The China men's national basketball team (), nicknamed Team Dragon, represents the People's Republic of China in international basketball. The national team is governed by the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
Based on the number of tournament titles, China is considered a major basketball powerhouse in Asia and has by far been the most successful basketball program on the continent.
History Republic of China era (1913–1949)
In 1913, China participated in the basketball tournament at the 1913 Far Eastern Championship Games in Manila, Philippines. At the time, China had not yet established a nationwide selection system for basketball players, and the team was composed primarily of national football team and track athletes who received little to no training in basketball. China lost its opening game to the host Philippines 18–56.
Basketball became an official event at the 2nd National Games of China in 1914. In 1917, China's first dedicated men's basketball team was established, and it participated in the Far Eastern Championship Games held that year. In 1936, the China National Amateur Athletic Federation joined FIBA, and China made its debut in the men's Olympic basketball tournament, recording one win and three losses. China returned to the Olympics in 1948, recording five wins and three losses and finishing 18th overall.
By 1949, the China men's national basketball team had played 41 games in international competitions, including the Far Eastern Championship Games and the Olympics, recording 17 wins and 24 losses. At the Far Eastern Championship Games, China won one gold, nine silver, and one bronze medal. China defeated the Philippines and Japan to win the championship in 1921, but remained generally behind the Philippines for most of this period.
Early People's Republic of China (1949–1974) In August 1949, a men's basketball team composed of university students from the communist-controlled zone participated in the 2nd World Festival of Youth and Students in Budapest, Hungary, finishing sixth. In the early 1950s, following the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the China men's national basketball team was re-established on the foundations of the basketball tradition developed during the Republican period in mainland China. A national team, provincial teams, military teams, and a nationwide competition and training system were gradually established. The visit of the Soviet Union men's national basketball team to China in 1950 had a significant influence on the development of Chinese basketball.
On 7 May 1952, FIBA recognized the All-China Sports Federation, based in the People's Republic of China, as the organization representing Chinese basketball. The China men's national team was formed to participate in the Helsinki Olympics, but arrived too late to take part in the tournament. In 1953, the team participated in the inaugural World Festival of Youth and Students in Bucharest, Romania, finishing fifth. Chinese basketball subsequently developed a nationwide league and a professional training system, and its competitive level gradually improved. By the late 1950s, the China men's national team had begun defeating European teams such as Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria in international matches, while a first generation of core players led by and emerged.
In 1958, the Chinese Basketball Association unilaterally withdrew from FIBA after FIBA refused to terminate the membership of the counterpart in Taiwan. The team subsequently remained absent from FIBA-organized competitions for an extended period. It nevertheless continued to play international matches against foreign teams, including in competitions organized by socialist countries and Third World countries. In 1963, China participated in the 1st Games of the New Emerging Forces and won the men's basketball tournament undefeated; it successfully defended its title at the second edition in 1966. These achievements marked important milestones in the development of the team's competitive level and basketball system during this period.
Return to FIBA and Asian Dominance (1974–1994) During the 1970s, as the international position of the People's Republic of China improved, the China men's national basketball team returned to international competition. The 1974 Asian Games in Tehran marked the team's first official appearance in international competition after its return, and China won the bronze medal. At the 1975 Asian Basketball Championship, China made its debut in FIBA Asian competition and won the title with a perfect 9–0 record, dominating the tournament with no team even came close to beating them, it earned qualification for the 1976 Summer Olympics. However, the team didn't make it to Montreal, because the People's Republic of China had not yet been readmitted to the International Olympic Committee.
China subsequently established itself as a leading Asian basketball power. As of 2026, China has participated in the FIBA Asia Cup and its predecessor, the Asian Basketball Championship, 24 times, finishing in the top three in all but 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022, and winning the championship 16 times. In the Asian Games basketball tournament, China has made 14 appearances, finishing in the top three in every edition except 2014 and winning eight gold medals.
China has also made more appearances in the men's Olympic basketball tournament than any other Asian team, with 11 appearances.
Breakthrough at World Stage (1994–2004) The China men's national basketball team experienced another period of resurgence during the 1990s. At the 1994 FIBA World Championship, China reached the knockout stage for the first time and finished eighth. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, China again finished eighth. Players such as Hu Weidong, Gong Xiaobin, Sun Jun, Liu Yudong, and Li Nan subsequently became known as China's "Golden Generation". The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) was established in 1994, marking the beginning of the professional era of Chinese basketball, and these players became among the leading figures of the early CBA.
In the late 1990s, young interior players such as Wang Zhizhi and Mengke Bateer emerged, and the national team's playing style began to shift from an emphasis on perimeter play toward an offense centered on its interior. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, 20-year-old Yao Ming joined the national team. He subsequently formed an imposing frontcourt with Wang Zhizhi and Bateer, which became known as the "Moving Great Wall". In 2002, Yao became the first Chinese player selected as the first overall pick in the NBA draft, after which an increasing number of Chinese players entered the NBA.
China's results fluctuated during this period, including losses to South Korea at the 1997 Asian Championship and the 2002 Asian Games. Under Li Yuanwei's leadership of the Chinese Basketball Association, the national team began appointing foreign head coaches and underwent further changes in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Peak (2004–2018) Under head coaches Del Harris and Jonas Kazlauskas, the China men's national basketball team placed greater emphasis on team-oriented offense and defense, while its tactical style became increasingly influenced by European basketball. At the same time, Yao Ming developed into a world-class center, allowing China to re-establish its position as the leading team in Asia while achieving further breakthroughs in international competition.
At the 2004 Athens Olympics, China defeated Serbia and Montenegro 67–66 in the final group-stage game to advance to the quarterfinals. At the 2006 FIBA World Championship, China reached the round of 16 before losing to Greece. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, China defeated Germany and held an early lead over Spain before ultimately advancing to the quarterfinals and finishing eighth for the second consecutive Olympics.
After the 2008 Olympics, Yao Ming withdrew from the national team because of injuries, and China entered a period of transition between generations. At the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship, China suffered a home defeat to Iran, challenging its long-standing dominance of Asian basketball. At the 2010 FIBA World Championship, China reached the round of 16. At the 2010 Asian Games, China won the gold medal despite the absence of Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian. At the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship in Wuhan, China won the championship again.
At the 2012 London Olympics, China lost all five of its games. At the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, China lost to South Korea and Iran before suffering a 78–96 quarterfinal defeat to the Chinese Taipei team. China finished fifth and failed to qualify for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, recording its worst finish at the Asian Championship since 1975大陸男籃輸台灣 陸網友罵翻了 ，中央通訊社，2013年8月9日.
At the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship, China won the title undefeated on home soil, reclaiming the Asian championship after a four-year absence.
In 2017, China implemented a system of two national training teams, known as the "Red Team" and "Blue Team", coached by Li Nan and Du Feng, respectively. In 2018, the Red Team participated in preseason games against NBA Summer League teams, recording one win and four losses and won the 2018 Asian Games gold medal, being undefeated.
Stagnation (2018–present) In September 2018, the two teams were formally merged, with Li Nan appointed as head coach. At the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, China defeated Ivory Coast in the group stage before losing to Poland and Venezuela, failing to advance to the second round. In the classification round, China defeated South Korea but lost to Nigeria, finishing behind Iran and becoming the first Asian team to lose its direct qualification spot for the Olympics. At the 2020 Summer Olympics qualifying tournament in 2021, China lost to Canada and Greece and failed to qualify for the Olympics. This marked the first time since 1984 that China had failed to qualify for the Olympics.
At the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, China went 1–2 in the group stage and subsequently lost to the Philippines in the classification round, finishing 29th overall and failing to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The sole direct qualification place for an Asian team was instead awarded to Japan.
At the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, China went undefeated in the group stage and subsequently defeated South Korea and New Zealand in the knockout stage to reach the final for the first time in ten years. China ultimately lost 89–90 to defending champions Australia, finishing as runners-up, becoming the second Asian team after Lebanon that came close to defeating Australia since its entry into FIBA Asia.
Team image Manufacturer 2010–present: Nike2015 FIBA Asia Championship – China , FIBA.com. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
Sponsor 2010: China Mobile, UPS2010 FIBA World Championship Team photos , FIBA.com. Retrieved 19 July 2016. 2011, 2013–15: TCL
Rivals South Korea South Korea has been one of the most important rivals of the China men's national basketball team since China returned to the FIBA system in 1974, and is one of the Asian teams China has faced most frequently and over the longest period. The two teams have regularly competed for supremacy in Asian basketball at the Asian Basketball Championship, the Asian Games, and other international competitions. During the period from the 1970s to the early 21st century, when China was the dominant force in Asian basketball, South Korea was one of the few teams capable of consistently challenging China for the top position in Asia, and frequently emerged as one of China's strongest opponents in the pursuit of Asian championships.