BEIJING (China) - After three years full of highlights and memorable moments in Singapore, the FIBA Intercontinental Cup is turning a new page, as the event moves to Beijing, China.
The event tips off on September 22, giving us just enough time to introduce the six participating teams.
They will be divided in two groups of three teams. The top two teams will advance to the Semi-Finals (1A vs. 2B, 1B vs. 2A), while the bottom-placed teams from the two groups battle for fifth in the event.
The FIBA Intercontinental Cup will crown its new champion on September 27.
Last three events
Year | Champion | 2nd place | 3rd place | 4th place | 5th place | 6th place |
2023 | Sesi Franca (BRA) | Telekom Baskets Bonn (GER) | Zhejiang Golden Bulls (CHN) | Al Ahly (EGY) | NBA G League Ignite (USA) | Al Manama (BRN) |
2024 | Unicaja (ESP) | NBA G League United (USA) | Tasmania JackJumpers (AUS) | Al Riyadi (LBN) | Petro de Luanda (ANG) | Quimsa (ARG) |
2025 | Unicaja (ESP) | NBA G League United (USA) | Alahli SC (LBA) | Flamengo (BRA) | Illawarra Hawks (AUS) | Utsunomiya Brex (JPN) |
How did they get here?
With the Chinese Basketball Association growing into one of the biggest leagues in the world, it was only fitting to have the champions of the CBA at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Beijing.
Established in 1996, the Shanghai Sharks quickly became an international phenomenon, followed all over the world in the late 1990s and early 2000s, as they had a certain Yao Ming in the middle. The legendary center spent five years with the team, winning the MVP of the Season in 2001, and leading the Sharks to their first ever CBA title in 2002.
His contributions are probably best described by the fact that nobody will ever wear number 15 in this club, as it's hanging from the rafters to honor the center whose only other club are the Houston Rockets.
As for Shanghai, they've had their ups and downs in the post-Yao era, but they had to wait a long 24 years before winning the CBA again. In 2026, they were top of the standings in the Regular Season with a 38-4 record, five wins clear of everybody else, including a perfect 21-0 at home.
In the Quarter-Finals, they swept the Shandong Heroes, while the Beijing Ducks only managed to win one of their four games in the Semi-Finals series.
The Finals brought on another tough challenge in Guangsha, but the Sharks stormed to an impressive 4-1 series win to capture the title for the second time in club's history.
They don't want to stop there - the Intercontinental Cup offers them a chance to earn worldwide followers once again.
Who are they facing in Beijing?
The CBA champions will skip the first day of action, before facing the Basketball Africa League winners, the RSSB Tigers on September 23, at 15:30 local time.
A day later, they have the same tip-off time, taking on the Basketball Champions League Europe winners Rytas Vilnius in the battle for one of the two top spots in the group.
Who are the players to watch?
Coach Wei Lu was the one who called the plays as they won the CBA, and he will have his go-to guy back in the lineup at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup.
The 30-year-old Brandon Goodwin is entering his third season in China, second with the Sharks after spending the 2024-25 campaign with Shanxi Brave.
When you look at 15.9 points and 7.1 assists per game last season, you begin to realize why he's their go-to guy, but wait until we show you his run in the Finals, when it mattered most: he had a points-assists double-double in three of the five games in the series, while averaging 29.2 points and 9.0 assists, shooting above 50 percent in four of the five games.
The other guard to keep an eye on is Hongquan Li, a three-point specialist who went 14-of-24 from deep in the Finals.
The middle belongs to the Chinese national team players Zhelin Wang and Zhenlin Zhang. Wang is a 32-year-old seven-footer with experience from the Olympics and World Cups, with his best game in 2026 coming in Game 5 of the Finals, sealing the deal with 29 points and 14 rebounds to win the title.
Zhang is 27, he is a regular in the national team during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, fitting in perfectly with the team last season, after making a name for himself in China with the Liaoning Leopards.
Another name you need to know about is Tianrong Li. A club legend, entering his six straight season with the Sharks, Li has averaged 10.8 points or more in four of the last five season, including the last one, when he put up 11.8 points per game done on an absurd 58.7 percent from beyond the arc on four attempts per game.
Full roster
Schedule and tickets
You can find the full schedule here. Tickets are available here.