The CBA season has progressed to this point, and only now have we discovered four local players capable of playing tough battles. Let's see who they are?
First: Wang Ruize (Qingdao Team / Avg. 40.9 minutes)
Wang Ruize, 29 years old, stands at 1.99 meters tall and plays as a forward for Qingdao Team, serving as their core player. In this season's regular season, he played in 22 games with an average playing time of 40.8 minutes, ranking first in the league. During this period, he averaged 17.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, with a shooting percentage of 44.5%. Selected in the second round, fifth overall in 2019, he has become increasingly outstanding, with comprehensive skills, excellent offensive and defensive capabilities on the wing, and strong performance in critical moments. His average playing time truly demonstrates his "iron man" qualities.
Second: Xu Jie (Guangdong / Avg. 36.3 minutes)
Xu Jie, 24 years old, stands at 1.79 meters tall and plays as a guard for the team. This season, he played in 27 regular-season games, averaging 36.2 minutes (ranked 13th in the league), scoring 15.9 points, grabbing 3.6 rebounds, and dishing out 7.9 assists, setting a new personal career high in assists. Not only does he have offensive capabilities, but he can also connect the team's offense and drive his teammates to score. During Hu Mingxuan's absence, Xu Jie took on more responsibilities and performed at a "small foreign aid" level. For example, in Guangdong's narrow 120-111 victory over Tianjin, he played for 43 minutes, shooting 7-for-18 for 16 points and 12 assists, with a plus-minus of +9, demonstrating his importance to the team, and he is very dedicated and focused on the court.
Third: Zhang Ning (Shanxi Team / Avg. 30.3 minutes)
Zhang Ning, 27 years old, stands at 1.93 meters tall and plays as a guard for the team. In this season's 26 regular-season games, he averaged 30.4 minutes (ranked 48th in the league), scoring 15.9 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and dishing out 2.7 assists, with a shooting percentage of 46.5%. It should be noted that Shanxi Team has achieved remarkable results this season, ranking second in the league with a record of 21 wins and 6 losses, surpassing strong teams like Xinjiang and Liaoning. This is not only due to the performances of foreign players Goodwin and DiLoya but also thanks to the contributions of local players like Zhang Ning and Yuan Shuai. Zhang Ning dares to fight on the court, with a tough playing style, and in many games' crucial fourth quarters, he can break through for the team with his strong technical abilities. However, Zhang Ning has the most personal unsportsmanlike fouls in the league, with 7.
Fourth: Gao Shiyan (Shandong Team / Avg. 36.8 minutes)
Gao Shiyan, 28 years old, stands at 1.87 meters tall and plays as a guard for the team. This season, he participated in 27 regular-season games, averaging 36.8 minutes, ranked eighth in the league, scoring 11.2 points, grabbing 4.6 rebounds, and dishing out 6.7 assists, with a shooting percentage of 39.8%. Although his shooting accuracy is lacking, his defensive capabilities are excellent. In last night's game where Shandong defeated Jilin 117-84, Gao Shiyan played for 32 minutes and 14 seconds, performing well with 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 11 assists, with a plus-minus of +21. His defensive abilities are not to be underestimated, and he can handle tough battles.
Finally, I would like to discuss that there have been adjustments to the foreign player policy this season, which has affected the playing time of some local players. In this situation, some local players have made significant progress, while others have regressed. However, fortunately, the league has not yet ended, and we look forward to the players making adjustments. After all, for a team to win, it relies on the hard work and performance of every player, isn't that right?
So, what are your thoughts on this? Feel free to share your opinions in the comment section, let's discuss it together!