In his rookie season, Li Tianrong was able to average double-digit points and enter the 180 club. Although he hit the rookie wall in his second season, he managed to raise his scoring average back to double digits last season. This season, he has delivered his career-best performance, which has been instrumental in Shanghai's successful campaign. Besides Lofton, the super foreign player, the team's strong showing is also closely related to the impressive performances of a group of local players.
So far this season, Li Tianrong has averaged 15.6 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 31 minutes per game, with shooting percentages of 54.2%, 50.4%, and 76.9%. His three-point shooting percentage leads the league by a significant margin, nearly 4 percentage points higher than the second-placed Floyd. Despite not being able to sign Blackney as hoped, Shanghai has "turned misfortune into blessing" by gaining Li Hongquan and Li Tianrong, known as the "Li Flower Brothers." Compared to the frontline positions where Wilson and Lofton are present, there is only Xue Bu and Hawkins on the guard line, making Li Tianrong's performance even more crucial for Shanghai.
Xue Bu, who has returned for a second stint, has indeed seen a decline in his offensive influence this season, focusing more on organizing and providing defensive support. As for Hawkins, he is even less reliable. Considering Shanghai's current momentum in their northern campaign, bringing in a new small foreign player at this point could disrupt the team chemistry. Therefore, Li Tianrong, as Shanghai's core guard, plays a vital role for the team. This season, seven players on Shanghai have averaged double-digit points, with Li Tianrong's average just 0.1 points less than Wang Zhelin, the team's top local scorer. With the season only halfway through, as long as Li Tianrong remains injury-free, he has a good chance of becoming the team's top local scorer this season and securing an All-Star Game spot.
Although Shanghai has just entered the playoff zone, once they reach the playoffs, their formidable lineup might make them a tough opponent for other teams. For Li Tianrong, if he can seize the opportunity presented by Shanghai's relatively weak position in small foreign players this season and become the team's backcourt core, he will not only play a leading role for a long time but also secure a place in the national team in the future.
Li Tianrong has been included in the national team training roster several times, but considering the crowded guard line in the Chinese men's basketball team, it is understandable that the younger potential players like him do not get immediate heavy use. What he needs to do is continue to refine his skills in the league. Currently, Shanghai's head coach, Lu Wei, places more emphasis on young players than his predecessor, Liu Peng. Besides Li Tianrong, players such as Li Hongquan, Yuan Tangwen, Xie Liyongwei, and Liu Zeping have received ample opportunities to showcase their talents. Among these young players, Li Tianrong, who has experience playing abroad (having played for the New Zealand Breakers in the NBL), appears to be the one with the greatest potential to make a name for himself in the future.