The Xinjiang Flying Tigers are gearing up for the upcoming Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) season with an impressive roster revamp, brimming with anticipation for competing
Lutubula (R) of Xinjiang Flying Tigers vies with Lu Pengyu of Shenzhen Leopards during the 2nd round match between Shenzhen Leopards and Xinjiang Flying Tigers at the 2022-2023 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 13, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)
The team recently welcomed star player Zhao Rui, addressing a longstanding need in the backcourt. They also secured the service of former Dallas Mavericks standout Dominique Jones.
Having just returned from representing Team China at the Hangzhou Asian Games, Zhao had a limited timeframe to join the team and participated in his first training session on Wednesday.
"I am very excited to be a part of this club, and I hope to quickly integrate into the team and give my all in this season," Zhao said.
The team's 24-year-old forward Qi Lin mentioned that during the off-season, he underwent specialized training in the United States to improve his skills.
"We have brought in many new faces and set clear goals. I want to perform well in every game and become a puzzle piece in the pursuit of a championship," Qi stated.
Head coach Qiu Biao emphasized the psychological adjustments the team is making due to changes in personnel.
"While Dominique Jones has extensive CBA experience, this is his first time with us, and he also needs to adapt," said Qiu. "We have established a broad system that requires the players to execute and make use of their individual strengths. Everyone is very proactive and willing to make changes to integrate into the team."
The powerhouse will head to Jiangsu on Saturday to prepare for the debut of the new season.
