As the final whistle of the final game of the men's basketball World Cup group stage approached, the eyes of the audience were focused on a scoreboard that could well mark the end of an era. With two consecutive losses, the Chinese men's basketball team is already breathless and teetering on the brink of disqualification. Their final battle against Puerto Rico could be their moment of victory. Let's dive into the team's complexities and answer a pressing question that many fans are concerned about: what does the future hold for coach Jordjevic?
The primary goal of the Chinese men's basketball team is to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. That aspiration germinated four years ago, when head coach Li Nan resigned after failing to participate in the Olympics and felt the pressure of public opinion. His successor, Du Feng, performed well and led the team to advance to the World Cup. However, internal challenges remain. The poor performance of the eighth place in the Asian Cup and the decision within the basketball association led to Du Feng's resignation.
Djordjevic signed a one-year, 7 million yuan contract that expires after the Hangzhou Asian Games. This means that regardless of the outcome of this World Cup, his contract remains in effect. However, if the team is unable to achieve its goals at the Asian Games, the chances of him renewing his contract are slim. The question is expectations and reality, is Djordjevic really under the most pressure?
The focus is on team leader Yao Ming. In an interview four years ago, Mr. Yao admitted that he was the biggest responsible for the team's loss. Now, with history at the risk of repeating itself, fans are wary of hearing the same word — "I" — out of his mouth again.
Local coaching talents such as Du Feng and Guo Shiqiang are more in line with the ability of Chinese players, familiar with the CBA league, and are considered possible successors. Du Feng, for example, praised Hu Jinqiu's performance during the World Cup, which he believes lacked under Djordjevic's coaching style.
As a long-time observer of Chinese basketball, my view is simple: sticking to the status quo is no longer an option. We need to rethink our strategy from the ground up. While foreign coaches bring new techniques and perspectives, the chemistry and understanding possessed by domestic coaches is unparalleled. If Jordjevic fails to achieve the results we want, then maybe it's time to return homegrown talent like Du Feng or Guo Shiqiang who understand the complexities of Chinese basketball culture and the potential of our players.
Yi Jianlian and Guo Allen, the mainstays of Chinese basketball, were visibly silent at this World Cup. Their silence is more than indifference; Rather, indifference. It is a reflection of their lost youth and unfulfilled dreams. When Allen Guo shares clips of his training on social media, you can feel the question that lingers in his mind: "Why didn't I attend the training camp?" ”
Time is ticking, the World Cup is in full swing, and the Chinese men's basketball team is standing at a crossroads. Do we continue to follow a path of repeated disappointments, or do we dare to take a path that few people have taken and invest in coaches and players who understand the soul of Chinese basketball? This answer will not only determine the fate of coaches and players, but will also reverberate in a country that has long longed for basketball glory.
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