Liaoning Flying Leopards

History

The club's history dates back to 1953, when the Northeast Sports Training Class Basketball Team () was formed, which later became the Liaoning Provincial Basketball Team (). Liaoning won the national basketball championship in 1985, as well as in 1988, 1989, 1991 and 1992. During the late 1980s and 1990s, Liaoning represented China in the ABC Champions Cup and won a title in 1990.

Following the establishment of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) in 1995, the club was officially founded as a professional team as Liaoning Hunters.

During the 2004–05 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's Yunnan 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 the 2007–08 CBA season. Although Liaoning eventually lost to the Guangdong 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 the 2009–10 CBA season, Liaoning would miss both the 2010–11 and the 2011–12 CBA playoffs.

In 2011, Liaoning Scale Industry took over sponsorship from the Liaoning Panpan Group Co., Ltd.

Before the 2012–13 CBA season began, the roster received a massive upheaval. Liaoning made multiple changes including the signings of Josh Akognon and Alexander Johnson. Meanwhile, veteran Bian Qiang retired, and many local players were either transferred or loaned out to other CBA teams. One of the most significant player transactions that occurred was the decision to let go of Zhang Qingpeng. It would later be revealed that this move was made in the interest of developing sharpshooter Guo Ailun. On 2 December 2012, the Flying Leopards beat the Tianjin Gold Lions 100–81. This was Liaoning's sixth straight home victory against Tianjin.

In 2013, the team started to receive sponsorship from Benxi Steel Group.

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 MVP Lester Hudson. Liaoning lost to the Beijing Ducks in six games in the 2015 CBA Finals, and to Sichuan Blue Whales in five games in the 2016 CBA Finals. After Game 3 of the 2016 Finals, a brawl broke between players from the visiting Liaoning Flying Leopards and fans of the Sichuan Blue Whales.

In the 2017–18 CBA season, Liaoning defeated Zhejiang Lions in the finals (4–0) and won their first CBA league title. The team relocated their home stadium from Benxi to Shenyang during the play-offs semi-finals.

In 2019, 3SBio Inc. officially took the sponsorship, and changed the team name. In the 2020–21 season, former national team player Yang Ming became the new head coach. Under his guidance, the Flying Leopards won three consecutive CBA championships (2021–22, 2022–23 and 2023–24), and also swept their opponents 4–0 in the finals on all three occasions.

Players

Retired numbers

• #12 – (PG; 2004–2019); retired on 4 November 2019

Current roster

Honours

• Chinese Basketball Association (CBA)
  • Winners (4): 2017–18, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
  • Runners-up (8): 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2007–08, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2019–20, 2020–21
• Chinese National Basketball Championship
  • Winners (5): 1985, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992
• Asian Basketball Club Championship
  • Champions (1): 1990
  • Runners-up (3): 1988, 1992, 1999

Notable players

• CHN Guo Shiqiang (1990s)
• CHN Li Xiaoyong (1990s)
• CHN Wang Zhidan (1990s)
• CHN Wu Naiqun (1990s)
• CHN Wu Qinglong (1990s)
• CHN Zhang Qingpeng (2001–2014)
• USA Eric Riley (2002–2003)
• USA Ernest Brown (2003–2004, 2006–2008)
• CHN Li Xiaoxu (2005–present)
• USA Jamal Sampson (2007–2008)
• USA Awvee Storey (2008–2009)
• USA Keith Closs (2009)
• USA Lorenzen Wright (2009)
• NGA Olumide Oyedeji (2009–2010)
• USA Chris Richard (2010–2011)
• USA Donta Smith (2010–2011)
• CHN Han Dejun (2010–present)
• CHN Guo Ailun (2010–2024)
• USA Rodney Carney (2011–2012)
• USA Josh Powell (2011–2012)
• USA Shavlik Randolph (2011–2012, 2015–2017)
• CHN Liu Zhixuan (2012–2022)
• NGA Josh Akognon (2012–2013)
• USA Alexander Johnson (2012–2013)
• USA Solomon Jones (2013)
• USA Vernon Macklin (2013)
• USA Dominique Jones (2013–2014)
• USA Hakim Warrick (2013–2014)
• CHN Zhao Jiwei (2013–present)
• USA Lester Hudson (2014–2015, 2015–2019)
• USA Brandon Bass (2017–2020)
• USA Lance Stephenson (2019)
• USA O. J. Mayo (2020–2021)
• USA Jonathon Simmons (2020–2021)
• CHN Zhang Zhenlin (2020–present)
• USA Kyle Fogg (2021–present)
• USA Jeremy Tyler (2021)
• USA Eric Moreland (2021–2024)
• USA JaKarr Sampson (2022–2023)

Notes

References

References

1. "History".
2. "CBA球队——辽宁衡润飞豹篮球队".
3. Eurobasket. "Liaoning Flying Leopards basketball, News, Roster, Rumors, Stats, Awards, Transactions, Details-asia-basket".
4. "千年老二？还是新王朝建立？让我们来回顾下辽宁队的过往（上）".
5. "Liaoning new season Parade: Lineup big shake double foreign aid decided the fate of the team".
6. [http://sports.qq.com/a/20121201/000319.htm Liaoning team explained Zhang Qingpeng leave reasons: desire to cultivate Guo Allan]
7. [http://cba.sports.163.com/schedule/report_2012025.html Liaoning scale industry VS Tianjin Steel Wing battlefield 100-81] {{webarchive. link. (2012-12-05)
8. (3 November 2013). "辽宁男篮冠名"本溪药都"".
9. (April 23, 2018). "Liaoning Flying Leopards Win 2018 CBA Title".
10. (24 March 2018). "辽篮迁至沈阳符合CBA潮流 冲冠保障全面升级".
11. (15 October 2019). "官宣！辽篮更名为辽宁沈阳三生飞豹篮球俱乐部".
12. [http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-04/19/c_139891459.htm CBA Roundup: Red-hot Golden Bulls book semifinal clash with Liaoning] {{Webarchive. link. (9 November 2021 Huaxia ([[Xinhua News Agency]]), 19 April 2021. Accessed 8 November 2021.)
13. (27 April 2022). "Liaoning sweep Zhejiang for CBA title".
14. (15 May 2023). "辽宁三夺总冠军追平北京 仅次于八一和广东".
15. (22 May 2024). "Liaoning wins third consecutive CBA championship".
16. (2 November 2021). "辽篮外援弗格完成注册 今日对阵宁波有望登场参赛".