Guo Zhenming Photo:VCG

All members of the Chinese men's basketball team must possess a sense of urgency and mission. They need to ignite their internal drive and embrace accountability, said Guo Zhenming, the newly appointed chief of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) on Tuesday after Yao Ming stepped down on October 31, according to the China Sports Daily.

Guo made these remarks at a team assembly for a training camp ahead of the second window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, the newspaper reported. The training camp will run from November 4 to November 20. In the upcoming second window, the Chinese men's basketball team will compete against Guam on November 21 and Mongolia on November 24, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Guo emphasized the importance of strengthening cohesion and execution within the team. He called for disciplines as a priority and urged team members to avoid superficiality, firmly resisting negative influences, including "fan culture." 

The CBA is committed to providing full support for the national team's preparations, with a long-term focus on the Los Angeles Olympic cycle, Guo said. The association will prioritize strategic planning, building upon lessons from previous cycles, and addressing both shared and unique issues faced by the four national teams. The goal is to integrate basketball resources across China to ensure a unified approach to the preparation efforts.

CBA Vice Chairman Gong Luming also underscored the need for focus and dedication from all members, emphasizing that success in competitive sports relies on daily practice, effort, and commitment. He urged players to take on responsibility, confront challenges, work against the clock, improve individual abilities, master teamwork, and enhance training quality through unity.

Chinese Men's Basketball Head Coach Guo Shiqiang laid out 12 requirements for the team regarding training and discipline. His expectations include team unity, strict discipline, a positive attitude, loyalty, a strong character, emotional discipline, sustained competitiveness, alignment toward team goals, attention to defense and rebounding, team-oriented play, focus, and preparedness for challenges. Finally, he added that every player must take on responsibility and fight relentlessly for the honor of representing China.

Global Times