崔永熙的初步考驗：NBA季前賽首秀在即

2024-2025 NBA preseason is underway, and according to the schedule, the Nets will face the Clippers on October 9th, giving Chinese player Cui Yongxi a chance to make his preseason debut. Since signing a two-way contract with the Nets on September 20th, Cui Yongxi has participated in team training camp and quickly integrated himself with his teammates.

Although the Nets are in rebuilding mode and don't have high expectations for the upcoming season, Cui Yongxi, as a two-way contract player and a rookie entering the NBA for the first time, will face foreseeable challenges and difficulties. Like most two-way contract players, the competition in his position will be fierce, and Cui Yongxi won't have many opportunities in the regular season, perhaps spending most of his time playing in the G-League.

In a previous interview, Cui Yongxi said that he is mentally prepared for this, stating, "On the court, I need to do what I can do well, not compete with the starters for the ball. The first thing for young players is defense, and the second thing is to seize every opportunity created by the team's star player and make the most of it."

Cui Yongxi has quickly integrated himself into the team, forming a bond with his teammates. Recently, he had hot pot with Nets player Cameron Johnson and assistant coach Juwan Howard. Howard, as a former teammate of Wang Zhizhi, Mengke Bateer, Yao Ming, and Yi Jianlian, has been fondly called "Uncle Howard" by Chinese fans. This unique connection continues with Cui Yongxi.

During the Nets' media day on October 1st, a video posted on social media showed that Cui Yongxi can communicate fluently in English with his teammates and handle interviews. He goofed around while his teammates were taking headshot photos, and when he met All-Star player Ben Simmons, he generously invited him to greet Chinese fans through a video.

Cui Yongxi revealed that besides Johnson calling him "Cui," his other teammates have gotten used to calling him "Jacky."

Being the seventh Chinese player to enter the NBA after Wang Zhizhi, Mengke Bateer, Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian, Sun Yue, and Zhou Qi, Cui Yongxi will face completely different challenges compared to his predecessors. As a two-way contract player, he is both an NBA player and a G-League player. Most two-way contract players spend more time playing in the G-League, and this is the most realistic situation for Cui Yongxi.

The Nets' training camp roster consists of 20 players, with 15 having regular contracts, Cui Yongxi and Jarrett Martin having two-way contracts, and an additional three having training camp contracts. Out of these 20 players, apart from Cui Yongxi and Jarrett Martin, the other 18 have NBA experience. As a player born in 2003, Cui Yongxi is the fifth youngest player on the team.

The Nets' training camp roster lists Cui Yongxi as a forward, while the NBA website lists him as a guard. It is likely that his position on the team will be as a combo guard. Besides Ben Simmons, Cameron Thomas, Cameron Johnson, and Dennis Schroder, Cui Yongxi will also have to compete with numerous role players for playing time.

In a previous interview, Cui Yongxi talked about his potential position on the team, stating that he wants to start as a "3D player" (a player known for excellent defense and accurate three-point shooting) and then consider other aspects. He mentioned that his mentality is positive and that he is unsure of how many years he can play in the NBA or how much he can improve. However, he emphasizes that the longer he stays with the team, the more he can help himself and the Chinese national team.

Unlike the regular season, NBA preseason games mainly focus on team chemistry and player evaluation. Cui Yongxi is likely to get some playing time during the preseason, but the real challenge will come in the regular season. As for when he will make his NBA regular-season debut, Cui Yongxi will need to have patience.