On the morning of July 7 at 10:30 AM, the Chinese Men’s Basketball team will face the Sacramento Kings in the NBA Summer League. After a mediocre performance in previous exhibition games, anticipation is high for their showing in this match.
The Chinese Men’s Basketball team returns to the NBA Summer League after a five-year absence, seeking to improve their skills through high-level warm-up matches, having missed out on the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. In 2019, they last participated in the Summer League, securing one victory against the then Charlotte Hornets while suffering four losses. This year, they have three games scheduled, against the Kings, Hornets, and Spurs.
Following Coach Joe’s departure, Guo Shiqiang has taken over as interim head coach. The roster has seen updates with several young players joining, while veterans like Zhou Qi, Wang Zhelin, Zhao Jiwei, and Guo Ailun are not part of the current training camp. In recent exhibition games, the team’s performance was average, losing to the Macao Black Bears in a domestically televised game and subsequently falling to Australia in two consecutive matches, with margins of 33 and 20 points respectively.
Against Australia, the Chinese squad exposed some weaknesses, struggling when faced with increased defensive pressure, often seeing the scoreline quickly slip away. Participating in the NBA Summer League, though the opponents won’t field their strongest lineups, lacking active NBA players and primarily consisting of rookies and two-way contract players, these young athletes are highly motivated to showcase their talents, making the competition more challenging. The Chinese team must mentally prepare for a stiffer test.
Nonetheless, there have been bright spots in previous matches, such as Li Sanqing’s double-digit scoring streak in four consecutive games, demonstrating significant improvement from his training in the US. Yang Hanxin also impressed in the second exhibition game against Australia. For Yang, who didn’t participate in the NBA Draft this year, this provides an opportunity to compete against NBA-caliber players and gain insights into the league, laying the groundwork for future draft aspirations.
The outcome of friendly matches is secondary; the crucial aspect is identifying issues, making targeted improvements, and raising the team’s overall level. Facing the high caliber of the NBA Summer League, the Chinese team must summon the courage to engage fiercely, displaying their best abilities. Only through genuine competition can they genuinely elevate their game.
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