Zhou Qi of Xinjiang Flying Tigers shoots during a match between Xinjiang Flying Tigers and Jiangsu Dragons in the 2019-2020 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, July 27, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)
Xinjiang Flying Tigers center Zhou Qi and Guangdong Southern Tigers center Yi Jianlian are among five contenders for the regular season's Most Valuable Player award.
BEIJING, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Xinjiang Flying Tigers center Zhou Qi and Guangdong Southern Tigers center Yi Jianlian are among five contenders for the regular season's Most Valuable Player (MVP). The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) announced the nominees for each category on Tuesday.
Zhou averaged 22.2 points, 13.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks, helping Xinjiang finish second in the regular season standings. After having been named Player of the Week five times this season, Zhou is closing in on his first career MVP award.
Yi, CBA's all-time leading scorer, posted an average of 20.1 points and 10.4 boards, leading Guangdong to becoming regular season champions following a 29-game winning streak.
The other nominees for the MVP award are also post players, including Fujian Sturgeons' Wang Zhelin, Hu Jinqiu from the Zhejiang Lions and Liaoning Flying Leopards' Han Dejun.
Yi Jianlian (R) of Guangdong Southern Tigers shoots during a match between Guangdong Southern Tigers and Beijing Ducks in the 2019-2020 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, July 26, 2020. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)
Zhou and Yi are also in contention for Defensive Player of the Year, whose candidates also include the Beijing Ducks duo of Zhai Xiaochuan and Jeremy Lin, and Yi's teammate Sonny Weems.
Xinjiang's Zeng Lingxu and Yu Changdong will vie for Sixth Man of the Year with Beijing Ducks guard Fang Shuo, Zhejiang Golden Bulls forward Lai Junhao and Jilin Northeast Tigers forward Dai Huaibo.
As for Most Improved Player, candidates include Zhejiang Lions' Sun Minghui, Shanxi Loongs' Yuan Shuai and Hu Mingxuan from Guangdong.
CBA said candidates for these four awards have to feature in at least 36 matches in the regular season.
Nominees for the Rising Star include four winners for the monthly award, namely Chen Yingjun from the Guangzhou Loong Lions, Hu Mingxuan, the 2019 top draft pick Wang Shaojie from the Beijing Royal Fighters and Zhejiang Golden Bulls guard Cheng Shuaipeng.
Coaches from the regular season's top four finishers are eligible to compete for Coach of the Year award, including Guangdong's Du Feng, Xinjiang's Adiljan, Liaoning's Alejandro Martinez and Beijing's Xie Libin.
Nominees for the All-CBA Team were also revealed on Tuesday. ■
