Liaoning Flying Leopards

Updated on Dec 26, 2023

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League CBA Arena Capacity 4,500 Head coach Guo Shiqiang		Arena Benxi Gymnasium Team colors Purple, Gold, Black Founded 1995

History Liaoning Hunters (1995–2008) Liaoning Dinosaurs (2008–2011) Liaoning Flying Leopards (2011–present) Location Mingshan District, Benxi, Liaoning, China

The Liaoning Flying Leopards (simplified Chinese: 辽宁药都本溪飞豹; traditional Chinese: 遼寧藥都本溪飛豹; pinyin: liáo níng yào dōu běn xī fēi bào) (also known as the Liaoning Scale Industry Flying Leopards or simply Liaoning Scale Industry) are a Chinese professional basketball team based in Mingshan District, Benxi, Liaoning, which plays in the Northern Division of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). Some home games are also held in nearby Benxi. The Liaoning Scale Industry Group is the club's corporate sponsor while its mascot is a flying leopard. In 2011, Scale Industry took over sponsorship from the Liaoning Panpan Group Co., Ltd. (辽宁盼盼集团有限公司).

History

During the 2004–05 CBA season, Liaoning finished in first place in the North Division, but lost in the Quarter-Finals of the CBA Playoffs to the South Division's Yunnan Bulls. The team would then go on to place seventh and fourth, respectively, over the next two years, before advancing to the CBA Finals following the 2007–08 CBA season. Although Liaoning eventually lost to the Guangdong Southern Tigers, the club did win the fourth game of the series. This was the team's first victory in the CBA Finals, despite multiple appearances. After finishing in fifth place in the 2009–10 CBA season, Liaoning would miss both the 2010–11 and the 2011–12 CBA playoffs.

Before the 2012–13 CBA season began, the roster received a massive upheaval. Liaoning made multiple changes including the signings of Josh Akognon and Alexander Johnson. Meanwhile, veteran Bian Qiang retired, and many local players were either transferred or loaned out to other CBA teams. One of the most significant player transactions that occurred was the decision to let go of Zhang Qingpeng. It would later be revealed that this move was made in the interest of developing sharpshooter Guo Ailun. On December 2, 2012, the Flying Leopards beat the Tianjin Gold Lions 100-81. This was Liaoning's sixth straight home victory against Tianjin.

The Flying Leopards have since become regular contenders for the CBA title again, powered by such players as Guo, big man Han Dejun, and multi-time CBA International MVP Lester Hudson. Liaoning lost to the Beijing Ducks in six games in the 2015 CBA Finals, and to Sichuan Blue Whales in five games in the 2016 CBA Finals. A brawl broke between players from the visiting Liaoning Flying Leopards and fans of the Sichuan Blue Whales after Game 3 of the Chinese Basketball Association 2016 Finals as described in Chuan-Liao Event.