China’s Guo Haowen pulls out of 2021 NBA Draft for another year in Chinese Basketball Association
- The 21-year-old will return to Shanghai Sharks to develop in the Chinese Basketball Association
- ‘A certain gap remains between international high-level young players and me,’ he tells fans, but hopes to still make NBA
The only Chinese player registered for the 2021 NBA Draft later this month has explained why he pulled out to return to China.
Guo Haowen of the Shanghai Sharks in the Chinese Basketball Association told why he turned his back on the NBA this season to return to China on his social media account.
“After talking to my family, team and considering the suggestions from the Shanghai Sharks, I decided to withdraw from the 2021 NBA Draft,” the 21-year-old Guo wrote on Weibo.
Guo will now return to play for the Sharks in the upcoming CBA season.
Guo said that long-term he still wants to play in the NBA, with Chinese state media agency Xinhua reporting that he attracted interest from nine NBA teams – including the San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks, and Minnesota Timberwolves.
“Now I have three plans for the future: the first is training harder, improving skills and strength, accomplishing missions in the CBA, and getting good grades; the second is winning glory for my country; the third is participating in NBA Draft again and enhancing my performance.”