Shanxi Brave Dragons | |
---|---|
League | CBA |
Founded | 2001 |
History |
Henan Dragons (2001–2006) Shanxi Dragons (2006–2007) Shanxi Brave Dragons (2007–present) |
Arena | Riverside Sports Arena |
Capacity | 5,331 |
Location | Taiyuan, Shanxi, China |
Team colors | White, Orange, Black |
Head coach | Hsu Chin-tse |
Ownership | Shanxi Fenjiu Company |
Championships | None |
The Shanxi Fenjiu Brave Dragons (山西汾酒猛龙) or Shanxi Fenjiu or Shanxi Brave Dragons are a professional basketball team based in Taiyuan, Shanxi, China, which plays in the North Division of the Chinese Basketball Association. The Shanxi Fenjiu Company is the club's corporate sponsor, while its mascot is a brave dragon.
Originally known as the Henan Renhe Dragons (河南仁和) due to corporate sponsorship by the Henan Renhe Group (河南仁和集团), the team rebranded as a result of an agreement signed with the Henan Jiyuan Iron & Steel Group (河南济源钢铁集团) in early November, just before the CBA's 2004–05 regular season began (jigang is an abbreviation for jiyuan gangtie or Jiyuan Iron & Steel).
In conjunction with this change -- the club moved from its original home city of Zhengzhou to Jiyuan -- in the middle of its first season. From 2004–2006 they were known as the Henan Jigang Dragons (河南济钢猛龙) or Henan Jigang or Henan Dragons, and were based in both Jiyuan and Luoyang, Henan.
During the 2004–05 CBA season, the team's first in the league, the Henan Dragons finished in seventh and last place in the CBA's North Division and out of the playoffs. In the 2005–06 CBA season they suffered the same fate yet again.
Before the 2006–07 CBA season, the team headed to Taiyuan, and changed its name to the Shanxi Yujun Dragons or Shanxi Yujun or Shanxi Dragons. They signed with a new sponsor the following year, and became known as the Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons, but the club has fared little better on the court since its relocation.
In January 2010, the Brave Dragons signed former NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury. He only stayed with Shanxi through the end of the 2009–10 CBA season, before leaving for Foshan, and eventually Beijing.