In the short term, the Chinese men's basketball team will not naturalize any players.

News seen yesterday:

All work related to new naturalized players for the Chinese men's basketball team has been completely suspended. During the full preparation cycle for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, no talks will be advanced for any new foreign player to obtain citizenship.

That means in the short term, the Chinese men's basketball team will not naturalize any players.

Remember that after the men's team suffered a heavy defeat to Japan in the last window, Coach Guo Shiqiang made it clear in an interview, roughly meaning: we rely on our own people.

At that time, some media people and fans criticized that Coach Guo was just being stubborn, saying that our own people are unreliable and so on...

But in reality, the head coach is just a mouthpiece; he doesn't have the final say. Do you think he wouldn't want to have a player like Brown?

Even the Chinese Basketball Association doesn't have the final say.

On a broader level, this year the General Administration of Sport of China issued new regulations on cross-sport naturalization management, with the core requirement being strict control over new foreign athletes becoming citizens, standardized management of existing ones, and no longer approving new naturalization applications in batches.

Those who follow Winter Olympic sports will understand that a certain leader who is now behind bars left a mess regarding naturalization issues...

So from a macro policy perspective, it's very difficult.

Let's get back to basketball.

Kyle Anderson's naturalization is the only fully completed naturalization practice in the history of the Chinese men's basketball team.

But it has been proven that although he has an NBA background, he couldn't really help the team.

In the 5 group stage games of the 2023 World Cup, Kyle Anderson averaged 32.1 minutes, contributing 13 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1 steal, with a three-point percentage of 16.7%...

He is not suitable; that's for sure.

Under the background of no new naturalizations for the Chinese men's basketball team, it is not ruled out that Kyle Anderson will once again wear the Chinese men's basketball jersey.

First, it depends on what the leadership thinks; second, it depends on what conditions are offered to him.

In terms of desire, Kyle Anderson has expressed willingness; he has a sense of identity.

Moreover, setting aside policy and practical effects, even if the Basketball Association intends to restart naturalization, it would not be easy.

Three major barriers—domestic law, FIBA rules, and cost—determine that new naturalizations cannot be implemented in the short term.

Chinese law clearly does not recognize dual nationality. Any foreign player wishing to become a naturalized citizen and represent the Chinese men's basketball team must actively and permanently renounce their original country's passport.

This is the most difficult part...

Unlike the Philippines, Qatar, Lebanon, and Jordan, which all recognize dual nationality, naturalized players do not need to give up their original nationality, allowing them to play for the national team while significantly reducing the difficulty of negotiations.

Finally, let's talk about the naturalization situations of the men's team's main rivals in Asia.

Japan:In principle does not recognize dual nationality, foreign players need to have resided continuously for at least five years to be naturalized, so whether it's Hawkinson or Kirk, they are not young anymore.

Philippines: Presidential special approval and congressional proposals for fast-track naturalization, probably the country with the lowest naturalization threshold in Asia, from Clarkson to Brownlee.

Lebanon (the men's team's next window opponent): has a familiar face from the CBA, Xinjiang's foreign player Lawson.

Qatar (World Cup host, men's team's next window opponent): Problems that can be solved with money are not problems for them.

Sports talents are granted special naturalization; not only do they have CBA Finals MVP Goodwin, but they also naturalized my Lakers' former player, Nunn.

Iran: Among the top Asian teams,the only one that has long abandoned foreign naturalization's team, after all, the national conditions are special...

If we only consider the single matter of playing basketball, not having naturalized players is definitely a disadvantage, since others are using them.

But we also have to consider our own special circumstances.

Therefore, the Chinese men's basketball team really has to rely on itself...