weidong, Sun Jun, Shan Tao, Gong Xiaobin, Liu Yudong, Zhang Jinsong, Liu Daqing, Adiljan, Zheng Wu, Ji Minshang, Wu Naiqun, Wu Qinglong (Coach: Jiang Xingquan)

1996 Summer Olympics: 8th among 12 teams

Mengke Bateer, Wang Zhizhi, Hu Weidong, Liu Yudong, Li Nan, Shan Tao, Sun Jun, Gong Xiaobin, Wu Qinglong, Li Xiaoyong, Zheng Wu, Wu Naiqun (Coach: Gong Luming)

2000 Summer Olympics: 10th among 12 teams

Yao Ming, Mengke Bateer, Wang Zhizhi, Hu Weidong, Sun Jun, Li Nan, Guo Shiqiang, Liu Yudong, Zheng Wu, Zhang Jinsong, Li Qun, Li Xiaoyong (Coach: Jiang Xingquan)

2002 FIBA World Championship: 12th among 16 teams

Yao Ming, Mengke Bateer, Liu Wei, Li Nan, Hu Weidong, Guo Shiqiang, Zhang Cheng, Chen Ke, Gong Xiaobin, Liu Yudong, Du Feng, Zhu Fangyu (Coach: Wang Fei)

2004 Summer Olympics: 8th among 12 teams

Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian, Liu Wei, Mengke Bateer, Li Nan, Guo Shiqiang, Du Feng, Chen Ke, Zhang Yunsong, Zhu Fangyu, Zhang Jinsong, Mo Ke (Coach: Del Harris)

2006 FIBA World Championship: 15th among 24 teams

Yao Ming, Wang Zhizhi, Yi Jianlian, Liu Wei, Du Feng, Wang Shipeng, Mo Ke, Zhang Songtao, Chen Jianghua, Zhang Qingpeng, Zhu Fangyu, Sun Yue (Coach: Jonas Kazlauskas)

2008 Summer Olympics: 8th among 12 teams

Yao Ming, Wang Zhizhi, Yi Jianlian, Liu Wei, Du Feng, Wang Shipeng, Wang Lei, Li Nan, Chen Jianghua, Zhang Qingpeng, Zhu Fangyu, Sun Yue (Coach: Jonas Kazlauskas)

2014 Asian Games: 5th among 16 teams

• PRC Gong Luming

• PRC Li Nan

• PRC Hu Xuefeng

• PRC Zhang Bin

• GRE Giannis Christopoulos

; Technical consultants

• PRC Jiang Xingquan
• PRC Yao Ming

; Team manager

• PRC Hao Guohua

• (C) Team captain

• Club – describes last club before the tournament

• Age – describes age on 19 September 2014

• Source: incheon2014ag.org

2016 Summer Olympics: 12th among 12 teams

• PRC Gong Luming

• GRE Yannis Christopoulos

• PRC Li Nan

• PRC Wu Qinglong

• PRC Hu Xuefeng

• PRC Cui Wanjun

; Strength and conditioning coach

• PRC Wang Weixing

; Team manager

• PRC Chai Wensheng

• (C) Team captain

• Club – describes last club before the tournament

• Age – describes age on 23 September 2015

2016 FIBA Asia Challenge: 5th among 12 teams

• PRC Li Nan
• PRC Fan Bin
• (C) Team captain
• (NP) Naturalized Player
• Club – describes last club before the tournament
• Age – describes age on 9 September 2016

List of head coaches

• China Qian Chenghai (钱澄海) – 1974–1978
• China Ma Qingsheng (马清盛) – 1978–1981
• China Qian Chenghai (钱澄海) – 1981–1982
• China Liu Guiyi (刘贵乙) – 1982–1982
• China Qian Chenghai (钱澄海) – 1982–1988
• China Sun Bang (孙邦) – 1989–1990
• China Wang Zhangyou (王长友) – 1990–1991
• China Jiang Xingquan (蒋兴权) – 1991–1995
• China Gong Luming (宫鲁鸣) – 1995–1996
• China Zhang Bin (张斌) – 1996–1997
• China Wang Fei (王非) – 1997–1999
• China Jiang Xingquan (蒋兴权) – 1999–2001
• China Wang Fei (王非) – 2001–2002
• China Jiang Xingquan (蒋兴权) – 2003–2003
• United States Del Harris – 2004–2004
• Lithuania Jonas Kazlauskas – 2005–2008
• China Guo Shiqiang (郭士强) – 2009–2010
• United States Bob Donewald, Jr. – 2010–2012
• Greece Panagiotis Giannakis – 2013–2014
• China Gong Luming (宫鲁鸣) – 2014–2017
• China Du Feng (杜锋) – 2017–2018 (Blue Team)
• China Li Nan (李楠) – 2017–2019 (Red Team and the Combined Team)
• China Du Feng (杜锋) – 2020–2022
• Serbia Aleksandar Đorđević – 2022–2024
• China Guo Shiqiang (郭士强) –2024–present}}

Kit

Manufacturer

2010–15: Nike – present

Sponsor

2010: China Mobile, UPS

2011, 2013–15: TCL

References

References

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2. [http://www.fiba.basketball/news/yao-hamed-and-patty-shined-as-stars-from-asia-oceania-at-the-olympics Yao, Hamed, and Patty shined as stars from Asia & Oceania at the Olympics] [[FIBA]], 21 July 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
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16. (14 November 2021). "China announces 16-player list ahead of 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers". China.org.cn.
17. http://www.todor66.com/basketball/Asia/Zones.html
18. "中国男篮公布世预赛名单 延续亚洲杯主要阵容".
19. (March 2025). "2014 Asian Games Basketball Men – China Team Roster". The 17th Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee.
20. (26 September 2018). "篮协官方拟聘用李楠为中国男篮新任主教练".
21. [https://www.fiba.basketball/asia/2015/China 2015 FIBA Asia Championship – China] {{webarchive. link. (15 September 2017 , FIBA.com. Retrieved 27 September 2015.)
22. [http://www.turkey2010.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/10/fwcm/photos/p/eid/4728/rid//sid/4728/tid/262/selimgid/88971/catids//orderby//gcid/70/teamphoto.html 2010 FIBA World Championship Team photos] {{webarchive. link. (18 August 2016 , FIBA.com. Retrieved 19 July 2016.)