Here it comes! Zhao Rui officially returns! Competing in the 2025 National Games.

Zhao Rui wearing the Guangdong team uniform...

To clarify, Zhao Rui’s return to Guangdong and reunion with Hu Mingxuan and Xu Jie is just for competing in this year’s Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao National Games (Nov 9-21). In the last edition, 2021 National Games, Zhao Rui played for Guangdong, scoring 14 points in the final, but the team fell 79-87 to Liaoning, which included Guo Ailun, Zhang Zhenlin, and Zhou Qi.

In the summer of 2023, Zhao Rui was traded to Xinjiang in exchange for Zhou Qi; this offseason, Zhao Rui left Xinjiang and signed a three-year Category C contract with Beijing team.

Previously, Xinjiang media reported that in sending Zhao Rui away, Xinjiang received a "huge transfer fee from Beijing, even setting a new CBA record," but that statement was later removed.

Beijing media also denied the rumors of a “sky-high transfer fee” for Zhao Rui. Beijing team GM Zhang Yunsong said in an interview that acquiring Zhao Rui from Xinjiang was done within the rules and with integrity.

The new season’s Beijing team can assemble a very strong local lineup: Chen Yingjun, Zhao Rui, Raymond, Zeng Fanbo (pre-registered), and Zhou Qi. They aim to build on their runner-up finish in 2024-25 and push for the championship.

Beijing’s star player Zhou Qi posted on his personal social media to welcome Zhao Rui to the team. By the way, if Zhou Qi had played in this year’s Asian Cup, even just replacing Yu Jiahao’s role, maybe the Chinese men's basketball team could have won the gold medal.

By the way, Zhou Qi is representing Sichuan in this year’s National Games, teaming up with Hu Jinqiu and Sun Minghui. It is said his participation fee reached 6 million RMB. Previously, Zhou Qi won gold medals in three consecutive National Games while playing for Liaoning.

Whether it’s Zhao Rui, Zhou Qi, or other national team members, they must stay healthy during the National Games because on November 28 (home game vs. South Korea), China’s men’s basketball team will officially start the World Cup qualifiers for the 2027 spot, with the second leg away against South Korea on December 1.