Explosive 11 Points, 10 Rebounds & 6 Blocks! China’s 22-Year-Old, 2.26m Rising Star Breaks Out — Will Guo Shiqiang Lean on the Shot-Blocking King?

With a powerful one-handed putback dunk and a series of clutch rebounds, 22-year-old center Xu Xin (2.26m) delivered another outstanding performance. He finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 blocks, helping Guangzhou edge Shanxi 74–70. Xu has quickly become one of the CBA’s brightest emerging stars this season—earning serious attention as a Most Improved Player contender and putting his name in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year.

The headline matchup was the towering clash between Xu Xin (2.26m) and Liu Chuanxing (2.25m). Notably, both big men came through the Guangdong Hongyuan youth system, yet neither consistently received meaningful minutes during their time there. Since moving on, both have found larger roles and greater trust—setting the stage for a compelling head-to-head battle.

In this game, Liu Chuanxing dominated the glass with 17 rebounds, but struggled to convert on offense, going 2-for-9 from the field and 2-for-2 at the line for just 6 points. By comparison, Xu looked quicker and more imposing. He set the tone early, playing with toughness and intensity throughout the first half.

Guangzhou’s guard Wigginton continues to build strong chemistry with Xu, and their connection is becoming one of the team’s most reliable scoring weapons. With Wigginton repeatedly delivering well-timed feeds, Xu finished efficiently around the rim—an increasingly familiar and effective pattern for Guangzhou’s offense.

On the defensive end, Xu was even more dominant. He swatted away 5 shots in the first half alone, consistently shutting down attempts near the basket. Liu Chuanxing also felt that presence directly. In one key sequence midway through the second quarter, Liu drove for a layup, only for Xu to come from behind and pin the shot down emphatically—an instant momentum swing.

Shanxi made a fierce push in the fourth quarter, sparked by Yuan Shuai, and the finish turned into a tense, physical battle. But Guangzhou held its ground, and Xu delivered the defining plays. After Wigginton missed a layup, Xu exploded upward for a one-handed putback dunk to steady the team at a critical moment. He followed it with a bold “throat-slash” celebration, projecting confidence and a clear statement of intent.

In the closing minutes, Xu also controlled the most important possessions by securing rebound after rebound, gaining the upper hand in his physical matchup with Liu. On the other end, Liu endured a frustrating stretch with multiple missed tip-ins, as Xu’s presence continued to disrupt Shanxi’s second-chance opportunities.

After this performance, Xu now leads the CBA in blocks this season at 2.3 per game, firmly establishing himself as the league’s current shot-blocking leader. Over the past two seasons with Guangdong, his playing time was inconsistent—sometimes shining in limited minutes, only to see his role shrink in the next game. This year, Guangzhou has entrusted him with a major responsibility as the starting center, and he has responded by consistently rewarding that confidence with production and impact.

Xu has previously been selected for China’s national team training camps, but he has yet to receive a real opportunity on the international stage. With his rapid improvement and growing self-belief, head coach Guo Shiqiang may need to take a closer look—because Xu Xin is starting to play like someone ready for a bigger role.