No! Guo Ailun in tears! Sudden injury during contract year

No.

In the make-up game between Guangzhou and Shandong, during the final quarter, Guo Ailun fell following a fast-break drive and contact, clutching his left knee and remaining down for an extended period. He was subsequently taken off the court on a stretcher for medical attention. Coming off the bench in this contest, he played approximately 16 minutes, making 3 of 7 field goal attempts, including 1 of 3 from beyond the arc, totaling 7 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, and a +3 plus/minus rating.

Guo Shiqiang, who had just led the Chinese men's national team to two consecutive wins in the second phase of the World Cup qualifiers, was present at the game. Watching Guo Ailun get injured, his expression turned serious, even showing a sense of heartache. The close relationship between the two is well-known.

This former top point guard in China has faced a tumultuous fate in recent years, constantly plagued by injuries...

Moreover, this season is the contract year for the 32-year-old Guo Ailun under a top-tier D-class salary. So far, in his two seasons with the Guangzhou team, he has only appeared in 19 regular-season games.

What more can be said? Only well-wishes remain, hoping it is not a devastatingly severe injury.

It is worth noting that Guo Ailun broke down emotionally on the spot, crying while looking up.

"A man does not shed tears easily; it is only because he has not reached the point of deep sorrow."

After losing their perimeter core player Guo Ailun, the Guangzhou team did not collapse. Instead, they fought with increasing vigor, ultimately defending their home court and defeating Shandong 93-85, dedicating the victory to Guo Ailun.

Guangzhou team statistics are as follows:

Shandong team statistics are as follows:

Xu Xin continued his impressive performance, starting and playing about 29 minutes. He shot 7-of-9 from the field, contributing a well-rounded stat line of 17 points, 10 rebounds (3 offensive), and 4 blocks. During the game, he delivered multiple emphatic blocks against Chris, the 16th overall pick in the NBA draft.

Notably, Xu Xin recently participated in the Chinese men's national team training camp for the second phase of the World Cup qualifiers but was left off the final roster, reportedly due to injury issues. Otherwise, he would have been more deserving of a spot than Jiao Boqiao, given his greater two-way impact, younger age, and higher developmental potential.

If Xu Xin can maintain his current form and even improve further, it is believed his name will be on the Chinese men's national team roster for the third window of the World Cup qualifiers this coming July.