During the off-season, Zhou Qi's departure significantly weakened Guangdong's defensive capabilities. However, the team hoped to mitigate this loss by securing the services of Wang Shaojie, the top draft pick from Beikong. Unfortunately, as the season progressed, Wang's performance has been less than satisfactory. In a recent match against their long-standing rival Liaoning, the young and energetic Wang struggled to assert himself against Liaoning's formidable duo known as the Yin-Yang Masters, showing no advantage.
In this game, Wang came off the bench to play for 12 minutes, failing to score with one shot attempt and only managing to grab two rebounds. In contrast, Liaoning's Yin-Yang Masters, Han Dejun and Li Xiaoxu, scored 16 points with 12 rebounds and 8 points with 5 rebounds respectively. If Wang had performed better, Guangdong might have stood a chance to keep the game suspenseful until the final moments.
Reflecting on Wang's career, he had previously led the Tsinghua-Peking University team to victory in the CBA All-Star Rising Stars Game before joining the league, earning him the MVP title. He achieved his best career stats of 11 points and 6.9 rebounds within just two years in the league. However, in recent years, his performance has not improved but rather declined.
Initially seen as a key player for Beikong's frontcourt, Wang's position was challenged by the arrival of Zou Yuchen and the impressive performances of Chen Guohao. With the addition of Salingger and Shen Zijie to Beikong this season, the team decided to loan him out to Guangdong. It was hoped that he could be a substitute for Zhou Qi, but so far, Wang has not even come close to achieving half of Zhou's impact. This season, he averages 17.4 minutes per game for Guangdong, scoring 7.3 points and grabbing 3.6 rebounds, with his average points matching his rookie season's low.
Currently, Guangdong's only legitimate center is Morand, who lacks offensive threat. Players like Bazley and Jilunwater lean more towards the power forward position, while local players such as Xu Xin, Zhang Hao, and Zhang Mingchi have become "mud that cannot be molded into a wall," or in other words, underperforming big men.
As a former All-Star and national team member, Wang's current contributions to the team are not as significant as anticipated. This situation poses a challenge for Guangdong when facing teams with stronger frontcourt players, as they will be at the mercy of fate if their outside shooting fails.
Regarding Wang's future, being unable to make a name for himself at Guangdong, a team lacking in frontline depth, and considering the crowded frontcourt at Beikong, it seems unlikely that he will find success upon his return. If he truly wishes to reestablish himself in the league and redeem himself, he must show determination and fight to prove himself.