Chinese Basketball Association: Professional Era and Market Growth (1995–2015)

1. Inaugural CBA season begins in China

   Dec 10, 1995Labels: Chinese Basketball, 12 teams

   • 1995 96 season
   • CBA overview
   • China org cn

2. First recorded foreign player competes in CBA

   Dec 10, 1995Labels: foreign players, CBA

   • CBA overview

3. Bayi Rockets win the first CBA title

   Apr 7, 1996Labels: Bayi Rockets

   • 1995 96 season

4. Shanghai Sharks win first championship with Yao Ming

   Apr 19, 2002Labels: Shanghai Sharks, Yao Ming

   • People cn 2002
   • China org cn

5. Yao Ming selected first overall in NBA Draft

   Jun 27, 2002Labels: Yao Ming, NBA Draft

   • China org cn

6. CBA announces major reform package for 2004–05

   Apr 27, 2004Labels: China Basketball

   • People cn 2004

7. Promotion and relegation abolished; NBL rebranded

   Nov 14, 2004Labels: NBL, promotion abolished

   • 2004 05 season
   • People cn 2004

8. Infront begins CBA commercial-rights partnership

   Jan 1, 2005Labels: Infront Sports

   • SportBusiness 2012

9. League rebrands as “professional league” in Chinese

   Nov 20, 2005Labels: league rebrand

   • 2005 06 season

10. Season shortened ahead of 2008 Beijing Olympics

    Oct 27, 2007Labels: 2008 Olympics, season scheduling

    • 2007 08 season

11. Foreign-player minutes limited to six quarters per game

    Nov 27, 2009Labels: foreign-player rule

    • China Daily 2009
    • 2009 10 season

12. Beijing Ducks win first CBA championship

    Mar 30, 2012Labels: Beijing Ducks, Stephon Marbury

    • China Daily 2012
    • 2012 playoffs

13. Infront partnership extended through 2017

    Sep 6, 2012Labels: Infront Sports

    • SportBusiness 2012
    • iSportConnect 2012

14. CBA expands to 20 teams for 2014–15

    Nov 1, 2014Labels: league expansion, 20 teams

    • 2014 15 season
    • Infront 2015

15. Beijing wins 2015 finals as viewership reaches record

    Mar 22, 2015Labels: Beijing Ducks, viewership record

    • 2014 15 season
    • Infront 2015