Guangdong Hongyuan suffered a 15-point defeat to the Beijing Ducks on May 12, officially ending their season. After being eliminated 1-2 by Beijing, head coach Du Feng found himself making unwanted history—Guangdong failed to reach the CBA semifinals for the second consecutive year, a first for the franchise. This season, Du Feng’s squad also set several other dubious records, including the team’s worst regular-season winning percentage in 25 years and a CBA record for being buzzer-beaten four times. Guard Xu Jie was largely benched during the crucial game, playing just 17 minutes and failing to score on 0-of-3 shooting. Du Feng opted to use McCall and Zhang Haojia alongside Hu Mingxuan in the backcourt instead of relying on Xu Jie. Meanwhile, Quinn, who impressed during the playoffs, is expected to receive a contract extension. He was the standout among Guangdong’s five foreign players this season, consistently delivering strong performances when it mattered most.
Guangdong’s overall performance this season has been disappointing. During the offseason, the team made several trades and signings, bringing in two national team players from Guangzhou and signing four capable foreign recruits.
At the start of the new season, General Manager Zhu Fangyu and head coach Du Feng publicly reiterated their goal of chasing the championship in multiple interviews. However, reality fell far short of expectations. Not only did Guangdong fail to win the title, but they also missed the semifinals. After being ousted by Beijing, their playoff run ended in the quarterfinals. Last season, with a modest investment, they also reached the quarterfinals. This season, despite significant spending, they made no progress—an outcome that will be hard for investors and sponsors to accept. Du Feng’s coaching this season also leaves much to be desired. Guangdong set a series of embarrassing records, and as the head coach, Du Feng must shoulder some responsibility.
Few expected Xu Jie to become a mere bystander in such a critical game. Playing less than 17 minutes, he attempted just three shots, missed all, and ended with zero points. In high-stakes, high-level games, Xu Jie has never truly proven himself. Despite his technical skills and basketball IQ, basketball ultimately favors physical talent and height. In a real life-or-death situation, Xu Jie could not step up. Disappointed, Du Feng benched him for most of the second half, only using him during garbage time.
Quinn has been Guangdong’s best-performing foreign player throughout the playoffs. Injuries to Samner pushed Quinn into the spotlight, and while his performance wasn’t flawless, he gave his absolute best. Among the five foreign players Guangdong signed this season, only Samner and Quinn have a chance to stay. Quinn is almost certain to get a contract extension because, since MarShon Brooks, Guangdong has struggled to find a reliable forward. Quinn may not be a top-tier guard, but he provides enough stability. Zhu Fangyu is expected to retain him.
