China Men’s Basketball Hit With Sudden Bad News—Showdown vs. Japan Gets Tougher as Guo Shiqiang Makes His Latest Decision

China men’s basketball is set to face Japan in the next FIBA World Cup qualifying cycle. After suffering two losses to South Korea, Japan’s confidence has clearly risen—making the upcoming matchup even more demanding for Team China.

Now, the situation has become more complicated. Over the past two days, reports have emerged claiming that Kyle Anderson (Li Kaier) has officially returned to the United States and will no longer represent China in international competitions. The news has sparked major debate. While he didn’t deliver the results many hoped for at the World Cup, Anderson’s professionalism and effort were widely recognized, and his overall ability was still seen as a positive addition to the squad.

With the partnership seemingly coming to an end, it’s understandably disappointing for China’s program—especially at a time when results on the international stage remain the top priority.

Against this backdrop, head coach Guo Shiqiang has also made a new decision. It’s no secret that if China wants to compete for stronger international results—and seriously push toward Olympic qualification—having a naturalized player is increasingly viewed as essential, reflecting the broader direction of modern global basketball.

Guo has previously emphasized that, if a naturalized player is brought in, the ideal fit would be at the No. 1 or No. 2 position: someone who can organize the offense while also creating scoring chances independently. In many ways, that has also become the same practical benchmark CBA teams use when selecting foreign imports.