CBA (China) 2026/27

Chinese Basketball Association

The CBA operates as the premier tier for professional men’s basketball within China. It stands above the National Basketball League in the sport’s hierarchy, though it does not offer automatic promotion or relegation. Instead, teams from the second division may apply for a licence based on specific financial and facility criteria, a process that remains discretionary rather than guaranteed.

The league’s structure involves a regular season where each of the twenty participating sides plays fifty matches in a double round-robin format. This schedule determines qualification for the playoffs, where the top twelve teams advance. The postseason is divided into stages starting with a best-of-three qualifying round for lower seeds, followed by best-of-three quarterfinals for the top eight. The competition concludes with best-of-five semifinals and a decisive best-of-seven final series.

Guangdong Southern Tigers hold the record for success, having claimed eleven championships. The title is currently held by the Shanghai Sharks. The competition was established in 1995 by the Chinese Basketball Management Center. It originated as a state-backed initiative before evolving into its current commercial form.

A distinct tournament, the CBA Club Cup, was introduced in the 2024–25 season. This separate event features a group stage and knockout format with different rules regarding foreign player quotas. It runs parallel to the main league standings. The governing body also manages the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association. The league reverted to its original acronym name in 2004 after previous sponsorship periods.

The competition serves as the primary development path for players aiming for international representation. Teams such as Beijing Ducks and Beijing Royal Fighters participate alongside clubs like Fujian Sturgeons and Guangzhou. Jiangsu Dragons Nanjing also compete in this environment. The focus remains on domestic skill progression rather than global expansion.