# 2021–22 Chinese Basketball Association season

The 2021–22 CBA season was the 27th season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). The regular season was reduced to 38 games for each team and was divided into three stages. The first stage, which was played in Zhuji, Zhejiang, began on 16 October 2021 and ended on 14 November 2021. The second stage, which was played in Changchun, Jilin, began on 25 December 2021 and ended on 28 January 2022. The third stage, which was played in Foshan, Guangdong and Shenyang, Liaoning, began on 1 March 2022 and ended on 22 March 2022. The playoffs, which were played in Nanchang, Jiangxi, began on 1 April 2022 and ended on 26 April 2022.

## Teams

| Team | Head Coach | Home city | Arena | Capacity |
| Beijing Ducks | Yannis Christopoulos | Beijing | Cadillac Center | 17,178 |
| Beijing Royal Fighters | Stephon Marbury | Beijing | Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium | 6,500 |
| Fujian Sturgeons | Cui Wanjun | Jinjiang | Zuchang Gymnasium | 4,500 |
| Guangdong Southern Tigers | Du Feng | Dongguan | Dongguan Basketball Center | 16,000 |
| Guangzhou Loong Lions | Guo Shiqiang | Guangzhou | Tianhe Gymnasium | 8,000 |
| Jiangsu Dragons | Li Nan | Suzhou | Suzhou Sports Center Gymnasium | 6,000 |
| Jilin Northeast Tigers | Wang Han | Changchun | Changchun Gymnasium | 4,000 |
| Liaoning Flying Leopards | Yang Ming | Shenyang | Liaoning Gymnasium | 12,000 |
| Nanjing Monkey Kings | Ma Zhuang (caretaker) | Nanjing | Wutaishan Gymnasium | 9,300 |
| Ningbo Rockets | Li Ke | Ningbo | Ningbo Youngor Gynmasium | |
| Qingdao Eagles | Wu Qinglong | Qingdao | Conson Gymnasium | 12,500 |
| Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin | Xu Changsuo | Jinan | Shandong Arena | 8,000 |
| Shanghai Sharks | Li Chunjiang | Shanghai | Yuanshen Sports Centre Gymnasium | 5,091 |
| Shanxi Loongs | Yang Xuezeng | Taiyuan | Shanxi Sports Centre Gymnasium | 8,131 |
| Shenzhen Leopards | Qiu Biao | Shenzhen | Shenzhen Dayun Arena | 18,000 |
| Sichuan Blue Whales | Zhou Jinli | Chengdu | Wenjiang Gymnasium | 4,500 |
| Tianjin Pioneers | Zhang Degui | Tianjin | TUFE Gymnasium | 4,000 |
| Xinjiang Flying Tigers | Adiljan Jun | Ürümqi | Hongshan Arena | 4,000 |
| Zhejiang Golden Bulls | Liu Weiwei | Hangzhou | Binjiang Gymnasium | 5,000 |
| Zhejiang Lions | Wang Bo | Zhuji | Zhuji Jiyang Sports Center Gymnasium | 6,077 |

### Team changes

New team
* Ningbo Rockets

## Draft

The 2021 CBA Draft, the seventh edition of the CBA draft, took place on 18 July 2021 in Qingdao, Shandong.

## Foreign players

This is the full list of international players competing in the CBA during the 2021–22 season.
| Team | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 | Player 4 | Replaced |
| Beijing Ducks | Barry Brown Jr. | Justin Hamilton | Jonathan Gibson | Jeremy Lin | - |
| Beijing Royal Fighters | Isaac Haas | Sylven Landesberg | Marko Todorović | - | - |
| Fujian Sturgeons | Trae Golden | - | - | - | - |
| Guangdong Southern Tigers | Ricky Ledo | Sonny Weems | - | - | - |
| Guangzhou Loong Lions | Nate Mason | T. J. Leaf | - | - | - |
| Jiangsu Dragons | - | - | - | - | - |
| Jilin Northeast Tigers | Dominique Jones | - | - | - | - |
| Liaoning Flying Leopards | Kyle Fogg | Eric Moreland | - | - | - |
| Nanjing Monkey Kings | D'Montre Edwards | - | - | - | - |
| Ningbo Rockets | Clarence Trotter III | Vladimir Štimac | - | - | - |
| Qingdao Eagles | Dakari Johnson | Dez Wells | - | - | - |
| Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin | Troy Gillenwater | Lester Hudson | - | - | - |
| Shanghai Sharks | Jamaal Franklin | Noah Vonleh | - | - | - |
| Shanxi Loongs | Kay Felder | Jonathon Simmons | - | - | - |
| Shenzhen Leopards | Askia Booker | Jared Sullinger | - | - | - |
| Sichuan Blue Whales | Hamed Haddadi | Sterling Manley | - | - | - |
| Tianjin Pioneers | Kenny Boynton | Taylor Rochestie | - | - | - |
| Xinjiang Flying Tigers | Arnett Moultrie | - | - | - | - |
| Zhejiang Golden Bulls | Erick Green | Nick Rakocevic | - | - | - |
| Zhejiang Lions | Jarrod Jones | Jahlil Okafor | - | - | - |

## Regular season
### League table

| # | 2021–22 CBA regular season | 2021–22 CBA regular season | 2021–22 CBA regular season | 2021–22 CBA regular season | 2021–22 CBA regular season |
| # | Team | W | L | Pct. | Tiebreaker |
| 1 | Liaoning Flying Leopards | 32 | 6 | .842 | |
| 2 | Zhejiang Lions | 31 | 7 | .816 | |
| 3 | Shanghai Sharks | 28 | 10 | .737 | |
| 4 | Zhejiang Golden Bulls | 28 | 10 | .737 | |
| 5 | Guangdong Southern Tigers | 26 | 12 | .684 | |
| 6 | Shenzhen Leopards | 26 | 12 | .684 | |
| 7 | Beijing Ducks | 24 | 14 | .632 | |
| 8 | Guangzhou Loong Lions | 23 | 15 | .605 | |
| 9 | Shanxi Loongs | 23 | 15 | .605 | |
| 10 | Jilin Northeast Tigers | 22 | 16 | .579 | |
| 11 | Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin | 20 | 18 | .526 | |
| 12 | Tianjin Pioneers | 19 | 19 | .500 | |
| 13 | Beijing Royal Fighters | 18 | 20 | .474 | |
| 14 | Xinjiang Flying Tigers | 18 | 20 | .474 | |
| 15 | Qingdao Eagles | 13 | 25 | .342 | |
| 16 | Sichuan Blue Whales | 12 | 26 | .316 | |
| 17 | Fujian Sturgeons | 7 | 31 | .184 | |
| 18 | Jiangsu Dragons | 5 | 33 | .132 | |
| 19 | Ningbo Rockets | 3 | 35 | .079 | |
| 20 | Nanjing Monkey Kings | 2 | 36 | .053 | |
Key to colors :
* Top 4 teams advance directly to Quarter-finals of CBA Playoffs
* 5th-12th place teams progress to First Round of CBA Playoffs

### Results

The regular season was reduced to 38 games for each team. 20 teams will play against each other twice.
| Home \ Away | BJD | BJR | FJS | GDS | GZL | JSD | JLN | LNF | NJM | NBR | QDE | SDK | SHS | SXL | SZL | SCB | TJP | XJF | ZJG | ZJL |
| Beijing Ducks | | 83–79 | 106–86 | 80–92 | 84–56 | 86–69 | 105–76 | 99–76 | 119–78 | 106–70 | 89–78 | 89–96 | 109–103 | 112–118 | 91–99 | 98–69 | 114–126 | 106–65 | 89–81 | 88–99 |
| Beijing Royal Fighters | 81–97 | | 109–92 | 106–93 | 119–111 | 114–82 | 87–88 | 80–85 | 101–80 | 95–79 | 94–88 | 93–105 | 83–102 | 97–102 | 89–101 | 91–83 | 116–105 | 112–116 | 90–102 | 74–101 |
| Fujian Sturgeons | 113–111 | 79–112 | | 104–108 | 75–98 | 97–88 | 99–110 | 83–109 | 118–94 | 117–111 | 116–105 | 115–143 | 76–126 | 131–142 | 78–103 | 80–101 | 85–105 | 134–140 | 90–100 | 84–109 |
| Guangdong Southern Tigers | 67–91 | 109–80 | 98–91 | | 98–89 | 108–73 | 99–95 | 95–115 | 101–87 | 111–88 | 98–91 | 127–101 | 101–108 | 99–125 | 106–83 | 111–108 | 118–91 | 118–99 | 110–94 | 94–114 |
| Guangzhou Loong Lions | 74–108 | 102–98 | 125–107 | 120–101 | | 90–84 | 107–104 | 89–107 | 100–88 | 93–70 | 108–97 | 116–106 | 84–103 | 111–105 | 104–119 | 103–110 | 98–113 | 123–105 | 82–92 | 103–108 |
| Jiangsu Dragons | 71–87 | 74–91 | 101–109 | 84–97 | 72–80 | | 95–109 | 95–108 | 99–91 | 102–104 | 82–79 | 87–93 | 94–109 | 84–111 | 80–90 | 97–94 | 96–90 | 93–98 | 68–108 | 88–110 |
| Jilin Northeast Tigers | 75–106 | 73–93 | 104–99 | 99–116 | 94–95 | 99–82 | | 89–117 | 91–79 | 111–86 | 120–100 | 98–83 | 118–108 | 104–87 | 106–103 | 101–86 | 99–101 | 88–86 | 115–111 | 101–94 |
| Liaoning Flying Leopards | 103–95 | 97–86 | 128–109 | 102–90 | 110–98 | 101–75 | 103–88 | | 114–103 | 118–102 | 85–108 | 114–97 | 100–102 | 129–97 | 92–90 | 134–90 | 112–93 | 87–109 | 101–82 | 102–94 |
| Nanjing Monkey Kings | 77–114 | 101–108 | 98–130 | 86–101 | 101–115 | 95–80 | 81–112 | 109–129 | | 92–108 | 98–119 | 90–102 | 91–131 | 90–122 | 102–122 | 106–110 | 103–124 | 84–120 | 78–127 | 90–108 |
| Ningbo Rockets | 84–118 | 96–124 | 109–106 | 80–106 | 105–125 | 66–89 | 95–107 | 70–99 | 73–97 | | 83–110 | 75–111 | 85–119 | 85–110 | 94–121 | 78–105 | 88–110 | 91–114 | 64–99 | 75–121 |
| Qingdao Eagles | 73–78 | 100–80 | 99–91 | 90–103 | 117–100 | 91–86 | 80–98 | 101–111 | 104–82 | 119–78 | | 98–104 | 107–110 | 110–105 | 92–102 | 100–93 | 106–101 | 100–119 | 88–93 | 89–121 |
| Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin | 112–103 | 95–105 | 113–102 | 111–110 | 89–107 | 105–100 | 93–87 | 87–98 | 107–89 | 114–92 | 112–105 | | 97–125 | 107–114 | 106–111 | 101–102 | 114–117 | 89–103 | 94–100 | 97–94 |
| Shanghai Sharks | 105–86 | 118–104 | 117–93 | 97–112 | 105–101 | 107–74 | 94–81 | 101–121 | 134–110 | 119–93 | 121–88 | 100–117 | | 135–111 | 108–118 | 115–97 | 120–94 | 121–96 | 112–103 | 80–122 |
| Shanxi Loongs | 90–115 | 105–94 | 120–109 | 96–111 | 97–99 | 114–84 | 119–91 | 107–99 | 116–100 | 105–92 | 98–85 | 112–116 | 151–128 | | 119–113 | 117–99 | 130–123 | 93–101 | 106–146 | 103–113 |
| Shenzhen Leopards | 104–97 | 107–126 | 100–93 | 90–106 | 114–120 | 107–85 | 102–103 | 80–93 | 120–84 | 103–81 | 98–97 | 118–115 | 119–103 | 126–110 | | 126–107 | 131–104 | 115–116 | 100–94 | 106–105 |
| Sichuan Blue Whales | 66–101 | 78–93 | 100–90 | 76–110 | 71–92 | 100–84 | 91–104 | 85–121 | 96–84 | 111–106 | 98–87 | 83–94 | 84–118 | 101–119 | 96–125 | | 96–94 | 103–109 | 78–104 | 80–110 |
| Tianjin Pioneers | 96–112 | 115–93 | 106–87 | 98–110 | 106–110 | 97–77 | 107–99 | 88–106 | 121–101 | 113–98 | 91–79 | 134–124 | 75–110 | 113–109 | 94–122 | 115–86 | | 120–102 | 89–128 | 84–105 |
| Xinjiang Flying Tigers | 111–100 | 84–91 | 145–116 | 109–107 | 102–117 | 125–97 | 96–117 | 99–109 | 92–86 | 109–79 | 92–89 | 96–106 | 112–121 | 97–112 | 104–105 | 97–102 | 124–119 | | 102–107 | 69–108 |
| Zhejiang Golden Bulls | 96–73 | 96–84 | 108–85 | 124–101 | 104–113 | 112–76 | 115–100 | 97–96 | 124–92 | 114–100 | 105–98 | 113–86 | 85–91 | 111–109 | 90–78 | 111–81 | 104–81 | 98–91 | | 101–104 |
| Zhejiang Lions | 94–91 | 110–83 | 125–111 | 98–86 | 93–67 | 97–80 | 102–92 | 100–112 | 117–95 | 99–92 | 96–103 | 112–92 | 101–95 | 118–122 | 118–84 | 106–57 | 125–94 | 109–100 | 107–95 | |

## Playoffs
### Bracket

| First round Best-of-three | First round Best-of-three | First round Best-of-three | Quarter-finals Best-of-three | Quarter-finals Best-of-three | Quarter-finals Best-of-three | Semi-finals Best-of-five | Semi-finals Best-of-five | Semi-finals Best-of-five | Finals Best-of-seven | Finals Best-of-seven | Finals Best-of-seven |
| | | | 1 | Liaoning Flying Leopards | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | 9 | Shanxi Loongs | 0 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Guangzhou Loong Lions | 1 | 9 | Shanxi Loongs | 0 | | | | | | |
| 9 | Shanxi Loongs | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Shanxi Loongs | 2 | | | | 1 | Liaoning Flying Leopards | 3 | | | |
| | | | | | | 5 | Guangdong Southern Tigers | 0 | | | |
| | | | 4 | Zhejiang Golden Bulls | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | Guangdong Southern Tigers | 2 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Guangdong Southern Tigers | 2 | 5 | Guangdong Southern Tigers | 2 | | | | | | |
| 12 | Tianjin Pioneers | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Tianjin Pioneers | 0 | | | | | | | 1 | Liaoning Flying Leopards | 4 |
| | | | | | | | | | 2 | Zhejiang Lions | 0 |
| | | | 3 | Shanghai Sharks | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Shenzhen Leopards | 0 | | | | | | |
| 6 | Shenzhen Leopards | 2 | 6 | Shenzhen Leopards | 0 | | | | | | |
| 11 | Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin | 0 | | | | 3 | Shanghai Sharks | 0 | | | |
| | | | | | | 2 | Zhejiang Lions | 3 | | | |
| | | | 2 | Zhejiang Lions | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | 10 | Jilin Northeast Tigers | 0 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Beijing Ducks | 0 | 10 | Jilin Northeast Tigers | 0 | | | | | | |
| 10 | Jilin Northeast Tigers | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
* Bold Series winner

### First round
#### (5) Guangdong Southern Tigers vs. (12) Tianjin Pioneers

* 1 April 2022 15:00
* [ Boxscore]
| Guangdong Southern Tigers | 124–101 | Tianjin Pioneers |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Guangdong leads series, 1–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang
* 3 April 2022 19:35
* [ Boxscore]
| Tianjin Pioneers | 104–122 | Guangdong Southern Tigers |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Guangdong wins series, 2–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang

#### (6) Shenzhen Leopards vs. (11) Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin

* 2 April 2022 15:00
* [ Boxscore]
| Shenzhen Leopards | 115–101 | Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Shenzhen leads series, 1–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang
* 4 April 2022 19:35
* [ Boxscore]
| Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin | 108–120 | Shenzhen Leopards |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Shenzhen wins series, 2–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang

#### (7) Beijing Ducks vs. (10) Jilin Northeast Tigers

* 2 April 2022 19:35
* [ Boxscore]
| Beijing Ducks | 102–104 | Jilin Northeast Tigers |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Jilin leads series, 1–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang
* 4 April 2022 15:00
* [ Boxscore]
| Jilin Northeast Tigers | 80–75 | Beijing Ducks |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Jilin wins series, 2–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang

#### (8) Guangzhou Loong Lions vs. (9) Shanxi Loongs

* 1 April 2022 19:35
* [ Boxscore]
| Guangzhou Loong Lions | 101–120 | Shanxi Loongs |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Shanxi leads series, 1–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang
* 3 April 2022 15:00
* [ Boxscore]
| Shanxi Loongs | 95–106 | Guangzhou Loong Lions |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Series tied, 1–1 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang
* 5 April 2022 19:35
* [ Boxscore]
| Guangzhou Loong Lions | 93–114 | Shanxi Loongs |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Shanxi wins series, 2–1 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang

### Quarter-finals
#### (1) Liaoning Flying Leopards vs. (9) Shanxi Loongs

* 7 April 2022 15:00
* [ Boxscore]
| Liaoning Flying Leopards | 116–104 | Shanxi Loongs |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Liaoning leads series, 1–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang
* 9 April 2022 19:35
* [ Boxscore]
| Shanxi Loongs | 109–115 | Liaoning Flying Leopards |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Liaoning wins series, 2–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang

#### (2) Zhejiang Lions vs. (10) Jilin Northeast Tigers

* 8 April 2022 15:00
* [ Boxscore]
| Zhejiang Lions | 93–84 | Jilin Northeast Tigers |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Zhejiang leads series, 1–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang
* 10 April 2022 19:35
* [ Boxscore]
| Jilin Northeast Tigers | 100–110 | Zhejiang Lions |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Zhejiang wins series, 2–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang

#### (3) Shanghai Sharks vs. (6) Shenzhen Leopards

* 8 April 2022 19:35
* [ Boxscore]
| Shanghai Sharks | 120–118 | Shenzhen Leopards |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Shanghai leads series, 1–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang
* 10 April 2022 15:00
* [ Boxscore]
| Shenzhen Leopards | 82–87 | Shanghai Sharks |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Shanghai wins series, 2–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang

#### (4) Zhejiang Golden Bulls vs. (5) Guangdong Southern Tigers

* 7 April 2022 19:35
* [ Boxscore]
| Zhejiang Golden Bulls | 98–99 | Guangdong Southern Tigers |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Guangdong leads series, 1–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang
* 9 April 2022 15:00
* [ Boxscore]
| Guangdong Southern Tigers | 97–82 | Zhejiang Golden Bulls |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Guangdong wins series, 2–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang

### Semi-finals
#### (1) Liaoning Flying Leopards vs. (5) Guangdong Southern Tigers

* 12 April 2022 19:35
* [ Boxscore]
| Liaoning Flying Leopards | 92–79 | Guangdong Southern Tigers |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Liaoning leads series, 1–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang
* 14 April 2022 19:35
* [ Boxscore]
| Liaoning Flying Leopards | 96–83 | Guangdong Southern Tigers |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Liaoning leads series, 2–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang
* 16 April 2022 19:35
* [ Boxscore]
| Guangdong Southern Tigers | 116–117 | Liaoning Flying Leopards |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Liaoning wins series, 3–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang

#### (2) Zhejiang Lions vs. (3) Shanghai Sharks

* 13 April 2022 19:35
* [ Boxscore]
| Zhejiang Lions | 108–93 | Shanghai Sharks |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Zhejiang leads series, 1–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang
* 15 April 2022 19:35
* [ Boxscore]
| Zhejiang Lions | 106–96 | Shanghai Sharks |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Zhejiang leads series, 2–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang
* 17 April 2022 19:35
* [ Boxscore]
| Shanghai Sharks | 100–103 | Zhejiang Lions |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Zhejiang wins series, 3–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang

### Finals
#### (1) Liaoning Flying Leopards vs. (2) Zhejiang Lions

* 20 April 2022 19:35
* [ Boxscore]
| Liaoning Flying Leopards | 98–75 | Zhejiang Lions |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Liaoning leads series, 1–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang
* 22 April 2022 19:35
* [ Boxscore]
| Liaoning Flying Leopards | 99–90 | Zhejiang Lions |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Liaoning leads series, 2–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang
* 24 April 2022 19:35
* [ Boxscore]
| Zhejiang Lions | 73–87 | Liaoning Flying Leopards |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Liaoning leads series, 3–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang
* 26 April 2022 19:35
* [ Boxscore]
| Zhejiang Lions | 82–100 | Liaoning Flying Leopards |
| Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, – |||
| Liaoning wins series, 4–0 |||
* Nanchang International Sport Center, Nanchang

## All-Star Weekend

jeremy lin

## Awards

| Category | Player | Team(s) | Ref. |
| Most Valuable Player | Hu Jinqiu | Zhejiang Lions | |
| Finals MVP | Zhao Jiwei | Liaoning Flying Leopards | |