Shenzhen Aviators
Shenzen
v
Wikipedia - Shenzhen Leopards
The Shenzhen New Century Liebao Club, also known as Shenzhen Marco Polo or Shenzhen Leopards (previously Shenzhen Aviators) are a Chinese professional basketball team which plays in the Southern Division of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). New Century is the club's corporate sponsor.
The team is based in Longgang District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, and plays its home games at the Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre (SUSC).
History
The club was founded in 2003 as Dongguan New Century Leopards and was initially located in Dongguan, Guangdong. After twelve seasons, the team relocated to nearby Shenzhen in 2015. Success came early in their existence for the Leopards, as they were the runners-up in the 2004 Chinese Basketball League (CBL) championship, and were promoted to the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) for the 2005–06 season.
In its first season in the CBA in 2005–06, Dongguan finished in seventh and last place in the South Division, and was out of the playoffs. The team would soon battle its way to respectability, however, becoming somewhat regular participants in the CBA's postseason over the ensuing years.
In July 2011, NBA point guard Jeremy Lin played for the team at the ABA Club Championship, and was named the MVP of the tournament.
On December 26, 2013, Bobby Brown scored a franchise-record 74 points in a game against Sichuan Blue Whales.
Shenzhen Aviatorid asutati 2003. aastal ja nende koduväljak on Shenzhen Dayun Arena. Meeskonna omanik on Shenzhen Yixian Group.
Aviatorid on võitnud CBA meistritiitli üks kord, 2019. aastal. Nad on jõudnud ka CBA finaali kahel muul korral, 2015. ja 2018. aastal.
Meeskonna praegune peatreener on Qiu Biao. Tuntumate mängijate hulka kuuluvad Yi Jianlian, Shen Zijie ja Booker Woodfox.
Shenzheni Aviatorid on populaarne meeskond Hiinas ja neil on suur fännidebaas. Nad on tuntud oma agressiivse mängustiili ja tugeva koduväljakueelise eest.