The Shandong men’s basketball team saw their season come to an end in the CBA quarterfinals this year. After eliminating the Liaoning Flying Leopards in the first round, they were swept by the Shanghai Sharks in the quarterfinals, with a particularly disappointing loss in Game 2. Head coach Qiu Biao expressed frustration over the team’s poor performance, especially the foreign players—Chris, Jones, and Percival—who combined for just three points. Such a lackluster showing made it impossible to compete.
With the season over, Shandong now faces contract renewal decisions for several key players. According to the team’s registration contracts, players including Tao Hanlin, Gao Shiyan, Liu Yi, and Chen Peidong are all out of contract this summer. To remain competitive next season, Shandong must prioritize retaining both Tao Hanlin and Gao Shiyan.
Gao Shiyan may not be considered an elite point guard league-wide, but his playmaking and defense are exactly what Shandong needs. After three seasons on loan with Shandong, where he helped the team reach the playoffs each year, the club acquired his full rights from Liaoning in a trade and signed him to a three-year, maximum-salary contract (D-class). In his first season under that deal, Gao averaged 13.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, showcasing top-tier two-way skills, though the team narrowly missed the playoffs. Under Qiu Biao’s leadership, Gao has led Shandong to postseason appearances for two consecutive years—exiting in the first round last season and the quarterfinals this season. Given their roster limitations, reaching the second round this year already exceeded expectations.
In the regular season this year, Gao posted modest averages of 8.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.8 steals, shooting 42.3% from the field and 34.6% from three-point range. However, in the playoffs, he rediscovered his form, averaging 12 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per game while knocking down 1.8 three-pointers per contest. In Game 1 against Shanghai, he erupted for 15 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals. While Gao’s scoring isn’t elite, his playmaking and floor control are among the best in the league, and Shandong has no one to replace his role. Therefore, it’s widely expected the team will offer him another maximum-salary, multi-year deal.
Beyond Gao, Shandong is also determined to retain veteran center Tao Hanlin. His presence is equally vital, as the team has no substitute for his production. In this postseason, Tao averaged 10.8 points and 6.8 rebounds, including back-to-back games of 12 points and 8 rebounds against Shanghai, giving his all on the court. The team’s primary focus this offseason will be acquiring top-tier foreign players, which will be key to their resurgence.