Shenyang Daily: Liu Zhixuan Officially Retires and Returns to Coaching Staff; Guo Ailun Resumes Training with the Team

The Shenyang Daily has published a detailed article today, updating readers on the Liaoning Flying Leopards’ off-season activities.

The report reads as follows:

Two months after securing their third consecutive CBA championship, on July 23rd, the Liaoning Flying Leopards returned to their home court, the Liaoning Gymnasium, for an open training session in preparation for tonight’s friendly match against the Shanghai Sharks. Former player Liu Zhixuan, who had previously transferred to the Jiangsu Dragons, has returned to the Liaoning team as an assistant coach. Additionally, four U21 players—Zhang Chenzhifeng, Huang Qiushi, Ren Xuhang, and Xing Weihao—have been promoted to the first team. After bolstering their ranks with these young talents this summer, the Liaoning Flying Leopards are setting sail once again towards the goal of achieving a fourth consecutive CBA title.

Liu Zhixuan’s Return Strengthens the Coaching Staff

On the training court, reporters spotted Liu Zhixuan, who had not been seen for some time. The veteran player, instrumental in winning the team both the National Games and the CBA championships, has officially retired. Although he spent two years away from the team after transferring to Jiangsu, he remains familiar with most of his former teammates. During training, Liu Zhixuan primarily assists assistant coach Wu Naiqun. Known for his high basketball IQ and versatility, Liu’s return is expected to significantly strengthen the coaching staff. At 33 years old, he is younger than veterans Han Dejun and Li Xiaoxu, which allows him to connect better with the younger players and enhance team cohesion.

During training, Wu Naiqun focused on several young frontcourt players, instructing them on offensive techniques and demonstrating moves himself with a ball in hand.

In an interview, Wu Naiqun provided updates on the team’s recent training sessions: “The current roster is predominantly made up of young players, and we’ve identified many areas that need improvement during the previous training phase. The younger players still lack basic skills, but they have shown improvement through recent training. We will use the upcoming friendlies to assess our progress and see how well they’ve addressed their weaknesses. We hope that the young players can showcase their energy in front of the hometown fans and perform well in these warm-up games.”

Young Players Cherish Training and Game Opportunities

Following the end of last season, the Liaoning Flying Leopards participated in the Asian Champions Cup with a squad composed mainly of young players. Talents like Li Huyi, Zhang Junhao, Zhang Chenzhifeng, and Huang Qiushi gained valuable experience in the tournament. Subsequently, these young players also competed in the National U21 Youth Men’s Basketball Championship, qualifying for the final stage by finishing second in their group.

Zhang Chenzhifeng, the center, performed exceptionally well in the U21 Championship. During training that day, the 2.14-meter-tall player demonstrated excellent form, showcasing strength, decent scoring ability under the basket, and good rebounding instincts. His participation in various competitions and training with the first team has been highly beneficial. “Participating in these games broadened my horizons and taught me how to adapt to different opponents,” Zhang said. “Of course, there were issues exposed during the games, and I made timely reflections after each match.”

Zhang Chenzhifeng mentioned that it was his first time training alongside Guo Ailun. He stated: “Training and playing with the first team, I must learn from the senior players. In the friendly matches, I will follow the coaching staff’s instructions and contribute on both ends of the court to help the team. Tomorrow night’s game will be my first match in Shenyang, and I will do my best to deliver an exciting performance for the passionate fans.”

Guo Ailun Returns to Training

After only returning for three games in last season’s regular season before suffering another hamstring injury, Guo Ailun has been undergoing treatment for over half a year. This training session marked his first return to the team since the end of last season. Upon arriving at the venue, Guo appeared in good spirits, chatting with captain Han Dejun and others. While his body has not yet fully recovered to the point where he can participate in competitive play, Guo trained diligently, putting in effort during stretching and physical conditioning exercises. During strength training, he wore three resistance bands for assistance, demonstrating his professional dedication. It is clear that this core player, who has been absent from competition for too long, is actively preparing for his return to the court.

In the coming weeks, in addition to summer training, the Liaoning Flying Leopards will participate in several friendly matches to test their training results and provide practical game experience for the players. Tonight, the team will play its first friendly of the summer against the Shanghai Sharks at the Liaoning Gymnasium. Veterans Han Dejun and Li Xiaoxu will lead the team, while the younger players will receive more playing time. Following this, the two teams will travel to Jinzhou and Huludao for two additional matches. Next month, the Liaoning Flying Leopards will play a series of friendlies against the Beijing Ducks and the Jilin Northeast Tigers in Anshan, Panjin, Fuxin, and Chaoyang.