The Hong Kong Bulls are expected to know their fate regarding playing in the top division of the Chinese basketball league before the final match of its current playoff season on June 14.
The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) is looking to merge its league with the second-tier National Basketball League (NBL), which will mean “the NBL will cease to exist”.
The Bulls, who won their third consecutive NBL title in April, are now anxiously waiting to see what happens from three possible outcomes.
First, the Chinese association could declare the 2026-27 season as the first promotion and relegation season, meaning the Hong Kong-based Bulls will fight in the lower league for one more season to earn their top status.
A more drastic approach could see Sichuan Fenggu Liquor, which lost all 42 games this season, lose its place in the top league. Sichuan was playing only domestic players due to the owner’s financial problems, and the team’s losing streak would have reached 47 games if the end of the 2024-25 season was included.
