Shanghai Sharks

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The Shanghai Sharks (Chinese: 上海大鲨鱼; pinyin: Shànghǎi dàshāyú), are a Chinese Basketball Association team based in Shanghai, China. As a form of corporate sponsorship, there is often an additional name used: for many years they were also known as the Shanghai Dongfang Sharks (上海东方), but now are known as Shanghai Xiyang Sharks (上海西洋).

It is best-known outside China as the club that developed Yao Ming before he entered the NBA.

In the 2004–2005 season, the Shanghai Sharks finished in fifth place in the South Division, out of the playoffs. In 2005–2006, they tied for fifth, just one win away from making the playoffs.

In earlier seasons, they did better: they made the finals three years in a row (in 1999–2000, 2000–2001, 2001–2002), facing the Bayi Rockets each time. They were runners-up the first two years, but won the CBA championship for the first time on their third try, snapping a string of six Bayi Rockets championships in a row. Yao was a key player on the team in those years.

[edit] Current Players

Player Name	Jersey #	Height	Position	Born	with club since
Zheng Xiaoming	4	6-0	Guard	1985	2003
Hai Rui	5	6-5	Guard/Forward	1982?	2000
Zhang Wenqi	6	6-7	Forward	1972	1997
Jia Xiaozhong	7	6-8	Center	1980	1997
Liu Wei	8	6-2	Guard	1980	1997
Tang Haojie	9	6-2	Forward	1987	?
He Ning	11	6-7	Forward	1986	?
Ge Minhui	12	6-5	Forward	1984	2000
Wang Sizhang	13	6-5	Forward	1983	2000
Jiang	14	6-7	Forward/Center	1986	2002
Wang Ligang	16	6-8	Forward/Center	1985	2000
Xia Chao	17	6-7	Center	1984	?
Wang Yong	18	6-7	Forward	1986	2002
Li Peng	19	6-2	Guard	1985	1997