Guo Ailun of the Liaoning Flying Leopards has requested the team to trade him. /CFP
When Guo Ailun requested the Liaoning Flying Leopards to trade him on Tuesday, the whole Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league was holding their breath because he is the CBA's best point guard and just helped the Flying Leopards win the second title last season.
"After all I have achieved, I need some new challenge," Guo said. "If I want something, I won't let anything keep me from getting it. This is the most important decision I have made in my career."
"I was shaken up by teammates' performances during the FIBA Basketball Asian qualifiers and the FIBA Asia Cup," he added. "I thought I was doing well enough, but now I can see there is a lot of room for me to improve. I need a system that fits me better so I can explore my potential more deeply."
Guo Ailun (#13) of the Liaoning Flying Leopards penetrates in Game 3 of the CBA Finals against the Zhejiang Lions in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, April 24, 2022. /CFP
The last Chinese player dealing with a similar situation as Guo was Zhou Qi who refused to stay in the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in 2021. In the end, Zhou joined the Southeastern Melbourne Phoenix in Australia's National Basketball League and played a season there. Judging by his performance at the World Cup qualifiers and Asia Cup, Zhou has grown a lot better.
Like the Flying Tigers with Zhou, the Flying Leopards hold the right to keep Guo. Unless the team agrees to let him go, it will cost any team a fortune to sign Guo. When Fan Ziming of the Guangzhou Loong Lions left for the Beijing Ducks in 2020, the compensation for the Loong Lions was 30 million yuan (about $44.4 million). When the Shanghai Sharks signed Wang Zhelin last year, they reportedly paid 80 million yuan (about $11.8 million) among other things to make it happen.
China's Zhou Qi (#15) and Guo Ailun (#6) try to protect a defensive rebound in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian qualifier game against Chinese Taipei at John Cain Arena in Melbourne, Australia, July 1, 2022. /CFP
There is no reason to assume that the Flying Leopards will accept anything less than the Sharks squeezed out of Wang's deal. CBA teams are not in the best financial form after struggling with COVID-19 for years. They will think very carefully before reaching out to the Flying Leopards for Guo.
So, can Guo follow Zhou's path to join a foreign team overseas? There is a possibility for that but Guo will face many more difficulties. First, Guo is a point guard who needs to handle the ball to run the game. His size, skills and athleticism give him advantage over other Chinese in his playing position in the CBA, but it won't be the same in a foreign league where many are stronger, bigger and more athletic than him.
Guo Ailun (L) of China runs offense in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian qualifier game against Australia at John Cain Arena in Melbourne, Australia, July 3, 2022. /CFP
Second, it's much harder for a 29-year-old player to change his playing style than it is for someone who is 10 years younger. The Chinese national team's losses in the international events in recent years exposed the gap between China and strong basketball countries, not only in skills, but also in basketball concept. When teams sign foreign players, they want instant help instead of spending years helping him grow.
Of course, it doesn't mean Guo should not try to refine himself in a better and tougher league. On the contrary, the point guard position has been the biggest shortcoming of the Chinese national team. If Guo grows like Zhou did, the improvement he can bring to the franchise will be even bigger.