
The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) is the first-tier men's professional basketball league in China. The CBA began play in the 1995–96 season, and each game consists of four 10-minute quarters. The league is made up of 20 teams, each playing 46 games per season. The CBA has grown in popularity, with attendance rising by almost 20% and games being broadcast live on YouTube, Facebook, and the CBA website.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Quarters | 4 |
| Quarter Length | 10 minutes |
| Team Fouls | Reset after each quarter, except overtime |
| Timeouts | 2 per club in the first half, 3 in the second half, 1 in overtime |
| Goaltending | Not permitted |
| Basket Interference | Permitted only if the ball can be swatted off the rim by a defensive player |
| Backcourt Violation | 8 seconds |
| Closely Guarded Violation | 5 seconds if actively defended within 3 feet |
| Personal Foul Limit | 5 personal fouls, including technical fouls |
| Technical Foul | 1 shot plus possession, 2 technical fouls result in ejection and potential suspension |
| Free Throws | 2 shots |
| Number of Teams | 20 |
| Number of Games per Team | 46 |
| Number of Foreign Players per Team | 4 maximum |
| First Non-Chinese Player | Mihail Savinkov of Uzbekistan |
| First American Player | James Hodges |
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What You'll Learn

CBA games have four 10-minute quarters
The Chinese Basketball Association, commonly known as the CBA, is China's first-tier men's professional basketball league. The CBA began play in the 1995–96 season, with the Zhejiang Squirrels becoming the league's inaugural champions. Since its inception, the CBA has grown to become the fastest-growing minor league organisation in the United States.
In terms of gameplay, CBA games are structured into four quarters, with each quarter lasting 10 minutes. This format adheres to the FIBA rules, which the CBA adopted in 2015 to align with international standards and better prepare its athletes for global competition.
The CBA rules and regulations extend beyond just the gameplay format. For instance, each team is allowed to register up to four foreign players per season, with specific guidelines governing the playing time for these international athletes. Additionally, the CBA has introduced initiatives to invest in public affairs, including youth basketball development, educational programs, and environmental protection campaigns.
The CBA season typically consists of 46 games for each team, played across several months. The league also holds an All-Star Weekend between the end of the regular season and the beginning of the playoffs, which include quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals.
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Non-Asian players can play six quarters per game
The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) is the first-tier men's professional basketball league in China. The CBA began play in the 1995–96 season, and the league is currently regulated by the Chinese Basketball Management Center. The CBA should not be confused with the National Basketball League (NBL), which is a professional minor league, or with the Chinese Basketball Association (organisation), which represents the country in matters involving the sport's governing body, FIBA.
With the exception of the Bayi Rockets, every team in the CBA can register up to two non-Asian foreign players. The worst five teams from the previous season can register a third Asian foreign player, who must have a valid passport from a registered FIBA Asia country and cannot be a dual citizen.
Non-Asian players are allowed to play a combined six quarters per game. For example, if one non-Asian player played the entire first quarter and another non-Asian player played the entire second quarter, that would amount to two quarters in total. Against the Bayi Rockets, teams are only allowed to play their non-Asian players for five combined quarters, and only one non-Asian player can play in the fourth quarter.
The CBA has a strong following, with fans showing a keen appetite for better-quality basketball. League attendance was up almost 20% in one year, and fans rarely left their seats, even during breaks in play. The CBA is the fastest-growing minor league organisation in the United States, with nearly 600 former NCAA players participating in league competition.
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Teams can register up to four foreign players
The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) is the top men's professional basketball league in China. The CBA began play in the 1995–96 season, with Mihail Savinkov of Uzbekistan becoming the league's first non-Chinese player. In the following season, James Hodges became one of the first Americans to play in the CBA, signing with the Liaoning Hunters.
Each CBA team can register up to four foreign players per season. During the regular season, teams can field a maximum of four foreign players, with each player limited to one quarter. The bottom four teams from the previous season are allowed to play a maximum of five foreign players, with a limit of two quarters for two of those players.
There is an exception to the rule for games against the Bayi Rockets. In these matches, teams can only play a maximum of five quarters with foreign players and only one foreign player is allowed on the court in the fourth quarter. The Bayi Rockets, due to their affiliation with the People's Liberation Army, are not permitted to have foreign players.
During the preseason, teams are allowed to make as many changes as they want to their foreign players. However, once the season starts, each team is limited to two replacements. An additional replacement is allowed during the All-Star break.
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The CBA began in the 1995-96 season
The Chinese Basketball Association, commonly known as the CBA, is China's first-tier men's professional basketball league. The CBA began play in the 1995-96 season. The league should not be confused with the Chinese Basketball Association (organisation), which was founded in June 1956 and represents the country in matters involving the sport's governing body, FIBA. Basketball in China is currently regulated by the Chinese Basketball Management Center.
The CBA's first season featured the Zhejiang Squirrels, who signed the league's first non-Chinese player, Mihail Savinkov of Uzbekistan. The following season, in 1996-97, James Hodges became one of the first Americans to play in the CBA, signing for the Liaoning Hunters. This signing helped pave the way for many more imports from the United States to follow in the ensuing years.
The CBA has grown and evolved since its inception, with the league now featuring foreign players from the United States, Europe, and Australia. As of early 2024, over 100 basketball professionals from these regions were working in the CBA. The league has also transitioned from using NBA rules to FIBA rules in 2015, bringing it in line with international standards.
The CBA season structure typically consists of a regular season followed by playoffs. The regular season features a set number of games for each team, such as 46 games in the 2019-20 season. The CBA also holds an All-Star Weekend between the regular season and the playoffs. The playoffs follow a best-of-five format for the first round and semi-finals, with the finals being a best-of-seven series.
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The CBA is China's first-tier men's basketball league
The Chinese Basketball Association, often abbreviated as the CBA, is the first-tier men's professional basketball league in China. The CBA began play in the 1995–96 season, and the league is widely regarded as the preeminent professional men's basketball league in Asia. The CBA should not be confused with the Chinese Basketball Association (organisation), which was founded in June 1956 and represents the country in matters involving the sport's governing body, FIBA. Basketball in China is currently regulated by the Chinese Basketball Management Center.
The CBA features a number of notable rules and regulations. For example, each team can register up to four foreign players per season, with a maximum of one foreign player per quarter. The CBA season usually consists of around 46 games, with each game featuring four 10-minute quarters. The CBA also features an All-Star Weekend, held between the end of the regular season and the beginning of the playoffs.
The CBA has a number of awards that are presented to players at the end of each season. These include the CBA Finals MVP award, which is given to the most outstanding player in the championship series, and the CBA Best Defender award, which is presented to the league's most skilled and efficient defender. The CBA also presents awards for the Domestic MVP and International MVP, recognising the best players in the CBA who are from China and from other countries, respectively.
The CBA has also had several corporate sponsors throughout its history. For example, in 1999–2000 and 2000–2001, it was known as the Hilton League, and in 2001–2002 and 2002–2003, it was the Motorola League. This sponsorship practice was discontinued at the start of the 2004–2005 season.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 4 quarters in CBA basketball, with each quarter lasting 10 minutes.
Yes, there are breaks during the game, such as timeouts, which can only be called by a coach. Each club is allowed 2 timeouts in the first half and 3 timeouts in the second half.
Each team can register up to four foreign players per season, with a maximum of one foreign player per quarter.
The CBA began play during the 1995-96 season.
There are 46 games played in a CBA season.











































