The past, present, and future of Chinese Players in the NBL
August 4, 2022
Liu Chuanxing
- Nationality: CHN
- Date of Birth: 30/07/99
- Place of Birth: Puyang (China)
- Position: CTR
- Height (CM): 225
- Weight (KG): 130
- Junior Assoc:
- College: None
- NBL DEBUT: 3/12/21
- AGE AT DEBUT: 22
- LAST NBL GAME: 23/04/22
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 22
- NBL History: Brisbane 2022
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Liu Chuanxing was born in Puyang (China).
NBL EXPERIENCE
Liu Chuanxing made his NBL debut with the Brisbane Bullets at 22 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.
Brisbane entered the 2021/22 season looking to return to the playoffs after finishing sixth with an 18-18 record the previous year. Andrej Lemanis departed after five seasons as head coach, and while the Bullets considered promoting assistant coach and former player CJ Bruton, former Sydney Kings assistant James Duncan was appointed as his replacement.
Vic Law (to Perth), Matt Hodgson (to Perth), Harry Froling (to Illawarra), Callum Dalton (to Melbourne) and BJ Johnson (to Orlando) departed, while Lamar Patterson returned and Tyrell Harrison and Jason Cadee signed two-year deals. Duncan added Robert Franks (via Lakeland Magic), Isaiah Moss (via Otago), Jack Salt (via New Zealand), Deng Deng (via Illawarra), Next Star Tom Digbeu (via BC Prienai), Liu Chuanxing (via Qingdao Eagles) and development player Taane Samuel.
Liu joined Brisbane under the Special Restricted Player provision on a two-year deal and was listed as a development player for his first season. Having represented China during the Olympic Qualifying and Asia Cup qualifying tournaments, Liu said, “I am extremely happy to join the Brisbane Bullets and have the chance to play in one of the highest level leagues in the world.”
Brisbane opened the season against league newcomer Tasmania at MyState Bank Arena on December 3, where Liu (0 points and 1 rebound) played four minutes off the bench, while Sobey (24 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) and Franks (19 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks) led the Bullets, but Adams (20 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) helped the JackJumpers win their first NBL game 83-74 in overtime.
Liu (2.9 points across 23 games) came off the bench in every appearance, averaged six minutes and shot 55.6 per cent from the field. He was included on Brisbane’s game sheet for all 28 games but did not enter five, with no injury or illness reported during the season.
Liu (6 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block) received one of his longest opportunities against South East Melbourne at Nissan Arena on January 15, outscoring fellow Chinese centre Zhou Qi (2 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks) as Brisbane defeated the Phoenix 100-84. Sobey (18 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) and Franks (17 points, 10 rebounds, and 1 steal) led the Bullets, while Creek (19 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) was South East Melbourne’s best. More than two million people live-streamed the game, making it one of the most viewed games in NBL history.
Liu’s best game came against Melbourne at Nissan Arena on January 26, where he finished with 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist in 13 minutes while Harrison was sidelined. Patterson (21 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Sobey (18 points and 3 assists) led Brisbane, but White (14 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks) sparked United’s fourth-quarter comeback as Melbourne won 84-82.
Brisbane reached the halfway point with a 5-9 record before injuries further disrupted Duncan’s rotation. Franks (18.2 points and 8.9 rebounds across 27 games) finished fifth in the NBL in scoring, while Patterson (16.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists across 27 games), Sobey (16.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists across 12 games), Cadee (10.4 points and 5 assists across 28 games), Drmic (7.4 points and 3.3 rebounds across 26 games), Deng (6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds across 28 games) and Harrison (6.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks across 17 games) were the other major contributors. Sobey missed 16 games with a knee injury and Harrison missed 11 with an ongoing elbow injury, while Brisbane finished as the league’s worst defensive team at 89.3 points conceded per game and led the NBL with 14.6 turnovers per game.
Franks received the Leroy Loggins MVP Award and Members’ MVP, Salt (2.9 points across 21 games) was named Players’ Player, Deng received Defensive Player of the Year and Liu won Brisbane’s Young Player of the Year award for his commitment and work ethic.
Following the season, Brisbane declined the option on the second year of Liu’s contract, with Liu (to Bay Area Dragons) leaving after one year with the Bullets.
Brisbane closed the season with only seven players able to take the floor against Cairns at Cairns Convention Centre on April 23, where Liu (3 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) played 12 minutes, while Franks (30 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) and Krebs (20 points and 3 rebounds) led the Bullets. McCall (42 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block) produced the first 40-point, 10-assist game of the NBL’s 40-minute era as Cairns won 112-98 and Brisbane finished eighth with a 10-18 record.
Liu Chuanxing played one season in the NBL. He averaged 2.9 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.2 assists in 23 NBL games.
HIGHLIGHTS:
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 22 | Brisbane | 10-18 (8) | 23 | 137.1 | 67 | 40 | 5 | 22 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 25 | 25 | 45 | 56% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 25 | 44 | 57% | 51% | 56% | 10 | Totals | 23 | 137 | 67 | 40 | 5 | 22 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 25 | 25 | 45 | 55.6% | 0 | 1 | 0.0% | 25 | 44 | 56.8% | 52% | 56% | 10 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 22 | Brisbane | 10-18 (8) | 23 | 6.0 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 56% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.1 | 1.9 | 57% | 51% | 56% | 10 | Total | 23 | 6.0 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 55.6% | 0.0 | 0.0% | 0.0 | 56.8% | 52% | 56% | 10 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 10 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
|---|
FIBA EXPERIENCE
Liu made his international debut for China at the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers. In a game against Chinese Taipei, he logged 16 points and nine rebounds.
The following month, Liu suited up for the national team at the 2020 FIBA Mens Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, where he only played in one game.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- China - Qingdao Eagles (2018–2021), Shanxi Loongs (2024–present) | Hong Kong - Bay Area Dragons (2022–2023), Hong Kong Bulls (2024) | Japan - Altiri Chiba (2023–2024)
Chuanxing joined Qingdao Eagles for the 2018–19 Chinese Basketball Association season, playing his first professional season in China, and he appeared in four games while averaging 0.5 points, 0.5 rebounds, and 0.3 blocks.
Liu remained with Qingdao for the 2019–20 CBA season and averaged 7.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks across 43 games while starting 28 times.
Liu stayed with Qingdao for the 2020–21 CBA season and averaged 9.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 51 games while shooting 66.8 percent from the field.
Liu joined the Bay Area Dragons for the 2022–23 season with the Hong Kong-based club, and he averaged 6.9 points and 6.5 rebounds across 26 games in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup and EASL Champions Week.
Liu joined Altiri Chiba for the 2023–24 B2 League season in Japan after signing in November 2023, and the move was noted as making him the tallest player in B.League history.
Liu signed with the Hong Kong Bulls for the 2024 National Basketball League season in China in May 2024 as the club prepared for a season that began on 15 June 2024.
Liu returned to the Chinese Basketball Association with the Shanxi Loongs for the 2024–25 season after his Hong Kong and Japan stints.
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