Nets rookie earns hilarious bench response, nickname after house debut

A number of Brooklyn Nets gamers carried out nicely throughout Monday’s 139-92 preseason win over the Washington Wizards. Nevertheless, the spotlight of the night time got here from an unlikely candidate: rookie Cui Yongxi.

The Chinese language prospect, who signed a two-way contract with the Nets earlier than coaching camp, drained back-to-back buckets upon checking in late within the fourth quarter. Brooklyn’s bench erupted after the sequence.

“All people was lit,” Cam Thomas mentioned. “He hit the three and all people acquired lit. After which he known as for the iso and all people simply went loopy. So it is positively good for everybody to see all of us like one another. I really feel like that every one helps us as a staff. All of us like one another, and all of us wish to see one another succeed, regardless of who it’s.”

“That is actually one of many issues [head] coach [Jordi Fernandez] has been preaching to us. Simply being linked, being collectively as a staff, and being glad for one another’s success. I really feel like that is actually serving to us construct relationships with one another. So it was actually good, positively enjoyable to see.”

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Cui Yongxi turns heads throughout transient minutes in Nets debut

Cui is the primary Chinese language participant to hitch the Nets since proprietor Joe Tsai took over the staff. Regardless of a number of Chinese language followers attending the sport to see him play, the 21-year-old mentioned he wasn’t feeling strain throughout his Brooklyn debut.

“I had nothing in my thoughts,” he mentioned. ‘After I’m open, I simply shoot straight to the ring. Rating or not, it didn’t matter as a result of I used to be centered on the sport with my teammates on protection. When I’ve a shot I can take, after all I take it.”

Cui additionally drew rave critiques for his outfit, a standard black Chinese language go well with, which he mentioned he wore for luck. The model selection earned him the nickname “GQ Jackie” from his Nets teammates.

Cui performed his final two seasons within the Chinese language Basketball Affiliation, averaging 14.1 factors, 5.8 rebounds, and a pair of.9 assists on 45/36/81 taking pictures splits over 99 appearances. After turning heads on the G-League scouting mix, the 6-foot-6 wing performed for the Portland Path Blazers at Summer season League. He handed on an Exhibit 10 contract with Portland over the summer season, finally touchdown a two-way deal with the Nets.

Cui ought to spend time within the NBA and G-League this season alongside fellow two-way signing Jaylen Martin. The primary-year Internet is the ninth Chinese language participant to play within the NBA, in response to RealGM. He and Kyle Anderson are the league’s solely lively Chinese language gamers.