Xinjiang Morning News (reporter Zhou Duanpu) Three years ago, in May, "Little Zhuge Ge" Li Qiuping came to Xinjiang on a drizzly day with a "military order" to win the championship within three years. Now that three years have passed, the promise has been fulfilled, and Qiuping will also leave. On May 5, the Xinjiang men's basketball team officially announced that Li Qiuping officially stepped down.
"On the occasion of the expiration of Coach Li Qiuping's term of office, Xinjiang Guanghui Basketball Club pays high tribute to Coach Li, and fans of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, Guanghui people and all the staff of the basketball club wish Coach Li Qiuping all the best in his future job!" Although rumors about Li Qiuping's departure have been circulating for a long time, this remark on the Xinjiang men's basketball team's Weibo on May 5 finally made everyone sure that Li Zhi was really leaving.
Over the years, the Xinjiang men's basketball team has come and gone many famous coaches, but it has always been on the same side as the championship. In 2015, Hou Wei, chairman of Guanghui Basketball Club, finally invited Li Qiuping, who is considered one of the best managers in the CBA. "The best teams should be led by the best coaches." At that time, in the VIP lounge of Diwopu International Airport, Hou Wei sighed like this.
"My goal is to take Xinjiang to the championship within three years." Just after arriving in Urumqi, Li Qiuping told everyone his goal.
At that time, Li's guidance made many people feel encouraged, but the 4 runners-up over the years also made many people doubt that it was really okay to change Li Qiuping?
Sure enough, Li Qiuping's first season suffered Waterloo, and the team that had a smooth sailing in the regular season collapsed after encountering Sichuan, and was out early with a humiliating score of 0:3. Li Qiuping also carried great pressure at that time. At the end of the season, his gengzhi remarks in an interview let more people know that the Xinjiang men's basketball team did not look so good.
In the following season, Brache's professionalism and the repeated injuries of the players made the Xinjiang team tested. Fortunately, a season of running-in has given the Xinjiang team a more mature way of playing, and the on-the-spot command that "Xiao Zhuge Ge" is good at also makes the team more confident. In the end, the Xinjiang team finally broke through the window paper and swept Guangdong 4:0 to win the championship. Li Qiuping also fulfilled his promise a year in advance. "Xinjiang fans are very cute and enthusiastic, and the championship is the best gift we can give them." After winning the championship, Li Qiuping, who was accustomed to seeing strong winds and waves, was also a little excited.
In the just-concluded 2017-18 season, the Xinjiang men's basketball team was in a more difficult situation. Faced with a season of consecutive "injuries" and finally officially returned to the team in the playoffs, "Little Zhuge Ge" finally experienced what is powerless. In the past three years, there have been too many things that he can't control, and he is satisfied to be able to win a championship.
At present, Li is still at the Guanghui Club, and he will return to Shanghai after handling personal affairs. He has yet to determine whether to coach next season, with a year off, which is also within his options.