Xu Xin has emerged as one of the most surprising breakout stars of this CBA season. After being loaned from Guangdong to Guangzhou, he delivered a career-best performance, winning the Most Improved Player award, earning a spot on the All-Second Team, and being named to the Chinese men’s national team training camp. Now, an NBA team has even extended a tryout invitation to him. As CBA fans debate the biggest offseason storyline, the most pressing question is where Xu Xin will choose to play next season.
Many fans are still unclear about the situation. Although Xu Xin played for Guangzhou this season, his contractual rights remain with the Guangdong Southern Tigers. If he decides to pursue a path to the NBA, his future return to Guangdong will depend on the decisions made by Zhu Fangyu and the Guangdong management. Every choice he makes could affect the entire league’s landscape.
Xu Xin’s popularity has not waned despite Guangzhou’s early exit in the quarterfinals. Several teams are tracking his movements, and multiple international brands have approached him for endorsements. He has already signed a sponsorship deal with a well-known sportswear company. These overseas resources and market attention give him more confidence to take on new challenges, increasing the suspense around his decision.
Meanwhile, the Liaoning team’s performance this season has disappointed many veteran fans. Their early playoff exit signaled a clear decline. Han Dejun has announced his retirement, Zhang Zhenlin has left, and young players have yet to step up. Liaoning’s once-formidable roster advantage is eroding. The team signed eight foreign players this season, none of whom made a significant impact. Management’s poor foreign player selection has left fans frustrated. With Zhao Jiwei and Fu Hao still as core domestic players, relying solely on them to revive the team seems unrealistic. Liaoning failed to reach the quarterfinals, and all four foreign players will not have their contracts renewed. A complete roster overhaul is imminent. The question is whether they can find reliable foreign players to determine next season’s fate.
One of the most heartbreaking games this postseason was Game 2 between Shanxi and Guangsha. Guangsha narrowly won 86-81 on the road, tying the series at 1-1. The key to Guangsha’s victory was an unexpected substitution by Shanxi’s head coach, Pan Jiang. With center Liu Chuanxing in excellent form—scoring six points in seven minutes with perfect shooting and dominating the paint—Pan Jiang replaced him with veteran Ge Zhaobao and deployed a small-ball lineup. This move left Shanxi’s interior exposed. Guangsha’s players attacked the paint relentlessly, with Hu Jinqiu and Wu Xiao each grabbing three offensive rebounds in the quarter alone, easily scoring on second-chance opportunities and completing the comeback. Even commentator Duan Ran bluntly stated that the loss was due to poor coaching decisions. Fans have compared this to past controversies involving Guangdong’s Du Feng, where talented players were underutilized.
Now, many fans are speculating about Liu Chuanxing’s next destination. At 2.25 meters tall, his rebounding and rim protection are elite in the CBA. If another team offers him trust and playing time, he could realize his full potential. Given that Xu Xin’s loan to Guangzhou revived his career, fans are naturally hopeful for Liu Chuanxing’s future. Ironically, Guangdong currently lacks a traditional center of Liu Chuanxing’s caliber. Jiao Boqiao is unlikely to return, and Xu Xin’s future is uncertain. Wang Shaojie, though hardworking, is undersized against elite interior players like Zhou Qi, Hu Jinqiu, and Wang Zhelin. In the playoff series against Beijing, Wang Shaojie fought hard to hold the paint but was exhausted by the end. Many fans believe that Du Feng’s best solution in the offseason is to pursue Liu Chuanxing. He would immediately shore up the team’s rebounding and rim protection, significantly boosting interior depth. The timing is advantageous for Guangdong: if Shanxi is eliminated by Guangsha, they may undergo a full rebuild, and Pan Jiang’s reluctance to use Liu Chuanxing makes him likely to be available.
This CBA season has left many teams at crossroads. Young player movement, veteran retirements, and roster overhauls are creating uncertainty. Xu Xin’s decision directly impacts Guangdong’s interior future. If they can sign Liu Chuanxing, their frontcourt could be transformed, allowing them to compete with any opponent. Liaoning’s chances of rebuilding success depend entirely on their foreign player selections. Shanxi’s coaching decisions could cost them a valuable talent like Liu Chuanxing, affecting the league landscape. All these questions will be answered next season. Will Xu Xin chase his NBA dream or continue growing in the CBA? Can Liu Chuanxing leave Shanxi and achieve a breakthrough? Will he join Guangdong to fill their interior gap? These storylines are far from over. In the CBA, every player’s choice, every coach’s decision, and every team’s move can change the entire league’s trajectory. The drama is just beginning.