Team Profile: China look to Djordjevic and Anderson-Li Kaier to lead team in new direction

MANILA (Philippines) – China enter the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 hoping head coach Aleksandar Djordjevic can take the next steps in steering the federation in the right direction after a lengthy string of subpar showings – even on a regional level.

The Roster

NBA veteran Kyle Anderson – who also goes by his Chinese name, Li Kaier – gives Djordjevic someone who can take responsibility in tough stretches of the game. The rest of the young and talented group is led by the twin towers of Zhou Qi and Wang Zhelin.

With long-time point guard leader Guo Ailun not on the team, Djordjevic will have to do his best to mix and match the varying skillsets of Zhao Rui, Sun Minghui and Zhao Jiwei.

Zhou Qi

Djordjevic also included on his preliminary roster some youngsters and it seems like Cui Yongxi could be on the final team. He debuted with the Chinese national team during the Asian Qualifiers and has shown promise.

The Question

How much can Anderson-Li Kaier actually help this team? The 29-year-old is not a key scorer with the Minnesota Timberwolves but more of a complimentary piece who does a bit of everything, and most of that pretty well.

He can be a facilitator yet can’t take over playmaking duties the whole game – especially if he’s expected to be a big-time scorer as well. How quickly can he be integrated into the team and help others shine will be key to China’s success.

And in general, who will be there to run the show when it isn’t Anderson-Li Kaier?

The Hope

China were disappointing at the home in the 2019 World Cup – finishing 24th out of 32 teams – but the core of the team is nearing its prime basketball age. However, Djordjevic is a true mastermind and proven winner as he coached Serbia to the 2014 World Cup Final in Spain and the 2016 Olympic Gold Medal Game in Brazil after a glorious playing career.

The team does have some good low post players that can be effective at both ends and the Group B is not impossible to navigate with Djordjevic’s former team Serbia along with Puerto Rico and debutants South Sudan.

If Anderson-Li Kaier turns out to be the modern version of “FIBA Boris Diaw” when the former captain of France took his team to a bronze medal at the FIBA World Cup 2014 without Tony Parker, then this China team could be really dangerous.

The Fear

Anderson-Li Kaier flops and just cannot step up to be the real leader the team needs in a major international world event. China’s point guards are overmatched and can’t get the team to do the things it needs to do.

With the lack of production from the guards, opposing teams can focus more on stopping China’s strength under the basket and fully neutralize the Asian team’s bigs.

China just cannot take a big enough step and it remains that the country has won just one Quarter-Final game at a FIBA event in the last 12 years, when they won the FIBA Asia Cup 2015 title. 

Just a couple of scary potential outcomes for China basketball supporters.

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