It's official! The contract renewal has been confirmed! Another college player secures a top salary in the CBA.

Congratulations once again!

Another college player has managed to secure a maximum salary contract.

Tongxi officially announced the renewal with Zhu Mingzhen. As reported by a prominent Chinese basketball source,Zhu Mingzhen's new contract is a one-year top salary agreement.

Born on October 8, 1996, Zhu Mingzhen is about to turn 29. He was the second overall pick in the 2020 draft and joined Tongxi last summer through a major three-team trade. In the 24-25 season, he played 43 regular season games, starting 32 times, averaged 30.3 minutes, contributed 8 points and 2.5 rebounds per game, with shooting percentages of 37.9%, 38%, and 90.3%. In the playoffs, he averaged 23 minutes, scored 6 points and grabbed 3 rebounds, with shooting rates of 66.7% and 80%.

It's worth noting that Zhu Mingzhen’s fellow draft classmates, Lin Tingqian (third pick) and Zhang Ning (eighth pick in the first round), also received top salary contracts. Lin Tingqian signed a three-year max deal with Tianjin in 2023, while Zhang Ning renewed for three years with Shanxi this summer.

Back to Tongxi, Zhu Mingzhen’s contract expires next summer, as do the deals for two key players, Guo Haowen (Type C) and Zhao Baiqing (Type B). By then, the team will hold three top salary contracts, giving them an advantage in signing or trading.

As for the player everyone is most interested in—Lin Wei—his A1 contract with Tongxi has already expired this summer. Since his destination for the new season remains uncertain and he is likely to play overseas, both sides have currently paused renewal negotiations.

According to regulations, once an A1 contract ends, the original club retains exclusive signing rights for that player’s Type B contract. Simply put, as long as Tongxi doesn’t release him, if Lin Wei chooses to return to the CBA, he must play for them.

Moreover, Lin Wei has no reason to leave Tongxi, where he has received excellent development opportunities and the treatment of a foreign import. He has averaged over 20 points per game in the regular season for two consecutive years, and in this year’s playoffs, he averaged 23 attempts per game, exploded for 30.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 11 assists, and 1.5 steals, with shooting percentages of 43.5%, 26.3%, and 94.1%.

Last season, Tongxi finished with a record of 23 wins and 23 losses, ranking 12th in the league—their first-ever playoff appearance in team history—but were swept 2-0 by Xinjiang in the first round.