League CBA
IBL Team colors red, navy blue, white Founded 2000 | Arena Tianhe Gymnasium Head coach Andrea Mazzon Championships 0 | |
History Shaanxi Gaitianli Kylins
(2000–2010)
Foshan Dralions
(2010–2014)
Foshan Long-Lions
(2014–2016)
Guangzhou Long-Lions
(2016–present) Location Guangzhou, Guangdong, China | ||
The Guangzhou Long-Lions (Simplified Chinese: 广州龙狮, formerly the Shaanxi Gaitianli Kylins) are a professional basketball team which plays in the Chinese Basketball Association, and is based in Guangzhou, Guangdong. In 2010, the Shaanxi Kylins moved from Xi'an, Shaanxi, to Foshan, and renamed themselves the Foshan Dralions.
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The club opted to start rendering its English name as "Long-Lions" rather than the odd portmanteau "Dralions" before the start of the 2014–15 CBA season. A "Long-Lion" or "Dralion" is a mythical creature from ancient Chinese mythology which possesses the attributes of both a Chinese Dragon (pronounced as "long" in Chinese) and a lion.
In 2016, the Foshan Long-Lions moved from Foshan, Guangdong, to Guangzhou, Guangdong, and renamed themselves the Guangzhou Long-Lions.
Playing in China
The team was founded in November 2000 by the Xi'an Dongsheng Group (西安东盛(企业)集团, Pinyin: Xīān Dōngshèng (Qǐyè) Jítuán). In August 2001, they won the "B" league championship, and were "promoted" to the CBA.
A kylin is a type of mythical Chinese creature.
In the 2004–2005 season, the Shaanxi Kylins finished in fifth place in the North Division, and out of the playoffs. In 2005–2006, they finished sixth, and once again out of the playoffs.
Playing in the IBL
The team was scheduled to participate in the 2008 season of the International Basketball League. They were replaced by the Shanxi Brave Dragons.