Meet the BCL Asia 2024 Teams: Liaoning Flying Leopards

DUBAI (UAE) - It is now time to meet the eight teams competing in the inaugural Basketball Champions League Asia (Asia) with the target of being crowned the champion of champions among Asian basketball clubs.

Here we continue with the  Liaoning Flying Leopards.

Overview

The Liaoning Flying Leopards are the champions of the Chinese Basketball Association. Not only are they the recent champions, they are back-to-back-to-back champions as well, making them the third team in league history to complete a three-peat.

They are also the first team since the Bayi Rockets to have won all of their Finals games across three consecutive titles. The Flying Leopards previously swept Zhejiang Guangsha Lions in 2022 and Zhejiang Golden Bulls in 2023.

The Flying Leopards also dominated the regular season with a 43-9 record. During this three-peat, the Flying Leopards have not lost more than 10 games during the regular season, amassing a combined record of 107-25, best among all teams in the same span.

History

With this title, the Flying Leopards now have the third most titles (4) among CBA franchises after playing in the second-most Finals appearances (12).

They are undeniably one of the best franchises in China basketball.

They are also one of the best Chinese clubs to have played in FIBA club competitions, having played in the Asia Champions Cup - before being rebranded to BCL Asia - six times. Throughout those six appearances, Liaoning won the title once in 1990 and made it to the Final in 1988, 1992, and 1999.

Key Player(s) 

The Flying Leopards were stacked over this past season. Among two players that could take a step forward here at BCL Asia are Cong Mingchen and Yan Shouqi.

In particular, Yan started most of the games he played last season, being the first five on the floor in 32 of 52 games. The 27-year-old guard was once a rising star in the China hoops scene and has now developed into a defensive-minded guard for the Flying Leopards.

Cong was also a starter throughout the season for Liaoning in 11 of his 40 games.

The two combined for double-digit scoring averages in the CBA and are can expect to be key parts of the offense in Dubai.

Upcoming Schedule

9 June 2024 - 18:30 (GMT +4) - vs Al Riyadi Beirut
11 June 2024 - 18:30 (GMT +4) - vs NS Matrix Deers
12 June 2024 - 18:30 (GMT +4) - vs Shabab Al Ahli Dubai 

Meet the other BCL Asia 2024 Teams HERE:

 Shabab Al Ahli
 Shahrdary Gorgan
 Hiroshima Dragonflies
and more to come!

FIBA