Xu Jie: Guangdong Men's Basketball Must Adapt to Major Changes in New Coaching Staff

According to a September 3 report from Guangdong Sports Channel, with the new coaching staff and local roster largely finalized, reporters conducted a team visit. In an interview, Guangdong men's basketball player Xu Jie discussed the new coaching staff, saying that the current coaching team has undergone major changes and that he needs to readapt to new tactical intentions and playing styles.

During the interview, Xu Jie said: "The changes are indeed very significant, and I am working hard to adapt to this completely new situation." He added: "Every coach has their own unique coaching philosophy, so I need to quickly understand their tactical ideas. At the same time, sufficient communication and exchanges with the coaches are also extremely important."

In the upcoming 2025-2026 season, Xu Jie will represent Guangdong men's basketball in 38 regular-season games and is expected to have a certain level of performance if he can maintain averages of 10.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, along with a 39.3% field-goal percentage. However, Xu Jie's performance last season fluctuated, especially with a noticeable decline in the later period compared with the earlier stage. He was not only affected by injuries to a certain extent but also faced the challenge of integrating with multiple teammates within the team. In addition, three foreign guards took up a large amount of offensive possession, while Hu Mingxuan also experienced adaptation issues.

With the end of the Du Feng and Zhu Fangyu era, the new coaching staff is led primarily by foreign coaches. New head coach Yakovlevich expressed great respect for his predecessor Du Feng in an interview with the media. At the same time, he emphasized that the team would be given new concepts and a new style moving forward.

The 2026-2027 season will mark the first time in eight years that Guangdong men's basketball has used a foreign head coach. The team's younger roster needs to actively develop its potential. Whether the 38-year-old new coach Yakovlevich can successfully help Guangdong men's basketball rebuild its glory and defend its position as an 11-time champion remains something that fans will continue to watch and anticipate.