The second phase of the 2021-22 CBA regular season has not yet begun, and fans' attention has shifted to overseas leagues. Among them, Zhou Qi once again played a shocking statistic in the Australian NBL regular season. In the most recent game, Zhou Qi scored eight points, five rebounds and three blocks on 4-of-7 shooting to help the Southeast Melbourne Phoenix beat the New Zealand saboteurs 89-65. However, Zhou Qi's limelight was overshadowed by Zeng Fanbo, a young general who was also overseas.
Also an overseas league, Zeng Fanbo also had a good performance in the NBA Development League regular season. Despite igniting a 100-115 home loss to Oklahoma City Blues. But Chinese player Zeng Fanbo played 15 minutes and had 8 points, 3 rebounds and 3 blocks on 2-of-4 shooting from three-point range. Obviously, Zeng Fanbo has now firmly established himself on the heel of the Development Alliance. Also one of China's overseas leagues, the NBA Development League is clearly at a much higher level than the NBL League, and it is also the closest to the NBA League.
It can be said that Zeng Fanbo has almost officially announced to the Chinese men's basketball team that he will soon become the core front of the future country. From the perspective of personal tactical characteristics, Zeng Fanbo's potential is obviously higher than that of Zhang Zhenlin, a young player in the Chinese men's basketball team before. On the one hand, Zeng Fanbo's playing style is almost the same as Zhang Zhenlin's, and he is absolutely flying on the basis of being able to dunk. The individual's physical fitness and mobility are the top presence in China, and they are not inferior to European and American players.
On the other hand, Zeng Fanbo is 4 years younger than Zhang Zhenlin. It can be said that the future Chinese men's basketball team will inevitably have a place for Zeng Fanbo. For the current Chinese men's basketball team, the defender line is supported by Zhao Rui, Guo Allen, Sun Minghui, Hu Mingxuan, Zhao Jiwei and others, and Zhou Qi on the inside line is still the big devil who dominates the Asian arena, and there is a top No. 4 supplement like Hu Jinqiu. Therefore, the advantage of the No. 3 position in the front line is the smallest, especially the physical fitness of the main player Zhou Peng in recent seasons has declined due to age.
In fact, in recent years, the only more reliable fronts of the Chinese men's basketball team are Ding Yanyuhang, Abdul Salam, Zhou Peng, and Zhai Xiaochuan. Obviously, Ding Yanyuhang and Abdul Salam have no longer adapted to the rhythm of the national team after a major injury. As for Zhou Peng and Zhai Xiaochuan, the upper limit of the two is almost visible to the naked eye, and there is no way to help the national team gain an advantage in the confrontation with European and American players. As Zhou Peng's age increases and Zhai Xiaochuan's competitive status declines, the entire national team's front line will weaken.
Fortunately, Zhang Zhenlin's game against the Japanese men's basketball team allowed the outside world to see the rise of China's front. Although Zhang Zhenlin's physical fitness and athletic ability are first-class, the technique and defense of the ball-holding attack are obviously not comprehensive enough. In this regard, Zeng Fanbo's advantages will appear more perfect. Zeng Fanbo not only has physical fitness and athletic ability not lost to Zhang Zhenlin, but also has the offensive ability and defensive ability of holding the ball is also stronger than Zhang Zhenlin. Therefore, the younger Zeng Fanbo is not only likely to become the core of the national team, but also may be the next Chinese player to enter the NBA League.
That is to say, the starting and main rotation of the no. 3 position of the future Chinese men's basketball team will basically be locked in the bodies of Zeng Fanbo and Zhang Zhenlin. If Zeng Fanbo can grow up quickly, then Zhou Peng's starting position in the national team is very likely to be unable to be saved.