1996–97 Chinese Basketball Association season

The 1996–97 CBA season was the second season of the Chinese Basketball Association. The season was held from 27 November 1996 to 30 March 1997.

1996–97 Chinese Basketball Association season
League	CBA
Season	1996–97
Duration	27 November 1996–26 February 1997 (regular season) 2–30 March 1997 (playoffs) 23–30 March 1997 (finals)
Number of teams	12
Regular season
Season champions	Bayi Rockets
Season MVP	Hu Weidong (Jiangsu Dragons)
Relegated	Zhejiang Squirrels Jinan Army
Finals
Champions	Bayi Rockets (2nd title)
Runners-up	Liaoning Hunters
Semifinalists	Guangdong Southern Tigers Shandong Flaming Bulls
Awards
CBA Coach of the Year	Wang Fei (Bayi Rockets) Li Ge (Liaoning Hunters)
← 1995–96 1997–98 →

The Shanghai Sharks and Sichuan Pandas were promoted from the Second Division.^[1][2]

Teams

Team	Head coach	City	Arena	Capacity
Air Force	Ma Lianzhong
Bayi Rockets	Wang Fei
Beijing Ducks	Yuan Chao
Guangdong Southern Tigers	Wang Lifa
Jiangsu Dragons	Xia Hongfa
Jinan Army	Zhang Bin
Liaoning Hunters	Li Ge
Shandong Flaming Bulls	Ye Peng
Shanghai Sharks	Li Qiuping
Shenyang Army	Xuan Chengbin
Sichuan Pandas	Yang Ming
Zhejiang Squirrels	Pan Jianping

Team changes

To CBA Teams promoted from Second Division Shanghai Sharks Sichuan Pandas

From CBA Team relegated to Second Division Nanjing Army Vanguard/Police

Regular season

League table

Rank	1996–97 CBA regular season
	Team	W	L	Pts	Pct.	Tiebreaker
1	Bayi Rockets	19	3	41	86.4%
2	Liaoning Hunters	18	4	40	81.8%
3	Shandong Flaming Bulls	14	8	36	63.6%
4	Guangdong Southern Tigers	13	9	35	59.1%
5	Shanghai Sharks	13	9	35	59.1%
6	Jiangsu Dragons	12	10	34	54.5%
7	Air Force	9	13	31	40.9%
8	Shenyang Army	9	13	31	40.9%
9	Beijing Ducks	8	14	30	36.4%
10	Zhejiang Squirrels	7	15	29	31.8%
11	Sichuan Pandas	7	15	29	31.8%
12	Jinan Army	3	19	25	13.6%

Key to colors

	Qualification for playoffs
	Qualification for relegation playoffs

Results

12 teams played against each other teams twice.

Home \ Away	AFO	BYR	BJD	GDS	JSD	JNA	LNH	SDB	SHS	SYA	SCP	ZJS
Air Force		75–100	71–75	96–90	83–88	89–69	73–95	73–64	86–68	81–77	85–83	69–79
Bayi Rockets	105–64		102–85	108–82	107–69	104–82	80–92	89–76	90–88	98–83	115–83	105–60
Beijing Ducks	70–77	82–114		96–92	70–75	89–64	85–95	95–74	72–91	63–68	96–74	74–49
Guangdong Southern Tigers	95–76	100–90	78–63		97–82	108–75	78–84	89–94	66–77	86–83	81–76	77–58
Jiangsu Dragons	85–89	83–98	83–77	83–85		108–94	101–113	95–80	73–72	85–73	100–84	90–69
Jinan Army	64–85	90–127	77–81	68–76	98–103		85–105	77–82	81–85	79–70	81–73	69–64
Liaoning Hunters	97–76	81–98	85–71	90–89	85–67	96–68		73–79	97–69	94–83	87–77	77–50
Shandong Flaming Bulls	92–73	79–109	92–74	69–82	93–78	85–70	80–95		98–72	95–76	76–66	88–70
Shanghai Sharks	82–56	61–75	65–70	68–85	90–73	80–73	68–64	65–62		68–47	89–76	68–53
Shenyang Army	84–81	92–83	70–63	86–56	72–76	82–74	80–106	68–78	74–68		97–82	71–59
Sichuan Pandas	67–65	68–77	67–62	75–67	92–99	83–73	96–89	71–91	71–78	74–65		78–71
Zhejiang Squirrels	74–53	70–83	70–58	98–101	80–77	77–63	76–90	69–72	49–59	57–54	80–64

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Legend: Blue = home team win; Red = away team win.
Matches with lighter background shading were decided after overtime.

Playoffs

The top 8 teams in the regular season advanced to the playoffs.^[2]

Bracket

	Fifth place game							5–8th classification semi-finals							Quarter-finals							Semi-finals							Finals
															1	Bayi Rockets	128	110	2
															8	Shenyang Army	78	69	0
								8	Shenyang Army	92	72	1 (164)										1	Bayi Rockets	109	119	2
								5	Shanghai Sharks	91	94	1 (185)										4	Guangdong Southern Tigers	81	84	0
															4	Guangdong Southern Tigers	84	87	2
															5	Shanghai Sharks	74	82	0
	5	Shanghai Sharks	90	68	1 (158)																								1	Bayi Rockets	100	102	2
	6	Jiangsu Dragons	73	96	1 (169)																								2	Liaoning Hunters	68	66	0
															3	Shandong Flaming Bulls	102	77	2
															6	Jiangsu Dragons	72	74	0
	Seventh place game							6	Jiangsu Dragons	121	105	2										3	Shandong Flaming Bulls	70	77	0			Third place game
								7	Air Force	118	99	0										2	Liaoning Hunters	93	78	2
	8	Shenyang Army	99	75	1 (174)										2	Liaoning Hunters	80	85	2										4	Guangdong Southern Tigers	87	78	1 (165)
	7	Air Force	94	97	1 (191)										7	Air Force	55	77	0										3	Shandong Flaming Bulls	69	79	1 (148)

Quarter-finals

(1) Bayi Rockets vs. (8) Shenyang Army

2 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Bayi Rockets	128–78	Shenyang Army
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

5 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Shenyang Army	69–110	Bayi Rockets
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

(2) Liaoning Hunters vs. (7) Air Force

2 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Liaoning Hunters	80–55	Air Force
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

5 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Air Force	77–85	Liaoning Hunters
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

(3) Shandong Flaming Bulls vs. (6) Jiangsu Dragons

2 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Shandong Flaming Bulls	102–72	Jiangsu Dragons
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

5 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Jiangsu Dragons	74–77	Shandong Flaming Bulls
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

(4) Guangdong Southern Tigers vs. (5) Shanghai Sharks

2 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Guangdong Southern Tigers	84–74	Shanghai Sharks
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

5 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Shanghai Sharks	82–87	Guangdong Southern Tigers
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

Semi-finals

(1) Bayi Rockets vs. (4) Guangdong Southern Tigers

9 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Bayi Rockets	109–81	Guangdong Southern Tigers
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

16 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Guangdong Southern Tigers	84–119	Bayi Rockets
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

(2) Liaoning Hunters vs. (3) Shandong Flaming Bulls

12 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Liaoning Hunters	93–70	Shandong Flaming Bulls
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

16 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Shandong Flaming Bulls	77–78	Liaoning Hunters
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

5–8th classification semi-finals

(5) Shanghai Sharks vs. (8) Shenyang Army

9 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Shenyang Army	92–91	Shanghai Sharks
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

16 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Shanghai Sharks	94–72	Shenyang Army
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

(6) Jiangsu Dragons vs. (7)Air Force

12 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Air Force	118–121	Jiangsu Dragons
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

16 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Jiangsu Dragons	105–99	Air Force
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

Finals

(1) Bayi Rockets vs. (2) Liaoning Hunters

23 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Bayi Rockets	100–68	Liaoning Hunters
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

30 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Liaoning Hunters	66–102	Bayi Rockets
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

Third place game

(3) Shandong Flaming Bulls vs. (4) Guangdong Southern Tigers

23 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Guangdong Southern Tigers	87–69	Shandong Flaming Bulls
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

30 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Shandong Flaming Bulls	79–78	Guangdong Southern Tigers
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

Fifth place game

(5) Shanghai Sharks vs. (6) Jiangsu Dragons

19 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Shanghai Sharks	90–73	Jiangsu Dragons
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

26 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Jiangsu Dragons	96–68	Shanghai Sharks
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

Seventh place game

(7) Air Force vs. (8) Shenyang Army

19 March 1997 19:30

[ Boxscore]

Shenyang Army	99–94	Air Force
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

26 March 1997 19:30

[ Boxscore]

Air Force	97–75	Shenyang Army
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

Relegation playoffs

The bottom 4 teams advanced to relegation playoffs. The Zhejiang Squirrels and Jinan Army were relegated to the Second Division after the relegation playoffs.

League table

Rank	Relegation playoffs
	Team	W	L	Pts	Pct.	Tiebreaker
9	Beijing Ducks	5	1	11	83.3%
10	Sichuan Pandas	4	2	10	66.7%
11	Zhejiang Squirrels	3	3	9	50.0%
12	Jinan Army	0	6	6	0.0%

Key to colors

Relegation to Second Division

Games

9 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Beijing Ducks	92–82	Jinan Army
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

9 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Zhejiang Squirrels	71–67	Sichuan Pandas
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

12 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Jinan Army	75–92	Beijing Ducks
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

12 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Sichuan Pandas	74–64	Zhejiang Squirrels
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

19 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Beijing Ducks	71–64	Sichuan Pandas
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

19 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Jinan Army	77–90	Zhejiang Squirrels
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

23 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Sichuan Pandas	76–70	Beijing Ducks
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

23 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Zhejiang Squirrels	85–71	Jinan Army
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

26 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Beijing Ducks	95–69	Zhejiang Squirrels
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

26 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Sichuan Pandas	81–69	Jinan Army
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

30 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Zhejiang Squirrels	66–80	Beijing Ducks
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

30 March 1997 19:30

Boxscore

Jinan Army	79–85	Sichuan Pandas
Scoring by quarter: –, –, –, –

All-Star Weekend

The 1997 CBA All-Star Game was played on April 5, 1997, in Shanghai.

The South All-Stars defeated the North All-Stars 98-84. Hu Weidong from the Jiangsu Dragons was named MVP of the All-Star Game.

James Hodges from the Liaoning Hunters won the Slam Dunk Contest, and Saulius Štombergas from the Shanghai Sharks won the Three-Point Shootout.^[1]

Statistics

Team statistic leaders

Category	Team	Statistic^[3]
Points per game	Bayi Rockets	98.0
Rebounds per game	Liaoning Hunters Zhejiang Squirrels	31.0
Assists per game	Liaoning Hunters	14.5
Steals per game	Bayi Rockets	12.0
Blocks per game	Shanghai Sharks	4.9
Turnovers per game	Sichuan Pandas	14.7
Fouls per game	Air Force	20.0
FG%	Shandong Flaming Bulls	57.0%
FT%	Liaoning Hunters	70.4%
3P%	Liaoning Hunters	43.8%

Awards

These are the award winners for the 1996-97 CBA regular season.^[1][4]

Annual awards

1996–97 CBA awards

Award	Recipient(s)
CBA Most Valuable Player	Hu Weidong (Jiangsu Dragons)
CBA Coach of the Year	Wang Fei (Bayi Rockets) Li Ge (Liaoning Hunters)

Notes

References

1. 新浪体育 (2005-12-07). "96-97赛季CBA-冠名希尔顿 胡卫东当选MVP". from the original on 21 February 2024. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
2. 搜狐体育. "Data Source". Retrieved 2011-11-25.
3. "球队 - 基础数据". cbaleague.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
4. "荣誉榜". cbaleague.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024.

External links

• CBA Official Website
• CBA Official Data Website