Original title: Chinese basketball may start a new wave of overseas study
Han Xu, a Chinese women’s basketball player who has arrived in New York, USA, is preparing for the new WNBA season according to his own plan – personal training from April 11th to April 16th, and joining the New York Liberty team on April 17th. pre-camp. In the new season team roster officially announced by the New York Liberty, the name of the Chinese women’s basketball center appeared again.
This is the first time after two years that Chinese players have appeared on the WNBA arena again. In 2019, Han Xu was selected by the New York Liberty and signed a 3+1 rookie contract. In his first season with the Liberty (2019 season), Han Xu represented the team in a total of 18 games. Averaged 7.9 minutes, 3.0 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.2 blocks.
Almost at the same time, another Chinese female basketball player, Li Yueru, went to the United States to play in the United States. Due to the postponement of the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, she will go to the WNBA Chicago Sky to play, and there will be no more obstacles.
“It’s definitely a good thing to be able to go out and play,” Jiao Jian, a former Chinese national basketball player, said in an interview with a reporter from China Youth Daily and China Youth Daily. There is talent, but when you go to a different environment, you will find that it is not the case at all. When we went to the United States to train, the athletic talent of those American players is really unimaginable if you don’t experience it yourself.”
On April 5, 2001, after two years of waiting, Wang Zhizhi finally made his debut in the NBA, which opened the door for Chinese and even Asian players to the world‘s highest level basketball league. What happened in the next few years does not need to be repeated. The Chinese men’s basketball team finally reached the quarter-finals in the Beijing Olympics, and Chinese basketball has ushered in an unprecedented period of prosperity.
But after the Rio Olympics, from Yi Jianlian’s failure to qualify for the Lakers’ new season’s lineup, until Han Xu’s landing in the WNBA in 2019, Chinese basketball has been out of high-level leagues for a long time. In the meantime, the Chinese men’s basketball team has its ups and downs in Asia, it is difficult to make a breakthrough in the World Series, and the Chinese women’s basketball team has also experienced a transition between old and new and a difficult climbing period.
“The goals of the men’s basketball team and the women’s basketball team are different now. Everyone hopes that the women’s basketball team can win a medal at the Paris Olympics, while the men’s basketball team hopes to rebound as soon as possible and return to the stage of the World Series.” Jiao Jian said.
At this time, Chinese basketball is expected to start a new wave of overseas study. In addition to women’s basketball girls Li Yueru and Han Xu, Chinese men’s basketball player Zhang Zhenlin has already applied to the Liaoning men’s basketball team to go to the United States. Zhejiang men’s basketball star Yu Jiahao is currently training in the United States, while Beijing, who has been playing in the NBA Development League last season, has Shougang star Zeng Fanbo has accepted the invitation to joint trial training and is ready to attack the NBA.
Of course, there are many uncertainties in this. Taking Zeng Fanbo as an example, his performance and tactical status in the G League are actually not good for him to participate in the NBA draft. Although the joint trial training in mid-May can allow more teams to understand his talent more objectively, it is not good for him. Moving up the draft list probably won’t help much. According to the predictions of American media, Zeng Fanbo is likely to be selected in the second round, and at that time, he will also face more uncertainty.
As the hero of the Liaoning men’s basketball team winning the CBA championship, Zhang Zhenlin dared to step out of his comfort zone to challenge a higher level of the league. His courage is particularly commendable, but the Liaoning men’s basketball team’s statement about his overseas study——”The Liaoning team is very good for Zhang Zhenlin to pursue his NBA dream. I support it. If Zhang Zhenlin can play in the main game, then it must be a good thing. But if you go to other leagues, it will not make much sense.” In fact, it also draws a line for Zhang Zhenlin.
Now there is news that Zhang Zhenlin may get a two-way contract, that is, “shuttle” between the NBA and the NBA Development League, which obviously does not meet the Liaoning club’s conditions for Zhang Zhenlin to study abroad. Of course, from the perspective of the Liaoning Basketball Club, such an attitude is understandable. After all, the team is now strong, and it is very likely to create a dynasty of its own in the domestic basketball arena.
On April 26, 2012, Yi Jianlian ended the last regular season of his NBA career. He scored 4 points and 1 rebound in 7 minutes of playing time. The last time Han Xu appeared on the WNBA arena dates back to September 9, 2019. She played for 1 minute and only scored 1 rebound. In this trip to the United States, more competition experience, more scientific diet and more systematic training may help her perform better.
“Thank you for the support of the Chinese Basketball Association for helping me realize my desire to compete in the WNBA. I will live up to everyone’s expectations, continue to learn advanced concepts and technologies, constantly improve myself, and set higher standards for myself. In the future, I will do my best to serve Chinese women. The basketball will impact better results. As long as the country needs it, I will definitely do my best.” Han Xu’s statement in an interview was very simple and down-to-earth, because whether it is the Chinese women’s basketball team or the Chinese men’s basketball team, the goal is to Good results in the international arena have contributed to the development of Chinese basketball. (Reporter Yang Fen)