The 'Shanghai Sharks' meme is a popular sports-related roast used primarily within the NBA community to mock players who are underperforming. The joke suggests that a player has played so poorly they are destined to be cut from the league and forced to play in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) for the Shanghai Sharks. It gained massive traction on social media platforms like Twitter and TikTok, often accompanied by the phrase 'Get ready to learn Chinese, buddy.' While the joke has roots in actual transactions of former NBA stars moving to China, it has evolved into a universal symbol for any massive failure or professional downfall.