Zhejiang's CBA title marks 20 years of perseverance

As Zhu Junlong's clutch three-pointer sealed the game, the outcome was beyond doubt.

When the final buzzer sounded, players of the Zhejiang Lions huddled in an emotional embrace. Captain Hu Jinqiu, Sun Minghui and Zhu himself shed tears of joy.

Hu Jinqiu (C) of Zhejiang Lions celebrates with the trophy during the awarding ceremony after the game 6 between Beijing Ducks and Zhejiang Lions at the 2024-2025 season Finals of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Beijing, capital of China, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Kaiyan)

Back in the locker room, head coach Wang Bo, his voice trembling with emotion, roared, "We are the champions!"

After two heartbreaking finals losses--both sweeps by the Liaoning Flying Leopards--Zhejiang finally secured their first Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) title, becoming the eighth team to lift the trophy in league history.

"Over the past few seasons, we've always had regrets. Every time we reflect, we feel it's a pity. This year, we hope everyone will give their all and not carry these regrets into this season or the next," Hu said at the team's 2024-2025 season kickoff ceremony.

Following a quarterfinal exit last season, the Lions retooled their roster. In the offseason, they signed four new players--Barry Brown, Nathan Knight, Josh Carlton, and Lin Bingsheng.

Zhejiang surged to the top of the standings early in the campaign and secured the regular-season title with three games to spare, thanks to consistent performances from their core.

Hu appeared in 44 regular-season games, averaging 19.1 points and 8.3 rebounds, leading the team to a 39-7 record. The 28-year-old center earned his second regular-season MVP award since 2021-2022, anchoring both ends of the floor.

Sun Minghui was named to the All-CBA First Team and earned his first Defensive Player of the Year award, leading all domestic players with 2.6 steals per game. He also topped domestic players in assists, averaging 9.5 per game.

Brown's 28 points and 5.9 assists per game earned him a spot on the Best International Player Team, while Wang Bo collected his second Coach of the Year award since 2021-2022.

Despite their regular-season dominance, injuries loomed--an all-too-familiar challenge. Sun fractured a bone late in the season, clouding their playoff hopes.

Fortunately, Sun recovered in time for the best-of-five quarterfinal series against the Qingdao Eagles.

Trailing 2-1 and facing elimination after an 85-83 Game 3 loss, Zhejiang clawed back in Game 4 behind late free throws from Hu and Sun to force a decider. Back in Hangzhou, the Lions edged Qingdao once again to reach the semifinals.

"We pushed ourselves to the brink, but in these last two games, we pulled ourselves back through our own efforts," head coach Wang Bo recalled.

Awaiting them was familiar foe Liaoning, who had beaten Zhejiang in all six of their previous playoff meetings.

This time, Zhejiang turned the tide. They swept the defending champions 3-0, advancing to the finals for the third time in club history.

After the semifinal triumph, Hu reflected on his bond with Sun. "We've fought side by side for 13 years, encouraging each other. We hope to give our all in the finals and leave no regrets," he said.

In the finals, Zhejiang faced another CBA giant--the Beijing Ducks.

Though Zhejiang had swept Beijing in the regular season, both wins were narrow, and historically Beijing had eliminated Zhejiang from the playoffs in three consecutive seasons from 2011-2012 to 2013-2014.

The Lions' struggles in the finals continued in Game 1, losing 101-87 at home. Hu scored 26, but Brown had just 15, and Sun struggled, going 0-for-9 from beyond the arc and finishing with five points. Beijing's Eugene German (24 points) and Chen Yingjun (23) led the way, aided by Zhou Qi and Fan Ziming.

Still, Zhejiang remained undeterred.

"This is just the first game and we have the ability to fight back," Wang Bo said after the loss.

Game 2 saw Beijing take an eight-point lead in the second quarter before Sun exploded for 16 points in the period to flip the game and even the series.

"I stayed 200% focused from start to finish, from defense to offense, turning pressure into motivation," Sun said.

Zhejiang then stormed into Beijing and won both road games--including a 33-point blowout--to take a 3-1 series lead.

But Game 5 tested their nerves. Zhai Xiaochuan's late free throws kept Beijing alive and forced Game 6.

Back in the capital, Zhejiang stayed composed. They led for most of the night and sealed the title late in the fourth with back-to-back threes from Lin Bingsheng and Zhu Junlong.

With a 4-2 series win, the Capital Indoor Stadium witnessed the crowning of a new CBA champion.

Twenty years of perseverance had culminated in this breakthrough--a radiant triumph and a fresh chapter in CBA history.