Djordjevic's 3 Hs set the tone for new era Team China

BEIRUT (Lebanon) - The new era of China basketball has arrived.

"The national team is not always made of the 12 best players, but made of the 12 players who fit the best into a strong group."

- Alexsander Djordjevic

After having appointed coach Aleksandar Djordjevic as head coach of the national team program after Window 5 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers, China are now set to parade a team that includes some new and exciting names to the mix for Window 6.

   China's 16-player roster for Window 6   

It was clear ever since the training camp roster was announced that Djordjevic was looking to utilize some relatively newer talents like Zeng Fanbo, Cui Yongxi, and Jiao Boqiao. With all of them set to make their senior national team debuts in the Window, Djordjevic makes it clear that he wants to younger talents to know early on what it takes to play at this stage.

"I hope that through this recruitment, the talented young players in China will strengthen their understanding, based on the past international competitions and trends, of what kind of quality is the priority for the national team, and then let them take this understanding to go keep growing," said Djordjevic, as per the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

"Physically, the Chinese men's basketball team must actively respond to that of the world's leading national teams such as Spain, France, and Serbia. These physical characteristics include body shape, speed, and vertical lea. In order to help the national team win as soon as possible, to better match up with high-level opponents without suffering losses, and to establish a stable foundation for confrontation with opponents at the World Cup and Olympic level, I must see a forest behind the big trees."

"I must show everyone how to advance this work, and this work starts with player selection."

Among the highlights of the younger players selected for this team are Zeng Fanbo and Zhang Zhenlin. Both are talented players who began their paths through basketball in the youth programs of clubs in China before embarking on exciting journeys in the USA and finally returning to shine as rising stars in the local professional league, the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

Both of the youngsters are excited to use this opportunity to learn and grow along with the national team.

"I feel that since I’ve gotten to know my shortcomings, I need to make up for it with this precious training opportunity and gradually improve my style of play," said Zeng, as per Sina Sports.

"I am very excited," said Zhang, also per Sina Sports "[My expectations are] to learn new things, try to learn what the coach teaches, to understand, and then show it on the court, to go all out."

Zeng and Zhang are high-flying forwards with good size for their positions, fitting into what coach Djordjevic wants in his talent pool. Of course, that’s not the only reason these players have made the cut to be on the final roster, as Djordjevic has his high standards as well in selecting players for the national team.

"My considerations are the 3 Hs: Healthy, meaning health is more about the mind; Hungry desire, meaning desire must be shown on both offense and defense; and Humble, an essential quality for a national team player," explained Djordjevic as per CBA.

"In addition, I also pay attention to the degree of selflessness, the quality of offense, the quality of defense including the quality of individual defense and the ability to comprehend the overall defensive schemes of the national team, physical strength, athleticism, and considerations for future national team construction."

Through those filters, the new era of the China national team - at least at the beginning phase at this window of the Asian Qualifiers - has an exciting mix of rising prospects like Zeng and Zhang, as mentioned, as well as proven stars like Zhou Qi and Wang Zhelin, who have been playing at a high level throughout the Qualifiers.

"What I see is a huge desire to be on the floor. A lot of proud players, a lot of great competitors, and some young good talent," Djordjevic said about his early impression of Chinese players, as per China Daily.

"My job is to catalyze this in some way, put it in a channel where this all can make sense in the context of a good and competitive national team."

And that’s the main goal for everyone on this new era of Team China basketball. It’s always been the main goal of Team China basketball - to be among the best in the world on the hardwood.

"Of course, we know what is coming at the World Cup, and there are no limits (on Team China's goals)," Djordjevic told China Daily.

He knows that the expectations of the fans will be massive as well, as they have always been from the basketball-crazed country, but that doesn’t faze him at all.

"They are not as big as mine," said Djordjevic to China Daily of those high hopes from the fans. "No one can match my expectations."

"I'm not showing off. My expectations are always to win. We're going to practice in order to get a medal. There is no other way."

The expectations he has for himself and his team are a product of succeeding and excelling for many years at the highest stage. So he knows how much it means to play and what it takes to win.

"Above all, the players must behave and understand who they are representing. Putting on the jersey of a nation is the highest honor," he told China Daily.

"For sure, that level of professionalism and attitude will be demanded. My way of playing basketball is intelligent. [Players should be] reading the game, understanding the game, understanding their role and being able to adapt to being a part of the national team, not only part of a club."

"The national team is not always made of the 12 best players, but made of the 12 players who fit the best into a strong group. That's my biggest goal, to create as strong an entity as I can."

FIBA