NBA China and the Shanghai Sharks have finalized a multi-year partnership agreement, marking the first time the NBA has established this level of direct cooperation with a Chinese Basketball Association team. Signed on Oct. 10, 2026, during the NBA China Games in Macau, the agreement targets player development, coaching, management exchanges, and joint events.
Macau Agreement Sets New Precedent for CBA Collaboration
The multi-year accord builds directly upon a broader agreement announced in October 2025 between NBA China and the Chinese Basketball Association. That prior pact established pathways for Chinese national teams to train in the United States and gave elite prospects access to NBA development programs. This new deal narrows that national focus onto a single club, the reigning CBA champions, Shanghai Sharks.
With the CBA defending champion Shanghai Sharks, this partnership is an essential component of our long-term commitment to supporting the development of basketball at all levels in China,
said Troy Justice, NBA senior vice president and head of international basketball operations.
Four Pillars Structure the Multi-Year Agreement
The partnership focuses on four distinct operational areas designed to integrate international standards into the Shanghai club. In elite player development, the NBA will coordinate training opportunities and provide resources for promising Sharks players to join international basketball programs.
For events and competition, Shanghai players gain direct access to NBA-operated activities across China and Asia. That competitive bridge was previewed in late August 2026 during the NBA Shanghai Basketball Festival, where the Shanghai Sharks played a two-game series against an NBA G League Select team. It marked the first time a G League side traveled to China for official games against a CBA squad.
Coaching and management make up the remaining two pillars. The Sharks coaching staff will receive development support from international coaches, technical advisors, and trainers. Meanwhile, team executives will travel to the United States for immersive study visits with NBA league offices and franchise operations.
Club Leadership Eyes Long-Term Global Growth
Shanghai Sharks chairman Wang Zhenwei noted that the collaboration offers a pragmatic and complementary framework to elevate the organization. This partnership marks an important step forward in the club’s international development,
Wang said, adding that academy prospects have already utilized NBA China connections to study and train at U.S. basketball-focused high schools.
Since 2009, joint initiatives between NBA China and the Chinese Basketball Association have trained more than 3,500 athletes, coaches, and referees. The new club-level agreement with Shanghai extends that domestic footprint into professional club operations as the Sharks approach their 30th anniversary season.
