September 10: Good Things Take Time! Guangdong’s New Signing Emerges, 30-Year-Old Versatile Forward Similar in Appearance to Du Runwang_Luka Bozic_Liga Endesa_Foreign Player

The Liga Endesa efficiency rankings are somewhat counterintuitive. A 30-year-old, 2-meter-tall Croatian forward who does not rely on three-point shooting played all 34 games for Granada in the 2025-26 season, averaging just over 29 minutes per game, 16.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, with a PIR efficiency rating of 24.3, shooting 55.9% on two-pointers, only 33.3% from three, and 81.7% from the free-throw line.

Based on domestic habits when evaluating foreign players, a three-point percentage below 34% often raises questions first. But he was not simply padding numbers in the Liga Endesa—the same season he was selected to the Liga Endesa All-Star Five, ranked first in average PIR under some statistical methods, second in rebounds, fourth in scoring, led the league in made free throws, and also had the longest playing time.

On September 9, European media outlet BasketballSphere reported that sources in Croatia also indicated Luka Bozic was only waiting on procedures before joining the Guangdong Southern Tigers. There has been no official announcement, so it is not finalized, but the signal is clear: Guangdong had been quiet regarding foreign players in the offseason, and if the signing happens, their approach to the forward position will differ from previous years.

Bozic was born on April 29, 1996, is 200 cm tall, and plays the small forward and power forward positions. Granada did not have a strong team record last season, but he personally performed well. In the final home game, he played around 33 minutes and recorded 20 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 0 turnovers, and a PIR of 35; against Baskonia, he scored 24 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, added 6 assists, and posted a PIR of 37.

More impressive was his stretch of production. According to BasketballSphere statistics, starting from Round 22 he had 12 consecutive games with a PIR of at least 27, matching the old Liga Endesa record set by Sabonis; he had 15 games with a PIR above 30 during the season, matching Marc Gasol’s 2007-08 single-season interior-player benchmark.

In the CBA context, the significance of these numbers is not simply how much he can score, but when he scores. In the final 12 games of the Liga Endesa season, he averaged 20.4 points, 8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, shooting 63.6% on two-pointers, 41.7% from three during that stretch, and 86.6% on free throws. In other words, he is not a pure shooter; he attacks the paint through physical play, uses his post game, draws fouls, and can also pass to open teammates.

This is exactly what Guangdong has lacked in recent years. In close games, especially when domestic forwards struggle offensively in the final minutes, they need someone who can create with the ball without dominating possession. Bozic averaged 3.1 assists, and his Liga Endesa sample suggests he is not a player who only finishes possessions himself; he can attack after pick-and-rolls or pass back to guards such as Xu Jie and Hu Mingxuan.

How often did he get to the free-throw line? Over the entire 2025-26 season, he averaged around 8.5 free-throw attempts per game and made 81.7%. The CBA’s officiating style differs from the Liga Endesa, so this conversion rate cannot be directly transferred, but his ability to draw fouls itself has value. Opponents will be less willing to reach in casually, creating more interior space.

Three-point shooting is a weakness, with 33.3% over the full season not being particularly impressive. However, his 55.9% two-point shooting and stable finishing around the rim fit well with Guangdong’s perimeter group: Cui Yongxi, Hu Mingxuan, and Xu Jie can space the floor while he handles inside. In playoff half-court situations, a forward who can score without relying on threes may be more durable than one who only waits for outside shots.

His lateral movement is not especially quick, which is a fact. Against small foreign guards targeting him or switches onto smaller players after screens, his individual defense could be tested. The solution is not complicated: avoid assigning him to speed-based dual guards, prioritize similarly sized forwards, have guards pressure earlier, and allow interior defenders to provide support so the defensive structure remains intact.

There is no need to exaggerate the national team aspect. Bozic is a regular Croatian national team player and has had efficient performances as a reserve during recent windows, but different sources provide inconsistent details about specific games, so exact points and rebounds are not fabricated here. The main conclusion is that he is not merely benefiting from a low-intensity league; he can handle physical play in international competition.

If Guangdong really signs him in this direction, the foreign-player structure will become much clearer. The smaller foreign guard would handle tempo and late-game scoring bursts, while Bozic would handle forward playmaking, post offense, rebounding, and clutch situations; domestic wings would no longer need to serve as both hubs and finishers. Zhou Peng is at a later stage of his career, Cui Yongxi is more focused on off-ball and transition play, and Huang Mingyi and Zhang Hao still need game experience, so Bozic could help divide their responsibilities.

What is needed now is an official announcement, not speculation. Until the procedures are completed, everything is only described as being close. However, based on his 34 Liga Endesa games and PIR sample, this player is not simply filling a foreign-player slot—16.2 points is not eye-catching, but a 24.3 efficiency rating is what matters.

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