Beijing Jinyu Ducks (北京金隅鸭) or Beijing Ducks or Beijing Jinyu are an Chinese professional basketball team in the North Division of the Chinese Basketball Association, based in Beijing. They were formerly known as the Beijing Shougang Ducks (北京首钢) or Beijing Shougang; the name change was likely due to a change of corporate sponsorship. They should not be confused with the Beijing Olympians, which is a different team was founded in 1955.
During at least part of the 2003–2004 season, it seems they were known as Beijing Wanfeng Aote (北京万丰奥特); again, this seems to have had something to do with corporate sponsorship.
The team's corporate sponsor is presumably Beijing Jinyu Group Co., Ltd. (北京金隅集团有限责任公司), the largest construction material conglomerate in China.
In the 2004–2005 season, the Beijing Ducks finished in second place in the North Division, but lost in the quarter-finals to the South Division's Bayi Rockets.
Notable players include Mengke Bateer and former NBA All-Stars Steve Francis and Stephon Marbury, the latter currently playing for the Ducks.
In 2008, the team visited the United States, training at Marquette University and the Milwaukee School of Engineering in Wisconsin, as well as visiting Philadelphia, Madison, WI and Eugene, OR.
The Ducks started out the 2012 season with a 13 game win streak, and eventually finished 2nd in the regular season. The team made it to their first ever CBA Finals match-up thanks to the play of former NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury. They have won their first CBA Title with a score of 4-1 against the Guangdong Southern Tigers. Beijing Jinyu is the first team ever in the CBA that has won the title without any previous Playoffs Finals' experience. It is also the 4th team ever in the CBA that has a Playoff Champion title.
Read more about Beijing Ducks: History, Current Roster, Notable Players
Famous quotes containing the word ducks:
“The only ones who are really grateful for the war are the wild ducks, such a lot of them in the marshes of the Rhone and so peaceful ... because all the shot-guns have been taken away completely taken away and nobody can shoot with them nobody at all and the wild ducks are very content. They act as of they had never been shot at, never, it is so easy to form old habits again, so very easy.”
—Gertrude Stein (1874–1946)