In the history of Chinese men's basketball, the "Golden Generation of 1994" has left an indelible mark. Not only did they achieve a historic breakthrough by reaching the quarterfinals for the first time at the 1994 World Championship, but most of these players also helped the team reach the Olympic quarterfinals for the first time in 1996, creating the best Olympic record for Chinese men's basketball.
The "Golden Generation of 1994" consisted of 12 players: Hu Weidong, Sun Jun, Liu Yudong, Gong Xiaobin, A Di Jiang, Zheng Wu, Wu Qinglong, Wu Naiqun, Zhang Jinsong, Shan Tao, Ji Minshang, and Liu Daqing. Among them, except for Liu Daqing who retired early due to injury, each player became a prominent figure in the CBA after its establishment, leaving a deep impression on everyone.
Unknowingly, it has been 30 years since then, and these players from the golden generation have all moved forward along their own paths. Eleven out of the twelve are still active in the front line of basketball, but their journeys have been bumpy and their current situations vary.
01 Hu Weidong
Hu Weidong is known as "China's Jordan" and was one of the absolute core players in the 1994 World Championship and the 1996 Olympics. With his explosive physical abilities, he could play like European and American guards. Despite having nearly 600 degrees of astigmatism, he formed muscle memory through hard training and honed a precise three-point shot. Yao Ming once commented on Hu Weidong: "During my time playing in the CBA, Hu Weidong was undoubtedly the best player in Chinese basketball."
Before retiring, Hu Weidong started serving as the head coach of the Jiangsu men's basketball team. In 2005, he led the team to the finals. However, in the decisive game, Hu Weidong made frequent mistakes and poor command, leading to the reversal of the Jiangsu team. After that, Hu Weidong attempted coaching several times but with unsatisfactory results. Eventually, he gave up coaching and began investing in youth training, currently working at the Jiangsu Provincial Sports Bureau, focusing on youth training.
In 2022, the Chinese Basketball Association launched the Chinese Basketball Hall of Fame, and Hu Weidong was almost unanimously elected. He was officially inducted as a player in April 2023.
Hu Weidong is considered a "big shot" in Chinese men's basketball, yet he is a devoted husband. His wife, Yu Hui, is a doctor. After marriage, Hu Weidong always followed her orders. Whenever there were signs of an argument between the couple, Hu Weidong would take the initiative to apologize: "I was wrong, I won't do it again, I will definitely change in the future."
Hu Weidong and Yu Hui have a daughter named Hu Yaqi. Before she was born, Hu Weidong had decided that if it was a boy, he would play basketball; if it was a girl, she would focus on studying. Therefore, the now 20-year-old Hu Yaqi did not pursue a career in sports but instead attended a good university.
02 Sun Jun
Sun Jun is known as the "Tiger King." His playing rhythm is peculiar, always seeming a step slower than others, so no one could keep up with him. Most defenders could only watch helplessly as this guy full of feints casually put the ball into the basket. In the 1992 Olympics, the 1994 World Championship, and the 1996 Olympics, Sun Jun was always the team's absolute mainstay and the secret weapon used by the head coach to disrupt the opponent's rhythm.
Throughout his career, Sun Jun played for the Jilin men's basketball team, winning multiple scoring titles and MVP awards, and even setting a record of 70 points in a single game. During Jilin's difficulties, he played while also serving as the general manager, and even spent 1 million yuan of his own money to pay the team's wages, helping Jilin overcome the crisis. Unfortunately, in 2007, Jilin changed ownership and Sun Jun was "killed after the millstone was removed."
Afterwards, Sun Jun served as an assistant coach for the national team, leader and head coach of the Dongguan men's basketball team. In 2010, after receiving an invitation from the Jilin men's basketball team, he returned to serve as the general manager and head coach. In 2020, Sun Jun was elected chairman of the Jilin Basketball Association and continues to contribute to Jilin basketball to this day.
Sun Jun's wife, Jiang Li, was once a hostess for Jilin TV's sports channel. Over the years, she has been silently supporting Sun Jun's basketball career behind the scenes, helping him resolve worries and taking care of the elderly and children.
Sun Jun and Jiang Li have a daughter named Sun Jingxuan. In 2019, when Jilin returned to the playoffs, Sun Jingxuan personally went down to act as a cheerleader, cheering for Jilin. Her high looks attracted the attention of many fans, and some fans wanted to introduce her to Guo Ailun. Sun Jingxuan was admitted to Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology's performance major in 2020 and is currently both a model and an actress.
03 Liu Yudong
In the early stages of his career, Liu Yudong earned the nickname "Tank" for his outstanding physical qualities. However, as injuries took their toll, Liu Yudong changed his playing style, transforming from a "wild man" in Hu Weidong's words into a "god-accurate mid-range shooter."
Liu Yudong comes from military basketball and is known for his tenacity. Even with nearly disabled legs, he repeatedly stood out in critical moments, performing exceptionally both in the Chinese national team and the Bayi team. With this fearless and combative spirit, Liu Yudong became known as the "War God" and served twice as the Olympic flag bearer.
Liu Yudong's status in the league and National Games far exceeds that of the national team. As the absolute core, he won four National Games championships and seven CBA championships. At the 2001 National Games, it was originally a peak confrontation between Wang Zhizhi and Yao Ming, but Liu Yudong stole the show with a three-pointer. At the 2005 National Games, it should have been the stage for new stars like Yi Jianlian and Zhu Fangyu, but the 35-year-old Liu Yudong became the brightest star on the court.
As a soldier, Liu Yudong takes following orders as his duty. Therefore, despite being plagued by injuries, he never actively mentioned retirement, saying: "Whether I retire or not is up to the organization's decision."
After officially retiring in 2010, Liu Yudong joined the Bayi men's basketball team as a team leader, working for more than ten years. He originally wanted to continue working for the Bayi team, but due to the inability to use foreign players and the influx of young players into privately-owned teams, the Bayi team had to withdraw from the historical stage, and Liu Yudong could only leave in tears.
In 2021, Liu Yudong returned to the Fujian men's basketball team as a team leader and led the team to participate in the 2021 National Games. Afterwards, he was elected chairman of the Fujian Basketball Association, continuing to chase his dreams where it all began.
Liu Yudong's wife, Zhang Hongzhen, is also a doctor. It was under her care that Liu Yudong was able to continue playing until the age of 40 despite his numerous injuries. They have a son. Initially, Liu Yudong wanted his son to play basketball, but after discovering that he suffered from asthma, he gave up on that idea. Liu Yudong's son is now 25 years old and, although he did not follow in his father's footsteps in basketball, he inherited his father's tenacity and is a tough nut.
Like Hu Weidong, Liu Yudong became one of the first members of the Chinese Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023, a title he truly deserves.
04 Gong Xiaobin
Gong Xiaobin is known as the "Free and Easy King." Having trained in football for a few years, his footwork is very solid. He is handsome and plays with a flamboyant style, making him one of the best power forwards (second center) at the time. He participated in the 1992 Olympics, the 1994 World Championship, and the 1996 Olympics. Prior to the 1996 Olympics, head coach Gong Luming specially arranged for Gong Xiaobin and Wang Zhizhi to engage in extensive one-on-one drills, from which Wang Zhizhi learned a lot.
Gong Xiaobin led the Shandong men's basketball team into the top four. After retiring due to injury in 2003, he served as the head coach of Shandong Gold (2003-2010, 2011-2015, 2019-2021) and Qingdao Double Star (2015-2016). During this period, he led the team into the playoffs
