China Men's National Basketball Team

The national team is governed by the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). Based on the number of tournament titles, China is considered a major basketball powerhouse in Asia and has by far the most successful basketball program on the continent.

China

FIBA ranking	29 (1 March 2024)
Joined FIBA	1974
FIBA zone	FIBA Asia
National federation	CBA
Coach	Aleksandar Đorđević
Nickname(s)	Team Dragon
Olympic Games
Appearances	9
FIBA World Cup
Appearances	10
FIBA Asia Cup
Appearances	22
Medals	Gold: (1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2015) Silver: (2009) Bronze: (1985, 1997)
Asian Games
Appearances	13
Medals	Gold: (1978, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2006, 2010, 2018) Silver: (1982, 2002) Bronze: (1974, 2022)
Home Away
Medal record Event 1st 2nd 3rd FIBA Asia Cup 16 1 2 Asian Games 8 2 2 Total 24 3 4

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.

Olympic Games

Year	Position	Tournament	Host
1984	10	Basketball at the 1984 Summer Olympics	Los Angeles
1988	11	Basketball at the 1988 Summer Olympics	Seoul
1992	12	Basketball at the 1992 Summer Olympics	Barcelona
1996	8	Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics	Atlanta
2000	10	Basketball at the 2000 Summer Olympics	Sydney
2004	8	Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics	Athens
2008	8	Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics	Beijing
2012	12	Basketball at the 2012 Summer Olympics	London
2016	12	Basketball at the 2016 Summer Olympics	Rio de Janeiro
2020	–	Basketball at the 2020 Summer Olympics	Tokyo
2024	–	Basketball at the 2024 Summer Olympics	Paris

FIBA World Cup

Year	Position	Tournament	Host
1978	11	1978 FIBA World Championship	Philippines
1982	12	1982 FIBA World Championship	Colombia
1986	9	1986 FIBA World Championship	Spain
1990	14	1990 FIBA World Championship	Argentina
1994	8	1994 FIBA World Championship	Canada
1998	–	1998 FIBA World Championship	Greece
2002	12	2002 FIBA World Championship	United States
2006	9	2006 FIBA World Championship	Japan
2010	16	2010 FIBA World Championship	Turkey
2014	–	2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup	Spain
2019	24	2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup	China
2023	29	2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup	Philippines   Japan   Indonesia
2027	TBD	2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup	Qatar

FIBA Asia Cup

Year	Position	Pld	W	L
1960	Not a FIBA member
1963
1965
1967
1969
1971
1973
1975	Champions	9	9	0
1977	Champions	9	9	0
1979	Champions	7	7	0
1981	Champions	7	7	0
1983	Champions	7	7	0
1985	3rd place	5	3	2
1987	Champions	8	8	0
1989	Champions	8	8	0
1991	Champions	9	9	0
1993	Champions	7	6	1
1995	Champions	9	9	0
1997	3rd place	8	7	1
1999	Champions	7	7	0
2001	Champions	8	8	0
2003	Champions	8	8	0
2005	Champions	8	8	0
2007	10th place	7	3	4
2009	Runners-up	9	8	1
2011	Champions	9	9	0
2013	5th place	9	6	3
2015	Champions	9	9	0
2017	5th place	7	5	2
2022	8th place	5	3	2
2025	To be determined
Total	23/31	179	163	16

FIBA Asia Challenge

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

Asian Games

• 1974 Asian Games –   3rd
• 1978 Asian Games –   1st
• 1982 Asian Games –   2nd
• 1986 Asian Games –   1st
• 1990 Asian Games –   1st
• 1994 Asian Games –   1st
• 1998 Asian Games –   1st
• 2002 Asian Games –   2nd
• 2006 Asian Games –   1st
• 2010 Asian Games –   1st
• 2014 Asian Games – 5th
• 2018 Asian Games –   1st
• 2022 Asian Games –   3rd

East Asian Basketball Championship

• 2009 East Asian Basketball Championship –   3rd
• 2011 East Asian Basketball Championship –   3rd
• 2013 East Asian Basketball Championship –   2nd
• 2017 East Asian Basketball Championship – 4th

East Asian Games

• 1993 East Asian Games –   1st
• 1997 East Asian Games –   3rd
• 2001 East Asian Games –   1st
• 2005 East Asian Games –   3rd
• 2009 East Asian Games – 4th
• 2013 East Asian Games –   2nd

Current roster

Roster for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

China men's national basketball team – 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. PF 1 Kyle Anderson 29 – (1993-09-20)20 September 1993 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) Minnesota Timberwolves   PG 3 Hu Mingxuan 25 – (1998-03-10)10 March 1998 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Guangdong Southern Tigers   PG 4 Zhao Jiwei 28 – (1995-08-25)25 August 1995 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Liaoning Flying Leopards   SG 8 Zhao Rui 27 – (1996-01-14)14 January 1996 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) Xinjiang Flying Tigers   SF 10 Zhou Peng (C) 33 – (1989-10-11)11 October 1989 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) Shenzhen Leopards   C 14 Wang Zhelin 29 – (1994-01-20)20 January 1994 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in) Shanghai Sharks   C 15 Zhou Qi 27 – (1996-01-16)16 January 1996 2.16 m (7 ft 1 in) Guangdong Southern Tigers   SG 19 Cui Yongxi 20 – (2003-05-28)28 May 2003 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Guangzhou Loong Lions   F/C 21 Hu Jinqiu 25 – (1997-09-24)24 September 1997 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) Zhejiang Lions   G/F 26 Zhu Junlong 24 – (1999-07-13)13 July 1999 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Zhejiang Lions   PF 27 Fu Hao 26 – (1997-08-24)24 August 1997 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) Liaoning Flying Leopards   SF 77 Zhang Zhenlin 24 – (1999-01-28)28 January 1999 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) Liaoning Flying Leopards	Head coach   Aleksandar Đorđević Assistant coach(es)   Goran Bjedov Legend (C) Team captain Club – describes last club before the tournament Age – describes age on 25 August 2023

Past rosters

Historic 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

Chinese men's national basketball team – 2014 Asian Games roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club PG 4 Liu Xiaoyu 25 – (1989-03-14)14 March 1989 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Guangdong Southern Tigers   G 5 Guo Ailun 20 – (1993-11-14)14 November 1993 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) Liaoning Flying Leopards   G/F 6 Gu Quan 22 – (1992-04-02)2 April 1992 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Dongguan Leopards   F/C 7 Zhou Qi 18 – (1996-01-16)16 January 1996 2.17 m (7 ft 1 in) Xinjiang Flying Tigers   G/F 8 Zhao Tailong 24 – (1990-01-04)4 January 1990 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) Fujian Sturgeons   F 9 Zhai Xiaochuan 21 – (1993-03-24)24 March 1993 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) Beijing Ducks   G/F 10 Ding Yanyuhang 21 – (1993-08-20)20 August 1993 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Shandong Golden Stars   SF 11 Zhou Peng (C) 24 – (1989-10-11)11 October 1989 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) Guangdong Southern Tigers   G 12 Xirelijiang Mugedaer 23 – (1991-01-04)4 January 1991 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) Xinjiang Flying Tigers   PF 13 Sun Tonglin 21 – (1992-12-23)23 December 1992 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) Dongguan Leopards   F/C 14 Li Xiaoxu 24 – (1990-06-05)5 June 1990 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) Liaoning Flying Leopards   C 15 Wang Zhelin 20 – (1994-01-20)20 January 1994 2.14 m (7 ft 0 in) Fujian Sturgeons	Head coach   Gong Luming Assistant coach(es)   Li Nan   Hu Xuefeng   Zhang Bin   Giannis Christopoulos Technical consultants   Jiang Xingquan   Yao Ming Team manager   Hao Guohua Legend (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

Chinese men's national basketball team – 2016 Rio Summer Olympics roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. PG 4 Zhao Jiwei 20 – (1995-08-25)25 August 1995 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Liaoning Flying Leopards   G 5 Sui Ran 23 – (1992-06-25)25 June 1992 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) Shandong Golden Stars   PG 6 Guo Ailun 21 – (1993-11-14)14 November 1993 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) Liaoning Flying Leopards   SF 8 Ding Yanyuhang 22 – (1993-08-20)20 August 1993 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Shandong Golden Stars   SF 9 Zhai Xiaochuan 22 – (1993-03-24)24 March 1993 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) Beijing Ducks   G/F 10 Zhou Peng (C) 25 – (1989-10-11)11 October 1989 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) Guangdong Southern Tigers   PF 11 Yi Jianlian 27 – (1987-10-27)27 October 1987 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in) Los Angeles Lakers   G/F 12 Li Gen 27 – (1988-08-15)15 August 1988 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Xinjiang Flying Tigers   C 13 Li Muhao 23 – (1992-06-02)2 June 1992 2.19 m (7 ft 2 in) Shenzhen Leopards   F/C 14 Zou Yuchen 19 – (1996-07-05)5 July 1996 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) Bayi Rockets   F/C 15 Zhou Qi 20 – (1996-01-16)16 January 1996 2.17 m (7 ft 1 in) Xinjiang Flying Tigers   C 31 Wang Zhelin 22 – (1994-01-20)20 January 1994 2.14 m (7 ft 0 in) Fujian Sturgeons	Head coach   Gong Luming Assistant coach(es)   Yannis Christopoulos   Li Nan   Wu Qinglong   Hu Xuefeng   Cui Wanjun Strength and conditioning coach   Wang Weixing Team manager   Chai Wensheng Legend (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

China men's national basketball team – 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. SG 5 Cui Jinming 24 – (1992-07-11)July 11, 1992 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Jilin Northeast Tigers   F 6 He Tianju 25 – (1990-12-28)December 28, 1990 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) Liaoning Flying Leopards   PG 7 Fang Shuo 26 – (1990-09-07)September 7, 1990 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Beijing Ducks   SG 9 Yuan Shuai 22 – (1994-07-18)July 18, 1994 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons   SF 11 Liu Zhixuan 25 – (1991-01-07)January 7, 1991 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Liaoning Flying Leopards   PF 14 Zou Yuchen 20 – (1996-07-05)July 5, 1996 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) Bayi Rockets   C 15 Fan Ziming 18 – (1998-04-29)April 29, 1998 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) Foshan Long-Lions   SF 20 Zhan Yanhao 18 – (1997-10-25)October 25, 1997 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) Zhejiang Guangsha Lions   C 21 Hu Jinqiu 18 – (1997-09-24)September 24, 1997 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) Zhejiang Guangsha Lions   PF 22 Tao Hanlin 25 – (1991-06-04)June 4, 1991 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) Shandong Golden Stars   G 23 Zhao Dapeng 26 – (1990-08-07)August 7, 1990 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) Zhejiang Guangsha Lions   PG 33 Wu Qian 22 – (1994-07-07)July 7, 1994 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Zhejiang Golden Bulls	Head coach   Li Nan Assistant coach(es)   Fan Bin Legend (C) Team captain (NP) Naturalized Player Club – describes last club before the tournament Age – describes age on 9 September 2016

List of head coaches

Manufacturer

2010–15: Nike – present

Sponsor

2010: China Mobile, UPS
2011, 2013–15: TCL

• China national under-19 basketball team
• China national under-17 basketball team
• China national 3x3 team
• China women's national basketball team
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