CBA has once again seen an unusual incident, as a young player from the Guangzhou team was caught sneaking his girlfriend into the team's hotel room and subsequently received severe punishment, including a three-game suspension and demotion to the reserve team. The bizarre method he used to bring his girlfriend into the hotel involved hiding her inside a suitcase.
The official announcement from the Guangzhou men's basketball team stated that they have imposed a three-game suspension on guard Zhang Xingliang, effective immediately, and he will also be demoted to the reserve team. The incident began when Zhang Xingliang brought his girlfriend back to the dormitory in a suitcase before a game, staying up all night to help her prepare for her make-up classes and even posted about it on social media. This action drew intense criticism from netizens in the comment section, to which Zhang responded aggressively, telling critics to "get lost" if they didn't like it. He later deleted the related social media posts.
Zhang Xingliang is only 19 years old and was promoted to the first team last season, becoming a key rotational player this season with an average of 6 points and 2 assists per game. This season, the Guangzhou team underwent significant changes, parting ways with their mainstays such as Chen Yingjun and Zhu Mingzhen, giving opportunities to a group of young players, including Zhang Xingliang. However, many fans are dissatisfied with Guangzhou's strategy, as players like Tong Jiajun and Zhang Xingliang are playing as starters, while Liu Yancheng, who could only play for five minutes last season, has become a core player. The team's frontline is left with only Li Xiangbo, who stands at 2 meters tall. The two highest-paid players, Guo Ailun and Jiao Boqiao, are frequently injured.
Other weaker teams at least have normal foreign players who can contribute significantly, with balanced lineups featuring both interior and perimeter players. Guangzhou's foreign players, however, are considered low-tier acquisitions picked up by the Black Bear team for only $100,000 each.
Zhang Xingliang, as a young player, has not lived up to expectations. After being given a chance without public suspension for his first mistake, he repeated the offense during the team's 11-game losing streak, seemingly believing himself to be an indispensable star. He took advantage of a great opportunity by bringing his girlfriend into the hotel the night before a match and openly posting about it on social media. With the team already on a ten-game losing streak and morale at a low point, his actions have truly disappointed Guangzhou fans.
Players like him, at 19 years old, would struggle to find a place in the rotation on other teams. His defense often fails against opposing small foreign players, allowing them to easily pass by him, and he frequently leaves gaps in the top of the arc defense, resulting in open three-point shots for the opposition. Additionally, he has missed both free throws on occasion. Despite having a talented coach from the NBA, the team's performance falls short due to the players' lack of strength and occasional failure to grasp tactical intentions.
Guangzhou has acted decisively this time, not indulging the young players and imposing immediate suspensions for their mistakes, providing a valuable lesson for these young athletes.