On July 28th, Beijing time, during the Unity Cup, the matchup between Guangdong's National Games men's basketball team and Brazil was meant to highlight fierce competition. However, it became the focus of public attention due to a conflict during a timeout—head coach Du Feng and 21-year-old newcomer Xu Xin engaged in a heated dispute in front of the bench. Their heated exchange of words, emotions running high, was eventually broken up by teammates. This scene added irony to a match that ended in a disappointing defeat for Guangdong, where unity seemed to be lost rather than maintained.
Guangdong demonstrated strong competitive form throughout the game, maintaining a lead for the first three quarters, giving fans hope of victory. However, in the final quarter, the team suddenly struggled with offense and defensive lapses, resulting in an 11-point deficit and ultimately losing 84-87 to Brazil. The anticipated victory slipped away.
The conflict during the timeout symbolized the team's fluctuating mindset in the final quarter. Xu Xin, who hadn't played in the first minute of the first quarter, entered as a substitute in the second quarter but committed a traveling violation after 5 minutes and 19 seconds on the court. Du Feng was visibly frustrated, stomping his feet and shouting at Xu. Xu, noticing this, walked away without looking back. Du Feng's anger persisted, prompting him to call a timeout and continue to criticize Xu for slow reactions, even after the opponent stole the ball.
Xu Xin, born on December 23, 2003, in Beijing, stands at 2.26 meters tall with an impressive wingspan. He is a promising young center groomed by Guangdong. In 2017, he topped Beijing Shougang's \"Young Eagles Program\" and later joined Guangdong Hongyuan's youth team upon Zhu Fangyu's invitation. In 2025, Xu represented Guangdong's youth team in the 14th National Games men's basketball 5-on-5 U19 group, winning the championship. That same year, he advanced to Guangdong Hongyuan's main team, embarking on his CBA journey. He has gradually showcased strong shot-blocking and rebounding abilities, demonstrating potential dominance under the basket.
On June 9, 2025, Xu Xin was selected for the Chinese men's basketball team's Asia Cup training camp, shouldering the responsibility of representing his country. Although he was cut from the team on July 26, his national team training undoubtedly provided new insights and growth in tactical understanding and match experience. Returning from the national team, Xu was expected to shine at the Unity Cup, leveraging his accumulated experience on a higher platform to further elevate his game and contribute to Guangdong.
Known for his tough coaching style in the CBA, Du Feng's stringent demands on players are well-known. Similar spontaneous disputes have occasionally occurred in both the national team and Guangdong team settings. However, the direct confrontation with young Xu Xin captured on camera inevitably sparked speculation about the team's internal atmosphere. Whether it was a clash of opinions due to youthful impulsiveness or a culmination of long-standing grievances remains undisclosed. One perspective suggests Xu Xin made a traveling mistake during an offensive play, which Du Feng strongly disapproved of, leading to their dispute. In the past three games, Xu struggled with receiving passes, occasionally opting for individual offensive moves, which he believed were justified, leading to the conflict with Du Feng.
The defeat disappointed fans, and the public conflict between coach and player has further dragged Guangdong into controversy over \"losing both the game and respect.\" Post-match, many netizens discussed, \"Shouldn't they unify their thoughts during timeouts? How can they win like this?\" \"Should Du Feng reconsider his coaching methods?\" \"Xu Xin dares to stand up, young people have tempers but also need to learn respect.\"
In my opinion, coaches should lead by example and plan tactics well. Young players will make mistakes, and it's not about scolding but encouraging them. As players, they all want to play well. However, in China, some coaches publicly humiliate players, leaving them without dignity or confidence. There's a distinction between teaching and insulting; insulting someone is just low!
Regardless of the specific reasons for the dispute, this conflict undoubtedly exposed the team's mental issues at critical moments and its lack of cohesion. For Guangdong's National Games men's basketball team, aspiring to achieve good results, resolving internal conflicts, rebuilding team trust, and uniting team efforts may be more urgent than fixating on the outcome of a warm-up match. After all, \"unity\" is the essence of the \"Unity Cup,\" and team chemistry is the cornerstone for teams to go further in major competitions. Hopefully, Guangdong can use this as an opportunity to address internal issues and demonstrate stronger competitiveness and team spirit in future matches.