Chinese Basketball Association: Wang helping power Fujian's return to playoffs

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02:32

Fujian will have home advantage in the opening round of the CBA Playoffs, where the length of their first appearance in seven years will depend in no small part on the play of big man Wang Zhelin. And Damion Jones was able to take a courtside look at the star center, during his team's 144-106 road win against Beikong.

DAMION JONES BEIJING "The Memphis Grizzlies chose Wang Zhelin with the 57th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, 14 spots after Chinese compatriot Zhou Qi was selected by the Houston Rockets. But the 25-year-old has yet to make a move to the United States, focusing instead on improving his all-around skills, and helping change the fortunes of the Fujian Sturgeons."

The center's efforts have resulted in him emerging as a serious contender for the CBA's Domestic MVP award, averaging just under 22 points and 12 rebounds per game heading into Friday night's clash with the Beikong Fly Dragons, and earning a heaping helping of credit from his teammates, for the squad's turnaround this winter.

POOH JETER 10 POINTS & 8 ASSISTS IN WIN FOR FUJIAN STURGEONS "His attitude towards the season has been different. I've been knowing him for seven seasons now, and seeing from then to now, it just has been a huge development with his body and his confidence. He's been playing as like the best Chinese player, and that's why we're doing so well, him and Andrew are the best frontcourt in this league."

ANDREW NICHOLSON 36 POINTS IN WIN FOR FUJIAN STURGEONS "He looks great. I mean he's in better shape than he was last year, he's shooting the ball, he's just a great complement. I love playing with him, you know, we have a great high-low game, and we play well together."

Beikong will probably make major changes in the offseason, after a campaign that has seen the Fly Dragons end a 15-game losing streak by claiming their league-lowest eighth win, only to follow up by dropping four more contests on the bounce, and largely start turning their attention towards the future.

RICKY LEDO 53 POINTS IN LOSS FOR BEIKONG FLY DRAGONS "Right now it's just tough. Just playing hard, we just gotta continue to try to play hard, and don't give up in games. That's basically it right now. We have a lot of young guys, so just trying to just bring everyone together, try to just keep pushing forward, take all the positives that can come out of every game."

In the meantime, with Fujian boasting 27 victories and a solid grip on seventh place, Wang and the rest of the Sturgeons can now start preparing in earnest for their likely first round series against the yet-to-be determined number 10 seeds, when the expanded CBA Playoffs get going next weekend. Damion Jones, CGTN, Beijing.