CBA's Shanghai hires Li Chunjiang as head coach

SHANGHAI -- CBA side Shanghai Sharks announced on Thursday that it has appointed former championship coach Li Chunjiang as its new head coach.

"After the management's prudent consideration and consultation with Li Chunjiang concerning a long-term development target, the club has appointed Li as the new head coach," read a Shanghai club statement posted on its social media account.

Li joined Guangdong as a player-assistant coach in 1993. He has been a head coach since 2001, leading Guangdong to seven CBA championships in 12 years.

He was appointed as the head coach of the Zhejiang Lions on April 14, 2013, helping the team grow from a side on the brink of the playoffs to a potential title-winning side in less than five years.

The Shanghai side said players will gather in early June to kick off their summer training, and the club will fully respect and support Li in setting up his coaching group for the new season.

"Wish everything goes well with coach Li's work in the club," said the statement, adding the club has terminated its cooperation with former head coach Neven Spahija following friendly communication.