The 2020–21 CBA season was the 26th season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). All games were played in Zhuji, Zhejiang. The regular season was divided into four stages. The first stage began on 17 October 2020 and ended on 14 November 2020. The second stage began on 2 December 2020 and ended on 6 February 2021. The third stage began on 1 March 2021 and ended on 18 March 2021. The last stage began on 24 March 2021 and ended on 13 April 2021. The All-Star Game was played on 21 March 2021 in Qingdao. The playoffs began on 16 April 2021 and ended on 1 May 2021.
Changes from 2019–20 season For this season, each team will play 56 games in the regular season. 20 teams are divided into two groups based on the ranking of the previous season. Each team will play against teams in their group four times and play against other teams twice.
Transactions
Free agents PlayerDate signedNew teamFormer teamRefYu Changdong1 September 2020Beijing Royal FightersXinjiang Flying TigersGuo Kailun4 September 2020Nanjing Monkey KingsGuangzhou Loong LionsHuang ShiqianNanjing Monkey KingsShanghai SharksWan ShengweiNanjing Monkey KingsGuangdong Southern TigersZhao TianyiNanjing Monkey KingsZhejiang LionsHan Delong8 September 2020Guangzhou Loong LionsBayi RocketsShirelijan Muxtar9 September 2020Nanjing Monkey KingsXinjiang Flying TigersHeng Yifeng10 September 2020Nanjing Monkey KingsGuangzhou Loong LionsFeng Xin12 September 2020Zhejiang LionsNanjing Monkey KingsSun ChunpengZhejiang LionsFujian SturgeonsHan Shuo13 September 2020Sichuan Blue WhalesBayi RocketsHe ZhongdaShanghai SharksFujian SturgeonsLi HonghanSichuan Blue WhalesShandong HeroesLiu ChengShanghai SharksZhejiang LionsLiu GuancenShanxi LoongsShandong HeroesWang XuShanghai SharksBeijing DucksWu KeShanxi LoongsShandong HeroesYu DehaoXinjiang Flying TigersShenzhen AviatorsZhai YiShanxi LoongsQingdao EaglesZhou ZhandongShanxi LoongsQingdao EaglesYu ChangchunFujian SturgeonsNanjing Monkey KingsDing HaoranJilin Northeast TigersQingdao EaglesDiao ChenghaoShandong HeroesFujian SturgeonsJing HaoyangShandong HeroesBeijing Royal FightersLi JingyuShandong HeroesShanxi LoongsLiang YingqiXinjiang Flying TigersBayi RocketsWang ZhengboXinjiang Flying TigersSichuan Blue WhalesCao Fei14 September 2020Nanjing Monkey KingsFujian SturgeonsChang YasongShenzhen AviatorsBeijing Royal FightersGuo XiaopengShenzhen AviatorsShanxi LoongsHou XingyuShenzhen AviatorsShanxi LoongsMerdan TursonShenzhen AviatorsNanjing Monkey KingsWang ZixuNanjing Monkey KingsBeijing Royal FightersYu LiangShenzhen AviatorsBeijing Royal Fighters
Loan PlayerDate loanedNew teamFormer teamRefWu Yujia9 September 2020Jiangsu DragonsZhejiang LionsSun Haofeng10 September 2020Guangzhou Loong LionsBeijing DucksLi Yingbo11 September 2020Fujian SturgeonsGuangdong Southern TigersLiu XuchengFujian SturgeonsGuangdong Southern TigersYu Xiaohui14 September 2020Sichuan Blue WhalesXinjiang Flying TigersSun MingyangGuangzhou Loong LionsXinjiang Flying TigersBai JieNanjing Monkey KingsZhejiang Golden BullsJiang WenXinjiang Flying TigersZhejiang Lions
Trades +August To Beijing Royal Fighters Li GenTo Shanghai Sharks Gao Shang Zong Zan To Beijing Royal Fighters Hou YifanTo Jiangsu Dragons Xu Mengjun To Liaoning Flying Leopards Zhu Rongzhen (on loan)To Shandong Heroes Gao Shiyan (on loan) Guo Xu (on loan)
Transfers PlayerDate signedNew teamFormer teamRefLiu Yuchen4 September 2020Nanjing Monkey KingsZhejiang Golden BullsLi Muhao9 September 2020Beijing DucksShenzhen AviatorsWang HaoyuNanjing Monkey KingsGuangdong Southern TigersFan Ziming10 September 2020Beijing DucksXinjiang Flying TigersZhao YanmanGuangzhou Loong LionsBeijing DucksYu GangNanjing Monkey KingsSichuan Blue WhalesLiu Yunan12 September 2020Nanjing Monkey KingsXinjiang Flying TigersKelanbaike Makan13 September 2020Shanghai SharksXinjiang Flying TigersSu RuoyuSichuan Blue WhalesZhejiang LionsJeff WuXinjiang Flying TigersShanghai SharksLi Bairun14 September 2020Shenzhen AviatorsNanjing Monkey Kings
Teams
Team Head coach Home city Arena Capacity Ref. Beijing Ducks Yannis Christopoulos Beijing Cadillac Center 17,178 Beijing Royal Fighters Stephon Marbury Beijing Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium 6,500 Fujian Sturgeons Nenad Vučinić 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 Qingdao Eagles Wu Qinglong Qingdao Conson Gymnasium 12,500 Shandong Heroes Gong Xiaobin Jinan Shandong Arena 8,000 Shanghai Sharks Neven Spahija Shanghai Yuanshen Sports Centre Gymnasium 5,091 Shanxi Loongs Pan Jiang Taiyuan Shanxi Sports Centre Gymnasium 8,131 Shenzhen Aviators Qiu Biao Shenzhen Shenzhen Dayun Arena 18,000 Sichuan Blue Whales Zhou Jinli Chengdu Wenjiang Gymnasium 4,500 Tianjin Pioneers Liu Tie 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
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment Shenzhen Aviators Wang Jianjun Mutual consent 6 August 2020 Pre-season Qiu Biao 6 August 2020 Guangzhou Loong Lions Ding Wei Mutual consent 8 August 2020 Guo Shiqiang 8 August 2020 Jiangsu Dragons Memi Bečirovič Mutual consent 19 August 2020 Li Nan 19 August 2020 Nanjing Monkey Kings Cui Wanjun Mutual consent 22 August 2020 Memi Bečirovič 23 August 2020 Beijing Ducks Yannis Christopoulos Mutual consent 13 September 2020 Simone Pianigiani 13 September 2020 Shanghai Sharks Liu Wei Appointed as assistant coach 15 September 2020 Neven Spahija 15 September 2020 Shanxi Loongs Wang Fei Mutual consent 17 September 2020 Ding Wei 18 September 2020 Fujian Sturgeons Zhu Shilong Appointed as assistant coach 29 October 2020 Nenad Vučinić 29 October 2020 Zhejiang Lions Li Chunjiang Sacked 22 December 2020 Wang Bo 22 December 2020 Beijing Ducks Simone Pianigiani Sacked 23 December 2020 Xie Libin 23 December 2020 Beijing Ducks Xie Libin Mutual consent 8 February 2021 12th Yannis Christopoulos 8 February 2021 Shanxi Loongs Ding Wei Mutual consent 19 February 2021 14th Pan Jiang 19 February 2021 Nanjing Monkey Kings Memi Bečirovič Mutual consent 28 February 2021 18th Ma Zhuang (caretaker) 28 February 2021
Draft The 2020 CBA Draft, the sixth edition of the CBA draft, took place on 21 August 2020 in Quanzhou, Fujian. 19 players were selected in the draft.
Player Team 11Shanghai SharksCalifornia State University, Northridge (US NCAA)12Guangzhou Loong LionsPeking University13Tianjin PioneersBryant University (US NCAA)14Sichuan Blue WhalesShantou University15Jiangsu DragonsTsinghua University16Nanjing Monkey KingsXinjiang University17Shenzhen AviatorsHuaqiao University18Shanxi LoongsPeking University110Shandong HeroesBeijing Sport University112Fujian SturgeonsXiamen University114Beijing Royal FightersShanxi University116Nanjing Monkey Kings Beijing Sport University118Liaoning Flying LeopardsFree Agent21Tianjin PioneersChongqing University of Arts and Sciences22Guangzhou Loong LionsFoshan Kung-Fu Boy (NBL)26Nanjing Monkey Kings Shanghai Sharks Youth28Shanxi Loongs Liaoning Flying Leopards Youth214Beijing Royal FightersFree Agent216Nanjing Monkey Kings Hebei Xianglan (NBL)
Foreign players
Import chart This is the full list of international players competing in the CBA during the 2020–21 season.
Team Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Replaced Beijing Ducks Jonathan Gibson Justin Hamilton Jordan McRae - - Beijing Royal Fighters Andrew Harrison Joe Young Ekpe Udoh - Salah Mejri Fujian Sturgeons Trae Golden Andrew Nicholson - - - Guangdong Southern Tigers MarShon Brooks Jason Thompson Sonny Weems - - Guangzhou Loong Lions Isaac Haas Dallas Moore Marreese Speights - - Jiangsu Dragons Dez Wells - - - Devin Williams Jilin Northeast Tigers Dominique Jones - - - - Liaoning Flying Leopards Kyle Fogg O. J. Mayo Jeremy Tyler - Jonathon Simmons Nanjing Monkey Kings Sean Hill Arnett Moultrie - - - Qingdao Eagles Darius Adams Dakari Johnson - - Vladimir Štimac Shandong Heroes Troy Gillenwater Lester Hudson - - Manny Harris Shanghai Sharks Marcus Denmon Jimmer Fredette - - - Shanxi Loongs Jamaal Franklin Ricky Ledo Eric Moreland - - Shenzhen Aviators Askia Booker Kenny Boynton - - - Sichuan Blue Whales Marcus Georges-Hunt Hamed Haddadi Russ Smith - - Tianjin Pioneers Marko Todorović D'Montre Edwards Clarence Trotter III - - Xinjiang Flying Tigers Ian Clark Donatas Motiejūnas - - - Zhejiang Golden Bulls Sylven Landesberg Maurice Ndour Nick Rakocevic - Brandon Paul Zhejiang Lions Kay Felder Miroslav Raduljica - - Wilson Chandler
Regular season
League table # 2020–21 CBA regular season Team 1Guangdong Southern Tigers 52 46 6 .885 2Liaoning Flying Leopards 54 45 9 .833 3Zhejiang Golden Bulls 52 41 11 .788 4Xinjiang Flying Tigers 54 34 20 .630 5Shandong Heroes 54 33 21 .611 6Qingdao Eagles 54 32 22 .593 7Zhejiang Lions 52 30 22 .577 8Shenzhen Aviators 52 29 23 .558 9Beijing Ducks 52 28 24 .538 10Jilin Northeast Tigers 54 28 26 .519 11Sichuan Blue Whales 54 26 26 .500 12Guangzhou Loong Lions 54 25 29 .463 13Beijing Royal Fighters 54 25 29 .463 14Shanghai Sharks 52 22 30 .423 15Shanxi Loongs 52 19 33 .365 16Fujian Sturgeons 52 13 39 .250 17Tianjin Pioneers 54 11 43 .204 18Nanjing Monkey Kings 54 9 45 .167 19Jiangsu Dragons 54 8 46 .148 + 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 19 teams are divided into two groups based on the ranking of the previous season. Each team will play against teams in their group four times and play against other teams twice.
Playoffs
Bracket
First round
(5) Shandong Heroes vs. (12) Guangzhou Loong Lions
(6) Qingdao Eagles vs. (11) Sichuan Blue Whales
(7) Zhejiang Lions vs. (10) Jilin Northeast Tigers
(8) Shenzhen Aviators vs. (9) Beijing Ducks
Quarter-finals
(1) Guangdong Southern Tigers vs. (9) Beijing Ducks
(2) Liaoning Flying Leopards vs. (7) Zhejiang Lions
(3) Zhejiang Golden Bulls vs. (6) Qingdao Eagles
(4) Xinjiang Flying Tigers vs. (5) Shandong Heroes
Semi-finals
(1) Guangdong Southern Tigers vs. (5) Shandong Heroes
(2) Liaoning Flying Leopards vs. (3) Zhejiang Golden Bulls
Finals
(1) Guangdong Southern Tigers vs. (2) Liaoning Flying Leopards
Final standings RankTeam1Guangdong Southern Tigers2Liaoning Flying Leopards3Zhejiang Golden Bulls4Shandong Heroes5Xinjiang Flying Tigers6Qingdao Eagles7Zhejiang Lions8Beijing Ducks9Shenzhen Aviators10Jilin Northeast Tigers11Sichuan Blue Whales12Guangzhou Loong Lions13Beijing Royal Fighters14Shanghai Sharks15Shanxi Loongs16Fujian Sturgeons17Tianjin Pioneers18Nanjing Monkey Kings19Jiangsu Dragons
All-Star Weekend
Rising Stars Challenge
+North Pos. Player Team SG Chen Peidong Shandong Heroes SF He Siyu Tianjin Pioneers SG/PG Hong Zhonghua Qingdao Eagles SG Lin Tingqian Tianjin Pioneers PG/SG Lin Weihan Qingdao Eagles SG Liu Yi Shandong Heroes PF/C Lutubula Xinjiang Flying Tigers SF Qi Lin Xinjiang Flying Tigers PF/C Wang Shaojie Beijing Royal Fighters PF/C Wu Changze Liaoning Flying Leopards SF/PG Zhang Ning Shanxi Loongs SF/PF Zhang Zhenlin Liaoning Flying Leopards Head coach: Wang Han (Jilin Northeast Tigers)