When the news came that Guangsha had signed Boban Marjanovic, many fans expressed that the CBA was about to reach its grand finale. And now, Boban is on his way to Hangzhou, where he will represent Guangsha Men's Basketball Team in the CBA league.
But does the CBA really come to an end because of Boban's arrival?
It cannot be denied that Boban has a significant influence among Chinese basketball fans. After all, he used to be the tallest player in the NBA, standing at 2.24 meters tall and playing for the Spurs, earning the affection of head coach Gregg Popovich.
However, in this era dominated by small-ball tactics, pure centers like Boban have gradually lost their status. After leaving the Spurs, he moved around to other NBA teams without securing consistent playing time.
Now, at 36 years old, Boban's athletic ability and speed can no longer keep up with European and American leagues. Coming to the CBA seems like a good choice. Just look at Liu Chuanxing, who stands at 2.2 meters tall and struggled in both the Australian NBL and even the Japanese league, but upon returning to the CBA, he appears to be on track to becoming the top center, which shows how slow the overall offensive and defensive pace of the CBA is.
However, Boban is already 36 years old, and considering Guangsha coach Wang Bo's use of players, it is likely that he will overuse Boban. So the question arises, can Boban's physical condition really last until the end of the season?
More importantly, Boban's mid-season addition, along with his unique playing style and physique, means that the entire Guangsha team must revolve around him tactically, slowing down and setting up positions is inevitable.
This will undoubtedly affect the rhythm of the core perimeter player Sun Minghui. Sun Minghui will no longer have as many shooting opportunities as before. With a giant like Boban in the paint, Guangsha's first offensive option will inevitably fall on Boban.
Additionally, Hu Jinqiu will also be affected by Boban's arrival. After setting up positions, Hu Jinqiu will move to the power forward position, seeking scoring opportunities in a relatively confined space, which clearly contradicts his attempts over the past two seasons to become a spatial-type interior player and expand his shooting range.
In conclusion, what changes will Boban bring to Guangsha remains to be seen. Whether he can make Guangsha the strongest team is still a big question mark.