There was Yao Ming, then to a lesser extent Yi Jianlian, and since then it has been a desert… For about ten years, China has been waiting for a successor to Yao Ming, and it could be Yongxi CuiNicknamed “Jacky”, this young 2m00, 21-year-old winger has just signed up via a “two-way contract” with the Nets. While the Blazers offered him an invitation to their camp, he preferred to play it safe.
“Players like Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian only come once in a century, but players like me, who have some talent, have to work hard and climb the ladder one after another.” believes the former Guangzhou Loong Lions player. “It's a tough road, but if I succeed, it could show players with similar abilities that they too can succeed.”
Jeremy Lin's advice
Between the Chinese championship and the possibility of training, or even playing, with NBA players, Yongxi Cui did not hesitate for a second.
“The salary is about the same as in the CBA, but I have the opportunity to play in such a prestigious league. It's a good deal,” he estimates. “I’m not at an age where I think a lot about money. My mindset is good. I don’t know how long I can play here, but I think the longer I stay, the more I can improve and help both myself and the Chinese national team.”
To help him adapt, Yongxi Cui trained with Jeremy Lin this summer, and he picked up some advice from the former Rockets and Knicks point guard.
“You have to be great at what you do on the pitch. As a young player, you can’t expect to have the ball like the starters. When the leaders get in and get the ball out, you have to shoot. If you can’t do that, they won’t trust you afterwards. There are only lessons to be learned against the best players in the world, keeping your head up when there’s trash talk and adapting to the culture of the team.”
A modern and versatile winger
Author of a season with 15.7 points, 6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 interceptions on average in the Chinese championship, Yongxi Cui imagines a future in the NBA as a “3&D” where his versatility could be valuable.
“This is the era of 'small ball', where positions are no longer fixed. A player must be versatile and able to play several roles” he recalls. “The current trend is to have five small players on the court and play fast basketball. My strengths in the NBA will be as a '3&D' player. If I excel in that area, other opportunities will open up for me.”
He asks only one thing from the Chinese press: to remain measured. “Don't get too excited after a good game, and don't criticize me too much after a bad one.” he concludes.
Two-way contract : Designed to create a new bridge between the NBA and the G-League, this type of contract allows each team to secure the services of two or three additional players, to have them play mainly in their affiliated development league franchise but also up to 50 matches in the NBA.
