China Men’s Basketball vs. Australia Preview: Guo Shiqiang’s Confusing Selections Spark Controversy, Away Game Could Be a Test Bed

On July 2nd, at 5:30 PM local time, the Chinese Men’s Basketball team will face Australia in an away game, marking Guo Shiqiang’s first overseas training camp as interim head coach. The composition of the team has sparked much debate.

From the initial 26-man roster, players like Zhang Zhenlin, Hu Mingxuan, Xu Jie, Zhou Qi, and Zeng Fanbo were either released or not included in the squad. Guo Shiqiang explained that they were absent due to individual training tasks or injury recovery. In domestic warm-up matches, the Chinese team lost to the semi-professional Macao Black Bears, with players like Gao Shiyang, Du Runwang, and Zhu Mingzhen facing criticism for their subpar performance. Despite being no longer young players, they have received significant playing time from Guo Shiqiang, while younger talents like Zhao Weilun, Lin Wei, Chen Guohao were not included in the final 12-man squad.

Media reports suggest that Chen Guohao, Lin Wei, Liu Liya, and Duan Angjun did not join the team for the Australia trip, while Gao Shiyang and Zhu Mingzhen were retained. It is unclear whether Guo Shiqiang has specific plans for them or if they are seen as key players for the 2028 Olympic preparations.

The current roster for the Australian training camp includes Yang Hanxin, Zhao Jiayi, Zhu Junlong, Liao Sansheng, Jiao Boqiao, Zhu Mingzhen, Yu Jiahuo, He Xihong, Cheng Shuipeng, Gao Shiyang, Du Runwang, Cui Xiaolong, Li Hongquan, Zhao Weilun, Zou Yang, Wang Haoran, and Wang Lanqian.

This Australian team boasts several NBA players, including veterans like Matthew Dellavedova and Patty Mills, as well as rising star Josh Giddey, who recently joined the Oklahoma City Thunder, and former Qingdao player Jock Landale. The squad is highly formidable and represents the core of Australia’s Olympic preparation team. They are competitive against any team in the FIBA system and have a strong chance of reaching the podium in major tournaments.

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