The Shanghai Sharks (), officially named Shanghai Juss Basketball Club Co., Ltd, are a Chinese Basketball Association team based in Shanghai.
The Sharks are best known outside China for having developed Yao Ming before he entered the National Basketball Association. Yao was the driving force behind their three consecutive appearances in the finals (1999âÂÂ2000, 2000âÂÂ01, and 2001âÂÂ02), facing the Bayi Rockets each time. The Sharks were runners-up the first two years, but won for the first time on their third try, breaking the Rockets' streak of six CBA championships in a row.
In August 1979, the Sharks played the Washington Bullets, the first NBA team to travel to China, with Yao ZhiyuanâÂÂfather of Yao MingâÂÂas their center.
The team faced serious financial issues in the 2008âÂÂ09 season, and were in danger of not being able to compete in the following season. On July 16, 2009, Chinese media reported that Yao Ming had stepped in to purchase the team.
In the 2021âÂÂ22 season, under Li Chunjiang, the Sharks experienced a high bested only by the Yao era, reinvigorating their place among China's best basketball teams. Around that time, alongside the CBA as a whole, they became an Internet meme as a future landing spot for high-profile NBA stars who underperform in a game or series, particularly in the playoffs. Kyle Kuzma, Ben Simmons, and Dillon Brooks were prominent victims of such jokes.
, the team's jersey sponsor has been the Chinese sportswear brand Li-Ning.
Sharks players who have either set a club record or won an individual award as a professional player or who have played at least one official international match for his senior national team or who have been ranked higher than Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James at any time include: