The CBA playoffs continued as the Guangdong team was eliminated from the semifinals after losing to the Beijing team. Following the game, head coach Du Feng’s post-match comments stirred significant debate.
In the press conference, a reporter asked Du if he felt regret over being knocked out by Beijing. Du replied, “Regret? I don’t think there’s any regret. Whether a season ends with good results or not, it’s all part of the learning process.”
He added, “If every team that doesn’t win a championship feels regret, then every team would be full of regret. We’ve won 11 championships, while many other teams haven’t even won one. Are they supposed to live in regret forever?”
His response drew widespread criticism from fans and netizens, who called it arrogant, especially given that Guangdong hasn’t reached the finals in five years and has missed the top four for two consecutive seasons.
A local Guangdong sports commentator, known as “Don’t Run Just Like a Pig,” also expressed disapproval. He wrote, “I think Coach Du’s remarks are inappropriate. A coach can speak for himself about whether he regrets or not, but cannot represent the entire team. He should ask the players, the boss, and the staff before saying that. I don’t believe everyone feels no regret about this loss.”
Earlier this season, General Manager Zhu Fangyu made moves to sign Cui Yongxi and Jiao Boqiao to strengthen the team’s frontcourt and backcourt, and also brought in foreign player Jared Sullinger. Zhu stated the team’s goal was to compete for the championship. However, during the season, both Cui and Jiao underperformed, while Xu Xin, who was traded to Guangzhou, produced career-best numbers. Questions about Du Feng’s coaching ability never ceased.
Getting knocked out by Beijing indicates that Guangdong still lags far behind championship-caliber teams. Du Feng may claim he has no regrets publicly, but deep down, he is likely feeling the pain.