The new CNBL becomes the league with the fewest teams in any sport in China – only one short of the five-club Chinese Ice Hockey League, which was launched in late July.

Created in 2002, the competition was suspended twice previously in 2012 and 2017 due to lack of funding and exposure.

To make the CNBL more than just a week-long tournament, the CBA will have the same four original teams - namely Beijing, Tianjin, Guangdong and Jiangsu - play 18 rounds of home and away games over seven weeks.

The top two teams after the regular rounds will face off in a best-of-five championship final in late October.