CBA Regular Season Wrap-Up: Intense Competition and Historic Achievements
As the 2024-25 CBA regular season concludes, the landscape is set for an exciting playoff showdown while new records emerge.
The 2024-25 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) regular season concluded on Monday, setting the stage for teams vying for playoff success while those unable to qualify begin preparations for the next season.
The battle for the top spots and automatic quarterfinal berths provided significant drama throughout the season, with four teams ending the regular season tied on points in a fight for the last two direct qualifications.
The Beijing Ducks and the Liaoning Flying Leopards secured their spots in the quarterfinals, while the Xinjiang Flying Tigers and the Shandong Heroes, placing fifth and sixth respectively, must face additional matches to advance.
Beijing attracted considerable attention in the offseason following the acquisition of center Zhou Qi and guard Chen Ying-chun.
Zhou made a substantial impact with averages of 14.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks over 27 minutes per game.
Chen demonstrated his importance with averages of 12.7 points and 5.6 assists, highlighted by Beijing's struggles during his injury absence.
However, Zhou suffered an eye injury in the penultimate round against the Zhejiang Golden Bulls, casting uncertainty over the Ducks' playoff chances.
The Liaoning Flying Leopards, three-time defending champions, maintained their status as a formidable team despite the loss of star guard Guo Ailun.
Key players Zhao Jiwei and Han Dejun, alongside overseas imports Kyle Fogg and Dezmine Wells, continued to pose a significant threat to opponents.
The Xinjiang Flying Tigers showcased their depth, as local prospects Elfurat Muhtar and Xirzat Samat advanced alongside established players Zhao Rui, Qi Lin, and Abdusalam Abdurexit.
Xinjiang aims to improve upon their prior season, where they were defeated by Liaoning in the finals.
Meanwhile, the Shandong Heroes initiated a major rebuild after missing the playoffs the previous season.
Under the leadership of new head coach Qiu Biao, who won Coach of the Year last season with Xinjiang, Shandong revamped its roster significantly, reportedly signing 12 new players while retaining a core group including Tao Hanlin, Gao Shiyan, and Chen Peidong.
The team's investment yielded dividends, especially noted for their robust defense, allowing an average of only 99.0 points per game and boasting standout players like Gao, who averaged 2.2 steals.
The Shanxi Loongs emerged as a surprising contender, finishing in second place, largely due to their impressive offensive performance, leading the league with an average of 114.8 points per game.
Small forward Zhang Ning solidified his role, while Yuan Shuai showcased accurate three-point shooting, hitting at a rate of 44.2%.
Additionally, 2.25-meter tall center Liu Chuanxing proved to be an effective rim protector.
Finishing the season as regular-season champions, the Zhejiang Lions demonstrated consistency, fueled by standout performances from Sun Minghui and Hu Jinqiu, in addition to Barry Brown, who posted an impressive average of 28.0 points per game.
The regular season was marked by notable records and achievements, including the Nanjing Monkey Kings reaching the playoffs for the first time, thanks to career-best performances from Lin Wei and Guo Haowen.
Rising star Zeng Fanbo from Beijing made headlines, averaging 14.7 points and recording a career-high 33 in a game against Shandong, contributing to his recognition as CBA Player of the Week.
In individual milestones, Liaoning's Zhao Jiwei surpassed his former teammate Guo Ailun in all-time assists, reaching a total of 2,647 assists this season.
The Shanghai Sharks, characterized by their unpredictable performance, rebounded from a challenging 1-10 start to achieve a remarkable 16-game winning streak, showcasing the team’s potential despite fluctuations.
Shanghai center Wang Zhelin enhanced his legacy by surpassing Wang Zhizhi to claim the sixth spot on the all-time scoring list.
As the regular season concludes, the upcoming playoff matches, set to begin on Friday, promise to deliver high-stakes competition as teams vie for the championship title.
The battle for the top spots and automatic quarterfinal berths provided significant drama throughout the season, with four teams ending the regular season tied on points in a fight for the last two direct qualifications.
The Beijing Ducks and the Liaoning Flying Leopards secured their spots in the quarterfinals, while the Xinjiang Flying Tigers and the Shandong Heroes, placing fifth and sixth respectively, must face additional matches to advance.
Beijing attracted considerable attention in the offseason following the acquisition of center Zhou Qi and guard Chen Ying-chun.
Zhou made a substantial impact with averages of 14.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks over 27 minutes per game.
Chen demonstrated his importance with averages of 12.7 points and 5.6 assists, highlighted by Beijing's struggles during his injury absence.
However, Zhou suffered an eye injury in the penultimate round against the Zhejiang Golden Bulls, casting uncertainty over the Ducks' playoff chances.
The Liaoning Flying Leopards, three-time defending champions, maintained their status as a formidable team despite the loss of star guard Guo Ailun.
Key players Zhao Jiwei and Han Dejun, alongside overseas imports Kyle Fogg and Dezmine Wells, continued to pose a significant threat to opponents.
The Xinjiang Flying Tigers showcased their depth, as local prospects Elfurat Muhtar and Xirzat Samat advanced alongside established players Zhao Rui, Qi Lin, and Abdusalam Abdurexit.
Xinjiang aims to improve upon their prior season, where they were defeated by Liaoning in the finals.
Meanwhile, the Shandong Heroes initiated a major rebuild after missing the playoffs the previous season.
Under the leadership of new head coach Qiu Biao, who won Coach of the Year last season with Xinjiang, Shandong revamped its roster significantly, reportedly signing 12 new players while retaining a core group including Tao Hanlin, Gao Shiyan, and Chen Peidong.
The team's investment yielded dividends, especially noted for their robust defense, allowing an average of only 99.0 points per game and boasting standout players like Gao, who averaged 2.2 steals.
The Shanxi Loongs emerged as a surprising contender, finishing in second place, largely due to their impressive offensive performance, leading the league with an average of 114.8 points per game.
Small forward Zhang Ning solidified his role, while Yuan Shuai showcased accurate three-point shooting, hitting at a rate of 44.2%.
Additionally, 2.25-meter tall center Liu Chuanxing proved to be an effective rim protector.
Finishing the season as regular-season champions, the Zhejiang Lions demonstrated consistency, fueled by standout performances from Sun Minghui and Hu Jinqiu, in addition to Barry Brown, who posted an impressive average of 28.0 points per game.
The regular season was marked by notable records and achievements, including the Nanjing Monkey Kings reaching the playoffs for the first time, thanks to career-best performances from Lin Wei and Guo Haowen.
Rising star Zeng Fanbo from Beijing made headlines, averaging 14.7 points and recording a career-high 33 in a game against Shandong, contributing to his recognition as CBA Player of the Week.
In individual milestones, Liaoning's Zhao Jiwei surpassed his former teammate Guo Ailun in all-time assists, reaching a total of 2,647 assists this season.
The Shanghai Sharks, characterized by their unpredictable performance, rebounded from a challenging 1-10 start to achieve a remarkable 16-game winning streak, showcasing the team’s potential despite fluctuations.
Shanghai center Wang Zhelin enhanced his legacy by surpassing Wang Zhizhi to claim the sixth spot on the all-time scoring list.
As the regular season concludes, the upcoming playoff matches, set to begin on Friday, promise to deliver high-stakes competition as teams vie for the championship title.
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