CCTV interviewed Zhao Rui so boldly. He led the team to set the tone for the Asian Cup, and his attitude was very firm!

As the time when the Chinese men's basketball team was preparing for the 2025 Asian Cup, a recent interview with the captain of the Chinese men's basketball team, Zhao Rui, quickly became the focus of public opinion. Zhao Rui was very brave in the interview and expressed his unwavering attitude on the team's next competition sequence, including the 2025 Asian Cup, the 2026 Asian Games, the 2027 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics. He stressed that once he set out, he would devote all his energy to the national team without reservation, which stems from the trust and mission given to him by the country and the coaching staff. When asked about the goal of this Asian Cup, Zhao Rui gave an extremely clear and tough response: "Get the cards and stand on the podium, there is no other goal." He further added that this is not only his personal requirement, but also the goal of the entire team, and it is also the thing that the Chinese men's basketball team needs most at present.

Zhao Rui's remarks show his responsibility and determination as the core of the team, and also set an extremely high benchmark for the Chinese men's basketball team, which is in the period of adjustment. Against the backdrop of the team's unstable performance in recent years, this vow undoubtedly conveys to the outside world a strong desire to win and a determination to reshape honors, reflecting the unity and upward spirit of the new national team. However, the current lineup of this Chinese men's basketball team is facing serious shortcomings, which objectively sets up huge obstacles for hitting medals. Many core and powerful players, including Yang Hansen, Zhou Qi, Zeng Fanbo, Cui Yongxi, Zhang Zhenlin, etc., missed the competition for various reasons, which undoubtedly greatly weakened the team's internal and external strength and overall competitiveness. In addition, the pattern of Asian basketball has long been different. With the official joining of Australia and New Zealand, the intensity of confrontation in the entire competition has increased by more than one level. At the same time, other traditional Asian teams have introduced strong naturalized players, making the competition increasingly fierce.

In fact, with the current Chinese men's basketball team configuration, the road to promotion is full of thorns. Being able to successfully enter the semi-finals is already a celebration of achievement. If the team wants to enter the semi-finals, it is likely to have to overcome the Lebanon hurdle, and hitting the semi-finals means that they must have the ability to defeat the powerful New Zealand team, and every step is not easy. But no matter what the final result is, it is a good thing for players to set clear and high goals before going out to fight, and it is a direct reflection of sportsmanship. The charm of competitive sports lies precisely in the struggle and uncertainty in the process. When it is in a trough, the courage to attack the high places is particularly valuable. For athletes, showing reasonable offensive choices, tough defensive attitudes on the field, and striving to seize every scoring opportunity is no less valuable than the final medal.

From the 2025 Asian Cup to the 2028 Olympics, this is an interlocking sequence, and the performance of each competition directly affects the subsequent qualifications. Whether the Chinese men's basketball guys can perform beyond expectations without being optimistic and respond to the captain's call with practical actions on the court will be the most concerned thing for all those who pay attention to Chinese basketball.