Some readers might see this headline and immediately rush to the comments without even reading the article. After all, when Dong Lu is mentioned, public perception has always been mixed—both love and hate. But setting aside the controversies, the noise, and the recent surge in hype, it's undeniable that the "China Football Juniors," a grassroots youth training project he founded and has cultivated for nearly a decade, is the most groundbreaking private youth development initiative in Chinese football over the past ten years.

I've grown a bit tired of watching the FIFA World Cup, so tonight I tuned in to a friendly match involving the Chinese men's basketball team. They ultimately beat the Australian men's team 91-81, securing a strong start. This game served as an important warm-up before the World Cup Asian Qualifiers, with a match against the Dutch team coming up next. Let's talk about the contest that just ended. This Australian squad was no pushover—they were quite young, mostly under 24, though obviously not their full national team. That needs to be made clear first.

Last night, the Chinese men's basketball team defeated the Australian men's basketball team 91-81. This was the team's third warm-up match this summer. The Australian team was certainly not their strongest lineup; most players were starters from the NBL, along with some NCAA rotational players, essentially a makeshift squad assembled for practice. Although it was just a warm-up, the opponents provided a decent level of intensity and overall strength, which served as good training for the Chinese team.

On June 22 Beijing time, with the NBA free agency period still some time away, the basketball world continues to await clarity on the future plans of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James. ESPN reporter Ramona Shelburne revealed on a show today that even the Lakers' front office is uncertain about James' decision: whether he will remain with the Lakers, test the waters as a free agent with other teams, or retire outright.

On June 22, Beijing time, the game ball that witnessed one of the most iconic game-winning moments in modern New York basketball history is heading to auction. Sotheby's will open bidding on July 1 for this basketball, which was used by OG Anunoby when he completed the game-winning putback in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals.

Congratulations, congratulations. Shams, the insider: CJ McCollum has signed a one-year, $21 million early extension with the Hawks, including a 7.5% trade bonus. A trade bonus means he receives a cash reward if traded, with the specific amount based on the contract terms. In January of this year, the Hawks sent "New York Mayor" Trae Young to the Wizards in exchange for CJ and Kispert, and no draft picks were involved in the deal.

On June 22, Beijing time, Lakers beat reporter Woike answered fans' questions online, covering topics such as Doncic’s future with the Lakers and the team’s search for a center. One fan asked: “Does the Lakers’ management take Doncic’s upcoming free agency seriously? Or do they rely on the Lakers’ prestige, making only minor tweaks each year, assuming all stars will willingly stay?”

On June 22 (Beijing time), Giannis Antetokounmpo has been at the center of massive trade rumors for some time, and now he appears on the verge of parting ways with the Milwaukee Bucks. Reporter Sidery states that the Bucks and Heat are putting the finishing touches on a multi-team blockbuster trade centered around Giannis. He expects the deal to happen within the next 48 hours.

On June 22, Beijing time, the BIG3 League issued a statement announcing a one-game suspension each for Lance Stephenson and Michael Beasley due to their inappropriate behavior during and after the game between Miami 305 and the Los Angeles Riots. After reviewing the full altercation footage, the league determined that their actions violated the professional conduct, on-court respect, and sportsmanship standards established for all players.

In a warm-up match for the third window of the World Cup qualifiers, the Chinese men's basketball team defeated the visiting Australian team 91-81 at home. In this game, the Chinese team made 30 of 64 field goals (47% shooting), including 9 of 28 three-pointers (32%), and 22 of 26 free throws (85%), recording 18 assists and 13 turnovers.