In the NBA, it's common for technically skilled players to receive top-tier salaries. However, in the CBA, the criteria for top-tier salaries can be somewhat perplexing. Some clubs offer them to veterans, while others pursue players whose fame exceeds their actual abilities. Examples include Guangzhou's Guo Ailun, Beijing's Zhou Qi, Xinjiang's Zhao Rui, and Guangdong's Hu Mingxuan, all of whom possess talent but have low attendance rates due to injuries. Beijing's Fan Ziming and Beikong's Shen Zijie have performances that fall far short of expectations.
However, when it comes to the worst-performing top-tier player, it is undoubtedly Ge Zhaobao from Shanxi Team!
This season, Shanxi Team has become a top-tier powerhouse, ranking in the top three and capable of contending for the championship! Ge Zhaobao averages only 13.2 minutes per game, scoring 3.7 points and 2.5 rebounds, with a shooting percentage of 44% and a three-point percentage of 22%. Given such performance, Ge Zhaobao certainly does not deserve his top-tier salary.
Ge Zhaobao's contract is not insignificant; during the 2022 offseason, Shanxi Team offered him a five-year Class D top-tier contract with an annual salary of 6 million yuan! At 33 years old, this lengthy top-tier contract will not expire until the summer of 2027. This season, Ge Zhaobao has essentially been marginalized, with his biggest issue being defense, and now Shanxi Team has a big center in Liu Chuanxing.
Of course, Ge Zhaobao is a meritorious veteran of Shanxi Team, having played for them since the 11-12 season, making this his 12th season! Shanxi Team giving him such a lengthy top-tier contract can also be seen as valuing his loyalty. Fenjiu Club indeed has money, as evidenced by their foreign player replacements this season.
When he was young, Ge Zhaobao also had aspirations to make it to the NBA! In the summer of 2016, Ge Zhaobao represented the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Summer League. In fact, within the CBA league, Ge Zhaobao is not considered an outstanding player; he has even never represented the Chinese men's basketball team in official international competitions. In the future, Ge Zhaobao may become a coach for Shanxi Team, although this lengthy top-tier contract will affect Shanxi Team's salary space.