CBA 2025-26 Season: Top 10 Teams Ranking & Standings Analysis

By Daniel Richardson | May 23, 2026 | Updated: 14:30 UTC

The 2025-26 CBA season has entered its final stretch, with the top 10 teams now locked in playoff contention. As the regular season approaches its conclusion, Liaoning Flying Leopards, Guangdong Southern Tigers, and Beijing Ducks maintain their dominance at the summit, while mid-tier teams battle for the final playoff spots. Here’s the complete ranking, tactical breakdown, and what it means for the postseason.

Current CBA Top 10 Standings (As of May 23, 2026)

Rank	Team	W-L	Win %	GB	Playoff Status
1	Liaoning Flying Leopards	38-4	.905	–	Top Seed
2	Guangdong Southern Tigers	36-6	.857	2.0	2nd Seed
3	Beijing Ducks	34-8	.810	4.0	3rd Seed
4	Shanghai Sharks	32-10	.762	6.0	4th Seed
5	Zhejiang Golden Bulls	30-12	.714	8.0	5th Seed
6	Jiangsu Dragons	28-14	.667	10.0	6th Seed
7	Shandong Heroes	26-16	.619	12.0	7th Seed
8	Xinjiang Flying Tigers	25-17	.595	13.0	8th Seed
9	Sichuan Blue Whales	24-18	.571	14.0	Wild Card
10	Nanjing Monkeys	23-19	.548	15.0	Wild Card

Key Note: The CBA playoff format remains unchanged from previous seasons, with the top 8 teams receiving byes in the first round and the 9th-10th seeded teams playing a single-elimination Wild Card match. The top 3 seeds receive home-court advantage throughout the postseason.

Team-by-Team Breakdown: What’s Driving the Rankings

1. Liaoning Flying Leopards (.905 Win %) – The Unstoppable Machine

Liaoning continues its dominance under head coach Yao Ming, who has transformed the franchise into China’s most consistent powerhouse. Their success stems from:

Elite Defense: Ranked 1st in CBA in defensive rating (95.3 points allowed per 100 possessions), led by center Zhou Qi (2.4 blocks/game) and point guard Huang Shenglong (1.8 steals/game).
Balanced Scoring: No single player carries the load—top 5 scorers average between 14-18 PPG, with Cui Yongxi (22.1 PPG) leading a rotation that includes three players averaging double-digits.
Depth: Their bench outscores the bottom 5 teams in the league (42.1 PPG vs. 38.9).

2. Guangdong Southern Tigers (.857 Win %) – The Foreign Star Factory

Guangdong’s success hinges on its NBA-level roster construction, featuring:

Kevin Gamble

24.3

4.8

Jarell Martin

18.7

8.2

Huang Hao

12.4

7.9

Tactical Notes:

Runs a preseason-proven “small-ball” lineup (Gamble/Martin/Huang) that stretches defenses.
Coach Du Feng has mastered the “7-second rule” transition offense, averaging 38% of points in swift breaks.
Weakness: Struggles in back-to-backs (2-4 record in such matchups this season).

3. Beijing Ducks (.810 Win %) – The Coaching Masterclass

Under Jianuo Li, Beijing has perfected the “system over stars” approach:

Leads CBA in three-point shooting (42.3%), with Wang Zhelin (18.9 PPG, 45% 3PT) as the cornerstone.
Employs a zone-heavy defense that forces opponents into mid-range attempts (48% of shots vs. League average 42%).
Key Development: Young core (average age 24.3) has matured—Zhu Fucheng (20.1 PPG) and Zhang Ning (12.4 PPG, 6.8 APG) are both in their primes.

Playoff Implications: Who’s Hot and Who’s Fading?

Teams on Fire (Momentum Shifts)

Shanghai Sharks (4th Seed): 12-2 in their last 14 games, with Andrew Sullivan (26.8 PPG in May) leading a resurgence. Their defense has tightened (now 3rd in CBA).
Jiangsu Dragons (6th Seed): Sun Yue (22.4 PPG) is carrying a struggling team, but their bench (18.9 PPG) is the worst in the top 10.

Teams in Danger of Slipping

Zhejiang Golden Bulls (5th Seed): Injuries to Derrick Brown (missed 8 games) and Hu Jinqiu (suspended 3 games) have exposed their lack of depth.
Xinjiang Flying Tigers (8th Seed): Their foreign duo (Darius Miller & Marcus Paige) has cooled off (combined -8.2 PPG in May vs. +12.4 in April).

Wild Card Watch: Sichuan Blue Whales (9th) and Nanjing Monkeys (10th) will face off in a potential first-round playoff preview. Sichuan’s foreign big man (Chris Jones) is averaging a double-double (18.2 PPG, 12.4 RPG), while Nanjing’s young core (Zhou Qiang, 19.8 PPG) is the most exciting prospect in the league.

Key Storylines to Watch

1. Can Guangdong’s Foreign Stars Sustain the Pace?

Guangdong’s reliance on Kevin Gamble and Jarell Martin has raised questions about their ability to maintain production in a longer playoff series. Historically, CBA teams with top-3 foreign players often see a 10-15% drop in efficiency in the postseason due to fatigue and increased defensive attention.

2. Will Liaoning’s Defense Hold Up?

Liaoning’s defense is unsustainable by NBA standards—they allow just 95.3 points per 100 possessions, a mark that would rank 1st in the NBA. However, their opponents are averaging only 98.7 points per 100 possessions in the regular season, suggesting Liaoning may be over-performing defensively. The question is whether this can translate to playoff pressure.

3. The Rise of China’s Young Stars

Three players under 25 are averaging 20+ PPG:

Zhou Qiang (Nanjing, 22) – 19.8 PPG, 6.2 RPG
Zhu Fucheng (Beijing, 24) – 20.1 PPG, 3.8 APG
Hu Jinqiu (Zhejiang, 23) – 18.7 PPG, 5.9 APG

These players represent the future of Chinese basketball and will be the focal point if their teams advance deep into the playoffs.

What’s Next: Playoff Picture and Schedule

Regular Season Finale

The CBA regular season concludes on June 10, 2026, with the top 8 teams securing their playoff seeds. The remaining 12 teams will compete for the final two Wild Card spots in a series of crucial matchups:

June 5-7: Sichuan vs. Fujian (9th seed race)
June 6-8: Nanjing vs. Heilongjiang (10th seed race)

Playoff Schedule Highlights

Wild Card Round: June 12-14 (Single-elimination)
Quarterfinals: June 16-28 (Best-of-5)
Semifinals: July 1-15 (Best-of-5)
CBA Finals: July 18-30 (Best-of-7)

International Attention: The CBA Finals will be broadcast live on ESPN+, DAZN, and Tencent Sports, with the champion earning an automatic invitation to the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers. This marks the first time a CBA champion has secured direct qualification for the tournament.

FAQ: CBA Playoffs 2026

Q: How are the playoff seeds determined?

A: The top 8 teams in the regular season standings receive playoff berths. The top 3 seeds (1st-3rd) receive home-court advantage throughout the postseason. The 4th-8th seeds play in a traditional bracket, while the 9th and 10th seeds compete in a single Wild Card game.

Q: What’s the format for the playoffs?

A: The playoffs are single-elimination except for the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals, which are best-of-5 series. The Wild Card is a single game.

Q: Which teams have the best chance to upset the top seeds?

A: Based on recent form, Shanghai Sharks (4th) and Jiangsu Dragons (6th) have the best shot at upsetting the top 3. Both teams have strong foreign players and home-court advantage in potential matchups.

Q: Are there any injury concerns heading into the playoffs?

A: Key absences include:

Derrick Brown (Zhejiang) – Missed 8 games with a knee injury. status unknown for playoffs.
Huang Hao (Guangdong) – Played through a high-ankle sprain but is questionable for the postseason.
Wang Zhelin (Beijing) – Suffered a thumb sprain but is expected to return for the playoffs.

How to Follow the CBA Playoffs

Stay updated with official sources:

Official CBA Website: www.cbal.com.cn (for schedules, stats, and live updates)
Broadcast Partners: ESPN+, DAZN, Tencent Sports (for English-language coverage)
Social Media: Follow @CBAOfficial on Twitter/X for real-time alerts.

Join the conversation: What team do you think will upset the top seeds? Share your predictions in the comments below.

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