Street King Basketball Operating Company Reportedly Shuts Down; Employees Seek Arbitration

In a jarring turn of events for the Chinese basketball community, the operating company behind the “Street King” (Lurenwang) basketball brand has reportedly ceased operations, leaving employees to discover the closure upon their return to work. The situation gained widespread attention after a former employee shared her experience of returning from maternity leave only to find the office completely abandoned.

The incident centers on a woman identified as Ms. Tang, who joined the organization in February 2023. According to reports, Ms. Tang signed her employment contract with Shanghai Kuhuang Technology Co., Ltd., a firm controlled by Shanghai Lurenwang Information Technology Co., Ltd. After taking personal leave in July of last year during her pregnancy and beginning her formal maternity leave in October, she was scheduled to return to her position on April 3, 2026.

As her return date approached in late March, Ms. Tang attempted to coordinate her comeback via DingTalk, the corporate communication platform. After receiving no response from company leadership, she reached out to the human resources department. The HR representative informed her that all employees had already resigned from the company.

When Ms. Tang inquired about severance or compensation, the HR contact reportedly stated that no one had received compensation. Ms. Tang has stated that she cannot accept a voluntary termination of her contract under these circumstances.

The scale of the closure became apparent on April 2, when Ms. Tang visited the company’s office. She found the doors locked and the premises stripped of all equipment, noting that computers and materials had been entirely removed.

Corporate History and Structural Shifts

The “Street King” brand, known as a prominent domestic basketball open tournament, has a history tied to one of China’s largest sports communities. The IP was originally created by Hupu in 2016. In 2020, the brand transitioned away from Hupu to operate as an independent entity.

The brand is officially managed by Shanghai Lurenwang Information Technology Co., Ltd., though employment contracts for some staff, including Ms. Tang, were handled through the subsidiary Shanghai Kuhuang Technology Co., Ltd.

Signs of Decline and Employee Impact

The sudden disappearance of the company may have been preceded by a period of instability. Another former employee, identified by the pseudonym Xiao Zhang, who joined the company in October 2021, reported that the organization began laying off players in June of the previous year. Xiao Zhang, who worked in a role supporting the players, was eventually laid off himself following those initial cuts.

The current situation has left several former staff members seeking legal recourse to recover owed wages and economic compensation.

Legal Recourse and Official Response

On April 7, officials from the Shanghai Hongkou District Labor Security Supervision Brigade addressed the situation. The agency stated that in cases where a unit has closed its business and employees believe their labor relationship has been terminated, they are entitled to apply for labor mediation.

According to the brigade, if mediation efforts fail, employees can apply for labor arbitration to claim their legal economic compensation.

The next confirmed step in this matter is the ongoing application process for labor arbitration by the affected employees to secure their economic compensation. We will continue to monitor updates from the Shanghai labor authorities regarding the status of the operating company.

Do you have experience with labor disputes in the sports industry? Share your thoughts in the comments below.