A high-stakes gamble amid swirling public opinion! Zhao Rui must win tonight, or he will lose his place on the national team forever.

Zhao Rui will be the focal point of this match.

At 6 PM tonight, the Chinese men's basketball team will play away against Japan in Okinawa, marking the start of their third World Cup qualifier game. Before this, China lost consecutively to South Korea in their first two matches, facing a tough two-game losing streak. Hence, this game against Japan is unquestionably a last-ditch effort for the Chinese team—victory means maintaining a chance to qualify, defeat means falling into a more precarious situation.

For Zhao Rui, this life-or-death match means much more than just the team’s outcome; it could directly determine the future of his national team career. When the Chinese men's basketball 12-man roster was announced, Zhao Rui’s inclusion sparked controversy. Despite public pressure, the Chinese Basketball Association stood firm in selecting him, and head coach Guo Shiqiang chose to trust this contentious guard unconditionally. Essentially, this trust is a bold gamble.

Previously, Zhao Rui caused a major public backlash due to his unfavorable comments about the Xinjiang team, even drawing official criticism from Xinjiang authorities. This triggered a flood of doubts and accusations. Against this backdrop, the trust from the basketball association and Guo Shiqiang is especially valuable and heavy. For Zhao Rui, this trust leaves no room for error; his only option is to repay it through his performance on the court and quell the overwhelming controversy.

This game is a "redemption battle" for Zhao Rui. If the team loses or he performs poorly, the suppressed public criticism will resurface, and the overwhelming accusations will engulf him again. The decision by the basketball association and Guo Shiqiang to defy public opinion will become a target for fan backlash. At that point, whether Zhao Rui can be selected for the national team again will be highly uncertain—no manager wants to bear the heavy pressure of including a volatile player who can be a "double-edged sword," as such a choice carries significant risks both in public opinion and results.

More realistically, losing the national team’s endorsement, combined with his past controversies over emotional expressions, will severely impact his personal commercial value. Undeniably, Zhao Rui is one of the few core guards on the Chinese men's basketball team capable of independently handling offensive plays. His individual skills are beyond doubt. However, competitive sports and the commercial market never focus solely on ability—when a player’s controversies and negative impacts outweigh the value they create, both the national team coaching staff and brand sponsors are likely to reconsider whether to choose him.

This is not Zhao Rui’s first time caught in a storm of public opinion. The previous incident involving the U.S. team jersey also plunged him into controversy, and then head coach Du Feng stood by him, giving him a chance to prove himself. Now, a similar scenario is unfolding again, but this time, can Zhao Rui seize the opportunity to achieve self-redemption? The answer lies on tonight’s court in Okinawa.

Tonight’s China-Japan showdown is a do-or-die battle crucial for the Chinese men’s basketball team’s qualification hopes. For Zhao Rui personally, it is a pivotal match that will determine the trajectory of his career, involving trust and redemption. Every breakthrough, every defensive effort, every point he scores will be key chips in his attempt to rewrite the narrative and secure his spot on the national team.