A Liaoning basketball guard has been without a game for half a year and was recently released by a wild team. He wishes to return to Liaoning but has been rejected by Yang Ming.
The guard, who hails from Liaoning's youth training system, played for Liaoning for four seasons before his contract expired. He then moved to the wild court, where he struggled to perform even at that level, resulting in his contract being terminated after just a few games.
Liaoning's performance this season has been subpar, with Zhang Zhenlin recovering from an injury and Zhao Jiwei dealing with intermittent injuries. As a result, Yang Ming has had to rely more on foreign players. Newcomer Wang Lianqin has not been given many opportunities; even when Zhao Jiwei was injured, Wang Lianqin did not receive much playing time. With Zhao Jiwei's return, Wang Lianqin's playing time has further decreased, and his statistics have declined. Even when Zhao Jiwei's form is not good, Yang Ming still prefers the experienced veterans, with Yan Shouqi ranked above Wang Lianqin.
In fact, Wang Lianqin may have made the wrong choice in joining Liaoning. He is a very capable and even high-quality point guard. If he were to join a team that suits him better, his statistics would likely improve significantly. Wang Lianqin and Zhao Jiwei play similar roles, both able to organize plays and shoot. However, since Zhao Jiwei is the team's core player and an FMVP, his priority is far higher than Wang Lianqin's. Additionally, Wang Lianqin has not been with Liaoning for long and has not experienced the pressure of the finals, so it is understandable that Yang Ming does not fully trust him.
Besides Wang Lianqin, Yang Ming also does not fully trust the other guards. In recent years, Liaoning has experienced a severe talent shortage, with the level of their guards not up to CBA standards. Zhou Juncheng, a former Liaoning substitute, recently appeared at Liaoning's home court to watch a game. His contract with Liaoning expired during the offseason, and he did not receive any invitations from CBA teams. He initially wanted to return to Liaoning for training but was rejected by Yang Ming. He then joined a wild team in Panjin but performed poorly, especially on offense. After only a few games, his contract was also terminated.
Zhou Juncheng lacks stable offensive skills, and his defense is not genuine. The only positive aspect is his offensive rebounding ability, which is considered good among guards. A guard who cannot dribble or control the ball effectively is the most fatal flaw, especially if they are also weak in three-point shooting. Despite this, Zhou Juncheng has had good fortune, serving Liaoning for four seasons and winning three consecutive championships. Last season, he played in seven regular-season games for Liaoning, averaging 1.3 points and 1.6 rebounds in 7.4 minutes per game. Currently, his abilities do not allow him to stand firm in the CBA, and if Liaoning's youth training continues to produce players of this caliber, Liaoning's basketball future looks bleak.
Over the past ten years, Zhou Juncheng has contributed many memorable moments during his time with the first team. Perhaps during the next finals, some will recall his explosive dunk in the 23rd finals. We thank Zhou Juncheng for his contributions to Liaoning and wish him all the best for his future.