The 2025-26 CBA season has come to an abrupt end for the Guangdong Southern Tigers, as they were eliminated by the Beijing Ducks in the quarterfinals with a 1-2 series loss on May 13.
This defeat marks not only another early playoff exit under head coach Du Feng but also the first time since 2005 that Guangdong has failed to reach the semifinals. It is the second consecutive season they have fallen short of the championship contention zone, signaling a potential end to an era.
At the start of the season, general manager Zhu Fangyu boldly declared the team’s goal was to “compete for the championship.” He brought in promising young stars Cui Yongxi and Jiao Boqiao to strengthen the frontcourt and wing depth, alongside experienced foreign imports like Salingers and Samner. Optimism was high that this blend of youth and experience could restore Guangdong to glory.
However, reality proved harsh. Import McColl missed the first phase due to injury and struggled to integrate upon returning, lacking the one-on-one scoring and ball-handling ability needed in high-intensity play. Samner’s season-ending injury forced the team to hastily rely on Quinn and McColl as a small-foreign-duo, but their overlapping skill sets and lack of clutch scoring left the team without a reliable core. Only late in the regular season did they sign Rakocevic, whose efficiency fell far short of championship standards. The prolonged absence of a quality power forward left Guangdong vulnerable against teams with strong interior play like Beijing and Shanxi.
Guangdong’s foreign player rotation went through constant experimentation—from three-big-one-small to three-small-one-big, and finally to two-big-two-small—without establishing a clear tactical identity or complementary logic. Compared to other elite CBA teams, their foreign imports lagged significantly in scoring efficiency, defensive intimidation, and closing ability. These structural deficiencies became a critical barrier to advancing in the playoffs.
Du Feng’s coaching trajectory has mirrored the team’s decline. After leading Guangdong to a three-peat from 2018 to 2019, the team hasn’t reached the Finals since the 2021-22 season. In 2022-23, they lost in the quarterfinals for the first time in 20 years. The 2023-24 season ended against Liaoning, followed by a sweep by Shanxi in 2024-25, and now elimination by Beijing in 2025-26. Each exit has drawn criticism of aging rosters, rigid tactics, and slow adjustments.
In the post-game press conference, Du Feng acknowledged, “We had nine turnovers in the first half, allowing the opponent to control the rhythm.” He did not make excuses, but also didn’t dwell on regrets: “We have 11 championships. Many teams don’t even have one. Winning brings joy; losing means we find problems and keep improving. That’s the nature of competitive sports.” While his tone was calm and resilient, it also reflected a sense of helplessness as a dynasty fades, with some observers labeling his remarks as a form of defiant self-comfort—like the literary character Ah Q, clinging to past glories.
Looking ahead to the offseason, Wang Shaojie’s loan expires and he will return to Beijing. Jiao Boqiao’s integration has not met expectations. Key players Du Runwang and Zhang Wenyi are out of contract, and only Quinn appears to be a stable foreign option. Zhu Fangyu and Du Feng now face a crucial rebuilding decision: refine the current roster or completely overhaul? The answer will come this summer.