On January 14, Guangzhou Shanxi After the competition, Zhu Mingzhen and Zhang Ning embraced each other CBA The field shines. Compared with the popular Zhang Ning, the relatively low-key Zhu Mingzhen has an extraordinary experience.
Debut Zhou Qi Three points and one shot on the head
CBA talent show in 2020, from Beijing Zhu Mingzhen, from the university, was selected by the Guangzhou team in the second place in the first round and became the "second place show" of this session.
"Remember this moment today, and use it as a driving force to motivate myself to keep moving forward, and thank everyone for their help and trust. I will continue to work hard!" After being selected by the Guangzhou team, Zhu Mingzhen sent a message of thanks through social media.
Zhu Mingzhen soon won the esteem of coach Guo Shiqiang when he joined the Guangzhou team in such a high draft order. In the first round of the season on October 18 last year, the Guangzhou team and Xinjiang Zhu Mingzhen welcomed the opportunity to make his CBA debut.
Zhu Mingzhen, who made his debut, started from the defensive end and soon made two steals. In the second quarter, there is 1:59 left to face the "best defender" Zhou Qi Zhu Mingzhen calmly retreated after controlling the movement to the line near the bottom corner Zhou Qi A stagger, and then a three-point shot. This wonderful goal also strengthened Zhu Mingzhen's confidence.
"There must be some nervousness. I didn't expect to have a chance to play so soon, and I was afraid of making mistakes on the court, but I encouraged myself to play freely." Zhu Mingzhen recalled his feelings of the first game, but he quickly adjusted to it.
Standing at the free throw line, Zhu Mingzhen also played steadily, winning 5 of the 6 free throws. He played for 33 minutes, contributing 16 points and 8 rebounds. After the game, Guangzhou team coach Guo Shiqiang took Zhu Mingzhen to the press conference, which is a great affirmation for a new player.
"The performance was very good. As a college student player, it was quite difficult to play this kind of game in the first professional game. The first professional game was a test of his experience, mentality and so on." Guo Shiqiang praised Mingzhen like this after the game. He also made it clear that Zhu Mingzhen "is our focus on cultivating players".
After 33 minutes of playing as a substitute for two consecutive games, Zhu Mingzhen became the first player of the Guangzhou team from the third game. Since then, he has been among the team's first team, and has started 29 consecutive games.
By the end of the 35th round, Zhu Mingzhen had contributed 8.3 points and 3.5 rebounds on average, ranking fourth among the draft players this season in terms of scoring, and his comprehensive performance was one of the best new players this year.
cover Wade Praise for entering NBA
Zhu Mingzhen was born in Beijing, China, on October 8, 1996. His father is from Uganda, an African country, and his mother is Chinese. He is a mixed race child.
Although he was born with dark skin, Zhu Mingzhen, who grew up in Beijing as a child, is a standard Beijing man. He speaks Mandarin more fluently than English and knows little about his father's motherland, Uganda.
"I don't know much about Uganda, nor have I been there," said Zhu Mingzhen
Since his skin color is different from that of most people around him, Zhu Mingzhen has felt the strange eyes of people around him since he was young. "I know this special situation myself," Zhu Mingzhen said. "Later, I gradually understood it, and nothing happened."
Zhu Mingzhen practiced violin when he was a child, but when he entered primary school, his PE teacher found his talent in sports, so Zhu Mingzhen began to show his talent in sports. When the popular Japanese anime Slam Dunk Master hit the air, Zhu Mingzhen was attracted by it Basketball Has produced the great yearning.
"It was probably the third and fourth grades of primary school that started playing basketball. At that time, it was regarded as a hobby and played mainly." Zhu Mingzhen recalled the starting point of the basketball road.
Zhu Mingzhen, who has devoted himself to basketball, is crazy about it. "I don't mention playing basketball when I was at school. I also play basketball after school. Generally, I don't stop playing until it's dark," Zhu Mingzhen said happily.
Zhu Mingzhen, whose basketball skills are becoming increasingly mature, entered Beijing No. 4 Middle School, a famous local basketball school in Beijing, and became the main force of the school team. In the high school league game, Zhu Mingzhen showed his talents and averaged 18.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. Through the penalty shoot out, he led the team to defeat the "Seven Champions" Tsinghua High School, and helped Beijing No. 4 Middle School to win the championship in the Beijing division of the high school league.
2013 Wade During the trip to China, Wade led a team against the Chinese high school star team, and Zhu Mingzhen of the high school student team was brilliant. Zhu Mingzhen led the team to defeat Wade's team 33-30, He praised: "I think his physical quality is really good, and I prefer his attitude towards basketball and defense. I believe that as long as he keeps training hard in the future, he will definitely enter the NBA!"
At that time, professional basketball and NBA were not the options of Zhu Mingzhen, 17 years old.
On behalf of Peking University, on behalf of Chinese college students
After graduating from high school, Zhu Mingzhen and two students from Beijing No. 4 Middle School were specially recruited to Peking University.
The strong academic atmosphere of Peking University has infected Zhu Mingzhen. Therefore, he still wanted to focus on learning. "After all, my family expected me to be young," Zhu Mingzhen revealed his true thoughts at that time.
But Zhu Mingzhen's basketball talent can't be hidden. Shortly after entering Peking University, he began to play in the CUBA league with the team. Zhu Mingzhen became the main force of the team in his sophomore year. Later, he and Zhang Ning were called "Peking University Twin Stars" and won three CUBA championships for the team.
In June 2019, Zhu Mingzhen ushered in a glorious moment in his career - he was selected into the men's basketball team for the World University Games.
"It is an honor and a responsibility to wear the national flag on the chest." Zhu Mingzhen wrote excitedly on social media, and showed his personal photos at the founding meeting of the Universiade delegation.
In July of that year, Zhu Mingzhen, Wang Shaojie, Zhang Ning and other teammates went to the Universiade in Naples, Italy. In this tournament, Zhu Mingzhen's personal performance was quite outstanding. He scored double goals in five of the six matches in which the Chinese team participated. Zhu Mingzhen scored 17 points in China's 75-70 victory over Mexico; Zhu Mingzhen scored 20 points in the match with the host Italy.
When talking about the experience of representing Chinese college students to compete abroad this time, Zhu Mingzhen thought it was very valuable and rare. It was his first time to play as a national player, which enhanced his pride. "I was very excited when raising the national flag, because this opportunity is rare after all. I can come out from so many college students to participate in this competition," Zhu Mingzhen said.
Zhu Mingzhen has a clear understanding of the difference between playing on behalf of the national team and playing in normal games: "More is a responsibility. Not only to win, but also to represent the national game!"
From Beijing to Guangzhou
During the five years of CUBA career, Zhu Mingzhen, who is often mistaken for "foreign aid", has demonstrated the level of foreign aid. It is natural to play professional basketball after graduation from college.
After being selected by the Guangzhou team, Zhu Mingzhen traveled from a typical northern city to the subtropical city of Guangzhou. The huge differences between the north and the south make everyone need a period of adjustment, which includes the integration of food and culture, as well as the adaptation of geographical environment and climate conditions.
"Fortunately, it was not so hot when I went to Guangzhou." Zhu Mingzhen said with a smile about his meeting with the Guangzhou team. He also said that after a short period of training, he concentrated on the Zhuji competition area.
After leaving Beijing and heading south to Guangzhou, Zhu Mingzhen regarded it as "a relatively important stage of life". In addition to the change of geographical environment, the greater test for him is how to transform from a student player to a professional player, and how to transform from a star player in CUBA to a role player in CBA.
"The university competition has made me feel better. After all, CUBA has played all over the country and seen the big scenes, which can make me feel more balanced," said Zhu Mingzhen.
The support of his family also made Zhu Mingzhen better adapt to the CBA and closed competition environment, and he often communicated with his father. "Usually I ask more about my life and communicate in Chinese," Zhu Mingzhen said.
The training time and amount of professional players have increased a lot compared with those in Peking University. Zhu Mingzhen is also slowly adapting to the professional team's practice twice a day.
Zhu Mingzhen has been groping for the rhythm of the CBA games he has completed. "At the new level of competition, the confrontation will be stronger, and there will be some maladjustment," Zhu Mingzhen said. "The biggest gap lies in the intensity of the confrontation, and there will be more requirements for physical fitness and other aspects."
Regarding Wade's praise eight years ago, Zhu Mingzhen said: "At present, I have no idea of playing in the NBA. Now I have no time to think about it. I know that my current level is far away from the NBA. Now it is time to play CBA well and fight for China as soon as possible."
