Before the season began, Zhu Fangyu set the ambitious goal of winning Guangdong Hongyuan’s 12th CBA championship. However, the team was eliminated by the Beijing Shougang in the quarterfinals. With a fifth-place finish in the regular season, they are likely to end the season ranked fifth or sixth at best.
After the defeat, head coach Du Feng made a notable remark. Despite missing the top four for two consecutive seasons, he claimed there were no regrets, citing Guangdong’s 11 championships. Now, the club faces a significant restructuring during the offseason. The foreign player lineup will definitely change. Samnar is expected to be re-signed, while Quinn may stay. A total of 10 players, including Du Runwang, Huang Mingyi, Zhang Wenyi, and some foreign players, have contracts expiring.
Du Feng’s future is a major uncertainty. He has lost the trust of fans and is also involved in other commitments, raising the possibility that he may step away from CBA coaching.
Zhu Fangyu’s efforts to build a championship contender were evident, bringing in Jiao Boqiao and Cui Yongxi, as well as foreign guard Samnar. However, Jiao Boqiao’s performance declined significantly, and he even left the team during the season, while Cui Yongxi has been overhyped. Both key acquisitions failed to provide meaningful contributions in the playoffs, reflecting potential issues with Du Feng’s system rather than Zhu’s work.
After this season, Du Runwang, Zhang Wenyi, Huang Mingyi, and Wang Shaojie (who is on loan) have expiring deals. While the core roster remains, Guangdong will need to make optimizations. Given Xu Xin’s experiences, Huang Mingyi may consider leaving.
Among the foreign players, Salinger and Rakocevic are unlikely to stay. Quinn showed promise in the quarterfinals but is inconsistent. Only Samnar’s position seems secure, as the club invested heavily to sign him. Guangdong has struggled with foreign player selection in recent years. Zhu Fangyu must recognize that reliable imports are crucial. With the new rule allowing three registered foreign players, strengthening the frontcourt will be a priority.
The biggest question mark is Du Feng. Over his tenure, he has eroded his goodwill with fans, especially after deflecting blame for the team’s exit. Du Feng also juggles multiple roles, and his frequent absences from training this season due to personal matters suggest he can no longer balance everything. His departure cannot be ruled out.
Another lingering issue is the team’s interior. Wang Shaojie’s loan is ending, and Jiao Boqiao may leave as well. Zhu Fangyu faces a tough challenge in reshaping the roster.
