When it comes to the strongest domestic players in recent seasons, many people may have their own opinions. Some fans might choose Hu Jinqiu, as he has been particularly stable over the past few seasons with a long-term average of over 20 points per game; others might choose Zhao Jiwei, who is an FMVP and helped Liaoning Men's Basketball win three consecutive championships. Of course, everyone has their own perspective, but relatively speaking, those who have truly faced off against them might have a clearer understanding. Recently, a CBA super foreign aid introduced his own choice for the strongest domestic player.
Recently, Dominique Jones, the small foreign aid of Jilin Men's Basketball, was interviewed by the media. When asked who he considered the strongest domestic player, Jones gave his answer. Surprisingly, he did not choose Zhao Jiwei, Zhang Zhenlin, or Hu Jinqiu, but instead believed that Guo Ailun was the strongest domestic player in his heart. Jones stated: "I have witnessed the growth of many Chinese players. Since I play as a guard, I would say that the strongest Chinese player is also a guard, and I believe it is Guo Ailun."
Furthermore, Jones added: Although the current strongest (guard) players are Zhao Jiwei and Zhao Rui, five years ago it was definitely Guo Ailun. He had a great career and achieved many remarkable accomplishments. I've known Guo Ailun since the 13-14 season when I played for Liaoning Men's Basketball, and he was still very young at that time. I watched him grow step by step, and he has already achieved a lot. Additionally, Jones expressed that Guo Ailun should not pay attention to the "haters," as whether the media praises or criticizes is part of their job. Players should focus on their own responsibilities.
As a guard, Jones believes that Guo Ailun being the strongest domestic player in recent years is not without reason. Guo Ailun has played for Liaoning for 14 years, averaging over 20 points per game for four seasons, with an astonishingly high shooting percentage that exceeded 50% in several seasons. This is a world apart from the domestic guards who typically maintain a shooting percentage around 40%. It's important to note that a star player's crucial ability is to handle possession effectively. Guo Ailun's ability to average over 20 points while maintaining a 50% shooting percentage puts him far ahead of other guards. Having been both an opponent and a teammate of Guo Ailun, Jones' evaluation clearly indicates that Guo Ailun's abilities are fully recognized by him.
Jones' answer may surprise many people, but I want to say that although I am not a fan of Guo Ailun and he has never won an MVP or FMVP, after watching basketball for so many years, there is no doubt about Guo Ailun's abilities. Many people might say that he only scored one point in international competitions and performed similarly against European and American teams, but these do not diminish his outstanding performances in the CBA. The selection criteria for CBA's MVP and FMVP awards are not particularly accurate, and not awarding them to Guo Ailun is actually a loss for these awards themselves.