The Guangdong Southern Tigers have officially concluded their season, falling short of expectations after a massive offseason investment that failed to yield a spot in the final four. This disappointing outcome has now been compounded by two significant setbacks.
First, the signing of former NBA player Cui Yongxi has been a major letdown. Despite carrying the prestige of an NBA label, Cui has struggled to adapt to Guangdong’s system. Head coach Du Feng gave him ample playing time, but the player has been ineffective on offense and sluggish on defense. His inability to integrate into the team has made this high-profile acquisition a clear failure.
Second, Guangdong’s interior weakness remains unresolved. The team lacks domestic talent in the paint, with promising center Xu Xin still years away from returning. On the foreign player front, quality big men are increasingly scarce, leaving Guangdong without a reliable option under the basket. Without strengthening this area, the team faces an uphill battle in future seasons.